Featured Patient
2009 Featured Patient Tracy Gunderson
Last spring, we honored the memory of Alisa Lynn Urschel who died on January 2nd, 2008, after a short but courageous battle with leukemia (AML).
This year we will honor Tracy Gunderson for her ongoing battle. Tracy Gunderson is a 3rd generation native of Phoenix Arizona. She was born and raised in the Central Area of Phoenix and attended Sunnyslope High School and Phoenix Community College.
In the yearly 90s Tracy moved to San Francisco California. After 9 months in Ca, Tracy noticed a large lump under her left rib about the size of a grapefruit. Not feeling any different or sick, she shrugged it off and didn’t worry about it. Then after returning home from a ski trip, Tracy started receiving horrible abdomen pains that brought her to her knees. She went to the doctor and was told it was fatty tissue and not to worry about it so she returned home. The pain got worse. In April of 1992, 9 days after her 24th Birthday, Tracy was diagnosed with CML (Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia), Cancer of the blood. The news was devastating. However, it was explained that a Bone Marrow Transplant could cure the disease. The only problem, Tracy was adopted and didn’t have any full blood related relatives that could be a possible match.
The only option left was to look into The National Bone Registry. The chances of finding a perfect match was very slim, about 1 in 25,000. After waiting and praying for one to be found, Tracy finally received a call about a year later. A match had been found! Tracy had a chance of beating Leukemia! However, even though a match was found the chances of coming through the treatment, a bone marrow transplant and receiving unrelated bone marrow, was still very low.
In February of 1993 Tracy was admitted in UCSF for 1 month. The first procedure was to insert an intravenous catheter on the chest wall and remove some of Tracy’s bone marrow in case something went wrong with the healthy marrow she was about to receive. The next was to go through total body radiation for 1 week. After waiting for a couple of days, to give her body a rest, Tracy received large strong doses of Chemotherapy. Both the radiation and the chemo were used to kill her immune system. Next on the protocol was to administer the fresh healthy bone marrow. It arrived a day later via plane and ice chest.
The rest of the month was a waiting game to see if the new marrow would attack Tracy’s organs, shutting them down, and to get her body to bounce back from all of the side effects the radiation and chemo had riddled her body with.
In the 3 weeks that followed the administration of the new bone marrow, Tracy worked very hard to resume her strength and keep a positive attitude to heal her body. The doctors and nurses kept to a strict regimen with medications and close observation. She was able to leave the hospital after the 30 days were over. However, She had to return daily, which turned into every couple of days, then once a week, every two weeks, months, etc.
Tracy and her donor were able to meet in person 1 year after her transplant. They have become close friends over the years. He was able to attend her wedding. One of Tracy’s son is named after him.
Today, Tracy lives in Chandler AZ with her husband Jimmy, adopted boys Chase 5 years old, Chandler 4 years old and 3 dogs Pichino, Nuts and Bolts.
Thanks to God, her donor, the doctors and staff, The National Bone Marrow Registry and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - Tracy is Cancer Free!
Join the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for an evening of casino gaming, auctions, food and fun, as your favorite Valley celebrities shake, rattle, and pour a variety of martinis in an effort to become the “2009 Master Mixer.”
Ticket prices include food, martinis, and $100 in gaming chips. Tips are both welcomed and encouraged, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
We look forward to seeing you there.
