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Faced with battling lymphoma, a local woman seeks a bone marrow donor

Cathy Morris was diagnosed with stage 4 non-hodgkin's lymphoma with bone marrow involvement in August 2008. She is now waiting for a bone marrow transplant and is encouraging others to sign up to become a bone marrow donor. (Angie Hutschreider/News Tribune photo)

By angieh@newstribune.com
angieh@newstribune.com

Published: Sunday, August 30, 2009 11:39 AM CDT

When Cathy Morris was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma, stage 4 with bone marrow involvement, she knew her life was taking a drastic turn.

"I just knew I had to go to the appointments, take the treatments, take the medications and take care of myself so I could beat this," she said.

She had been feeling tired for months and quickly noticed it was all she could do to take care of her, then-18-month-old son.

She then noticed a lump above her collar bone. After being sent to a surgeon, who told her the lump was a lymph node, she was sent to the hospital for more testing. Soon Morris was admitted to the hospital again and began six rounds of chemotherapy, which she completed last December.

In January she was in partial remission. Her bone marrow, which was tested at diagnosis said she had 100 percent lymphoma in her bone marrow, was then at 30 percent.

Morris and her family knew that she would need a bone marrow transplant when her cancer came back.

Since she was adopted, Morris does not have the option of seeking a relative to donate for her. She instead must wait for her match to decide to become a bone marrow donor.

Less than a week ago, Morris was entered into the national and international bone marrow registry.

Almost two months ago Morris began to have numbness in her ring finger and pinkie. She was told that is was a pinched nerve and went on with her life.

Several weeks later, however she was in constant pain and mentioned the numbness to a physician, who ordered more testing.

She was then diagnosed with a lymphoma mass around her spinal cord.

"We immediately started a secondary regimen," she said.

So she wants to tell her story, and encourage others to complete a simple cheek swab and become a bone marrow donor.

Getting a bone marrow transplant is a long process once the match has been found and donated, but the struggle also means a new chance.

A free bone marrow donor screening will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, in Jefferson City at the Goldschmidt Cancer Center, 1432 Southwest Blvd. To become a registered bone marrow donor, you must be:

* 18-60 years old

* in general good health

* Have no prior cancer, hepatitis, HIV severe heart or lung disease.

* Not be pregnant. Women who are pregnant may register but are not allowed to donate marrow until after delivery.

At the Sept. 12 drive, it will be free to join the registry. It typically costs $50 to join the registry, which covers the cost of the testing done to help connect donors and those in need of a transplant.

An expanded version of this article appears in the e-edition/">e-Edition for Aug. 30, 2009.


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bluenurse wrote on Aug 31, 2009 11:13 PM:

" I am & have been on the National Registry for about 20 years. Came close twice - once they found a better match, the second time, I was a potential match but had had a needle stick at work - you have to wait for a year when that happens, & then your bloodwork as to be okay. That was 3 years ago - no needlesticks since. Guess I'm not a match for Cathy but I wish I was. I'd drive out there in a minute. At any rate, I wish her the very best. "

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shesmybestfriend wrote on Aug 31, 2009 5:10 PM:

" Cathy is an amazing individual. I am almost certain you will never meet another person like her or her husband Steve. These people have been my best friends for 9 years. Cathy would give her last dollar, the shirt off her back, or anything anyone needed if in her power. When she found out she had lymphoma last year, I cried while she laughed. Even if you are not a match for her, there are others out there who you may be able to help. I am kind of selfish and would like her to be around for quite some time. So please get tested. "

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amandadkms wrote on Aug 31, 2009 10:45 AM:

" Please consider organizing a donor drive in your community to help patients just like Cathy. DKMS Americas will help you set up a drive anywhere in the U.S.; at your church, school, local community center. Call us at 1-866-340-DKMS and you can start a truly worthwhile community service event that literally saves lives! "

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Faced with battling lymphoma, a local woman seeks a bone marrow donor

By angieh@newstribune.comangieh@newstribune.com

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angieh@newstribune.com