A picture of Carlie Jo Johnson taken previous to her leukemia analysis.
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — A whole bunch of San Angelo residents poured into the Central Excessive Faculty cafeteria on June 22 to assist find a viable stem cell donor for Carlie Jo Johnson, a neighborhood 18-year-old who has leukemia. Whereas she waits for the outcomes of the drive to come back in, she and her household have shared their ideas concerning the turnout and what occurs subsequent.
Based on Earl Younger’s Crew, the group that spearheaded the drive, 583 individuals have been swabbed to turn into potential donors throughout its 5-hour runtime. Carlie Jo Johnson additionally said that 394 swab kits had been ordered on-line for the trigger as of midnight June 25, bringing the entire variety of individuals as much as 977 so far.
“It’s fairly superior to know that there are such a lot of on the market rooting for me,” she mentioned.
Earl Younger’s Crew advised a Concho Valley Homepage reporter that the pattern gathered from the drive will take roughly 4-6 weeks to course of. Those that agreed to turn into a donor in the course of the occasion will stay within the registry till their 61st birthday and could also be contacted to donate as quickly as 4 weeks after the drive.
“This has turn into our mission. We need to attain way more than 1,000 donors added to the registry. We need to blow it up!” TaLisha Johnson mentioned. “I’m an organ donor and till my very own little one was in determined want of a stem cell transplant, I had no concept that it was utterly separate and the way straightforward it’s to donate and save a life. I really feel that if we’re wholesome and in a position, we ought to be serving to everybody we are able to.”
The earlier weeks have had their justifiable share of hardships for Carlie Jo Johnson, nonetheless. A number of medical problems attributable to her therapies have severely impacted her bodily and emotional well-being.
“The previous few weeks haven’t been straightforward,” Carlie Jo Johnson mentioned. “I had an air bubble in my mind after which a spinal fluid leak after intrathecal chemo. My physician has advised me this chemo must be achieved to maintain the leukemia from transferring to my mind, however it has been horrible. I’ve dealt with chemo rather well up till the final 2 weeks, however with the dangerous complications, a kidney stone (hospitalized for five days), and mouth sores, it actually has actually affected my feelings and mind-set.”
Regardless of the heavy toll her therapy and battle towards most cancers have exacted, Carlie Jo Johnson continues to be holding onto an interior peace. This doesn’t imply it hasn’t been troublesome to keep up, although.
“I’m at peace, however it’s nonetheless scary,” she mentioned. “Each step of this journey has led me to the place I’m, and I do know God will present a approach. I positively don’t need to do extra chemo, and I simply need this nightmare to finish. It actually will get my spirits down however I place confidence in my medical staff and that God is utilizing this example for good.”
Serving to her to face off towards leukemia is the story of Maverick, a 4-year-old boy from San Angelo who additionally has blood most cancers and made an look at her donor drive. Maverick, who will quickly be celebrating a milestone in his therapy, has been an inspiration to her throughout this chapter of her life.
“I cannot wait to satisfy him. He’s cute!” Carlie Jo Johnson mentioned. “He has been going by way of therapy and can get to ‘ring the bell’ on July 6. He evokes me.”
Pondering forward of the current second, Carlie Jo Johnson continues to be planning to attend Texas Tech College sooner or later. She desires to go there with Koti Goolsby, a pal who can be enduring most cancers therapies, and research to turn into a nurse. Although she hasn’t chosen a area of follow simply but, her present battle has introduced her to contemplate oncology — the research and therapy of most cancers.
“We each plan to be nurses and are excited to get that subsequent a part of our lives began,” she mentioned. “I’ve not selected what space of nursing I need to give attention to, however after this, I’m fascinated about working in oncology if I can deal with it emotionally.”
Though there are weeks to go earlier than the stem cell donor drive outcomes are processed, Carlie Jo Johnson desires to thank her supporters, each close to and much, for taking part within the occasion and for his or her continued kindness. With such a turnout and extra drives taking place all throughout the nation, she believes that it’s solely a matter of time till she’s on the trail towards remission.
“Once more, thanks! On days when I’m actually down, it looks as if the right message, letter or cellphone name comes at simply the fitting time. Seeing individuals come out to hitch the registry helps me know that my match is coming, I’ve choices and I’ll have a future,” she mentioned. “My physique is drained, and I’m prepared to maneuver on with my life, and figuring out there are such a lot of again dwelling supporting me helps me by way of the robust instances.”
