Dr. David Steensma

Long story short, our new oncologist, Dr. David Steensma (recently migrated from Mayo clinic) came in the room and told us that Lora had Acute Myeloid Leukemia, the most common form of adult Leukemia. He sent us home for 3 days or so to settle up business and report to the Brigham and Women's Hospital, which is across the street for the DF, for a 21-28 day inpatient hospital stay. I admit that now writing this retrospectively some minor details are lost as we are currently fully engaged in treatment. Anyway, following this meeting with Dr. Steensma and his fellow (student) Dr. Priscilla Brastianos, came the first time (at least to my recollection) Lora and I sat together and cried. The hospital stay would include and echo cardiogram, EKG, chest X-rays, blood work, a 2nd (3rd) bone marrow biopsy, implantation of a Hickman catheter (central line), 10 days of chemo-therapy and recovery period. This is called induction chemo, and would be followed up with several "consolidation" therapies in the months to come.