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Peter Jason Locke Peter’s 62 years had gone by with everything mostly going his way. At 58 he had retired after thirty years in a successful career, had raised a family and was looking forward to his “Golden Years” with enthusiasm and hopefulness. Then his yearly blood tests started looking odd. His doctor suspected Myelodisplastic Syndrome; tests were preformed that confirmed it and treatment organized. Before he was able to start those treatments, his condition changed. His disease had morphed into Acute Myeloid Leukemia AML.
At his advanced age, the only cure would be a bone marrow transplant and so a search was started for a match. Luckily a Marine in training to go to Iraq, Matthew Betts, had volunteered his DNA to be tested and four years after was still willing to donate his healthy marrow to Peter. What a gift! He received his stem cells on April 21, 2007 and started his long and difficult road to recovery.
The transplant was a success but his new cells weren’t cooperating that well and chronic Graft versus Host disease, cGVHD developed in multiple forms requiring many different treatments from multiple transfusions to a clinical drug trial that seems to be working although very slowly. Throughout his recuperation, Peter has been the epitome of a positive attitude, rarely complaining and manifesting amazing strength and a great sense of humor. His perspective has always been that he is extremely lucky and he appreciates all the wonderful things his doctors, nurses, friends and family have done for him throughout this ordeal.
His daughter Christie is participating in a LLS TNT triathlon on March 28 in his honor. Go Christie Go! To him, those “Golden Years” are shining even brighter. Life is good!
Help Lisa Fight Blood Cancers Right Now!!!! ** DONATIONS ACCEPTED HERE!** ***** Every Little Bit Helps.****** ************Thank You.************
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