Another Challenge

Hi Everyone, This is Sibyl,

Stephi was unable to meet the
FDA's creatinine criteria to qualify for
the experimental drug, AMD 3100.
FDA said the drug could kill her at
a level of only 52.

The Team wants her to rest for a week,
and then she will begin double doses
(4 shots a day) of the Neupogen. This
process seems endless but there must
be a reason. Stephi has
remained in remarkably good spirits
in spite of the disappointment.

Steph's college buddy, Linda, is coming
next week so maybe lots of laughter will
cause her stem cells to free themselves of
their bony prison.

So, now we go back to the sage words of
Ed Schmotzer, ALM Leukemia survivor
who spoke to our Bone Marrow Support
Group yesterday. Ed said anyone who
wants to survive cancer has to have


TRAITS OF A WARRIOR
1. Concentrate on the Course of Action.
Focused--NO distractions-Adrenaline Flows-
Does not let up for even one Second-Never
looks back; only Forward-Bound Emotionally
and Intellectually to the Battle-Intense Self
Discipline to Prepare and Execute the Course
of Action-Knows what has to be done.
2. Knows the Enemy.
Studies the Enemy-How the Enemy will attack-
The enemy's Strength and Where the Enemy is
Vulnerable-How to Counter the Blows the Enemy
will Inevitably Throw-Knows the Battle will not
be Easy; the Warrior may even get Hurt.
3. Trains for the Fight.
Gets Ready for the Combat- Mentally and
Physically - A Lean, Mean, Fighting Machine-
The best conditioned will have the Stamina
for the Battle.
4. She Knows Beyond a Shadow of a Doubt
That She is Going to Survive.
She KNOWS she is going to be Victorious-She
has Total Confidence-There is no Hesitation
when It's Time to Fight- Odds and Statistics are
Irrelevant-She has Implicit Trust in
Her Leader (Doctor)-A Good Warrior is a Poor
Loser-She Hates to Lose at at Anything-"Winning
is not Everything; It is the Only Thing.
5. No one can Fight Her Battle for Her (NOT even
her bossy older sister)
That would be someone Else's Fight- She has
Support Beside Her and Behind Her, but Ultimately,
It is Her Fight-It is Difficult, if not Impossible, to
Fight by Running away. She has to Fight 'Head-On'.
6. If She gets Knocked Down, She Gets Right
Back Up and Into the Fight.
She Takes Set Backs in Stride.
7. She Does Not Hold Anything Back When the
Fight is On.
Every Ounce of Her Strength is Poured Into the Attack-
There is No Event, Occasion, Happening or Other Person
More Important than This.
8. She is Proud to be a Warrior
She wears the Scars of Battle With Pride-
She holds the Banner of Victory High!

So Stephi, DIG IN YOUR HEELS!
YOU ARE IN A BATTLE!
BE A WARRIOR! BE AN ARMY OF ONE!

Our Great Grandfather, Nicholas Strickland,
(Yep! Only One "great". That side of the
family was peopled by randy old men who
were still fathering kids into their 50's and 60's)
fought in the North Carolina 15 th Regiment
in the Civil War and was detailed as the
"Tar Heel Butcher". Let's Kick some Butt!
It's in Your DNA and those Stubborn Stem Cells
of Yours.

Love,
Sib