Kristin's Story
Amazing Graci was created in memory of Kristin Graci. Kristin was a graduate of Franklin High School's class of 2007. She attended Arizona State University fall of 2007. Kristin was diagnosed with AML Leukemia in April of 2008 at the very young age of 19. Kristin left Arizona State during her freshman year to fly back to Massachusetts to confirm her diagnosis and start treatment at Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
Kristin underwent her first induction round of chemotherapy in April of 2008 and achieved her first remission. In June of 2008 she received another round of chemotherapy to keep her in remission while the Bone Marrow Registry searched for a perfect match in hopes to perform a Bone Marrow Transplant for a possible cure for her Leukemia. In June the doctors called to let us know that a "Perfect Match" had been found. Her donor was a 26 year old young lady from Europe.
Kristin entered Brigham & Woman's Hospital on August 1, 2008 to start preparation for her bone marrow transplant. Preparation included total body irradiation for 3 1/2 days followed by 3 days of high dose chemotherapy. Kristin received stem cells from her donor on August 16th. She was released from the hospital on September 5, 2009 to begin her 6 month recovery in confinement at home to keep her safe from germs, infection and rejection.
In February of 2009 Kristin began to feel ill. March of 2009 Kristin relapsed with 30% Leukemia in her blood. Kristin entered Brigham & Woman's Hospital again the middle of March which lead to a 9 week hospital stay with many complications due to the chemotherapy. She was released on May 4, 2009 and awaited the next bone marrow biopsy to see if a second remission could be achieved. We received the miracle we had been hoping for...she achieved her second remission in hopes for a donor Lymphocyte Infusion from her original donor to strengthen her immune system and create a stronger graft Vs Leukemia affect.
Kristin progressed
well for the next several months with a continued complication of Graft
Vs Host Disease. GVHD is a complication, but a welcomed one in hopes
for a stronger Graft Vs Leukemia affect. In December of 2009 another
bone marrow biopsy showed continued remission. Although Kristin was
feeling ill, the doctors were assured she was not relapsing due to the
amount of GVHD she was experiencing. Kristin's ill feeling continued
until February of 2010.
After many tests and biopsies, it was
determined by the doctors that Kristin's Leukemia had returned in a
rare form outside her bone marrow. The Leukemia had found a way to
lurk in her intestines and soon travel into her Central Nervous System.
The Graft Vs Host Disease was held responsible for what the Leukemia
was doing to her body. Doctors removed all medications treating the
GVHD in panic, and hoped to let her immune system regain the strength
to battle the Leukemia.
With only a few options for treatment, the
doctors took away all her hope and dreams. They took away all medical
options to continue her battle against Leukemia which also included the
Donor Lymphocyte Infusion even while the cells remained frozen from a
previous donation from Kristin's original donor. The doctors sent
Kristin home with her weak immune system not strong enough to fight a
small infection.
She spent a couple of weeks seeking radiation and chemotherapy to her central nervous system hoping and praying her immune system would begin to work. Unknowing to us, Kristin was suffering a slow death from a bacterial infection and was rushed into Brigham and Woman's via ambulance. Kristin spent a week in the hospital and the doctors sent Kristin home on hospice. She spent a week at home surrounded by her family, her dog and a few close friends until she passed away on April 3, 2010.
Kristin fought her battle with an enormous amount of Hope, Faith, Courage & Strength. Kristin will forever be missed and continues to live in our hearts forever.
We will always remember Kristin's gracious fight, determination and will to live.
