|
A Marathon of Anguish and Grace
The Journey of Our Son's Bone Marrow Transplant for His Adrenoleukodystrophy
By: Leonard Wu
3881 Pleasant Valley Rd.
Brighton, MI 48114
Telephone: 810 227 2039
e-mail: nuhnuh1946@comcast.net
An Opening Word
Life had been routine. My career had been such that my wife Sue and I could choose it to be so to raise a brood
of three in an area 40 miles outside of Detroit, Michigan. People say stability is good for children. I suppose
what that implies is that change causes uncertainty, which in turn calls for adjustment. Inability to cope with
the harshness of life could lead to a feeling of out of control. As a husband and a father, I certainly had to
face the most exhausting crisis of my life-the diagnosis of my son's Adrenoleukodystrophy and the subsequent search
for a therapy or perhaps even a cure.
However, we were not alone. Humanity, community, friends and family had sheltered us physically and emotionally.
People today still express their interest and concern to members of my family about Kyle. I know they will keep
doing it until they see with their own eyes or are told that my son has reached his full recovery--the degree of
which or even whether he will live can only be hoped but no one knows for sure.
As for the struggles within, I had chosen to write this book to capture my personal feelings as events unfolded.
My initial motive was pure: I just wanted to reveal my inner self to help others to face their own life or death
crises. I chose to write it in the present tense because I wanted the reader to see and feel what I sensed at the
very instant of every happening. I wanted my journey to be alive and kicking.
The days and hours I spent in Kyle's hospital room presented the perfect opportunity for writing. Its therapeutic
value had been enormous as well.
My colleague Les Osenkowski at DaimlerChrysler has been the lone ardent supporter for my endeavor. His frequent
encouragement gave me the fuel to keep going when I was wavering. In fact, he is doing it again to urge me to publish
it. Reading by a few others such as Ruth Muir, Ellen Rothfeld and the Sleeping Bear Publishing told me that the
content was compelling. My gratitude goes to them as well.
May, 1999
This is just the opening of our journey through the Bone Marrow Transplant experience. Please select from the links
below to read the entire story.
Click here to read the whole story online.
Click here to download our story to read at your convenience. - Requires Adobe Acrobat
Home | About Kyle | Our Friends | Contact Us | Guestbook
|
