Lori's story: From MDS diagnosis to remission
When Lori Martin first heard her doctor say she had cancer, her mind went blank.
"It felt as though the world had stopped spinning," she said. "I don't remember much else from that appointment."
Beginning at age 56, the Woodstock resident started feeling gradually more tired and had less energy. Everyday tasks became increasingly difficult, and she initially wondered whether menopause might be to blame.
Soon after turning 59, she saw an endocrinologist, who ordered tests that eventually led to a referral to oncologist Dr. Lynn Zemsky at Georgia Cancer Specialists in June 2021.
By that August, a bone marrow biopsy revealed the cause: myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS. It is a group of blood disorders in which the bone marrow produces abnormal blood cells and does not make enough healthy blood cells. Some forms of MDS can progress to acute myeloid leukemia.
"I just remember being told we had to act quickly and begin treatment," Lori said.
Less than a month later, Lori was referred to The Blood and Marrow Transplant of Georgia (BMTGA) clinic at Northside Hospital Atlanta, where she was under the care of Dr. Larry Morris until he retired. Dr. Joseph Maakaron took over her care.
Early on, Lori’s care team, including advanced practice provider Alex Tuuk, explained her diagnosis and treatment options, which included a bone marrow transplant.
"Knowing there was a plan brought me a great deal of comfort," she said.
Finding a matched bone marrow donor was the first step. As one of five sisters, Lori assumed one of her siblings would be a suitable donor. But none were a match.
While the donor identification process was underway, Lori received three rounds of chemotherapy to keep the MDS under control. Finally, after an extensive search, the transplant team found a compatible donor via the National Bone Marrow Registry’s global network. The donor was a 19-year-old man from Germany, a country with one of the largest bone marrow donor registries in the world.
Lori then started high-dose chemotherapy to prepare her body for the stem cell infusion, which took place in February 2022.
The transplant itself took less than an hour, she said.
"I remember feeling both excited and nervous, wondering if my body would accept my donor's stem cells," Lori said.
The months that followed were much more difficult.
Recovery became a full-time job, requiring daily trips to the BMTGA clinic for blood work, monitoring and transfusions. She was taking numerous medications and watching closely for signs of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a potential complication of a stem cell transplant in which donor immune cells attack the recipient's tissues.
Lori did eventually develop GVHD, which affected her gums, eyes and stomach and required treatment with high-dose steroids and additional medications to manage the steroid side effects.
Midnight emergency room trips dotted her path to recovery, and she struggled with nausea, weight loss and changes in her sense of taste. Foods she had enjoyed for years suddenly became difficult to eat.
"Thankfully, the transplant team assured me this would improve with time, and they were right," she said. “The BMTGA staff were so sweet and talked me through every step.”
Lori's loved ones also found ways to encourage and support her. One of her greatest blessings, she said, was a gift from her daughter and niece. They had asked family and friends to write messages of support, prayers and scripture on small pieces of paper and placed them in a jar.
Each morning, Lori and her husband, Pat, her devoted caregiver, would pull out a note.
"I truly cannot put into words how much those notes meant to us during some of the hardest days of our lives," she said.
Finally, 100 days after her transplant, tests showed Lori was in complete remission.
"I got to ring the bell," she exclaimed. "I am feeling good. I’m on a workout regimen to regain my strength and to stay active."
Today, Lori remains cancer-free and said her experience has given her a deeper appreciation for her family, her faith and the people who cared for her. One of her greatest treasures, she said, has been living to meet her grandchildren and watch them grow.
"This journey taught me that while cancer may change your life, it does not have to define it," she said. "Through faith, love and the kindness of others, there is hope — even in the hardest seasons."