First Person: Tess Garrett
Platelet donors helped her through 'darkest hours'
At the annual platelet donor brunch, Tess Garrett offers thanks and moving words.
My name is Tess Garrett, and I am in remission from acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). When I received a call from the Kraft Center asking me to speak at this celebration, I accepted for a very selfish reason. I believed to my core that my donors would be sitting in this room, and I needed you to know that thoughts of you start in my heart and run through every fiber of my being. I wanted you to hear my voice and feel the warmth of my tears. Without you, my story would have ended long ago.
It was Feb. 4, 2003, when I literally crawled into the doctor's office. By day's end, I was advised to call an ambulance and get to the hospital because, I was told, "Your life is in jeopardy. You have leukemia." That day marked the beginning of my journey with cancer.
I learned that I had a hostile disease that needed to be fought aggressively. I was to have two rounds of high-dose chemotherapy, anticipating remission between each round. If all went well, I would then receive more chemo and an autologous stem cell transplant [using Garrett's own stem cells that would be removed and then re-infused]. With stable health and a continuous remission, I would make a one-year commitment to a clinical trial to test the safety and effectiveness of a vaccine for AML patients. My thought was that if there is hope of reducing relapse or finding a cure, put me on that train!
I had a jagged first round of chemo. Several days later, I developed a bad headache, and my urine was scarlet red. Although I was receiving blood and platelets, they were not helping because my body was destroying them as fast as they could be poured into me. I quickly turned into a "worst-case scenario," with all my counts dangerously low. An operation was required to relieve the pressure on my brain, and I needed many transfusions. The risk of infection was high, but without platelets matching my own platelets' HLA [human leukocyte antigen] type, my bigger risk was from hemorrhaging.
Tess Garrett (center) marks the anniversary of her transplant with Drs. Nancy Lin and Daniel DeAngelo.
The Kraft Center searched its data bank, and Dr. Nancy Lin — my constant among many physicians — called in my family to test their platelets. My oldest brother, Gary, was a match, but the Kraft Center needed time to process his platelets before I could receive them. We turned to the pool of community donors and found a close match, but it was not close enough. My body wouldn't accept these platelets and went to work destroying the intruders, along with some of my allies. This set me back into a serious state. Several days later, by the grace of God, a random donor matched well enough to stabilize me until my brother's platelets could be used — and I could begin my recovery.
During this ordeal, Kraft Center staff worked with my doctors to keep a close eye on my counts while trying not to deplete my donors' supply. These volunteers came in frequently and made plans to donate and vacation around my upcoming treatments. Giving platelets is not a simple process; it involves sitting still for 90 minutes while your blood is removed from one arm, run through a cell-separating machine to collect platelets, then returned to your body through your other arm. I am tremendously grateful for such commitment. You were my lifeline.
Dedication to a stranger
We all had a few months off to recover, and round two of my treatment went smoothly in comparison to the first. My donors just kept banking priceless platelets until I could hold my own. I often watched these bags of cells drain into my body, knowing that someone out there was saving my life. Tears still fill my eyes when I think of you and your dedication to a stranger.
Round three involved pre-transplant chemotherapy to eradicate my bone marrow and jump-start it with healthy cells. Dr. Lin and Lou Goldberg from the Kraft Center thought we had all our ducks in a row until we discovered that my brother couldn't give because of a virus he'd been exposed to. My counts were dropping, and my two donors were approaching their limit, so we had to dip back into the random pool until we found another match! We weren't sure how my immune system would respond. Fear took over my soul.
So, back we went, and the first draw was a match for my HLA type. I clearly remember that day. I was in my room at Brigham and Women's waiting for my counts, a daily ritual that gave me hope of going home when they were climbing — and filled me with panic when they fell. Tapping the pool of community donors was a scary time, to say the least, but those three saw me through the post-transplant transfusions until I could produce my own blood.
I believe people cross our paths for a reason, and my truly committed donors were sent to give me a second chance. Whoever you are, I pray you are here to see the tears of gratitude I shed. Drs. Lin and Daniel DeAngelo [both of Dana-Farber], you are my heroes. You walked me through my darkest hours and into the light. Without you, my donors, and hundreds of other staff members, today would not be happening. You are my dream team!"