Michele Stoltenberg
In late December 2003 while snow skiing in South Dakota with family and friends, I was severely stricken by an Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia, a disorder where a malfunction of the immune system creates auto antibodies that attack the bodies red blood cells. Upon realizing that I was plagued by this disease again, for the second time in 17 years, I knew that I needed to get home to my doctor. The next day I was admitted to a local hospital. I was then transferred on to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, NE upon doctor's referral. She was adamant that I needed the care of a specialist to beat this affliction.
The Oncologist at Good Sam was very thorough with his assessment. He started researching my disease and consulting with the oncologists in Omaha who had treated me with this ailment in 1987 after the birth of my second child. The case was much more severe this time around. I underwent extensive plasmapheresis treatments at Good Sam from the Kearney Red Cross nurses (What GREAT gals!) trying to build my red blood cells back up. I went through procedures for about a week, when my blood started to respond and build up my hemoglobin numbers. That's when the doctors decided it was time to have a splenectomy to reduce my chances of my body killing off of my red blood cells again.
I was transferred again to Omaha where I underwent surgery, as Kearney didn't have a laparoscopic surgeon available at the time. Within a week of surgery, I was headed home after having spent 3 weeks in the hospital and having received 30+ units of blood products through my ordeal. Blood truly is the GIFT OF LIFE!! And for that I'm very thankful.
Michele Stoltenberg