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URL http://www.rockymountainbmt.com/patient_stories/Janice-Gangl-23.html

Janice Gangl

For most transplant patients, dealing with the transplant itself is hard enough. Janice Gangl was hit with a double whammy of chemotherapy and a partial hip replacement in the months leading up to her autologous transplant on August 17, 2000. In the year and a half prior to her transplant, Janice dealt with so much weakness and pain that the transplant itself was almost a relief. A diagnosis of multiple myeloma in February of 2000 was what finally set her on the transplant path and brought to light a previously unnoticed hip fracture.

“Not knowing what was wrong with me for so long was really terrifying,” said Janice. “By the time the cancer diagnosis came I was so weak emotionally, mentally and physically that it was hard for me to even be phased by it.”

As Janice’s transplant approached, she channeled her thoughts to the light at the end of the tunnel – being normal again. She wanted to make sure that she could be there for her three children, grandchildren and her husband Mike who wholeheartedly acted as her primary caregiver. It was her children’s visits and support that lifted her spirits every day. He’s accomplishing her goal by taking things one day at a time.

If the best of times can exist while waiting for a transplant, Janice experienced them at The Rocky Mountain Blood and Marrow Transplant Program. The hope and humor radiating from Dr. Brunvand and the rest of the staff made each day better.

“I was confident that everyone in the program knew what they were doing if something went wrong,” said Janice. “During a very scary time Dr. Brunvand was a shining light.”