N ..... 0 ~ C ,, C -t I was sailing through my first year at Cedarville as an Early Childhood Education major and a starter on the NCCAA National Champion volleyball team when I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL} on March 22, 2006 at the Cleveland Clinic. I had not felt well for several weeks, and it was deduced that I had mono. However, after a trip to Greene Memorial Hospital in Xenia, a blood test showed that my white blood cells had risen very rapidly and that I had to be immediately transported to the Cleveland Clinic. After several weeks of aggressive chemotherapy, I was in remission. However, in June the leukemia manifested itself again in my spinal fluid. A decision was made by the doctors, my family, and me to prepare for a bone marrow transplant and go through full body chemo and radiation. After a donor search found no matches in the United States, a donor was found that matched in Europe. The transplant took place on Sept. 5, 2006. After nearly two months in the hospital, I was able to be released home. From the time of my diagnoses to after the transplant, I was hospitalized about half of the year. I battled some of the effects of graft vs. host disease after the transplant, but my body slowly but surely began to accept the donor's stem cells. I returned to Cedarville in the fall of 2007 and not only completed my freshman year, but finished my sophomore year, as well. I re-joined the volleyball team as a red shirt player. I am truly a miracle of God and a testimony of the faithfulness of God's people through the prayers of the body of Christ from Cedarville and throughout the world. Although I have faced and will face more challenges, my family and I praise Him for bringing me through this one step at a time. A running diary of my story can be found at www.carepages.com under 'praying4cari ' . _QIU GREETHAM Cari is an example to all with her smile even after numerous treatments. .. As a freshman, Cari had the opportunity to travel with Dr. and Mrs. Brown take some time to visit Cari. ther volleyball team on an overseas mission trip.
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