Our journey towards Sienna’s bone marrow transplant is moving faster than we originally anticipated. We recently learned that her BMT date has been moved up to November 3rd.<\/strong> While we are grateful to be moving closer to what we pray will be her cure, the reality of everything ahead is beginning to sink in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We Have Donor News!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Out of seven potential donors, two have been identified as possible matches!<\/strong> One of those donors is now going through the necessary medical testing and evaluation to determine whether they can move forward with donating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We are praying that everything with the donor evaluation goes smoothly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What the Road Ahead Looks Like<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As we approach November, Sienna’s roadmap is becoming very real, and the next several weeks will be some of the most challenging of her journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now through November 2nd \u2014 Pre-Transplant Testing and Preparation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sienna will undergo extensive testing of her heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs to make sure her body is ready for transplant. Mayo Clinic will also complete her radiation positioning and planning, preparing her for the total body irradiation she will receive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, her potential donor is undergoing the necessary testing and evaluation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n November 3rd\u201311th \u2014 Conditioning: Radiation and Chemotherapy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is when the really difficult part begins. Sienna will undergo her conditioning regimen, which includes chemotherapy and 12 Gy of total body irradiation (TBI).<\/p>\n\n\n\n These treatments are designed to eliminate remaining leukemia cells, suppress her immune system, and prepare her body to receive her donor’s healthy stem cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We know these days will be physically demanding, and the possible side effects and complications are frightening. But every treatment has a purpose, and every day brings us closer to transplant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n November 12th \u2014 DAY ZERO!<\/strong> \u2764\ufe0f<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is Sienna’s official bone marrow transplant day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this day, she is scheduled to receive her donor’s healthy stem cells through an IV. Those cells will hopefully find their way into her bone marrow, begin growing, and eventually start producing healthy blood cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is incredible to think that after everything she has endured, this day could mark the beginning of an entirely new chapter in her life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n November 13th and Beyond \u2014 Recovery and Engraftment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Following transplant, Sienna will enter a very delicate period as we wait for her donor’s cells to begin working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her immune system will be extremely vulnerable, and her medical team will closely monitor her for infections, graft-versus-host disease, and other possible complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We will be waiting for a very important milestone called engraftment<\/em>, when the donor’s stem cells begin producing new blood cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The First 100 Days \u2014 A New Beginning<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The first 100 days after transplant will be an especially important time for healing, monitoring, and protecting her new immune system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There will be medications, frequent appointments, precautions, and hopefully many small victories worth celebrating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We know recovery will continue long beyond those first 100 days, but we are choosing to focus on each milestone as it comes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n November 12th is more than a date on our calendar. It represents hope. A chance for healing. A chance for a new beginning.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Please continue to pray for Sienna, for her potential donor, for her medical team, and for our family as we prepare for this next chapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thank you to everyone who continues to love her, support her, pray for her, and follow her journey. We feel that love more than you know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One day at a time. One milestone at a time. One step closer to a cure.<\/strong> \ud83e\udde1<\/p>\n\n\n\n Welcome to Sienna’s page! We’ll be posting all updates exclusively here. I’m Shasta, Sienna’s aunt, and I’ll be keeping you all informed about the family and sharing any updates, stories, pictures, videos, events and more. While you have all been curious about what’s been happening over the past few weeks, Sharwin has typed up a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2625,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-94","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cota.org\/cotaforsiennasjourney\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6822\/2026\/10\/Sienna-and-Chip-edited-785x1024.jpg\")