Senior Justin Cross is not applying for a job. He is notplanning to graduate with his class.
He is trying to survive.
Cross received a bone-marrow transplant on Aug. 14 to combat theacute lymphoblastic leukemia he was diagnosed with three years ago.He was released from Indiana University Medical Center inSeptember. For about two months -- October and November, NationalMarrow Awareness Month -- he has recuperated in his hometown ofRichmond.
"I'm feeling OK," Cross said. "Physically, I've been progressing(ahead of) schedule, and I'm getting a little bit of energy back,but it's a slow process."
THE SEARCH
The journey began during Cross' freshman year after his leukemiadiagnosis. After learning of his condition, Cross continued to playgolf for Ball State's team, earning a varsity letter before hisdisease forced him to quit competing.
Cross first received chemotherapy, and his cancer went intoremission.
The leukemia recurred last year, and Cross had to consider hisnext option: a bone marrow transplant.
Cross and his family members' bone marrow were tested, butdoctors did not find a match with any of his relatives.
Doctors tend to look for potential donors among family first,especially siblings, American Red Crosss marrow donor coordinatorTraci Alexander said. Family members most likely carry thesimilarities required for the transplant.
After no match was found among the most obvious candidates, abone-marrow drive was held for Cross on campus this summer inconjunction with WNDH radio and Ball Memorial Hospital. Students,athletes, faculty members, Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham andCross' golf coach, Mike Fleck, were all tested. Althought no matchfor Cross was found, the drive was still worthwhile, said SharonRhodes, who works at Ball Memorial Hospital's Blood Bank and helpedorganize the event.
"It was very successful," Rhodes said. "We had funding for 60registrants, and that is how many people joined. Also, we had 89people donate at the blood drive."
Because of the number of people who volunteered to donate, allof the supplies used to collect bone marrow were exhausted.
"It was really nice what they did," Cross said. "I didn't expectthat many people."
THE TRANSPLANT
Cross was finally matched with a donor through the National BoneMarrow Registry. This list is similar to other transplant waitinglist; a patient's position on the list depends on how well they aredoing and what course of treatment they are receiving, Alexandersaid.
"We might have been looking for a long time, but then thepatient suddenly goes into remission, or is not strong enough fortransplantation and takes a turn for the worse," Alexander said."Any number of variables can affect the length of time someonewaits on that list."
Assuming no extraordinary circumstances, Alexander said, anaverage patient waits three to four weeks.
Cross said he still does not know the identity of the person whoprovided him with the bone marrow. If his treatment continues to gowell, he said, he will find out in one year the personal specificsof his donor.
"My donor was a perfect match even though they were unrelated tome," Cross said. "That's not rare, but it is unusual. Plus, therewas only one donor in the whole database that matched meperfectly."
The National Marrow Donor Program has facilitated more than15,000 transplants throughout the world, American Red Cross MarrowDonor Services program manager Jane Laws said.
Two types of bone-marrow transplants have been common proceduressince the mid-1980s. One procedure, similar to donating platelets,takes marrow from the blood stream.
The other donation is categorized as surgical. The patient isunder anesthesia when bone marrow is removed directly from theiliac crest, or hip bone. Because every person is different, somedonors experience only soreness. Others say the procedure is verypainful, Alexander said.
Leukemia patients usually have a 35-to-40-percent survival rateafter the bone marrow transplant, Alexander said.
"That doesn't sound like a lot when it's taken out of context,but before this transplant existed, the survival rate was zero,"Alexander said. "Some people go on to live very healthy lives; somedo not, and it just depends on how well your body accepts (thetransplant)."
THE FIRST 100 DAYS
The first 100 days after a transplant are critical, Cross said.After that, acceptance of the marrow is still not 100-percentcertain, but Cross' said his doctor assured him he would be able todo what he wants to do.
For Cross, this means enrolling for the spring semester andfinishing his degree.
"I'm well enough to get out of the house about once a week andgo visit my friends in Muncie, but after 100 days I'll hopefullyhave more freedom to get out," Cross said. "Plus, I'll be cuttingmy doctors' visits to once a month instead of weekly."
Cross was able to travel to campus on Oct. 4 to cheer on histeammates in their home tournament.
"He was supporting the team and is doing real good," Fleck said."He's moving on the right track, but he's still in the cautiousstage. His immune system is weak, so he's susceptible toillnesses."
Fleck, who has known Cross since his freshman year, stays intouch with the golfer and visited him in the hospital thissummer.
"To put someone in the situation he is in, and to deal with itthe way he has ... impresses me so much," Fleck said. "He has sucha positive attitude and is upbeat every day. Even right after thetransplant, when he was still in the hospital, his spirit was sohigh."
Before the transplant, Cross said he had prepared as much aspossible after chemotherapy and radiation, which left him veryweak. He was required to stay in the hospital for about one weekfollowing his procedure to gain strength and eat on his own.Including pre-operation, the transplant and post-operation care,Cross stayed in the hospital for about 26 days before returninghome.
"I can't really have a job right now because my immune system isweak, and I can't be around too many people, so I'm trying to dosome productive stuff by reading and occupy my time somehow," Crosssaid.
Because Cross is immuno-suppressed, he must take 13prescriptions daily. Cross has also developed an infection in theIV in his chest that doctors used for medication. The chest IV hadto be removed. On Oct. 29, he returned to the hospital so doctorscould put another line in his arm. He was not admitted, though. Henow has to take IV drip antibiotics twice a day for two weeks athome to fight the infection.
"I just do it by myself," Cross said. "It's really no bigdeal."
Through all of the diagnoses, treatments and hospital stays,Cross has taken a different approach to what many would view as anegative experience.
"It's been a good experience," Cross said. "Going through theoriginal chemo, I realized life was something I took for grantedhere at school. Then, with the reccurrence, it was a shock. It'snot over yet, and I need to stay focused on what God wants in mylife. So, it's been good in terms of that."
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