Jay Lord, 51, has been struggling with myelodysplastic syndrome for the last three years of his life. Also known as preleukemia, this disorder is the inability of the body to create blood cells. MDS causes Lord to be extremely anemic.
To combat the anemia and keep him alive, his body requires weekly transfusions. However, a person can only withstand so many transfusions because of iron overload.
The most effective way to fight this disease is stem cell surgery. But because of a weak liver caused by iron overload and excessive drinking when he was younger, Lord will be unable to withstand the procedure. Currently, he is undergoing a type of chemotherapy called arsenic trioxide.
The treatment requires him to be in the hospital five days a week for two consecutive weeks.
He has two weeks off between treatments but still must visit the hospital weekly if blood transfusions are needed.
