From March 26 through June 28, Barb Balster faithfully tended to her younger sister Kristi’s needs as she battled against myelofibrosis — a serious bone marrow disorder that disrupts the body’s normal production of blood cells.
All of her siblings were tested to find a bone marrow match, and the results showed that their younger sister Sheryl was a match.
Soon after, Sheryl and her family drove to Phoenix from Minnesota and started the testing process to ensure she was healthy enough to donate. Sheryl immediately started her five day series of Nuepogen shots, which aids the body in the production of white blood cells.
After five days, the doctors harvested the cells and performed the transplant. The painful process of harvesting took five hours. The transplant took about one hour and was painless. Kristi now has 100% of Sheryl’s, DNA. The next step was finding a place to stay for the rest of her treatment.
“The good folks at Mayo Clinic recommended Editha House,” says Barb. “My first impression was very positive because of the friendly staff and how clean the facility was. However, I was nervous and scared not knowing what to expect as a caregiver. To start, I found the nearest Safeway and stocked our fridge and figured out the route to the Mayo Clinic. I was officially a caregiver.”
Barb Balster, Caregiver
Among Barb’s fondest memories are the community meals at Editha House because they allowed her to meet other guests. “The volunteers were all very caring individuals,” says Barb. “It warms my heart to know that people care enough to volunteer.”
Barb is the first to admit that there were challenges on their three-month journey as well.
“Preparing to leave home and being displaced for so long was a major adjustment. I also found the silence difficult at times as Kristi was recuperating. She kept to herself a lot. In time I came to realize, that if in her shoes, I would probably be reserved as well.”
Having to deal with an illness can be all-consuming. Everyone’s experience will be different. Barb advises other caregivers to be patient, supportive and encouraging. Reach out to others if you need emotional support. Take help if offered. Try to bring positive energy to the situation.
“I feel blessed that I was able to take care of my sister. Being retired, I was thankful I had the time. My biggest reward as Kristi’s caregiver was seeing her get better.”