To borrow a phrase from Abby Burns' favorite sport, the TWU softball standout is hoping she's about to "round third and head for home" in her battle against leukemia.
The 21-year-old student-athlete, who has undergone nearly seven months of treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) since being diagnosed in January, is facing the next stage of her fight this week when she begins a bone marrow transplant process. Earlier this summer, a perfect stem cell match was found through the national bone marrow registry, allowing Burns' doctors to schedule what she hopes will be the final stage of her recovery process.
"They couldn't make a date for the transplant until they found a donor, so we were just kind of waiting around," Burns said. "Then once you find a match, it takes about a month because [the donor] has to go do their physical and then it takes another week or so while they're giving their stem cells."
Burns, who has been through four chemotherapy sessions already, will have to undergo one more this week in preparation for her bone marrow transplant. She will receive more chemotherapy and radiation treatment at Baylor Medical City in Dallas before her stem cell transplant operation.
Doctors have told her to anticipate a three-week hospital stay and perhaps as long as a six-month recovery period. But the soft-spoken Burns hopes to cut that time in half while completing work for her final two classes this fall and looking ahead to graduation in May 2012.
"Physically, I feel fine," said the Pioneers' pitcher and power hitter, who batted .327, hit seven home runs and tossed 82 1/3 innings as a junior in 2010. "I've been going to classes this spring. You can tell you're not as strong as before. I mean, I couldn't go out and play softball like before. But I feel fine.
"As long as this works, and in two or three months I don't need any more chemo, I'll be OK. I've heard a lot of stories from people who have undergone this and they're fine. That helps a little bit."
Since then, the TWU athletic department continues to spearhead a support drive that includes numerous businesses and organizations both regionally and nationally who have stepped up through fund-raising efforts to help with Burns' medical expenses. Among them:
Ten area university softball programs sold and wore orange bracelets (the color chosen to represent the fight against leukemia) during their 2011 seasons.
UNT and UT-Arlington played a pair of charity games on Burns' behalf and raised more than $1,700 for her medical expenses.
Denton Boys Baseball donated a portion of the proceeds from its Spring 2011 Benefit Tournament to Burns.
The Lone Star Conference, of which TWU is a member, raised $2,200 for Burns from its LSC Crossover Tournament this spring.
In June, Burns was invited to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the opening game of the championship series at the NCAA Division I Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City. She was also featured in a four-page story in the official Series program.
And just recently, Burns was invited to a Texas Rangers game and got the chance to meet and hear words of encouragement from one of her favorite players, Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler.
Meanwhile, Burns bravely faces more months of recovery time while remaining positive and focused on the future. With the pre-physical therapy degree she plans to obtain next spring, Burns wants to continue her education and will apply to graduate school during her recovery this fall.
And if all goes well, Burns hopes to complete her softball career in 2012 with her final season in a Pioneers uniform.
