How Karen Conquered Cancer: Her Husband's Story

Karen Volpe, a typical wife and mother of three was struck with a rare, but curable form of leukemia called AML. After five puzzling days at a local hospital, Karen was transferred to the Indiana University Medical Center, where Dr. Larry Cripe directed her treatment. A remarkable recovery and the achievement of remission occurred miraculously 45 days into the odyssey using a traditional, yet corrosive form of chemotherapy. Karen continued receiving chemotherapy over the course of a two-year maintenance program. However, near the end of the program she relapsed, this time with the leukemia manifesting itself via swelling in the brain. She was able to achieve a second complete molecular remission, allowing for the use of her own stem cells for an autologous bone marrow transplant. Karen's recovery is made possible, not only due to her enduring spirit and modern medicine, but also in large part because of an outpouring of overwhelming support from numerous family members and friends.