Judy Randazzo hopes that 2006 will be the year she can get back to work as a registered nurse.

Randazzo, a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Oakville, is successfully recovering from a bone marrow transplant to treat her acute myeloid leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow.

"I was certainly shocked to begin with, because I’ve been a well person all of my life," said 53-year-old Randazzo.

Almost two years ago, she said, she went to the doctor after experiencing fatigue and back pain. After a round of tests, doctors at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in Creve Coeur diagnosed her with the illness.

After trying several months of drug therapy, Randazzo said she was sent to Barnes-Jewish Hospital for a bone marrow transplant, which she received in October 2004.

Bone marrow, defined as the soft, spongelike tissue of bones where blood cells are made, is considered a source of adult stem cells, which the Church teaches is an ethical source for stem-cell treatments.

Randazzo’s donation came from the National Marrow Donor Program. The program facilitates an average of 200 marrow or blood cell transplants every month and has helped more than 20,000 patients.

"I have written my donor, but I do not know who the donor is," she said, adding she believes the person is female and from another country. "No words can ever express a thank you like this."

The transplant, said Randazzo, seems to have been a success. The cells have grafted in her body, and her blood type has officially changed from O-positive to A-positive.

"The first 100 days was a real critical point," she said. "I am still receiving immune globulin (treatments) to keep my immunity up, but I am getting my strength and stamina back.

"I have to get the vaccines of childhood again," she said, because of the change in her blood type.

For the past several years, the state of Missouri has become the setting for a heated debate over the use of human embryos for stem-cell research. Supporters of embryonic stem-cell research have launched an initiative to protect such research in the language of the Missouri constitution.

The Church has repeatedly taught that embryonic stem-cell research uses a procedure called somatic cell nuclear transfer, more simply known as human cloning. Through this procedure, the needed stem cells are derived, thus killing the human embryo.

Asked how she feels about human embryos as a source for stem-cell research and treatments, Randazzo said: "I don’t feel that’s right in order to save someone else’s life — to save my life."

"I am very thankful my donor is (a source of) adult stem cells," said Randazzo.

Randazzo said she is working at regaining her strength so she can return to her normal work schedule as a nurse at a private pediatrics practice near St. Anthony’s Medical Center in South County.

"I also want to help other people in this situation," said Randazzo, noting that she is interested in volunteer work with other cancer patients. "Knowing somebody that went through it would be a big help to someone going through it, because it’s such a scary situation."

She credited the support of her parish, friends and family, including husband Joseph and daughters Jennifer and Jackie, for their support through the ordeal. She also noted that her faith has given her the courage to keep going.

"It’s going very well, and I just cannot thank them enough," she said. "I have had excellent doctors and nurses — people to guide me."

The above article was written by Jennifer Brinker and appeared in the St. Louis Review on January 13, 2006.