“I got the jackpot of my life from my brother”
In June 2024, Marika Kunnari from Oulu was puzzled by the sudden onset of back and chest pain. The pain did not ease, so she called the emergency department in Rovaniemi during her workday. What started as a doctor’s visit unexpectedly turned into a process lasting several months.
Four months in the hospital
”I told my husband that I was going to see a doctor and would be back in a few hours. My computer was left open on the kitchen table,” Marika Kunnari recalls.
”At the Lapland Central Hospital, I underwent tests and eventually ended up staying the night for observation. However, it became clear during the day that the chest pain was not heart-related. The next morning, two doctors came to my room and informed me that we had bad news,” she recounts the events.
The diagnosis was acute leukemia, and treatments would begin immediately. An ambulance ride to Oulu would arrive in an hour.
”I managed to call home to ask if they could bring me some change of clothes,” Marika recalls.
Stem cell donor found nearby
Chemotherapy started two days after the diagnosis. Marika’s condition was weak throughout the first month.
”I practically had to be in isolation for the first month, as the chemotherapy made me feel so poorly and caused all sorts of symptoms.”
Right from the start, Marika was informed that a stem cell transplant would be a very likely treatment option.
”The treatment pathway was clear. However, I was very afraid of the stem cell transplant and whether a suitable donor could be found.”
Fortunately, this time, a lifesaver was very close.
Marika’s brother, Santtu Väyrynen, immediately underwent further testing upon hearing that the best stem cell donor might be found in the family. It took a couple of weeks to wait for the results.
”The most emotional moment of the whole process was when I heard that my brother was a suitable donor for me. The relief was overwhelming when my brother’s suitability was confirmed. This was a bigger deal for me than the leukemia diagnosis itself,” Marika shares.
Successful treatment
Marika’s treatment progressed as planned towards the stem cell transplant, which was scheduled for October 2024. The siblings each followed their own process, which fortunately went smoothly for both of them without any issues.
”For my brother, the donation went smoothly: he managed to lie down for about four hours in Meilahti while the stem cells were collected from his bloodstream while he was awake.”
”I received the new stem cells during a half-hour infusion. After the transplant, I stayed in the hospital for three weeks. In the days leading up to the stem cell transplant, the associated medication caused an allergic reaction, but there were no adverse effects from the transplant itself. However, I had been prepared for various symptoms because they had been explained to me in advance.”
Blood type changes
Marika’s condition began to improve shortly after the stem cell transplant.
“I received regular red blood cell preparations after the transplant because my hemoglobin levels remained low. My brother and I had different blood types before the transplant, which initially caused issues with the formation of new red blood cells.”
Gradually, the hemoglobin levels began to rise, and as is common after a stem cell transplant, Marika’s blood type changed to match her brother’s.
“We both get to be the best type A,” Marika laughs.
Thanks to the donors and medical staff
Currently, Marika Kunnari is doing well and has returned to work. The computer that was left on the table has been opened again after months.
“Every day, I feel grateful for this new opportunity in life. With stem cell donors, there is no guarantee that a donor will be found within one’s close circle. I am also extremely grateful to blood donors. The donated blood kept me standing, and with each red blood cell transfusion, I felt significantly better.”
Marika has great appreciation for Finnish healthcare.
“Everything went wonderfully the entire time; I can only thank the medical staff,” she says.
Peer support for others with leukemia
Now, Marika Kunnari feels that her illness has become an accepted part of her life experience. She has, for example, enrolled in peer support training for those who have had leukemia. Overall, the best part is ordinary daily life.
“It may sound strange, but what I missed the most in the hospital was the dull routine of everyday life and the repetition of ordinary things.”
“Of course, the significance of my family has been and is incredibly immense. I feel that there are a million silver linings in the experience of a serious illness. It has been an enormous learning experience, and not in a bad way at all.”
“The leukemia diagnosis was undoubtedly a shock, but I never thought during the entire illness, ‘why me.’ I just wanted to hope for the best and move forward. I feel that thanks to the stem cell transplant and my brother, I have won the jackpot in life,” Marika summarizes.
World Stem Cell Donor Day is celebrated this year on September 20th.
