Former Emporian Lisa Spillman Mesa has returned to her home in Broken Arrow, Okla., after spending a month in a Tulsa hospital, receiving extreme doses of chemotherapy to treat her leukemia.
Mesa, the daughter of Emporian Judy Spillman Welch and the late Glen Spillman, was diagnosed with leukemia about seven weeks after giving birth to a son, Logan, in August of this year. She and her husband, Manny, are parents of another son, Aiden, 2.
Mesa, a physical therapist assistant, also is the granddaughter of Beulah Spillman and Opal Dacus, Emporia. She completed an internship at Emporia Physical Therapy and Fitness while working toward her degree.
She was a top player for the Emporia High School basketball team when she graduated in 1995, was a member of the 4x4 relay team that won the state track meet, and was a three-time winner of the International Pancake Race, representing Liberal in its annual contest against Olney, England.
Friends in the Broken Arrow area have set up an account to receive donations to help with medical expenses, and are planning a bean-bag tournament on Nov. 8. Area residents who want to make donations to the fund may send them to “Lisa Mesa Arvest Cares Account,” 5220 S. Garnett Road, Tulsa OK 74146. A Route 66 run is planned on Nov. 16. A co-worker who is running in the race is collecting sponsorships that will be given to the Mesas. People who have questions may call Charlie or Shelly Moffitt, (913) 806-6292 or Matt and Laurie Cain, (913) 637-2062.
If doctors are able to get Mesa’s cancer into remission, when her blood counts improve, she hopes to be able to have a bone marrow transplant at Baylor University in Dallas, according to her aunt, Jeanne Turner of Emporia. Until then, she is undergoing further treatment as an outpatient, to raise her white blood-cell count and prepare her for the next step in treatment.
“She has to go to the hospital every day, or every-other day, for up to eight hours,” Turner said.
Mesa is scheduled to go to Dallas for a preliminary consultation late next week. Her sister, Lora, will be tested to see if she is a good donor for Mesa. If she is not, Turner said, five other potential donors have been found on the national registry.
E-mail messages may be sent to her at lisa_mesa@hotmail.com.
hawks422 (anonymous) says...
It goes without saying our thoughts & prayers are with Lori Spillman-Meza. Although I'm not familiar with Lori, I have become aware of Leukemia through an old high school buddy (former emporians) who's son who just turned 3 years old is battling the disease. His name is Dylan Dragoo & his father is Joel Dragoo (Emporia High Class of 1989). If anyone is interested in learining about Dylan's battle they can check out his website http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ddd.... When dealing with these types of disease it means a lot to the families to have the communites rally behind them. Anyway, we continue to pray for these individuals that they can return to a normal healthy life.
October 31, 2008 at 2:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tnicka (anonymous) says...
Hi! I am the one running in the Route 66 Marathon on Sunday November 16th. Please note that the area code in the story should be 918. Please call if you are interested in sponsoring my run or the beanbag tourney/donating to the Lisa Mesa Arvest Cares account. You can contact me at tnicka@aol with questions regarding the account or the run.
November 3, 2008 at 11:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jaalbrecht (anonymous) says...
I am rh A- blood. If I can help. I am listed at bone marrow register. 1-704-467-4494. Julie
November 7, 2008 at 8:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jmason (anonymous) says...
Mrs. Welch,
My name is Jeanne Mason. Three years ago I fell and hurt my arm. Lisa worked with me, on and off for about a year. You get to know a person when they work on you for about 20 minutes, three times a week for a year. Lisa shared her love for you and her Kansas family. She told me about being raised there and being on the basketball team and going to college. Lisa loved growing-up there. You were loved very much by your wonderful daughter.
I know that Lisa was so very happy in her life with Manny here in Broken Arrow. She shared how he and the neighbors around them were thick-as-thieves, and how her life with these neighbors made her life so happy.
When Lisa was working with me, she only had Aiden and was ready to get pregnant again. Lisa so loved the little guy. One of the Aiden stories I remember the most was when he was around one and had gotten a cold that settled in his eye. She was always telling me how he always had a smile on his face. Well, one morning she was busy getting ready for work and she looked over at Aiden on her bed, with one eye completely shut with matting, and a great big smile on his face. She said he looked like a little drunk old man.
My heart is hurting for you, her family, and her neighbors.
Sincerly,
Jeanne Mason, BA
May 22, 2009 at 1:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )