Anniversary

A year ago from yesterday the 29th, I was in the hospital getting this from my sister.

I am amazed at how time flies. I can't believe that it's been an entire year since I got my bone marrow transplant. At times, it seems like the year took forever, but when I look at the year as a whole, it seemed to fly. I'm so grateful for how well things have gone. I've made it through without any major illnesses(just 2 colds with no fever!) Thank goodness because if I get a fever, I have to be admitted to the hospital for treatment. I have had the graft vs host, but it is now under control.

I though for sure by this time last year, I'd be able to be out and about as much as I wanted, but my body seems to have a different plan. My t-cells aren't progressing much because I'm on immune suppressants. I'm on steroids for 2 more months, and then they should start weaning me off the immune suppressants. My doctor says that going down on the steroids should help my t-cells come back faster. My t-cells have been all over the place with the highest being 230 and hitting an ultimate low 1 month ago being the same count as when I left St. Jude in Sept 09. They are making their way back up, step by step. It is hard to predict where they will be in a couple months or if they will continue to progress up. For now, I'm just crossing my fingers that they just move up fast(with fast being the key word).

I think about the past 2 times I was diagnosed with leukemia and went the chemo route for 2 1/2 years both times. Physically, that was harder because I would get sick and just seeing the chemo would make me sick. I got to the point where I could smell the chemo even though it was in a bag. Emotionally, it was easier because once I went to maintenance(where I went in once a week for chemo instead of everyday), I could be out an about and have a normal lifestyle.

This time around with the transplant, physically it was been a piece of cake. Before my actual transplant, I did chemo for 2 1/2 months and was done!! Beside the minor side effect from the steroids, I've felt well. However, emotionally, this has been harder. I have my ups and downs. At times, things will be going emotionally fine. Then, something triggers and I think about my limitations/ being so restricted. That bring me down. I vent, let it all out, and I'm back up. Everyone said that going through a transplant would be much harder. At first, I thought wow this is so easy because physical I feel just fine. Well, when your emotional come into play, it can over take things. I know though that your emotions are something you can control. You decided how your attitude will be each day. After I vent, I try to stay positive. One thing that helps me stay positive is being around my family. This week, I've had my 2 sisters and their kids around. Things are pretty exciting around here with 3 nieces and 1 nephew at the ages of 5, 3, 2, and 4 months! I love them!

(My hair 1 year after my transplant!)