12/23/2009- Merry Christmas! Although by the looks of the storm that's moved in I'm thinking Christmas might get canceled this year. I'm ashamed I've taken this long to post again. What can I say? I was living life instead of being holed up in front of a computer screen and let me tell you living life has been FANTASTIC!
Let's see. Since we've got a lot of catching up to I'll keep it brief. My last post was done after just completing my stem cell transplant (09/29/2009, my new birthday). I am happy to report it was a complete success! Shortly before Thanksgiving I underwent a series of scans and I'm officially PET Negative. Translation: I am cancer free! Hang on though, there is a, "but". With the scans they did find two spots within my chest that looked like potential trouble. Since the Big C decided to make a return appearance the last time the doctors felt it was best for me to complete a course of radiation with the hopes that the radiation would essentially be beating a dead horse so to speak. I did radiation for two weeks, Monday through Friday experiencing only mild side effects. I will have my next round of scans in February. If at that time things are still looking good (which I continue to pray for) I will have check ups one time every 12 weeks until further notice.
Recovery from my stem cell transplant was beyond hell; there is just no other way to put it. Your entire immune system is wiped out completely, which means all of your cells are wiped out along with it and you wait for your body to regenerate itself. I wasn't allowed to be alone for 21 days post transplant because even something as small as a low grade fever could cause severe complications including death. This is where it gets entertaining though. The original plan was to get through transplant and then Ruth (my mom whom I've referred to by name since I was a teenager) would be home with me three days a week and other folks would come for the other two. You'd think we could've managed to get that part to go according to plan, but in a nutshell: not so much.
Just after completing transplant Ruth decided the deck needed to be swept. As many of you know we have a tiered deck and when she went down on to the lower tier her knee gave out which caused her to dislocate all of her toes and break her leg just above the ankle, and so the circus commenced.
The decision to move back home once we learned I'd have to run another course of treatment was made shortly before starting chemo in August (the goal was to have everything completed by the time I entered the hospital for transplant.) Being home helped however because Ruth was considered M.I.A. we were left to scramble to get the hours my Dad couldn't cover. Now I have to pause here because its one thing to swallow your pride and admit you need help when you're as independent as I am and it's another thing to move home at 32 years old, both of which I did. However neither of those compare to having to call upon family and friends and ask them to come babysit you at 32 years old. To say I'm blessed is such an understatement. I had such a tremendous group between my family and friends that finding care for those first three weeks was no problem. Between people taking time to cover and others bringing food so we wouldn't have to worry about meals, the outpouring of support was just tremendous.
We made it through recovery and as each day came I was able to do a little more. Never in my life have I been so challenged by my body. I can't even begin to put into words what its like to not be able to be in control. For example, you know you have to eat but you physically can't. At one point I couldn't even eat an individual size serving of yogurt because it was just too much. I remember complaining that I felt I was climbing Mount Everest without proper supplies. As I said before recovery was beyond hell but it was worth it because I'm PET Negative. I was willing to do anything to be cured and I told the doctors, "Do what you've got to do. If you can cure me by parading me naked in front of all of China, book the flight. I can be on the next plane cause I won't need to take anything with me."
I'm officially 13 weeks post transplant now and feeling good. Christmas comes this year with the best gift of all: the future, because I've still got one. With the new year I'll be starting a new normal. I've applied to a one year program for graduate school, hopefully giving me to fulfill a long time dream, enabling me to pursue a gig to teach at a school near you! The Big C: Round Dos has really put things into perspective and I continue to be grateful for each and every day.
With that said, things are looking up. I hope you and yours all have a wonderful (and safe) Christmas this year. Here's to a HEALTHY 2010 and beyond!
Much Love-
Kristin (& Gus)
