Repotting the Rose

June 6, 2010

As gardens begin to bloom, it is only fitting that my own "repotting"/recovery is finally underway! Today marks Day +27 since my transplant. As of yesterday I have begun to feel more like myself. It's been a long, rough go. I nearly forgot how good it feels to just feel like me.

Once my stem cells were collected and frozen, the transplant process got underway. Since May 3, I have received high dose chemotherapy, twice a day for the first week, and hopefully the last chemo of my lifetime. Now I know why they call it HIGH DOSE. The side effects were dramatic and difficult at best. Two days after the end of the chemo, I received the transplant of my new stem cells, a painless six hour process. Between the effects of the chemo and baby stem cells, my blood counts dropped (to zero in some cases). I had several transfusions for platelets and red blood cells. At one point my platelet count was 5 (normal is 150 to 400). A friend suggested I name those 5 platelets (:

There is no way to begin to describe the profound fatigue, and while there wasn't much pain, the process is extremely exhausting. A week after transplant as predicted, I hit a low. Thankfully Rob, as always, was an amazing support. For the few hours he would get away here and there, I had sweet close friends and family who served as my baby sitters, since I couldn't be left alone. Every day I went to the clinic to get my blood checked, visit with the amazing team of transplant doctors and nurses and more. Every day I came home from the clinic to tired to do anything. All the continued good wishes that I received carried me through those dark days.

By about Day +20, I began to see a slow but steady improvement. The numerous side effects from the chemo began to ebb. Now at Day +27, I only need to go to the clinic a few times a week. My blood counts are coming up. I can no longer name my patelets....there are too many. YAY! I no longer need to take IV fluids at home. My daily pill intake has been reduced from 23 to 16 (still a mouthful, wouldn't you say?). I believe in the next few weeks the line in my chest from which they draw blood and give IV will be removed, and I will begin to make the transition from the transplant team back to my regular oncologist.

Still to come are the PET scan, which I pray will be the "ALL CLEAR" report, and a need to receive new childhood vaccines, since I am basically growing a new immune system. Although no longer completely quarantined, I am still not able to be in big crowds or to travel.

On a brighter note, I have found my way back to my journal, after weeks of not writing; I am reading and beginning to take some short walks around the neighborhood. I am eager to repot this Rose and watch exactly how she blooms!!!

My "Freedom Day" is June 24. That is the 45th day after transplant, a magic number to the transplant doctors. That will allow me July and a good part of August to continue to build my strength and get ready for a new and what is certain to be an awesome school year ahead.

There is still work to do, and I am beginning to blossom again!