Watch me Run!

Yesterday I ran up my street twice. That's right, twice. This is a great accomplishment for me, considering when I run it feels like my legs weigh about 100 pounds. But it got easier as I got going. I think it would help if my heart didn't have to work so hard to pump blood to my huge body. i think it is kind of funny that I am trying to gain weight and get into shape at the same time. Kind of defeats the purpose wouldn't you say? I will let you know how that goes :P

Also, today we found out that our sweet little doggy is afraid of buckets. It's really funny he barks at the bucket and runs away. That's all for today!

Rachel

Today is Wednesday

As you can see I am losing my creativity when it comes to Post Titles. Hopefully that is something that will come back to me haha We went to clinic yesterday, everything looked really good except my kidney levels are continuing to go up. They don't really know why but are trying taking me off a certain medicine to see if that helps any. I also went yesterday to the Moran Eye Center. Cataracts can be some side effects of radiation so we went and got my eyes checked to make sure I didn't have any problems. The doctors said my eyes and vision are still very good. STILL? It's like they phrase it as if they are expecting them to go bad. But that is just the world of cancer for ya, a lot of fear and paranoia, praying that nothing goes wrong. I have been very lucky, things have gone in my favor so far.

For school I am taking a human physiology course, and it is simply amazing what the body is capable of. All the intricate systems, where everything has to work just right to keep us alive. My body went through lethal doses of radiation, wiping out my bone marrow to make room for new bone marrow. If I wouldn't have gotten the new marrow, the radiation would have swept through the rest of my body. My transplant saved my life in many ways. 30 years ago if I would have gotten AML they would have sent me home to die, and now here I am, on the road to recovery. The transplant road is a long one; I am still getting better in many ways. Gaining back all my muscle, working on eating regularly, trying to get by on what little energy I have, and just trying to move on with life. At times I struggle to see it, but I have been truly blessed. Science and the human body are in and of itself a true miracle.

I am so grateful for all of the prayers and support, for all of my family and friends. Your prayers are the reason I am alive. Thank you.

Rachel

GOOD NEWS!!

It has now been 8 months since the beginning of my long journey. It seems like forever since we have received good news, but today we finally got it. The tests showed 100% donor cells, and negative for the FLT3 gene mutation. These are both very good. The doctors also told me that I have a cellularity of 50% which is very good for a bone marrow kid. It is taking a little bit for all of this to sink in, to think that I really may get to be done with all of this someday. Although the last 8 months seemed to melt together and fly by, at the same time it has felt like an eternity. I want to thank you all for your prayers and support, there are so many things that could have gone wrong, so many different directions that could have been taken, and yet things still worked out. Our prayers have truly been answered. I still have a ways to go, but the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter everyday. thank you once again!!

Rachel

Adventures at home

Hey everyone. The new addition to our family has been keeping us all busy and entertained. My dad even admitted that it was a spectacular idea to get a new pup. hahaha ok he didn't admit that but he has as much fun with the dog as the rest of us do. Things have been going good, I just realized I forgot to update you on last week's clinic. Still good news, things are continuing to get better. I am still on fluids at night but once I dont need fluids then we can start looking at taking my central line out. That will be the day! When I can finally take a wonderful shower again. (I currently have to bathe while being careful to keep my chest dry.)

Also.. this tuesday is the big day. Although it is not quite my hundredth day, I will be getting the bone marrow aspiration. Yes, I am nervous. Thank you for your prayers as i can certainly use them. I am keeping busy trying to do school, exercise, and play with my puppy. I am still pretty fatigued which is normal for transplant patients, but I will take fatigue over nausea any day.

Thanks so much for following my lovely blog. And a special thank you for the prayers and support.

Rachel

Fun with Waldo