So today is the day I get my stem cells back. My nurse thinks around 1-3 PM. I think she also said they have several bags - I think it is good news that they got so much.
A lot of people rename this their new birthday and go through a lot of anticipation around it. I didn't have that much; I thought getting through the chemo was a bigger deal. I think I will hang onto my original birthday. I think my mom deserves the date since she went through 24 hours of labor. But I will remember today and this entire experience forever.
I was remembering our trip to Chincoteague last night right before Alex was born. We had so much fun with the kids. It was a lot more carefree - we didn't even think to really worry about a stem cell transplant and all this crap we are going through. Every part of me wants to return to that more carefree feeling. I want to be back in that spot when all I was worried about was getting too much radiation. I want to have the kids to have their mom back, have fun again, and not have to worry about their mommy getting better.
I will get there again - I am determined to get better.
A journal to keep everyone up to date with my Primary Refractory Hodgkin’s, radiation myelitis, and the little Z’s.
Lee
“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Charlotte
ALEX
Blog Archive
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2007
(145)
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January
(32)
- Day +14
- Darn fevers
- Day +13
- What to bring to the hospital
- Day +12
- Day +11
- Day +10
- Kids
- Day +9
- Day +8
- Day +7
- Day +6
- Day + 5
- Day + 4
- Day +3
- Day+ 2
- Day +1
- Day 0
- Day -1
- Day-2
- Day -3
- Day -4
- Day -5
- The what's next and what if's
- Day -6
- Day -7
- Lee's birthday
- Check in day -8
- Fever and night before check in
- Bone marrow harvest
- Schedule
- Thank god for the New Year
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▼
January
(32)
Followers
A QUICK TIMELINE
2006
January
Conceived our third child
Began to display symptoms of Hodgkin's - night sweats, itching, swelling, shortness of breath
March
Diagnosed with Hodgkin's and began 6 cycles of ABVD
Pregnant with cancer - what luck
August
Delivered Alex on August 28
PET Scan on August 31 - results that the ABVD did not reduce my tumor
re-diagnosed with Primary Refractory Hodgkin's
September
Consultation with NIH and Hopkins - recommended that I have 2 cycles of ICE then Stem Cell Transplant (SCT).
October
PET Scan results that I could get the SCT
November
Had another cycle of ICE while waiting for transplant (3rd) Began SCT process
December
Final cycle (4th) of ICE
Unable to mobilize stem cells and waiting for bone marrow harvest
2007
January
Harvest bone marrow from bones under twilight meds Admitted into hospital for SCT; new birthday Jan. 16
February
Released from hospital - 2 days later back with VOD
Final release on Feb. 14 (happy v-day)
April - May
Radiation treatments
June
PET scan to see if treatment & SCT worked - it did and I am cancer free!
July
Hospitalized for pneumonia and missed Charlotte Marie's 4th bday.
On oxygen support
August
Alex's first birthday - can you believe it!
September
Returned to work part time
Lee started kindergarten
October
Diagnosed with BOOP - out of work again
Back on oxygen support and steroids
Resigned from job to focus on health
2008
Jan.
1 year anniversary of SCT - still cancer free
April
Diagnosed with radiation myelitis
July/August
Lost moblity in lower extremities - wheelchair bound.
Using Avastin to try to stop progression of myelitis to my arms and hands
January
Conceived our third child
Began to display symptoms of Hodgkin's - night sweats, itching, swelling, shortness of breath
March
Diagnosed with Hodgkin's and began 6 cycles of ABVD
Pregnant with cancer - what luck
August
Delivered Alex on August 28
PET Scan on August 31 - results that the ABVD did not reduce my tumor
re-diagnosed with Primary Refractory Hodgkin's
September
Consultation with NIH and Hopkins - recommended that I have 2 cycles of ICE then Stem Cell Transplant (SCT).
October
PET Scan results that I could get the SCT
November
Had another cycle of ICE while waiting for transplant (3rd) Began SCT process
December
Final cycle (4th) of ICE
Unable to mobilize stem cells and waiting for bone marrow harvest
2007
January
Harvest bone marrow from bones under twilight meds Admitted into hospital for SCT; new birthday Jan. 16
February
Released from hospital - 2 days later back with VOD
Final release on Feb. 14 (happy v-day)
April - May
Radiation treatments
June
PET scan to see if treatment & SCT worked - it did and I am cancer free!
July
Hospitalized for pneumonia and missed Charlotte Marie's 4th bday.
On oxygen support
August
Alex's first birthday - can you believe it!
September
Returned to work part time
Lee started kindergarten
October
Diagnosed with BOOP - out of work again
Back on oxygen support and steroids
Resigned from job to focus on health
2008
Jan.
1 year anniversary of SCT - still cancer free
April
Diagnosed with radiation myelitis
July/August
Lost moblity in lower extremities - wheelchair bound.
Using Avastin to try to stop progression of myelitis to my arms and hands
Good Links
Maple
4 comments:
Hi Heather -
Nicole passed on your blog link to me today. I'm so glad to join the community of folks supporting you on such an important day!
You, Dave and the kids are in our thoughts and prayers. Please let me know if we can help in any way.
Blessings,
Ena, Tom and Conor
Hello Heather,
Just letting you know that we continue to read every word you write.........as well as "reading between the lines"!!
All our prayers & MUCH LOVE!
Edna & Werner
Hello Heather,
This is Michelle from your OCT Team. I have been keeping up with your progress and I am glad to read that things keep moving forward with you. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Stay strong!
Hi Heath,
I think that after this you should get two birthdays - your original and then this one. If we have learned one thing through all of this, it is to live every day, and so why not make more of our days birthdays!
Love you,
Michele
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