Hi all,
I am back to posting for myself. Let me just tell you the pain associated with VOD sucks.
My counts continue to do what they are supposed to do - I know have about 10 things I track.
The doctors think I might get home on Wednesday or Thursday. I don't get overly optimistic since I can just end up back here at any moments notice.
Today is my sisters birthday! And in a couple of days it's valentines day. Busy week.
Heather
A journal to keep everyone up to date with my Primary Refractory Hodgkin’s, radiation myelitis, and the little Z’s.
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
16 comments:
Yeah for Heather! Welcome back to the blog world!!! Glad you feel up to writing.
I ditto what Paul said. I'm sure everyone will be glad to see you posting again.
I enjoyed my two visits with you this week. Hopefully, I (we) will soon be able to visit you at home ... where you belong!!!
Yea!! glad to see your up to posting. That is a sign. Hope you get home to Dave and the kids soon but please don't over due.
Lots of Love and prayers
Aunt Linda
What good news. I'm glad you are feeling well enough to post again. Here's hoping you'll get home soon. We think of you often and are praying for your recovery.
Aunt Sandy
Hi Heather,
As it is morning here in the U.K. (I always look at your Blogg at least once morning & night)you will hopefully be asleep!?
How great to read the latest news first hand (or should it be "from the horse's mouth")!!Hoping that each day will be an even better day than the day before!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHELE!
Lots of love,(Aunt)Edna & (Uncle) Werner
p.s. Americans seem to put "aunt" & "uncle" & yet we really are you "true aunt & uncle" but don't use it so have decided to join the others!
Hi Heather - Glad your counts are better and you're beginning to feel better! Loved the beautiful picture of Alex. He's adorable and I can't wait to meet him and the other Z's. You're doing great and will be home soon :) Keep up the good work!! - Karen
Welcome back! It is indeed good news that you are back amongst the "lucid"....well, semi-lucid for some of us! From the weather report it looks like you will have a "white Valentine's Day" to make up for the green Christmas, I guess. Well, we are consistent here....RAIN, RAIN, RAIN. Hope you get to see the kids for Valentine's Day....now there is a bundle of love in those three moppets! You are never out of our thoughts and prayers. Aunt Joyce
Nice to have you back online! Take care,
dan
Hi Heather,
Greetings from Florida. You dont know me but I feel we (my wife and I) know you. We met your sister Michele in Phoenix several years ago during grad school and I can remember then she spoke very highly of you. We visited Michele last summer in Moscow and talked a lot about your situation.
I think you are very brave. Very brave for facing this thing head on, very brave for managing this blog, very brave for raising your family through these tough times.
I work for a company where on entrance wall to the factory five powerful words stand: "Den Mutigen gehoert die Welt" which translates to "The World belongs to the Brave." The world belongs to you Heather, you will get through this.
Our prayers are with you.
Ian & Yvonne Bolin
St. Petersburg, FL
It's great to hear from you, Heather. Hope you have an enjoyable Valentine's Day.
Heather,
So glad you are doing better. Here's hoping you'll soon be home with David and your children. Keep on fighting this thing.
Love and prayers and an extra special hug for you.
Jane O
Hey Heather-
Greetings from Texas! Julius and I have been reading and just wanted to send our positive thoughts and all that from here and Atlanta! So glad to see you are back posting, and fingers are crossed you're back home asap.
Anne
PS The kids are just beautiful!
Heather,
My name is Yvonne. My husband Ian and I met your sister in Phoenix. Ian and Michele went to Thunderbird together, which was the beginning of a wonderful friendship. Michele came to your wedding celebration in Germany and Ian and I went to visit Michele in Moscow last summer. I am sure you realize how much Michele loves you, nevertheless I want to reiterate with how much love, concern, and compassion she talked to us about you. Even though neither Ian nor I have met you in person, we fell connected to you through your sister. And you should know that although we have only posted a note on your blog once, you are consistently in our thoughts and prayers,
We wish you all the best,
Love Yvonne and Ian
Heather,
My husband Ian is out of town right now, and I did not notice until after I wrote you a note that he also wrote you a note!
I hope the fact that we both more or less wrote the same thing, makes you realize that we really mean it and are praying for you :)
Yvonne
Happy Valentine's Day cuz! Love, Jessica
Happy Valentine's Day Heather!
I expect that the kids are at home today (icy weather)and you are surrounded with the "sounds of life." Enjoy and keep getting better.
Love,
Dan
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