Happiness is getting good results during check-ups. My biopsy came out clean! My blood count had been normal for over a week now, but I am immune compromised. I am still on immune suppressants and steroids to take care of any GVHD / rejection. The doctor has started reducing my medications because he says I am doing very well. When the doctor is happy with my condition, I am happy. I see the doctor twice a week for check-ups.
I have recovered from my zombie state. Now, I can do some chores around the house, cook my family's favorite foods, and go out shopping (mostly just for food). I still can't stay out too much in the sun or be exposed to crowded places and I am still on low bacteria diet plus some other restrictions, but I am not complaining. This beats staying in the hospital any day. It is so nice to go back to a somewhat normal life again! Even washing dishes felt like a privilege after being unable to do these seemingly mundane chores. Just goes to show what a little change in perspective can do.
Happiness is being home with my family. After spending 2 months away from them, I have a renewed appreciation for my husband and my children. My loving husband did a wonderful job being Superdad while I was gone. He managed to keep everything as close to normal for our kids as possible - not an easy feat. Feels great knowing that the man I married is someone I have grown to love even more over the years. As for my girls, they can't get enough hugs and kisses from mommy. No worries there. I have infinite supply. Katie's second name is Grace, and Ellie's is Joy. They are truly God's grace and joy to Rob and I.
Happiness is having my sister here with us. My sister, Verna, is in town to be my "designated caregiver". A designated caregiver is someone who helps the patient with day-to-day activities and to rush the patient to the hospital during emergencies. In my case, because I am doing so well, her role is to rush me to the emergency room any time should the need arise. I am serious. The hospital wanted to know who will be available for the job before sending me home. I do not expect to have to go through that, but it is better be prepared for the worst. In the meantime, I am enjoying the company of my sister. For those who have sisters, you know what a treat this is! I call her my "angel", sent by God to watch over me last year, and again this year. How blessed am I?
Happiness is being able to enjoy food again! I am singing "Food, Glorious Food!" (from Ice Age) in my mind. My taste buds were muted when I came out of the hospital. I was also under a more stringent diet restriction then. I still can't eat restaurant food, but I can have home cooked meals. My taste buds have come back to life, so I have been indulging myself with my favorite home cooked food. Yum!
Happiness is having all of you praying for me and my family. We would not have been able to fare so well all these months were it not for your prayers. God continues to shine His grace upon our family, and we are very thankful to be back in each other's arms again.
Thank you for very much for your prayers and may God continue to bless you and your family!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
9/3/2010 - Home Sweet Home
I came home last Thursday, as expected, but have been silent since then because I have been enjoying time with the family and also time with my nephew, Kelvin. He came all the way from Toronto to help us out. It was such a blessing to have Kelvin around. I was feeling fatigued when I came home, and Kelvin just spoiled me rotten. Now that he has gone home, it is back to reality for me. he! he!
After coming home, I spent most days in bed because I started having hives a few days later. The hives would flare up at night and keep me from having a good night's rest. Good thing I was in my own bed, and not in a hospital bed. That would just make me miserable! The doctor said that the hives is a form of GVHD (graft versus host disease), and that it is actually good that I had some, because it shows that the transplant was effective. Guess I should be thankful for it. Now that I have been given steroids, I was able to sleep well last night. No more walking around like a zombie during the day!
I have to go for check-ups twice a week. So far, my blood count has been good, and the doctor seems happy with my progress. I had a bone marrow biopsy yesterday. We'll know the results in a couple of weeks. Now, if the hives will die down even as the doctor reduces my medication, that would just be perfect. I still have until November 11 to be out of the critical stage. The first 100 days after transplant are critical because anything can go wrong. So, I am being extra careful. There are many restrictions - no restaurant food, no salads, no fruits with soft skin like berries, no leftovers over 14 hours, no exposure to dust or animals, no crowded places, etc. The good thing is that I can eat real food now, as long as it's home cooked. Thanks to Kelvin, Nora, Cristina and Bessie, our family remains well-fed even if I haven't started cooking yet. Hopefully, I get to sleep well at night from here on, so I can start acting like a human being again, not just some zombie walking around our house and falling asleep at all hours of the day. I feel more energized today, and I hope this is the turning point to get me back to having a regular schedule. It is pretty boring to be sleeping most of the day.
By the way, I picked up a few skills while at the hospital with lots of time to kill. In addition to learning to play the harp, I also learned how to knit! I never thought I would be so bored that I would take up knitting. Well, never say never. I was able to knit a scarf for Ellie, and I have a couple more to make for Katie and Kelvin. I am definitely getting more and more domesticated. Whodathunk?! :-)
That's all for now. Thank you all for your prayers and may God continue to bless you and your family.
After coming home, I spent most days in bed because I started having hives a few days later. The hives would flare up at night and keep me from having a good night's rest. Good thing I was in my own bed, and not in a hospital bed. That would just make me miserable! The doctor said that the hives is a form of GVHD (graft versus host disease), and that it is actually good that I had some, because it shows that the transplant was effective. Guess I should be thankful for it. Now that I have been given steroids, I was able to sleep well last night. No more walking around like a zombie during the day!
I have to go for check-ups twice a week. So far, my blood count has been good, and the doctor seems happy with my progress. I had a bone marrow biopsy yesterday. We'll know the results in a couple of weeks. Now, if the hives will die down even as the doctor reduces my medication, that would just be perfect. I still have until November 11 to be out of the critical stage. The first 100 days after transplant are critical because anything can go wrong. So, I am being extra careful. There are many restrictions - no restaurant food, no salads, no fruits with soft skin like berries, no leftovers over 14 hours, no exposure to dust or animals, no crowded places, etc. The good thing is that I can eat real food now, as long as it's home cooked. Thanks to Kelvin, Nora, Cristina and Bessie, our family remains well-fed even if I haven't started cooking yet. Hopefully, I get to sleep well at night from here on, so I can start acting like a human being again, not just some zombie walking around our house and falling asleep at all hours of the day. I feel more energized today, and I hope this is the turning point to get me back to having a regular schedule. It is pretty boring to be sleeping most of the day.
By the way, I picked up a few skills while at the hospital with lots of time to kill. In addition to learning to play the harp, I also learned how to knit! I never thought I would be so bored that I would take up knitting. Well, never say never. I was able to knit a scarf for Ellie, and I have a couple more to make for Katie and Kelvin. I am definitely getting more and more domesticated. Whodathunk?! :-)
That's all for now. Thank you all for your prayers and may God continue to bless you and your family.
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