I had the best day yet, yesterday. I felt great! I went to my Dr appt. I am happy to say I am fully hydrated again and my kidney function is now in the normal range. My blood levels and platelets dropped a little, but no worries. The Dr said this was normal at this stage. I am at day 42. Day 100 is getting closer.
I have been very fortunate to be as healthy as I have been with no signs of graft verses host disease. That is where my immune system tries to fight against Ron's that was given to me through the BMT. This can be very serious and no fun at all. Personally I believe I am doing so well because of all the prayers. My family takes awesome care of me and I do what I am told. Which isn't always easy. Some days get harder than others to always be at home under 24/7 care. I am holding up good though. I still feel like I have alot to be grateful for. Thanks for all your love and support.

I made it around the block to today! It felt great to get out of the house and get some fresh air. I had my doctor appt yesterday. Everything looks great. I'm just a little dehydrated, so I had to hook up to fluids at night for a week. It's the weirdest thing, but I can't drink water without throwing up. I drink Gatorade and other flavored beverages. Just can't handle the water. Which is weird cause I've always been a big water drinker. I'm sure it will pass in time.
I continue to get better each day. Thankfully we have had no complications. By the way now would be a great time to thank you all for your prayers in my behalf, I truly appreciate them.
I look forward to being able to spend Christmas with my family and talk to my son on Christmas day. I couldn't be happier.
I wish you and all your families a very Merry Christmas!

Went to my first Dr. appt. after being released from the hospital yesterday. All my blood levels look good. The Dr was happy with all my test so far and said I am where I should be on this transplant. I feel very happy about that news. Now if I could just get rid of the nausea and my taste buds were back. I just take a day at a time. It's still strange for me to feel so fatigued all of the time. I also look forward to the day I can go out into public and socialize again. I just have to be patient. My family is great and they are taking such good care of me. I am very grateful to them all and love them lots. Again I thank you for your continued prayers in my behalf. I love you all!

I got to come home Friday afternoon! All of my hard work and pushing myself further then I thought possible paid off. I can't even begin to tell you how happy I truly am to be with my family. Once I got to walk out of those double doors that I had been forbidden to leave for the month on the BMT unit I bawled my eyes out all the way home. I did it! This has truly been the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. But with those dark times I was not left alone. I am forever changed because of the tender mercies of prayer. I was not alone and I truly was blessed. I thank all of you who continue to pray for me and my family. Prayer does work and I do feel those prayers. It helps to give me the strength to fight this with everything I have.
We are not out of the dark yet. We still have a ways to go. I have a home health care nurse who comes in once a week. I also have dr visits once or twice a week and I have to have someone care for me around the clock. I still have no immune system so germs are my biggest enemy. For the most part I am feeling pretty good. I still have nausea and get very fatigued. But I seem to be dealing with all of that much better now that I am home!

I just talked to my Dad and got the update.  So today is day 14, and for some reason we thought that today would be the day they would be able to tell if the bone marrow en-grafted or not. Well unfortunately we were wrong.  We have to keep waiting.  The nurses said we should know by day 20 so another week.  The good news is the nurses said things should start turning up at this point.

There are a few things that are required before Denise can go home.  Those being the bone marrow has to en-graft, she has to be able to consume and keep down 1/2 of her normal calories, exercise, and she can have no signs of any kind of sickness. Denise fights hard everyday to try her best to complete each of these things.  It is a big accomplishment for her to be able to walk the halls, keep food down, etc.  I am so proud of how hard she is fighting against this cancer.  I know it is beating her up.  She suffers a lot of pain, and it's not easy what she is having to live through.

My dad mentioned that Denise's mouth was starting to feel a tiny bit better.  Today on the walk in the halls Denise had a craving.  This is the first craving she has had in over two weeks!  She felt like eating cereal so for dinner she had Frosted Flakes and surprisingly she ate the whole bowl, and was able to eat it pretty fast.  Considering that her mouth is in tremendous pain and it is very hard for her to swallow.

The past few days have been pretty rough for Denise. She has pretty severe mouth, throat and some body sores that are very painful. She is very weak and tired. She is on day 12 since the bone marrow transplant and we are hoping she will ingraph on day 15 but, no guarantee's. Once the ingraphment has taken place her immune system will build and these sores will start to go away. On a more positive note she tries to eat and she is still getting up and walking the halls. Hoping for a better weekend!

Cindy posting for Denise

Hair Party!!

YIKES!!! ^^^^

Before and After -->

Hair Party!!

Alex's first.. and hopefully last hair cut to Denise.
(haha)

I officially have no immune system right now. All of my counts have bottomed out. This was expected to happen. I will be given blood and platelet infusions until Ron's bone marrow en-graphs with mine. Hopefully that will take place within the next week. It has left me feeling extremely week. It has been very hard for me to speak do to mouth sores which is another evil gift from chemo.

On a more positive note, all my daughters along with Ken and Cindy came up here on Wed the 23rd for a hair cutting party before I was shaved. I wanted this to a fun experience and one filled with love and laughter. There was no reason to be sad and look back on this day as a bad memory. It was everything I wanted. Everyone took a turn giving me a new hairstyle. At one point I had a mullet and a dumb and dumber haircut. It was pretty funny. Then Ken Shaved my head and it was over. I am glad to say that I don't have weird shaped head, thank goodness.

I was combing my hair Wednesday morning when I noticed it was coming out. Isn't it ironic just hours later I was given a picture of all my friends and neighbors with there kind and supportive words. My dear friends you will never fully understand what that did for me. I felt encouraged and there was nothing that I couldn't do.

My white and red blood counts along with my platelets have dropped, which is to be expected. I had a platelet infusion today to keep me from bleeding out. When your levels are low you just feel less energy. I have had no nausea so far today and have continued to slowly eat. I just found out that they plan on taking me off the feeding tube today. Happy Day! I have continued to walk the halls and do my exercises even when I don't feel like it. I know if I do my part my body will respond better to healing. I so look forward to the day I can come home to my family.

I was combing out my hair this morning when I noticed that it was coming out. I guess today is the day I shave my head. My girls are coming up later because they want to help do it. I want this to be a good experience for all of us. I have decided there is no reason to get upset about losing my hair. After all it's just temporary. They tell me is usually comes back a different color and texture. Just think I could get my sister Cindy's gorgeous hair...(I wish).

I stopped by today to visit my mom and I have GOOD NEWS!!! Today, Denise made it without throwing up! She has slowly started to eat more. Which is so good. Today she had a smoothie and muffin, and for dinner she is eating hash browns and juice. Lets hope she can continue to keep eating and keep food down so she no longer has to have the feeding tube. Things are looking good today! :)

-Jennifer

Hi! I just thought I would give you all an update on how I am doing today. Today has been a much better day for me. YEAH! I am still going through the effects of the chemo. That stuff is seriously of the devil. They tell me 4 more days of yuck before I start to feel better. I just take it a day at a time and who knows maybe my better days start now.

I am so grateful to all of your support you have shown to me and my family. I couldn't do this without all of you. Thank you for all the prayers, they truly make a difference in my life.

Denise was feeling well enough today that she was able to get up and walk around the unit to get some exercise. She has had a really hard time keeping food down. They are having to feed her through a feeding tube. Her tummy is what is bothering her the most. She isn't able to read or watch t.v., because of her nauseous feeling. She has been having a hard time sleeping so they gave her some medicine that should help with her nauseous feeling and sleep. However, she has a little more color today and looks a lot better.

Thank you for all your prayers and concerns. We appreciate all your love! Thank you all for being such a support for all of us.

My brother went in today to harvest his bone marrow and did very well. They made 2 incisions and went into his bone 150 times and it took 1hr. and 30min. The Dr. said he was "juicy" which is a good thing. Some of the side effects he could possibly experience is fatigue and tenderness. But, so far he is doing great. The Dr. said it will take up to 6 weeks to fully restore what was harvested. Denise received the bone marrow at 4:07pm and she will receive it intravenously. The process will take 2 hrs. We will know in 15 to 20 days if it has graphed into her body.

BTW this is her sister Cindy blogging for her today.

This is Denise's sister Cindy posting for her today.

Day -2

They gave her a different kind of chemo yesterday and she had a pretty bad reaction to the chemo. They are not sure why it happened because they have never seen it in other patients that have received this type of chemo. We are hoping that it will be different for her today. The plan is for her to receive the same chemo and hopefully she will not experience what she did yesterday. She can't seem to get a relief from feeling nausea but, hopeful the medicine will be effective. Her son Kyle that is on a mission called her last night and that lifted her spirits. I'm so proud of her and the strength that she has. She is a great example to me. I love you Denise:) We are going to beat this!!

Hello Everyone! November 14, 2011

This is Denise's sister Cindy writing for her today.

Today was her day off of chemo. She was thinking it was going to be a fun party day but, unfortunately it ended up being a party in a bag. YIKES! not so fun. I have to say she may not feel that great but, she looks as beautiful as ever! I want to thank everyone for your love, support and encouraging words.

Denise hasn't had much of an appetite today. She has been pretty nauseous ever since last night. Tomorrow she gets a break from chemo, and then on Tuesday they will start her on another type of chemo. She is pretty sad, because diet coke doesn't taste as good. Yesterday she only had two sips. She has been sleepy most of the day.

Yesterday she moved to a new room, and she likes the view a lot better. Last night they could watch the U of U football game from the window.

I have felt pretty good today. I asked if I could go beyond the double doors. They couldn't believe I was serious. I told them it doesn't hurt to ask. So I walked the small hallway back and forth several times and went back to my room to do some leg squats that the therapist told be to do.

The staff is amazing here at Huntsman. They are taking good care of me. I did tell them that I am not used to just sitting around having people wait on me.

I do not have a choice in the fact that I have Leukemia, but I do have a choice in how I live with it. This will not defeat me. I have very strong will to live. I thank all of you for watching over my family while I am not able to. I am grateful for your support and all of your prayers in mine and my families behalf. I feel them!

Hello Everyone! November 10, 2011

Denise started her chemo today at 6am. Her treatment plan is to have it 4 times a day for the next 4 days, she will then get 1 day off of chemo and then 2 days back on 4 times a day and then 1 day off. She will then receive her bone marrow transplant which will be on friday November the 18th. She is still feeling pretty good other than a little dizzy. She has a great attitude and her spirits are high.

We've Started a Blog

Hey guys!  We've started a blog to keep you all updated on the happenings with Denise. November 9th Denise goes to the Huntsman in Salt Lake to begin the process of getting a bone marrow transplant.  For those of you that don't know, Denise was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) in mid 2010.  Since then, Denise has undergone many treatments to help stabilize her cancer.  Her doctors now suggest the best thing for her is undergoing a bone marrow transplant with the hope of curing her cancer.

For those of you interested in following her journey this is a blog dedicated to her journey as she recovers from cancer.  FriendsofDenise