Just thought I would give a update on how I am doing these days. I have been feeling really good. I went to the doctors this week and my red blood cell count is finally in the normal range. My platelets have made it to 100. That is awesome for me, many of you know the many platelet infusions I have had to endure.
I am down to only seeing the doctor twice a month. I am still restricted from large crowds of people while I am being tapered off my immune suppression medication. I am still at risk for the graph vs host so I have to be careful. I am just so grateful to be able to get out and see people. You take what you can get when you have been locked up.
I want all of you to know that going through all of the physical and emotional challenges that have come with having a bone marrow transplant have not taken my desire to keep moving forward. I love life and I am happy for each day. I have a deeper love for my family. I didn't think it was possible to love them more then I did. It is hard to explain but going through a life changing experience I have gone to a new level of feelings I didn't even know I had within me. I have a grater love for my friends and neighbors also. I have a closer relationship with God. He knows who I am and what I am going through. He has been there for me, I'll I have had to do is ask. Prayer has been a huge part of my everyday life. My sister Shauna who passed in June has continued to influence my life. I believe in life after death. I have felt my sister with me throughout this journey. She is my biggest cheerleader on the other side.
Thank you to all of you for your continued love and support.
Denise

I would like to share with you what my daughter Kendra wrote today:

For most of my life my time and thoughts have been focused on the word cancer. What is cancer? To many people it can have many different meanings. A sickness that we can't cure. Something that brings sadness to a families life. Something that takes a loved one away. A fight for life. My aunt Shauna was the strongest person I know. She was diagnosed with  breast cancer only 8 short months after she was married. I have never seen someone fight so hard for life. It wasn't until her final days that I realized what she was truly fighting for. Her family, her mother and father, her sisters and brother, her nieces and nephews. She thought the world of her husband. Her never left her side. The man, that his world was consumed by her needs. But most important her daughter. Shauna filled her daughter with memories that would last a life time. Shauna held on long enough for this angel to remember just how wonderful her mother was. Shauna always had other people in her mind doing anything she could to make everyone happy. She was funny, crazy and full of life, even when her time was running out. All of these things have carried on to her daughter Olivia. Shauna gave strength to her sister to be able to fight and have a full life of happiness with our family. Shauna was an angel sent to our family to fill us with joy and happiness in this life.
Kendra Ashby (a loving niece) 

 

I got great news last week! Last week was my 100 day appointment. All of my test results came back good. The one we were most concerned with was the bone marrow test. It came back showing no CML cells. No cancer cells present....yeah! Ron diffidently has some great bone marrow he gave me. I got to have my central line taken out. It's so wonderful to have a shower without wrapping yourself up in plastic trying to protect that area. I am now only seeing my Dr every other week and I know longer have a home health care nurse come to my home. I am really on my way. Unfortunately I am still not out of the clear. I am still at high risk for graph vs host disease. That is where my body fights off what Ron has donated. I cannot be around large crowds of people but I can get out a bit now as long as I wear my mask.
The Dr has started slowly taking me of pro-graph, which is the drug that has been suppressing my immune system. This usually takes about 3 to 6 months to totally be off of that drug and then I will hopefully have a strong immune system all my own. I will have to get all my immunizations done again just like a newborn.
I have been feeling pretty good and I am still happy!
I really want to let you all known how grateful I am for you and your families support. Thank you for keeping me and my family in your prayers. It is a great strength to me knowing I have your love and support.
Lots of love to you all.

I am going on 2 weeks with no nausea. Yeah! I feel like a new person not having to deal with that anymore. I feel pretty good these days. I still get fatigued, but that's to be expected. I have had a CMV virus these past two weeks, they have me on an antibiotic that I get through my port twice a day. They say this is very common for bone marrow transplant patients to get this. It has not made me feel sick, so that is good.
Feb 21st I will go in for lots of different testing, including a bone marrow test. This way they can see where I am at and if there are any cancer cells left. Hopefully we won't find any. The hope is that the my new cells I got from Ron will have gone in and fought off any that the chemo didn't get. I should have the results from all the testing on Feb 28th when I see the Dr again.
I am grateful I have managed to stay healthy even with having Ken, Mikayla and Alex being sick.

Well I have made it to day 68. Some of you may think, "wow time is just flying by". Let me just tell you NO it's really not. I will admit you start to feel a little stir crazy being in your home 24/7. Don't get me wrong, I would much rather be here then back in the hospital. I seriously get the shakes when I think back to that long 1 month stay and all they put me through in the hospital. It feels good to look back and say that I did it and I feel pretty proud of myself for how hard I fought.
The last 3 weeks I have not felt so well. I just can't get rid of the nausea. Monday I was thinking I just can't do this anymore when I had the thought come to me pray about it. I hadn't thought to be so specific as to ask for the nausea to let up in my prayers. I asked my family to do the same. The last two days I have had relief from the nausea. Sometimes all we have to do is ask. Heavenly Father answers our prayers.
I have had alot of people ask me how I am doing. The truth is some days are hard and I get emotional and really miss my sister Shauna. But I am still happy there is no reason at all that I can't still be happy just because I am going through all of this. I have my two sisters and brother who are here and I can focus on building better relationships with. I feel so much gratitude towards my family, friends and neighbors. I am overwhelmed by the service that has been given to my family during this time. I appreciate all of you.

Well I have made it to day 56. Day 100 I will be able to leave my house and have more freedoms...Yeah!
I am sorry to say that this week has not been my best week. I have felt nausea and just plain yucky every day. I went to the Dr yesterday and they are putting me back on fluids at night. Hopefully this will do the trick. I still get out for my daily walks because that is just about the only thing that keeps me from going a little crazy having to be quarantined to my house for the next 100 days.
My Dr says my blood levels all look good. There's just a little concern that I could have the start of graft verses host disease because of the way I have been feeling this week. They are keeping a close eye on me and We pray this is not the case. I feel good about things and try to keep a positive out look. I will try everything I can do in my power to stay out of the hospital.
Thanks for your much needed love, support and much needed prayers.
Lots of love coming your way,
Denise

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.