6 Months

It’s been that long....6 months since my transplant!! It was actually July 20^th that marked 6 months, but I just had the meeting with my doctor yesterday. 2 weeks ago I had restaging testing which included a bone marrow biopsy, a lung function test, and tons of blood tests to look at how all of my organs are functioning. They also did another chimerism test to see how my new cells are working, how many/what blood cells they are making, making sure I am still 100% engrafted, etc. All of my tests came back NORMAL! Dr. Morris said everything looks great. PRAISE GOD!

My new cells are working as they should, and making all of my blood cells…normal ones! My bone marrow looks great, with no sign of leukemia. All of my organs are functioning well. The massive toxicity and stress from the chemo drugs and radiation can affect people’s organs so I am incredibly thankful mine have not been affected. My thyroid is functioning normally. Apparently people can develop hyper/hypo thyroidism after transplant. So I basically have a clean bill of health….everything is looking very good.

My prognosis is about 50/50 the first year. Then after a year of it not returning, the likelihood goes down. Then after 2 years, it’s very unlikely it returns. Then after 3 years it goes down even more, etc. After 5 years you are considered “cured,” since a very small percentage of cancers return after that amount of time. But until there is a definite cure for cancer, I will never be out of the woods. Scary, but not going to worry about it. I am here and healthy.

I asked my doctor many questions, including when I could go back to work IN THE OFFICE! His reply…4 weeks! Hooray! And I asked him when I could fly….3 months, which means I can go home for Christmas! Another hooray! I haven’t been home to Colorado since June of last year. Seems like eternity, especially with all that has happened the past year. He also told me I could start gradually going out in crowds, one thing that I have already been doing….ooops. But I have been avoiding very crowded places and trying to do things at off hours. Thankfully my immune system has working well for me!

I also asked my doctor one very important question….when would it be safe to try for another baby? He said 2 years as long as I have no chronic GVHD going on. 2 years still feels very unsafe to me since mine returned after 3. I told Braxton that I wouldn’t feel comfortable trying until I reach at least 3.5-4 years. I know there is a very good chance I will never be able to get pregnant again (not to mention I will be almost 35 at the 4 year mark). With all the intense chemo and radiation I received (and my age), we would have us another miracle baby. I am at peace with that possibility. But just like everything else in my life, I am leaving it to God. No stress, no trying to control it, no wondering…my peace comes from giving it all to Him. If we don’t have another I am OK with that. Londynn fills our hearts with enough joy and love to last more than a lifetime.

One thing the doctor said to me is for being 6 months out from transplant I am doing amazingly well. I also know this because my friend who is about a month “behind” me, has had so many issues! She is now just starting to get back on track. All I can say is thank you God. And thank you to those who have prayed and prayed and prayed some more for me. He has heard and answered. Glory to God!