This coming week

So I got a big week starting tomorrow. I get to start Monday with an MRI to see how much CNS (central nervous system cancer) is still present in my brain so we can determine how many more lumbar punctures I need to receive. Btw, these lumbar punctures are not comfortable, so I'm hoping it's just one, but whatever it takes, right? Then on Wednesday I get my first bone marrow biopsy since the transplant. There's another procedure that's not that comfortable. This is going to determine whether or not the leukemia is still present or if Sam's cells have taken it out. I have confidence in my brothers cells.

In any event, I should get results on these procedures within the week. Knock on wood.

Happy thanksgiving!

I'm obviously out of the hospital well ahead of schedule and I made my goal of having thanksgiving at home with my family.

Thank you all for all the support during the past few months. You have no idea how much it has helped.

I'll keep you posted on my progress, I just wanted to wish everyone a happy thanksgiving!

Now I'm going to eat my weight in turkey.

Z

Wow do I feel better today

My tailbone had been hurting me so badly the past couple of days from my last lumbar puncture (spinal tap). It from the chemo running up and down my spine. When I went to the doctors yesterday they prescribed me some pain killers and I feel so much better today. Did some push ups, curls, tricep extensions. My mother in law finally put the kibosh on me doing anymore exercising for the day. But I snuck some more in...shhhhh.

So I was supposed to get another lumbar puncture next week, but my doctor wants to give my body a bit of a rest after all stress the last one put me through. However, next week I'll get another MRI to check out my brain as well as get my first bone marrow biopsy to see if the transplant got rid of the leukemia. It had better be gone. I have a feeling it will. And then we can just focus on getting rid of the CNS and I will be better than ever.

On top of this I calculated my weight from yesterday bc it was taken in kilograms (has the US finally converted to the metric system). I have officially lost 30 lbs. I weigh about 155 lbs. A bit less than I want to be but, gives me a clean canvas to build my body the way I want to. This is going to be one of those transformations which I won't take for granted.

I'm also looking forward to going back to the hospital when I'm healthy and talking about my experience with people who are going through this transplant process. I owe so much and it comes down to giving back. And I intend on doing that in spades.

If anyone out there is going through a similar experience or has a friend or family member that just wants to talk about this, I'm all ears. Nobody should go this blindly and if I can provide some insight, I'd be happy to help.

My first out patient drs appt

My mother in law took me to my first out patient doctors appt this morning. All was going ok. Got to the doctors, they drew some blood and I threw up. Probably not the type of news you wanna here, but it's part of the process. Some days I just wanna shut down, go to sleep and hope tomorrow will be better. Lately my thoughts have been swirling. Mostly around mortality. My mom was 15 years older than I am now when she passed away. It's tough not to think about this. I also think about what the doctor said before I got released. We're looking to increase your life by 30 - 50 years and not 5. I just keep thinking what if I never got that bone marrow biopsy in late august. It's tough to get the what if questions out of my head.

Life changing events don't come around every day. I'm not saying that I'm happy this happened to me nor would I ever want to go through this ever again, but this has been my biggest challenge and I love challenges. I can't wait for everyone to see me when this is done. My life is going to be so different, but for the better.

I'm out!

So I got released from the hospital yesterday. Well ahead of my goal. My goal was to be home by thanksgiving. You know what I love about goals...exceeding them. This is just the beginning of what I plan on doing from now on.

I still got a long road to recovery and my energy is way down, but I'm eating solid foods and am beginning to do some light exercises (thanks to the nudging of my wife and mother in law).

So the next goal is to be on the slopes by march. As well as back at work becoming the top salesman.

Day +20

So I just got some great news today. My doc said I should be released by tomorrow. This is well ahead of my goal as well as starting this second round one week later. Positive thinking. Like chevy chase said in caddy shack. Be the ball...na na na na na.

I still got a bit of a road ahead, but that's expected. What a journey!

Day +19

My numbers are going up rapidly and my tree of IV bags is getting smaller and smaller. I'm starting to eat on my own, which is big since I plan on eating my weight in turkey next week. Can't wait to get out of here and I can see the finish line. I will be under caregiver asst for about 2 months and then I'm hoping to be back to my life, just better than before.

I know I've stated a bunch of goals, but I came up with a few more. One is to be snowboarding before the season ends. The other goal is to share my experience with patients who are going through what I went through. But to be very encouraging. I met with 3 survivors since being admitted and noticed that the first two had been so down trodden and didn't really provide much positive reinforcements. The third survivor was a 77 year old chipper guy who had his transplant the same day as me 11 years earlier and was skiing by march. He was so encouraging and I realized that I want to give back the same way as the last survivor. He was so positive and I know that I can spin my experience to show that life doesn't end at cancer but actually is renewed.