(not necessarily in that order)
It was a three-vaccine day! Another big step towards getting my immune system completely back up to speed after last year’s stem cell transplant.
As I was thinking about it this evening, the image of a fortress came to mind — signifying that my body’s defenses are getting back into full fighting mode.
I can’t remember the last time we were in the country for the month of December and didn’t organize, rehearse, and participate in the music for the Christmas Eve pageant (well, other than the last couple of years when it was all online!).
This year it was initially a matter of choosing not to overdo things (considering I’m just a few months post-transplant), but then it also became about minimizing my exposure to viruses (since my immune system is still “immature”, as the doctor put it).
The end result is that Ramesha and I watched the beautiful Christmas Eve program from home via the live broadcast, then ate a delicious fondue dinner, opened our presents (since we’ll be at church first thing tomorrow morning), and simply enjoyed hanging out together.
A perfect Christmas Eve.
It was threatening rain, but we went for our short (and very slow) walk anyway.
Then I thoroughly enjoyed sitting on the porch watching and listening to the rain come down.
Of course, I’m always carefully masked even when out-of-doors, since I have no immune system to speak of right now.
My update in a nutshell: All systems are GO!
I’m no longer visiting Sierra Nevada Memorial (the local hospital); UC Davis Cancer Center is our new medical home base. In fact, Dr. Hung has passed the baton to Dr. Aaron Rosenberg, the multiple myeloma specialist who is shepherding us through the bone marrow transplant process.
Last week we met with a physical therapist who okayed me for an outpatient BMT. (We learned that this has only become an option in the last year and a half!) We also met with Lauren, our transplant coordinator, who went over lots and lots of details with us.
We were in Sacramento again this past Monday and Tuesday, getting the full scoop on the house where we’ll be staying; having lots of blood drawn for labs; meeting with Dr. Rosenberg; and receiving instruction from another nurse on how to give injections at home (which Ramesha will be doing).
Next Wednesday, August 24, Ramesha and I will relocate to Sacramento for six weeks.
There will be a whole variety of appointments over the weeks that follow (COVID tests; labs; line dressing changes; doctors), but the important dates that we want to share with you all are:
From that point on, it’s all about engraftment: “a process in which transplanted stem cells travel through the blood to the bone marrow, where they begin to make new white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.” This can evidently take anywhere from two to six weeks; obviously, I’m rooting for two!
This is the time when I’m likely to feel the most unwell, due to the effects of the chemo, coupled with the lack of an immune system. I’ll visit the hospital every single day as an outpatient (it’s only a three-minute drive from the house where we’ll be staying) and if I develop any symptoms of illness at all they’ll immediately admit me to the hospital.
I must say that I’m beginning to understand just how amazing our immune systems are! I don’t believe I’ll take mine quite so much for granted ever again.
Well, that’s pretty much it, my friends. Thank you again and again for all your prayers and good wishes. There are no words to express how much Ramesha and I love and appreciate each and every one of you. 💗