5 Months Post Transplant

It's hard to believe that I was receiving my new stem cells 5 months ago today. And even harder to believe that my journey with MDS started one year ago on Sept. 6th. It's been quite a journey which I couldn't have made without the hand of my Lord leading me and giving me strength to overcome each new obstacle. Jerry, Stephen and Nathan have been my cheering squad. And all my friends and family have been my support system. I am feeling extremely blessed.

I feel strong and my side effects are minimal. I continue to receive physical therapy for my frozen right shoulder. At this point my range is almost normal and I mainly need to strengthen the muscles that got so weak by none-use. I will start my third cycle of chemo on September 29th and will have another bone marrow biopsy that day.

Below is a photo from the summer issue of the MD Anderson Messenger magazine. The stem cell floors have a Pole (IV poles) Parade each Easter and this issue discussed the parade and several photos of the patients. The photo below shows Jerry and me at the Parade.  I'm the masked and gowned person standing next to Jerry with the pole that says "He is Risen"! I wanted to convey the true meaning of my celebration of Easter! So there you go!

A Wedding in the Family

My handsome boys Stephen (oldest and tallest) and Nathan and husband, Jerry. My new hairdo! I've decided I have enough hair to get by, so I ditched the wig for the week! Now I'm trying to copy my son Stephen in hair styles! My niece, Becky and her new husband Jeremy Rogers were wed last Saturday in Georgetown. Some how I never ended up with a photo of them and us. But I did end up with a photo of our family.
It was a lovely wedding and was my first big "outing" since the transplant. I even was able to partake in a glass of Champaign and a glass of wine. Since I've been taken off the tacrolimus, I read up on my "do's and don'ts" list and found out that I could actually start enjoying an alcoholic beverage occasionally.  No more than the allowed two alcoholic beverages on any given day...I promise I didn't cheat :) I even enjoyed "shaking a leg" out on the dance floor!

I started my second cycle of chemo on Tuesday after Labor Day. Since my last post I have also been receiving physical therapy for what they call a frozen right shoulder. I go out to Katy for the rehab. It is helping tremendously! I almost have full range, but still have difficulty rotating my arm outward. I have been seeing the therapist twice a week.