Category Archives: lymphoma

One Year Ago Today

Here is what happened a year ago today….I posted this hard to watch video announcing it was indeed Burkitts and I wasn’t sure if I was up for an extended battle.  Today, I am much better overall. I’m glad I … Continue reading

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Tube Removal

I got my central line removed today, well, one of them. It was the “tri-fusion” that has three honking hoses sticking out of my chest. I’m so glad to have that one gone. The other central line is buried under my skin, a medi-port. Continue reading

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One Week at Home

I was forewarned the first 100 days at home would be spent wondering if I’m human (my paraphrase). I have been sharing with others I feel half human when resting, which is 99.9% of the time. Once I am up … Continue reading

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Home again home again

I came home Sunday. It feels so good to be home. I have rested a lot, slept a lot, and eaten a meal or two. I had an appointment today with my transplant doctor and everything is going well. My … Continue reading

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Going home: day +12

Today is Sunday, November 23, 2014. After spending 20 days in the hospital for a stem cell transplant where I received my own stem cells, I am finally going to go home. It has been a battle that has included … Continue reading

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Day +5

The next few days should prove to be interesting. I was told day +6 through day +12 are some of the hardest due to engraftment. Engraftment is where the stem cells take up residence where they belong (bone marrow) and start populating and regrowing (it has been dead now for a few days). Continue reading

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Weak and Transfused

Today is day +2. I found myself able to move to the restroom, then to the couch. That was about it. No more strength. Profoundly weak and short of breath. My hemoglobin was 7.8, neutrophils are gone completely, white blood cell count was something like 0.1, platelets were around 50 or above. Continue reading

Posted in bone, burkitts, cancer, cell, chemotherapy, healing, hodgkins, lymphoma, marrow, non, stem, transplant | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My New Birthday: Day Zero

I am told there will be 7 bags of approximately 50 mls of stem cells. The color will be red, but that is from pieces of red blood cells. They will arrive in a freezer, packed in DMSO (preservative), and extremely frozen (their words).
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Chewing Ice

Today is day -2. I will receive my final dose of chemotherapy, it is called melphalan. I am on a seven day countdown, with day zero being the day I receive my stem cells back into my body. Melphalan usually … Continue reading

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“B” of BEAM

Hi all, I had a good night with one exception. I received benadryl IV. Never had an issue with it in the past. Had a “paradoxical” reaction. That was about 11pm last night. The hair on my arms is still … Continue reading

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