What's Been Happening

First, some really good news:  I am a Grandma!  Connor Nelson Chose was born on October 22, 2010; 6lbs 8oz; 20 inches long and I was lucky enough to be at the hospital when it all happened.  Magical!  He is, of course, the most beautiful baby in the world.

OLD NEWS     I was going to write:!!!!!!!!!!ZERO LEUKEMIA CELLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and start the celebration, but the very day I found out the test results and was supposed to go home, I started running fevers. Not just any fevers, but as high as 104.9.  This went on for days and completely wiped out the last bit of energy I had.  They put me in the Intensive Care Unit after my heart went into atrial fibrillation and had to be shocked back into normal rhythms. They put me on oxygen because I had water around my heart and lungs and I couldn’t get enough air without panting.  I was so weak at the end I couldn’t make it out of bed without assistance. Ron stayed 24 hours a day at the hospital because neither of us was sure I was going to make it.  I was a mess!  But thank goodness, things got better.  The fevers stopped and my wonderful Doctor said, “What this woman needs more than anything else is to go home.”  I could have kissed him!  I was still in terrible shape and Ron wasn’t quite sure how we would get from the car to the house but I would have gone if I had to crawl. 

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME     My first week home I slept at least 12 hours a night.  I think sleeping, uninterrupted in my own bed, was the best medicine.  After two weeks, I was done with the walker and the oxygen.  Yesterday I walked almost a half mile with our little dog Maggie.

THE LATEST   I received my second bone marrow biopsy results this Tuesday and I couldn’t be more delighted.  The Doctor said he could not give me any better news; not only are my bone marrow counts (white cells, red cells, platelets) almost completely normal, there are no leukemia cells! I am in remission!  This is a grand slam home run in my book!!

THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE    I have to check back into the hospital November 4^th and go through another full round of the trial chemo.  I REALLY don’t want to, but the Doctor reminded me the survivor rate is better for people who do back to back treatments.  I am determined to have a short stay and not get sick.  Hopefully, I will be out of the hospital in seven days or less.   Of course, it will take time to build up my immune system, but I hope to be spoiling my Grandson by Christmas.

THE UNDETERMINED FUTURE   I need a bone marrow transplant and unfortunately two of my four siblings are not a match.  We are waiting for the results of the last two and then, if they do not match, they will search the world wide registry.  I will have more chemo and maybe radiation to face then, but hopefully, also be cured.

I am sorry I’m so slow getting this out.  At first, I was too sick and lately, busy with recovering and being Grandma.   I think about all of you every day and how lucky I am to have you in my life.  Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.  I feel like I am proof of the power of prayer and am very grateful.  I am living with a new perspective on life and wake up every morning happy and excited for another day.  Take care and please keep me in your prayers.

With love and gratitude,

Connie