HERE WE ARE: BMT + 365

ONE YEAR POST BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT.

I’ve thought of this put up a number of occasions, what I wished to say and the way I wished to convey what this final 12 months has entailed.

As I typed and re-typed a number of phrases, all I’m left with is humble gratitude.

There’s nothing we did to deserve the grace God has given us on this journey. God has given us numerous blessings all through this journey and we will’t assist however raise our palms to him in full give up to His excellent plan.

This has been in all probability some of the troublesome years of my life in some ways, and but some of the inspiring and humbling years too. It’s arduous to not really feel impressed whenever you’re informed that on paper, you could have a 40% likelihood of not making it. However for me, that statistic motivated me to battle even tougher. I used to be recognized with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, sub-type Inversion 16, in September 2022. I went by way of 5 months of remedy and got here out most cancers free. Then I relapsed a couple of months later, which led me to needing a bone marrow transplant – the one different possibility for a treatment – in any other case it was chemo for the remainder of my life, till my physique not accepted it. How might we not be glad about this selection? How might we not battle with all we had?

It takes an excellent 12 months to get better from a BMT and at first I believed eh, I’ll return again to regular far earlier than then. However I’ll admit, I used to be flawed. It’s a journey. A LONG journey. The fatigue is actual. The chemo/mind fog is so actual. When you consider what your physique has to do inside – to breed hundreds of thousands and hundreds of thousands of cells, to deliver itself again to working order. And let me let you know, God has created our our bodies to do INCREDIBLE issues! God has created our our bodies to heal and a bone marrow transplant is a direct illustration of that.

Once I was given busulfan, the chemo used to kill off my most cancers cells and bone marrow, if I didn’t obtain the cells from a donor, my physique couldn’t get better and I’d not make it. It was essential that I acquired these donor cells and it simply makes us all of the extra grateful for our donor!

Right here’s what our journey has seemed like over the previous 12 months…

On January 4, 2024, I used to be admitted to Butterworth’s Grownup Bone Marrow Ground. I made it as cozy as I might by taping photos Mazy made on the wall, establishing my books, establishing a puzzle, and photos individuals gave me. I introduced my very own pillow, blanket, and something that might make it really feel like dwelling for the following 3-4 weeks.

For my birthday that 12 months, I simply wished cash in order that I might purchase all Christian t-shirts to put on throughout my hospital keep, as a method to witness and share my religion.

Mazy made me some decorations for my IV pole that I used to be tied to most days whereas within the hospital. She additionally made me a bead counter in order that I might depend my laps every across the BMT flooring! 20 laps = 2 miles. That was my purpose daily. There have been a couple of days I simply couldn’t do it, however I knew the extra I moved, the extra I might get these cells transferring in my physique. Motion was motivating and motion meant therapeutic in my head.

One factor it’s possible you’ll not know is that I LOVE snow. I can’t say I “love” driving in it, however any snow storm, I’m like somewhat child! And wouldn’t you already know, a large snow storm got here whereas I used to be within the hospital – the one actual snow storm we had all winter! And wouldn’t you already know, it occurred when my donor’s cells had been being shipped over! I vaguely bear in mind them saying that there was some concern if they might get to me on time, however they did!

That is the attractive image my niece made me! I nonetheless have it in our bed room to at the present time. When somebody receives a bone marrow transplant, they name it your “new birthday” as a result of it’s an opportunity at new life once more. Nurses stated that folks rejoice transplant day like they do a birthday, so Dan introduced in cupcakes to rejoice! My dad and mom had been in a position to come and witness the transplant and rejoice with us. Sadly Mazy was not allowed to come back on the ground in any respect, throughout the entire course of, so it was arduous to not rejoice along with her, however she was much more motivation to get out of there as rapidly as I might.

Receiving the stem cells – it seemed like tomato soup! I’ve yet one more 12 months till I can meet my donor! We do write letters backwards and forwards and I’m so grateful for that. She calls me her “genetic twin”! Lord-willing I can meet her sometime! Oh I can’t wait to sometime share that story…

For those who seemed carefully in individual, you might actually see hundreds of thousands of particular person cells flowing by way of the road. The method of the cells going into my physique by way of my pic line, solely took about 15-20 minutes! Utterly painless, however full and utter pleasure. It was probably the most surreal expertise.

Once I was within the hospital for about 2 weeks, I began to lose my hair. Some shave their head previous to, however I made a decision to attend. One morning after I brushed my hair, lots got here out and I made a decision that day was the day. I used to be so nervous about who would do it, however the nurses stated the techs are keen and I believed YES! I didn’t need to put that on Dan. No tears had been shed, however nearly reduction that it was simply one other a part of the method finished. I take a look at this image and sure I’ve a smile on my face, however boy was I worn out. It was an extended haul and that chemo was simply plain ole NASTY. Observe the redness of my pores and skin…that was only the start!

I used to be in a position to go away the hospital in 20 days, which truthfully was a really fast turnaround within the grand scheme of issues. The mouth sores appeared by no means ending and my morphine pump appeared to solely simply boring the ache, the fatigue hit arduous, the mind fog unmatched, and what chemo does to your innards, is tough to clarify in phrases, however the day FINALLY CAME! I’ll always remember choosing up Mazy in school after returning dwelling!

I couldn’t be extra grateful for the BMT nurses and medical doctors! From the my nurse coordinator, PA, physician, nurses, techs, simply EVERYONE! This system in GR is actually outstanding and I’m so grateful for his or her care and help by way of this, guaranteeing each a part of the journey would achieve success.

I made it to day 50 put up transplant! On the time it felt like such an enormous milestone, as we seemed ahead to day 100 – we had been midway! Life was stuffed with so many physician’s appointments (3x/week, typically extra), fixed monitoring, resting, naps, meds, and making an attempt to remain wholesome. I used to be principally a hermit and couldn’t do a lot of something, however we created a brand new regular!

Each 6 weeks I had a most cancers take a look at and every time it got here again at ZERO, particularly in these first few months, was monumental. I walked with anxiousness over these assessments as a result of it was by way of that particular most cancers take a look at that we discovered I relapsed the 12 months prior. The recollections of relapsing had been all to recent and all too nerve-racking!

In mid-April, I FINALLY made it to DAY 100! So what’s the massive deal about Day 100? When one reaches day 100, the chance for acute GVHD (graft versus host illness…when my cells battle my donor’s cells) decreases, full engraftment is predicted, and threat for an infection decreases. Although, I used to be nonetheless on my immunosuppressant, so truthfully not a lot modified in my life-style, however reaching that milestone mentally was HUGE. It was undoubtedly a day of celebration. I additionally had a bone marrow biopsy that proved that every one was nicely and all the pieces seemed because it ought to!

We celebrated Day 100 by taking a little bit of a threat…we went out to eat. It was the primary time we had gone out, however we went actually early to the restaurant and it was by God’s design, the waitress seated us in a nook, which suggests we had been away from everybody else. After all I nonetheless wore a masks transferring round, nevertheless it felt so releasing to simply be exterior the partitions of our dwelling!

I additionally made the manager determination for myself to go to church. Our church was so gracious in placing a chair in the best way again, alongside the wall of the sanctuary, away from everybody. I got here late and left early for months, absolutely masked, to make sure I didn’t actually “see individuals”, and it was such a present to my non secular coronary heart. I used to be grateful for streaming after I didn’t really feel up for going, particularly for the primary month or two, however with the ability to be there in individual was so what my coronary heart wanted. Even when I didn’t get an opportunity to speak with anybody.

Getting my line out felt SO GOOD. I had a pic line in my chest for months, and so it felt so good to have it eliminated! I might FINALLY take a “actual” bathe!

On the finish March/April (I consider), my hair lastly began to come back again! It was a gradual course of, however I began to get the fuzz! I misplaced a number of layers of pores and skin off my head (and my entire physique), so it was in all probability good that it didn’t begin coming again earlier than then.

Probably the most private presents God gave me throughout this restoration time was a tremendously heat winter/spring. I bear in mind in February, we hit 70 levels!! I used to be coping with extreme neuropathy on the time, so strolling was very troublesome and painful, to the purpose the place I needed to sleep with chilly and moist towels round my toes with a pan beneath so I didn’t get our mattress moist. No nerve med, ache med, or cream was serving to, till I began to make use of purple mild remedy. By mid-February, the ache began to subside, and I might FINALLY get pleasure from a stroll exterior within the lovely solar! Even after I couldn’t take a stroll although, I used to be in a position to simply sit exterior and let the solar hit my face. I spent day after day sitting exterior for 15-20 minutes to soak it in (I couldn’t burn b/c I used to be at a excessive threat for pores and skin most cancers) nevertheless it was such a present! A winter I’ll always remember and a winter that felt like such a present from God.

This previous summer time we had been in a position to get pleasure from time collectively as a FAMILY. MANY MANY hours had been spent across the pool with household and buddies! I nonetheless needed to be cautious about not getting sick, so something exterior was welcomed!

In July, Mazy and I went to Mackinaw Metropolis and Island, and had simply the BEST time!

Each 6 weeks, I continued to have most cancers assessments, and every time I’d get so nervous. However Mazy discovered this sword she made for me the primary time I had most cancers and it jogged my memory that the battle simply continues and that GOD CAN HEAL. I’ve to consider that He can heal me from this. I’ve to consider and settle for that HE CAN and HE IS. Every take a look at that comes again unfavorable, brings therapeutic to my worrisome coronary heart! It’s typically arduous to maneuver previous the trauma of all that has occurred – I nonetheless really feel like I used to be recovering from the primary spherical after we had been hit with the second, however God has sustained us by way of all of it. His goodness and faithfulness, I simply can’t put into phrases.

After my transplant, we discovered that my coronary heart’s perform declined once more, so December introduced on one other ablation, however we’re simply grateful my coronary heart made it by way of a bone marrow transplant. It’s actually fairly a miracle! Generally I feel again to the variety of occasions the place medically talking, I shouldn’t be right here, however God continues to maintain my life. I don’t deserve it. However God has this loopy plan, one which has us on our toes, however we all know he holds the variety of our days. And he continues to provide us alternatives to share of his greatness and goodness by way of all of it.

AND HERE WE ARE! ONE YEAR POST-TRANSPLANT. Mazy even made me an indication! This 12 months, at occasions, I believed would by no means finish. I do know the journey isn’t over…the most cancers nonetheless might come again. I’m thought-about “cured” after 2 years. However the threat is considerably much less. The danger for my physique rejecting my donor’s cells (GVHD) is much less. And we all know with God, something is feasible. We’ve no clue what this coming 12 months will deliver, however what we do know is that he holds our tomorrows.

God allowed all he has for a purpose and we couldn’t be extra grateful for his tender, therapeutic hand. I simply pray that I can faithfully and diligently share the story he has given me, to encourage others of their religion journey and life journey. What God has allowed isn’t any tougher than what it’s possible you’ll be going by way of – it’s simply totally different. Hardship is hardship. Ache is ache. Grief is grief. I typically say, circumstances could also be totally different, however the feelings are the identical.

And proper now, our feelings are stuffed with gratitude, humbleness, and awe of what HE has finished.

TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY.

And this household RIGHT HERE. When somebody goes by way of most cancers, it’s not simply the one who has the most cancers, however the household too. Resilience is the phrase that defines my household. Dan and Mazy have gone by way of a lot themselves, watching and serving to me battle. It hasn’t been simple, however God has given us our day by day bread. God has given Mazy the sight to see that most cancers, though it has been troublesome, has been so good for us. She sees the way it has challenged her and made her stronger. She has even expressed her thankfulness to God for it. That’s Christ in her. Her religion has challenged mine!

And my man, Dan the person, continues to face subsequent to me. Man we by no means noticed any of this coming after we stated “I do”! However right here we’re! Sure we’re praying and asking God for a little bit of a reprieve, however this previous 12 months has grown us rapidly and diligently, as we search to serve not ourselves, however one another. I’m so grateful for this man! God’s blessings simply proceed to move.

Yet one more factor…

Mazy asks me to play this tune “By no means Get Used To This” by Forrest Frank typically and it has since develop into our “anthem” on the best way to and from faculty. Learn the lyrics – it encompasses a lot of what now we have skilled! My good friend, if you’re questioning if it’s value following Christ, IT IS. For those who don’t know Christ as your private Lord and Savior, please inform me. Please message me. I’d love NOTHING MORE than that will help you in your journey to religion in Him. It’ll change your LIFE. Not solely right here on this earth, however eternally! With out my religion, there’s NO WAY I might’ve gotten by way of this all – the hope God gives is unmatched and the goodness he provides, nothing will examine. Select at the present time, whom you’ll serve.