Bone Marrow Transplant Replace – Kristin Sterk
I assumed I might give an replace on how the restoration from my bone marrow transplant goes. I’ve had just a few individuals ask not too long ago on how the progress has been, so thought it was about time!
I’m doing remarkably nicely, in keeping with my care staff, and that’s all the time encouraging to listen to. All glory to God for that as a result of He’s the last word healer! I take a look at myself and see how far I’ve to go, however I’ve to do not forget that I’m just a bit over 2 months post-transplant. I’ve bypassed any fevers and sicknesses (in addition to the frequent chilly) to date, which we’re so grateful for. We all know this might look very totally different and nonetheless might. My blood counts look nice, which is one other main blessing as a result of some nonetheless have to obtain blood transfusions at this stage, and I haven’t wanted any. My stamina nonetheless has a methods to go, however I’m instructed I’m nonetheless a bit out from feeling like myself from that standpoint but. I generally neglect what my physique is doing internally, reproducing and reproducing cells, and therapeutic from the within out. This physique is working in overdrive and simply because I can’t see it, doesn’t imply it’s not occurring. Judging by how nicely I’m doing, reveals how onerous this physique is working.
We’re ready for an additional most cancers check to return again, hopefully this week, and we simply proceed to wish that God would eradicate any most cancers cell that may nonetheless be in my physique, or use the brand new donor cells to battle it. I discover myself residing in a mindset of relapse as a result of that’s all we’ve referred to as of late. The likelihood after which the reality of it. I’m engaged on writing one other e-book (we are going to see if it involves fruition someday!) and I’m within the midst of writing about that very factor – relapsing. It’s a troublesome portion to write down as a result of I generally surprise why God didn’t do what I assumed an excellent God would do? Which is heal me the primary time from most cancers? However simply because my circumstances didn’t end up the way in which we had hoped and prayed they might, doesn’t imply He’s any much less good. I see my state of affairs from my restricted human perspective, not via the eyes of an everlasting God who sees the entire image and absolutely the great thing about this entire story. We felt like most cancers stole our summer season final yr. It was complicated, the timing appeared off, and the relapse hurtful. However being on this aspect now of a bone marrow transplant, a transplant I by no means in 1,000,000 years dreamed of getting, and being on this aspect of the therapeutic course of, we see God’s faithfulness via all of it. The faithfulness of an excellent God.
God knew what was coming, what we wanted, and knew how you can make all of it occur. And this we imagine He’ll proceed to do. It doesn’t matter what my future holds.
Thursday, whereas at my appointment, my nurse coordinator got here into the room and mentioned, “I’ve one thing for you!” I sat there for a second and thought what on this planet would she have, then it dawned on me, “Do you’ve got one thing from my donor?” A couple of weeks in the past I had written a letter of gratitude to my donor and lo and behold, we acquired a letter BACK! They mentioned this was one of many quickest turnarounds that they had ever seen, and as I learn it, I couldn’t assist however cry. Her English was superb (not her first language), to see her penmanship, hear her coronary heart via her letter, and her need to be in contact with us, it simply overwhelmed me. When first studying that I certified for a BMT, I knew I wished to try to have a relationship with my donor. And now to see that coming to fruition, nonetheless makes me emotional! We now have to attend TWO YEARS to present figuring out data, which I believe sooner or later we are going to run out of issues to say as a result of we are able to’t give a lot element about our lives, however simply to have that lengthy distance relationship along with her, means the world to me. My greatest dream can be to move on over to Europe to satisfy her! I don’t know what nation we’d even need to go to, however oh the pure feelings of that first embrace. To consider her, being in me. Her cells in me, giving me new life. And to this point, her cells are nonetheless controlling my physique!
As I’m reminded by my care staff usually, therapeutic from a bone marrow transplant is a marathon. My pores and skin, my intestine, my muscle mass, and my hair have a protracted methods to go. However they are saying by month 6, many begin to really feel like themselves once more. It’d be mid-summer and what good time that may be!
We simply give all of the reward and glory to God, for main and strolling us via this journey. There are various ups and downs, however He helps us navigate all of them. And thank YOU for persevering with to wish for us. We now have a protracted highway forward of us but, however we all know we’ve all of the assist we want!
