So, after doing two more rounds of chemo, two more PET scans, and repeating all my previous tests (EKG, echo, PFT and blood work) I was approved for my second transplant. It is sort of a bittersweet accomplishment because I am ready to do the transplant and glad I got approved; but at the same time sad that I had to leave my family and just dreading the whole process.
This transplant will be a little different than my last one. The chemo I am doing this time is different and is given for a longer time period. I will have 8 days of chemo and then my rest day before they infuse the stem cells. This time, since the stem cells came from my sister and not myself there is a chance of rejection and graft versus host disease.
I started my chemo last night at about 10pm. My first chemo is Busulfan, which they are infusing over 2 hours every six hours. So I get my doses at about 10 and 4. I will get a total of 12 doses before moving on to the next chemo Fludarabine, which they give every 24 hours for a total of 5 times.
It is so much easier to think of the things that I will be missing out on by being here in LA than in finding reasons to be appreciative of it, but that is exactly what I need to do. The pastor at my church has talked about how happiness depends on what is happening to or around you, but joy is more than that, deeper than that. That is what I want to exhibit through this whole process, joy.
Thank you for your continued prayers.
