It's hard to believe it's July. Not even a month ago I was just getting ready to check in to the hospital. June sure was an incredible month. The weekend was wonderful....beautiful weather lured me outside several times, and mom and I even went to Eau Claire downtown and walked along the river, grabbing a coffee on our way out. Mom, dad and I ate outside a few times, and really just took it easy. My fatigue is quite significant and the nausea comes and goes so I really appreciate mom and dad these days - they make extra trips up and down the stairs when I can't get enough energy to get up. Overall though, I continue to improve and am amazed to be at home.
Yesterday I returned to Unit 57B for most of the day, getting bloodwork, fluids, tests and seeing Dr. Chaudry. He's all smiles these days. My blood counts continue to move further into the strong end of normal, and the pain in my abdomen is almost completely gone. He's made an appointment for me tomorrow with Dr. Brown in the Bone Marrow Clinic, where the plan is to snip my hospital ID band and actually discharge me to an outpatient status, which is remarkable for a Day +20 3rd transplant patient (oh yeah, they don't have another 3rd transplant patient to compare to!). No more hospital nights!
So now my primary challenge is having patience with the medications, fatigue, nausea and lack of appetite. I just have to remember not to get frustrated. If a whole day gets "wasted" on sleep and sitting, so be it. It's an investment in the next day. I only have to recall all the other things I have faced over the years to realize that this is a pretty easy challenge in comparison. I will enjoy every non-fatigue moment I have!
Happy Canada Day! Thanks again for all your support.
13 comments:
Happy Canada Day, Tricia.
It is wonderful that you are starting another new month. Way to go. We are all celebrating you today and toasting life in your honor. May you continue to progress, strengthen and live the life you love.
With admiration, prayers and love,
BJ
Dear Tricia,
Happy Canada Day. We will never look at the red and white in the same way. It will represent courage, hope and victory, as it should.
It is easy to forget what a serious situation you are in, even now. Your approach to life, enjoying every 'fatigue free moment' and bringing us along with you makes us think you can do anything - and it's starting to look that way!
So, we continue to pray for you and that this miracle keeps coming. I hope you feel good today as we celebrate you and Canada.
Love you, Canadian Warrior
Marcia xoxo
Good morning Tricia!
So happy to hear that you are still at home and that the doctor is "all smiles". Such wonderful news!! As Aunty BJ just said, we are celebrating you today!
Mom, Dad, Dave and the kids and I are heading out to Ann's house today to celebrate Canada day as a family, and we will all raise our glasses to you!!
We are sending you anti-nausea vibes and ~~~~~energy~~~~~ for the days to come.
You are awe-inspiring and we love you.
Barb
Happy Canada Day Tricia!
I agree with Marcia when she says we will never look at the red & white the same way....
Again, you have taught us all to enjoy the little things in life, which we all tend to forget at times...
May July bring continued strong blood counts and improvement!!
P.S. U R a 10
Cheers!
Love Sonia
Happy Canada Day back to you, Tricia.
Thanks once again for your posting. We are continuing our prayers for your constant return to strength & health.
As we celebrate Canada today, we also celebrate you, and raise a "toast to life". You always inspire us with your love of life, and whole attitude toward it.
Rest, rest, rest. As you say, it's an investment in the next day. What a remarkable girl!
Love you,
Bob & Mary Ellen xoxoxo
Dear Tricia,
I know that you are anxious to get going.But do take the time to build those cells , let your body reenergize .You've been through quite a marathon.
it's so great that you get to be homesurrounded by your caring and loving parents,that's the best vibes you could ever wish for.
Today ,Canada Day ,red and white day,your kind of day Tricia,a toast to your courage and determination.
Thinking of you
Sending TONS of sunshine
Dominique and George
Happy Canada Day, out patient Tricia, outstanding news, words can't express the joy you bring us. We continually send our Love, prayers and Qi your way.
Ed and Deanie
Happy Canada Day, Tricia!
I love what you said about "wasted" days:
If a whole day gets "wasted" on sleep and sitting, so be it. It's an investment in the next day.
That's the kind of positive spin you put on things that inspires all of us. We're better for knowing you.
I agree with Auntie Marcia - Canada Day's red and white has new meaning to us this year. We are always praying for you, and today I think I will do a little sitting and resting myself in your honour! ; )
Holly
Happy Canada Day Tricia,
We celebrate with you today and are so happy to hear that you are on your way to becoming an outpatient already - unbelievable!
I keep chanting & praying for your new bone marrow to keep accepting your body as its new home.
Cheers and love from Michele & Brian
Dear Tricia,
Your reflections on the "incredible month" of June and on July's upbeat arrival made Canada Day all the more special for us. We can only imagine how wonderful this past weekend really was for you. It is hard to believe that you are at home and able to enjoy fine weather, outdoor activities and family times. The truth is, you must be pushing through your fatigue and sickness to live each day as fully as possible.
Dr. Chaudry has every reason to be smiling these days. I'm sure that he did not anticipate such positive results in supporting you in your decision to go ahead with this clinical trial. So far, you are beating all the odds with your rising blood counts and lessening abdominal pain. Twenty-some days after your third bone-marrow transplant, you are forging new ground. Suddenly there is so much more hope for you and for others like you.
I am surprised that your doctors are willing to discharge you so quickly. You must be amazing to them right now, perhaps even precious; but they are not holding you back in any way. In fact, they seem to be encouraging you to get out there and thrive in the company of family and friends.
So, Tricia, today you will probably be discharged. In saying farewell to June, you describe the challenge ahead of you as being "easy in comparison" to what you have faced in the past. We can only wonder at your positive outlook and your remarkable stamina.
You thank us for our support, and we thank you for your courage in living just for today.
Love and prayers,
Louise and David
With my training I've learned just how important recovery days are. I know they might feel like a wasted day but it's important for me to spend a day on the couch sleeping and that goes double for you missy!
Happy Canada Day!
Hey Tricia!
Hope things are going well and you are enjoying being home!
Again, you teach us to enjoy the little things in life and because of you....i do alot more of that than i used to, i think alot of your army does!!
Cheers!
Sonia
Post a Comment