March 22 , 2005
April 1st will mark 10 months since my bone marrow transplant. The event seems so far away and yet it also seems like it happened yesterday. I remember it all so vividly.
I am currently working on my book and have started temping. I worked four days over the past week at the National Football League corporate offices located on Park Avenue in Manhattan. It's a wonderful group of people with whom I work. Working at the NFL must be a dream come true for the guys employed there and probably for some of the women, too (I don't want to be sexist ;-) I've even enjoyed the two-hour commute....
I'm feeling good although I still seem to tire easily and have some generalized pain throughout my body, but nothing specific or of lengthy duration to complain about. Medications are still taken on a daily basis, doctor appointments are once a month, and there is still some tingling in my toes (which is most likely permanent because the chemo can damage nerve endings and they rarely repair completely). Overall I am doing well and am confident that I will continue to improve.
June 1st is my first re-birthday and at that point another bone marrow aspiration will be performed and the cells analyzed. The first set of vaccinations will be administered, as well. The transplant most likely wiped out any immunizations I previously had, so I must be vaccinated again—baby shots. The remaining vaccinations will be administered at year two.
There are so many plans that I am making, and I will share more as they start coming to fruition, or at least appear to be. Getting back to life feels really good. I will try to keep this blog updated in a more timely fashion from now on.
My sister, Karen, is expecting her first child, a little girl, the beginning of April. I'm looking forward to being an aunt again. My friend, Lori, is getting married on my birthday and so I am planning a trip to Cincinnati for her big day, and then stay a week with Karen, Jeff, and the baby.
Aidan and Andrew are my little darlings, and they make me smile all the time, which has to be good for my immune system. I have treasured the time I've been able to spend with them—it will be very difficult when I move out because I will miss them terribly.
Here's to living and loving life!
