Day 50

Madison and "Papa" - May 2019

I’ve reached day 50 of the 100 day post transplant mark.  I’m told that the I should start feeling closer to my old self after day 100.  There is also less likelihood of complication after day 100.  So I’m ½ way there.

I had a very encouraging doctor’s appointment yesterday.  First of all, all of my immune system numbers are in the normal range.  That’s extremely encouraging.  It means that the donated immune system is growing in my body nicely.  It doesn’t mean I’m as bullet proof as you are.  I still have a baby immune system.  But I don’t need to be as concerned about bacterial infections as I was up to now.  I still need to be very concerned about contracting something viral….a cold, the flu, measles (yikes) etc.  So I still can’t go to crowded venues that I typically do in the summer.  Dodger Stadium is off limits.  Same with Hollywood Bowl.  Pageant of the Masters. Or a Jeffrey Epstein accuser reunion.  But I can go out to dinner or to a movie theater…but use caution.  If someone is coughing or sneezing, I need to relocate.  I was also greenlighted to visit with my granddaughter so long as she doesn’t have a cold.  And…of course… she just came down with a cold, so I’ll have to wait a bit for that one.

I was also given the green light to suspend having 24/7 babysitting.  I’m able to drive.  Hospital visits are now 1 day/week instead of 2.  All things I’ve been looking forward to.  My doctor told me I should not be doing much in the way of household chores, like washing dishes or taking out the garbage (not really, but don’t tell Susan!)

I’m definitely starting to feel stronger.  I walked 1.5 miles yesterday without stopping to rest. 

It very much feels like I’m getting a jail release.  It’s been hard to be so limited.  And it was kind of weird to always have someone around. I enjoyed having friends around, but it was very uncomfortable on the days when I had a home health aide on duty whose primary job was to watch me while I was watching TV.  Poor thing must have been bored out of her mind.

Pleased to share this good report.  I expect I’ll get progressively stronger as the next few weeks unfold.  Still no way to know if we’ve successfully chased the cancer away…. although current indications are positive.  Next step on that will be a bone marrow biopsy around Day 100.