Movin' On Up!

PRAISE THE LORD!!!  My counts started trickling back in last Thursday, just one day after my salty post.  Apparently, it just takes a little bitchin' to get things back in gear.  This was exactly what we were waiting on.  A sign my brother's stem cells got in, found their home and got to work.  They engrafted!!!

It's amazing how your spirits get lifted when you start to feel more like yourself after a little blood shows back up in your system...  what a concept.  And for the record, yes (!) you can still function (barely) and survive when drained of white blood cells, neutrophils, platelets, and red blood cells.  Last week was hard, dark, long, and definitely the fight of my life.  I loved having my saltiness being pointed out as "turning up the fight".  Hadn't thought of it like that, but, that was so true.

When just making that 10 foot walk to the bathroom took some major mental preparation, the LAST thing I wanted to do was shower, go for walks, eat, or even just sit up... and some days none of that happened!  The nurses kept offering me ice cream for breakfast, lunch or dinner.  I finally snapped, "I don't care if you bring me a juicy cheeseburger that I'm craving SO bad, steak and lobster or a simple little Saltine cracker.  I CAN'T SWALLOW!!!"  Then I'd get more upset because it even throbbed to talk.  I was even spitting out my saliva so I didn't have to swallow.  I was waving the flag by the time the team walked in my room Wednesday for rounds.  "Give me the pain pump.  I surrender.  Change everything to IV.  Don't talk to me and just let me sleep."  That's when they stated I was in the deep valley and it was just a matter of days before I started feeling better.  I hardly believed them.  I had, at one time, 9 bags of "stuff" hanging up on Ivy and I just couldn't imagine, at that moment, that I would come out on the other side of this and feel myself ever again.  I experienced a whole new level of miserable.  

By Saturday, day 3 of rising counts, I was already bouncing back.  My mom made me some homemade navy bean and ham soup.  OMG.  My fave. I was able to get all that down except the ham.  I was back to walking laps and showering (which was good for everyone - haha!). The air show was cool.  Planes literally flying right out my windows. Best of all, our sweet babies came to visit me.  I hadn't seen them in 15 days.  That was way too long. I'm still shampooing and conditioning my head because that feels SO good on the dryness and itchiness.  Oh, and I officially parted ways with Ivy today...  yep, I asked for everything to get back to oral form.  I'm a free woman!!  She was miserable at night.  Constantly squawking and needing the nurse causing my roommate, whether that was Jason or my mom, to be woken up too.  She was good for lending a hand to help step into my pants after a shower or boosting me out of bed on my weak days.  But, overall, our goodbye was tearless. 

There are rumors flying around that I'm out of here sooner than later.  Sometime this week.  My counts are bouncing back nicely and I, physically, am too.  Asking for everything to get back to oral intake was a huge step they were looking for.  Let's all pray the next few days are uneventful so I can finally step foot outside and breathe in that summer air!  Granted, going home is just the next baby step in this critical first 100 day recovery period.  I will continue to be monitored very closely with home health visits and weekly trips downtown to check in with my doc.  I will basically live in isolation.  But, I will be HOME.  On MY couch.  In MY own bed. Home with my FAMILY.  HOME COOKED meals.  HOME.

Be well, friends.  Next post will be from my couch :)  I'm off to crank out 10 laps before bed. 

Love,

Rhonda Kay

XOXO