The Results Are In...

Cancer free!!!

   DAY 100!!!!!  AND I AM CANCER FREE!!!!!

Santa came early this year.  My birthday wish a year ago was finally granted. NO present will ever top this.  🙏🙏🙏

How ‘bout it?!?!?!  The words I’ve been waiting to hear for over 2 years were finally spoken.  We cried, we cheered, we looked at each other like, "Did we just hear what we think we heard?"  No sign of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML).  No sign of Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS).  No sign of the deletion of chromosome 7 (high risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia).  Congratulations, Northwestern Medicine!  Your first patient with CML and MDS (ever) - is in REMISSION.

And to you cancer... *refrains self from using the sailor mouth I'd really like to use* But...
YOU CAN FINALLY KISS MY A$$!!!!!  You messed with the wrong girl... the wrong family (again)... and you can pack sand.  ✌

I do have a little confession... We learned these results two weeks ago...  Why wasn't I screaming it from the rooftops?  What took me until now to finally announce it to my army?  Well, in true Rhonda fashion there's a "But..."  And I am HATING that "But..."  You see, throughout this journey, over 2 years now, I've heard several times how I "go against the norm in treating this disease." How "I'm special."  How "I'm keeping everyone on their toes." So LAME. 🙄 So here's the "But...":

Yes, I am cancer free, BUT, I am NOT 100% donor cells yet and Dr won't settle for anything less.  We are working on that part now.  My anti rejection medication has been significantly reduced to the point I'm basically off it.  The more that's reduced, the more he's setting those donor stem cells loose.  And the more he does that, the more graft vs host disease will present itself. Graft vs host is Rhonda cells fighting donor cells.  Sibling rivalry! 😜 So it's a fine line of keeping tabs on all aspects.  We have a plan if I should need help getting to 100% Greg's male cells, but, by the grace of God they will quit putzing around and FINISH THE JOB!

When bloodwork shows better results of the XY (male vs. female study) I have requested another bone marrow biopsy... and Dr did not argue with that.  I, and he, need peace of mind that the blood test and bone marrow test are on the same page and we can get on with our lives.  One more drilling in me!  No prob! 😜

So over these jerks. 

I battle nausea, stomach issues and now some female issues - all graft vs host. Minor prices to pay to be cancer free.  These too shall pass.  Could be worse.

Core bone of the marrow! Looks healthy to me! 

Bone marrow aspiration

Just another appointment... LOL!

I wasn't out of the hospital maybe a week when a friend on Facebook posted about her dear friend who had just passed on.  The woman's picture punched me in the gut...  Here it was framed out in an orange ribbon and said something along the lines of "Leukemia Warrior".  After a little digging, I learned this sweet angel was my age, had two babies the same ages as mine, was going through a stem cell transplant - admitted just 3 weeks ahead of me, same hospital, same doctor, even a similar lake view out her window.  We may have even passed each other in the hallway walking laps.  Complications from the transplant her body just couldn't overcome... I haven't spoken about this to anyone except for reaching out to my Facebook friend and passing on my condolences. It absolutely broke. my. heart.  And not a day goes by where I don't say a prayer for her and her family.  Just when you think you can't hate cancer anymore...

I warned you!  All the feels!

Blake and Kendall were so excited for today!  They know exactly what that huge 100 on the calendar means.  "Mommy got new blood 100 days ago!!"  While this is such a HUGE, critical milestone in the stem cell journey, I will be proceeding cautiously.  I am, in no way, jeopardizing anything.  The next big milestone is 6 months.  Baby steps!!!

Happy Fall Y'all!

So much to celebrate this birthday, Kendall Kay!

Let's see if I can bring a little giggle to you all today...  I got both kids off to school one day and ran out to run a couple kid free errands. 🙌  Mom's, can you feel me here?! Haha! I feel like I was barely even back to driving myself around!  I am driving through this dinky little village - like a mile stretch, maybe, where you don't go 1 over, hands at 10 and 2, look straight ahead and don't even breathe. McCullom Lake for all my local friends... 😉  My phone rings, I reach up and answer it on my dash magnet like a dufus.  Totally forgetting I have to answer on my bluetooth unit.  I GRAB MY PHONE to switch it to Bluetooth and BAM!  Lights and sirens in my rearview mirror.  Son. Of. A. @#$&*.  Officer comes up to my window, "Mam, you can not have your phone in you hand even if you are talking on speakerphone."  "I know that sir, I can't even make this up.  I answered my phone on the actual phone instead of the bluetooth and I was trying to switch it over..."  *silence* and he just stared at me for a few seconds.  I thought for sure he was going to send me on my way... "license and insurance, please." ughhhhh 😩  I unbuckled, "ACCIDENTALLY" SLIPPED MY HAT OFF and made the reach over.  BAHAHAHAHA!!!!! 😂😂😂 It's a long reach over there!  As I handed over my license and insurance, I looked him in the eye and said, "I swear that's me.  I got an unwanted haircut 2 months ago."  He walked away.  Man of so few words.  Not a minute later he came marching back up to me. Handed me my papers, "Figure out that bluetooth.  Oh, and best of luck as you keep fighting the good fight."  I said, "I don't care what anyone says about you!  You're a good guy."  Wished him a good day and went on my way.

Is that playing the "cancer card??"  If so, I apologize, kinda.  Actually, not at all.  I think I've played it one other time to get my husband to wear a shirt he wasn't a fan of and I loved.  That went something like this: "Jase, wear this shirt!?" "Hell no!" "But, I have cancer..." And he came walking out of the bedroom in that shirt.  LOL!  No pity parties or why me's.  But, I will play my "card" wisely. 😉 Maybe that line will accompany my next Corvette pic I text him.

So many daily reminders of where I've been, how far I've come and how far I still have to go.  My hair.  I miss it.  A lot.  These tubes hanging out of my chest.  The endless pills I swallow daily.  The many naps I still need to feel human the second half of the day.  The picking up that always needs to be done, but, sitting down is all I can do at that moment.  So far it's been worth it.  I mean, I'm cancer free.  No longer diseased.  I can't even use my sarcastic line of "I have a blood disorder" when I'm FREEZING all the time.

💗💗💗

When I look up from my computer screen and see Jason sitting on the floor with our sweet kids, coloring their hearts out, I thank my lucky stars.  For how blessed am I?  It's been a hell of a two years and we've learned so much.

I am SO beyond sick of the roller coaster ride, so I ask for your prayers for these stem cells to kill what's left of mine and TAKE OVER! They are almost there!!!  I NEED TO BE 100% MALE!!! 😜 It's ok, body!!!  You will eventually go back female!  This is not permanent!  hahaha I promise!

Be well!  Thanks for reading. Thanks for praying.  Thanks for always looking out.  Sorry for not sharing earlier.  I has hoping to have better test results by now to share.

Love,

Rhonda Kay