Day 11

Hi everyone ...... this is Tammy.  I just wanted  to send a message to say hi and let you know that things are going fine, I guess!!  My doctor keeps telling me I look great.    I've never been more exhausted in my entire life! Everything difficult thing you've ever heard about a transplant ......it's true!!  I have NO energy .... not even enough to talk!  That says a lots!

I have a great support team and want to thank all of you.  I love hearing from all of you whether it is an email, text or a card, I look forward to getting them all!!  I read the cards and then we hang them in my room to brighten it.

Last night I was up all night "self diuresing" (urinating)??  The doctor was shocked this morning, my output last night was over 7 liters. He said he's seen that only one time before since being at this hospital.   Supposedly that's a good sign, my body does not feel the need to hold on to the extra fluid.   Needless to say we didn't get much sleep last night and it has put a damper on making any progress today.  Jeff has been great about doing everything!!  He had plans to go do laundry but chose to stay here with me since I feel poopy today.

I can't explain how important the role of a caregiver is.  I know I have many and am thankful for each of you.  My main caregiver right now is Jeff who has spent many of his nights standing in the the bathroom with me.  However Alecia & Ashley know exactly what that's like too.  My platelets are so low that an alarm has to be set on my bed so I don't get up alone and take the chance of falling. Tony got out of "bathroom duty" but has been very helpful with my with phys therapy, everyone is so wonderful!!
I've never been a huge fan for the Bet Midler song  "Wind Beneath my Wings" but it keeps coming to my mind everytime I REALIZE what a caregiver has to do do!! EVERYTHING!! Some of those things aren't that pleasant!!

Did you ever know that you're my hero?
You're everything I wish I could be
I could fly higher than an eagle
For you are the wind beneath my wings

A caregiver is literally my legs, arms, everything to me right now. 

Just wanted to say hi ..... love you all!!  Please remember me in your prayers that engraftment will start soon and my numbers will start coming back!!  With an umbilical cord transplant, it takes longer for my numbers to start recovery so WE (me AND my caregivers) need prayer that God will give us strength to get through this.

God bless you all!!

Update from 2/21/12, from Ash

Hey guys, it's Ashley. We just wanted to give you all a quick update. It's four days post transplant and overall she is doing pretty good--although, she's been in a fair amount of pain (in her legs and arms) and the doctors are still trying to figure out the right pain med combo to help minimize this. Hopefully they will find the right concoction soon!!

Right now, it's a bit difficult for her to eat because her saliva production is down making it hard for her to break down solid foods and she's also fairly nauseous at times. Also, absolutely nothing sounds good to her...especially not hospital food! However, we've figured out some "go-to" items that she is able to tolerate, but the nutritionist would still like her to be consuming a bit more. She also has a rash on the trunk of her body (most likely a drug reaction) that's being treated with steroid creams. Overall though, her doctors seem pleased with her progress!

Thanks for all your prayers, please keep them up and pray the cells engraft as she continues down the road to recovery!!

The first week of many baby steps!!

Yea .... we have one week behind us!  The clinic is not open on the weekends so we have a break as long as I am on an "out patient" basis.  It is very gloomy here today.  When the clinic is not open, the shuttle does not run so Jeff and I walked two miles (round trip) to Walgreens for our Saturday fun!!  I wonder what tomorrow has in store for us??  

My last Caringbridge update was before my bone marrow biopsy, lumbar puncture and skin biopsy.  I was really dreading those tests!!  Actually the procedures were not bad.  I elected to have an IV sedation using a medicine that causes temporary amnesia.  I had it once when in the hospital in Omaha.  It is so amazing!  I was awake through the procedures but very relaxed.  Although they gave local anesthetic, I could still feel pain occasionally but I don't really remember the details.  It's weird how that medicine works!

We have a full week next week!!  I just pray that my tests come back with good results and we can move to transplant!! 

That's all the news for now.  I will let you know what happens next week.

Love to you all!

Happy Holidays!

I can't believe Christmas has come and gone!  We had a wonderful Christmas .... our family was all together which was a great gift.

I have some news to share; however, I do so cautiously because in the past, we've experienced a few bumps in the road that have slowed/stopped progress.

My donor search coordinator has worked diligently and found cord blood units that are considered a safe match for me.  I was actually told that getting a transplant was probably not an option for me, so we starting looking for other avenues to keep my aggressive form of leukemia in remission.  I was all set to take part in a clinical trial and had an appointment on 1/23. 

Our prayers are getting answered!  The search coordinator notified us that cords have been found that are considered safe with my antibodies.  My appointment is now on 1/24 to start the transplant procedure!!   I really need your prayers more than ever now!!

PLEASE pray that I stay healthy until my appointment time.  Also I need prayer that the cord units will be safe and my body will accept the cells as my own.  This is my opportunity to be cured!!

One more thing ... my insurance will change to a different company effective 1/1/12.  I'm not sure what effects this will have, please pray this will be an easy transition and that Seattle will remain "in network".

God bless you all.

Donor Drives this Weekend

Last week over 250 people joined the registry! Let's keep it going this weekend :) Please come to one of the donor drives and potentially save my life or someone's life! Join Be the Match

Omaha, NE:

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Faith-Westwood United Methodist Church

10am–1:30pm

4814 Oaks Lane (between 120^th and 132^nd at old “L” street), Omaha, NE

San Francisco, CA:
Saturday, November 5, 2011
St. Mary's Cathedral Event Center
9am–12pm
1111 Gough St.
**this is also a Team in Training event, Leukemia Lymphoma Society**
http://www.teamintraining.org/sf/firsttimehere/info