The school where I work (and the boys attend) had a snow day today due to the 8 inches of snow Indianapolis got overnight. I am resting, because I think I feel a cold coming on – scratchy throat, stuffy nose, headache. Praying it is nothing worse.
So while I relax, I am going to look at a few pictures from Mexico and remember the warmth.
Laura
Sunset from the palapa
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Relaxing in the villa
On Wednesday I had my monthly checkup at the bone marrow clinic. It is weird to say that it is enjoyable. Brad, the boys and I always go together. We have fun seeing the nurses and doctors that took such good care of us since last March. I spent more time with my nurses than anybody else last year. They have been some of the most wonderful and encouraging people through our journey.
In December the news had been good but cautious. The numbers that measure my liver function were up, and the doctor wanted to watch things carefully to see if they should do a biopsy to confirm graft versus host disease (GVHD). I was worried that this would mean lots of other tests and more medications with unwanted side effects. I also wasn’t thrilled about the idea of a liver biopsy. I have heard that these are done by going in through the jugular.
Well, my numbers have not changed. They are still a little high, but my doctor said that they don’t usually treat it unless the numbers are 5 – 10 times over normal and mine are not yet double. (70 when they should be 40) He said not to worry about it for now. YEAH!
This happened to be my 9 month appointment. I had stopped counting – which is a good sign! They did extra blood tests to make sure there is no sign of leukemia & to check to see if my blood is all donor. No leukemia! All donor cells! More good news.
The only bad news is that the new year brings a new set of insurance deductibles. Even though we will have to scrape and save for this, we are very happy to have insurance at all. The actual cost for keeping me alive last year is at about half a million dollars so far.
Laura
Brad and I had an amazing opportunity (thanks to several wonderful friends) to go on a trip to Mexico. We stayed in a villa on the Pacific coast in the city of Manzanillo with 5 other couples from our church. This was a trip of a lifetime for a variety of reasons. Brad and I love to travel but rarely get the opportunity. This is one of the most beautiful and relaxing places I can imagine, and we were able to share the time with good friends.
All during the time that I was being treated for leukemia, I had difficulty sleeping. I have always been a good sleeper, but my sleep patterns were really disrupted with numerous hospital stays and all of the body changes that come with being treated for a serious illness. One of the only ways that I was able to get to sleep was to block out all other thoughts by imagining myself on a beach. It was warm, calm and the sounds of waves breaking quietly on the beach would lull me to sleep. It was a strange idea for me to hope to visit a beach, since it is important that I stay out of the sun for the rest of my life. Sun can trigger my body to react badly to the transplant (GVHD). However, it was just a miracle that Brad and I were given this wonderful, beautiful trip to Mexico.
Even as we have returned to the frigid north, I am still enjoying the rest and renewal that I have felt as a result of this amazing trip.
Laura
Living a dream
I am very, very close to finishing my Master’s degree from Covenant College. This endeavor was interupted in November ‘07 when I was diagnosed with leukemia. I posted earlier about how difficult it has been to think about finishing, but it is something that I really want to do. It is important that I am qualified to be in administration at any school, and actually having the degree makes paying off the student loans so much easier.
Over Christmas break I completed the classwork for two of my incomplete courses. All I have left to complete is my Field Experience class. I will spend the rest of January and February completing this. I am hoping to graduate in early May!
Laura
