A lot has happened in a couple of days...mostly occurring today!
Monday I didn't have any appointments so me and mom did some yoga (to loosen up after doing pilates on Sunday) and then I went to do my evaluation with the personal trainer I'll be going to twice a week with Janet. After that we swam in the pool and did the elliptical for half an hour. I must say that it is very nice to be able to work out again...though I haven't missed the being sore part. and man am I sore!
Tuesday mom and I met with my social worker who gave us information about support groups with people my age with a simiar diagnosis as me as well as classes we can attend like yoga, pilates, or get acupuncture or massage. Pretty much anything to help with coping with the stress that comes with all that has happened. I am defintely going to use some of their resources.
Today we picked up Cassidy from the airport and went to MDA to see my doctor to review my blood counts and talk about what the next plan is. My blood is back to normal (yay!) and since we still haven't heard from the transplant team about the date of my transplant, my doctor said to tentatively plan to start my next round of chemo on friday since we didn't know if the transplant was going to be 2 weeks from now or 4+ weeks. If it is 4 or more weeks then I would have to do another round first. During that appointment my mom went to go donate blood :) good job mom! she said she is going to donate platelets next weeks as well. If you have to opportunity to donate blood and platelets please do! Hospitals are always in need of both and i've had to use both to keep me alive and healthy.
After the appointment with my doctor we all met up with the young adult specialist who worked on the pediatric ward of MDA and she showed us where I'll be staying in the hospital and all the amenities they have there. She sets up group meetings that allows us to socialize with each other, art classes, writing classes and more to help with our stay in the hospital. She also showed us a very cool, young adults only, room that has a pool table, games, video games (like pac-man, racing ect.) and basketball hoop games like you see in the arcade. There is also a movie room, free beverages and well pretty much everything you expect to see in an arcade room but with no tokens required :) it's another great way to meet people my age...especially with my disease there aren't a lot of people my age around. I think she told me there were about 20 all together right now. Each room in the pediatric ward has both a PS3 and WII game systems so I can bring my games and balance board to keep me entertained for the 30 days I'll be in there. She also gave me some people's cards to call who can help me learn how to de-stress, control my anxiety that I have with procedures and also people who can help me with getting in to the University of Houston. Very helpful!!
While in Florida I learned that my insurance doesn't cover any of my fertility treatments I was planning on going through to harvest my eggs so that I may have children one day. The fertility clinic has been working non stop since then to discount the procedure and the medicine I need. Today I received a call that told me they discounted it $3,000 along with finding round about ways to give me some of the medicines free of charge so that they only cost around $1,000. With their help and a loan I am actually able to (hopefully) start the process of injections for the next 10 days and have the procedure before my transplant. I will now have the ability to have my own children one day :D thank you everyone at the fertility clinic!!!
The last good news of the day is that the stem cell team got back to us about scheduling for the transplant. As of right now Travis will be flying up to houston on August 30th and starting his tests until the 7th of September. Big Tam will be joining us on the 1st :) I will begin high dose chemotherapy on the 8th of September, just days after my planned procedure to remove my eggs. It's scary to think that in just three weeks i'll be stuck in the hospital again...but luckily with Physical therapists there to kick me out of bed (Actually they aren't allowed to "kick" but definitely allowed to push me out of bed with positive reinforcement). I'm nervous but excited that I have a plan...a very TIGHT plan that will really come down to the wire with getting everything done before it's time for me to start my treatment. i hope i am ready!
Tomorrow I go see the OB-GYN and go to the trainer at 4pm. Cassidy goes back to work. My dad comes in on Friday and he will be working by Clear Lake for 2 weeks. It will be good to have him around :)
I will let you all know how everything plays out! More details to come when I get them!
-Savy
Wow! You certainly are keeping busy! The facilities at MDA sound great. At least there's plenty to do so you won't go too nuts in there. I have my fingers crossed that all the events happen as they should and that all the outcomes will be as they should be...successful! Keep up the good work. Your beating cancer on your own terms which is fantastic. Remember, you have cancer, but cancer doesn't have you. BEAT THE BEAST!
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