Day +6

Fever. This thing. Didn't want to give up.  Even yesterday, with Tylenol and solumedrol, I climbed up to the 100's.  At bedtime, I was down to 99 again.  Then through the night, I noticed I was sweating (A LOT), so at 4:00 when my pump started beeping, I asked the nurse to check my temp.  It was back down to my cool and comfy 97.8!!!  My fever had broken and my body was getting rid of all the junk!  I (we) did not sleep last night, but if the fever is gone, the sleepless night was worth something.

Today, my platelet count was low (15) and I received a bag that some kind, healthy, stranger donated.  My platelet count went up to 39!  

This has been an emotional part of my disease for the past 4 years.  In order for me to have been able to survive, 100,000's of individuals had to donate plasma so my IVIG could be made.  

While here, I've already received a bag of blood that rescued me and today I receivied a bag of platelets.  This is yet another debt, I will never be able to repay or participate in.  You see, once you receive any blood products like plasma, blood or platelets, you are not permitted to donate.  So I urge you healthy friends, if you can, find the time, donate.  It may not be your blood that saved me, but you're filling up the reserve as if it did.

Dr. Burt and the team came in around 8:45 this morning.  I've been on round the clock fluids and anti nausea meds since I can remember.  Today, I got to come off it all!!!  My last dose of anti nausea meds was yesterday afternoon!  My scopolamine patch came off yesterday too (I have had one on since day -6).  Slowly but surely, the drugs are starting to be tapered away.  

This morning, I got to sit by the window, feel the sun on my skin, and enjoy this beautiful view of the lake.

This evening, history was made at Prentice as us fellow transplant warriors met outside our units, by the elevators, for a group photo!  We asked Dr. Burt this morning if we could, he smiled and said yes!  It was so great!  

We've all been together through pretesting, mobilization, transplant, and all the ups and downs in between.  For us girls, we've been chatting for months about our concerns, the heartaches of leaving the babies, encouraging and listening as we each processed what was about to take place.  These women, are forever linked to me and I to them.  We are HSCT sisters.  We are warriors.  We are new women, wives and mothers...preparing and anticipating each day to go home to our families so we can start living our new lives!

Dinner tonight was so good.  Cheesecake Factory Bang Bang Chicken and Shrimp.  

Thankful, so very thankful.  

A new chance at life.  

The old is gone, the new, has FINALLY COME!!!