Nancy's Update

It took having a major illness for Mark and I to realize that we haven't had a professional photo taken since our wedding over 22 years ago. Here is one family photo from our sitting.

Being 19 months post-transplant is a miracle. The leukemia is in remission and I haven't required a single transfusion in 2007 (as opposed to over 200 blood transfusions in 2006). Although my counts haven't reached normal range, I continue to recover and hope for better counts in 2008.

I saw the doctor again today and here are the long awaited blood counts:
WBC 3.3 (Normal 4.0-11.0)
RBC 3.76 (Normal 3.8 - 5.2)
HGB 12.2 (Normal 11.5-15.5)
HCT 34.8 (Normal 35.0-47.0)
PLT 89 (Normal 150-350)

I have some signs of GVHD (graft vs. host disease) or rejection so my doctor wasn't going to reduce my anti-rejection medications. He wasn't totally opposed to trying to reduce it just a little, so that's what I told him I'd like to do. I'm now on .5 mg less per day of Prograf bringing my dosage to 1.5 mg. per day. I'm suppose to call him if the GVHD gets worse and then immediately go back on 2.0 mg per day of the Prograf.

Overall, I feel pretty good. We all have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season. A heartfelt thank you to my anonymous donor in Japan. You can't begin to appreciate what your gift of life has meant to me. And to my family and friends, thank you all for your support over the past 5.5 years since my bone marrow problems began. I embrace each and every day of life.

Happy Holidays! May 2008 bring joy, health and happiness!!!
Love, Nancy