Friday, March 2, 2012

Looking Good


Was it only a few months ago?  It seems like a lifetime.  They told us the odds of success in treating the recurrence of leukemia after transplant were not at all good.  In the early fall Roger went through chemo treatments (again) and recieved more of his brother's stem cells.  Well --- we are dancing a little St. Patrick's Day jig because there is no sign of leukemia in his bone marrow now.

We never forget just how lucky we are.  That's not to say there are no challenges in post-transplant life.  There are.  But after what we've been through, this seems like a cake walk.

We both had bad head colds a couple of weeks ago.  We were miserable and felt sorry for ourselves for a week or so, but even in our misery, we knew that was small potatoes.  The stress of a cold on Roger's immune system has caused a flare-up of GVH.  It's still okay; we'll keep an eye on it.

Roger's blood counts are normal.  His blood chemistry is perfect. 

Lucky, lucky, LUCKY
.
Jig, jig, JIG!

6 comments:

  1. Wondrous news! I am so, so glad that you two have some good news and relief these days. I still think so much of the credit can be given to the optimism, the strength and the sheer determination you have both shown all this time...and a BIG credit to the karma I know you've received for all the good you've passed to others. Happy March Candi and Roger. Love you!

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  2. Oops-Forgot I signed anonymously.
    Tis Tammy ;)

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  3. Normal? Perfect? The luckiest words ever for the lucky month of March. Best of all (and Tammy said it perfectly) you've passed hope and goodness along to your friends who have followed along and all the others you will never meet. You guys have a BIG bank account full of good Karma.

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  4. Hi Roger and Candi -- Happy March! My teacher told me this week that a biblical translation of "perfect" is "in alignment". Keep doing what you are doing to keep the positive energy going and you will hopefully stay on the path to all that is good (and in alignment!)

    Sharon

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  5. Dance on!

    I'm so pleased to hear that Roger (and you) are in the Living Well stage, after having survived the Getting Sick stage and Being Sick stage.

    Nothing like feeling in your bones this knowing of freedom from the prison-sentence-feeling that leukemia or any debilitating and chronic illness can bestow on your psyche.

    I'm filled with immense joy and love that you've, at long last, arrived a "resting place" and a place of renewal.

    Perfect timing: Spring 2012!

    Please know that I've so appreciated hearing the storyline of your journey. My heart has been broken open time and time again by witnessing your acceptance, tenacity, courage, tender-heartedness, gratefulness and sincere faithfulness to finding the silver linings.

    I'm reminded to share this quote with you about what it means to embody a life lived full-strength:

    "It is only through letting our heart break that we discover some unexpected: the heart cannot actually break, it can only break open. When we feel both our love for this world and the pain of this world - together, at the same time - the heart breaks out of its shell. To live with an open heart is to experience life full-strength."

    ~ John Welwood

    xoxo

    Abundant regards,

    ~ Dianne

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  6. THAT IS THE BEST NEWS EVER. DENISE TOLD ME YESTERDAY THINGS WERE GOING VERY WELL. I ALWAYS ASK HER HOW ROGER IS DOING. I WAS SO HAPPY TO HEAR THE GOOD NEWS LOVE JILL

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