Friday, February 28, 2014, is a day that is permanently etched in my brain. It is the day that changed my life forever.
It started us down a path no one wants to walk. I had an annual check up earlier that week expecting to be told it was just a bad case of the blues. Something that was an annual thing for me. I went on Friday to get the blood work done. I received a call within the hour that “unless I was hiding a massive infection, they thought I might have Leukemia” and that the sample was being driven to Brandon to be double checked. It wasn’t long and another call came. This time I was told to report to the Health Science Centre immediately and to be prepared to be away from home for at least 30 days.
The diagnosis was Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. I under went the standard treatment to gain remission and stem cell transplant was done on June 6, 2014. The majority of those days were in hospital on an isolation ward called D6. When I did have passes out, we had to stay in Winnipeg as home is 1.5 hours from Health Science Center where I would have to go if my temperature rose. I did get a handful of days actually at home prior to transplant.
March 2015 I was admitted again to D6. This time with two viral infections causing double pneumonia. I also started to have GVHD symptoms that are now chronic. The medications used created challenges in treatment with toxicity and side effects. Including seizure like activity in the brain, false blood readings, muscle loss, weakness and Fibrosis of the lungs. Adjusting back at home after this stay was the hardest.
During the last 10 years I have had cataract surgery on both eyes, hearing aids, both hips replaced, both shoulders replaced, severe dry eyes, and many infections. My skin was tight and tough affecting mobility along with the pain caused by the avascular necrosis that wreck my bones.
Today I am stable. I have started a new drug that hopefully will further improve my skin and reduce the muscle cramping. I am forever grateful for my family friends and neighbours. I learned to not under estimate folks! They will surprise you, especially when the going is tough.
Although there has been a wide arrange emotions while going through this, I feel my approach has been kind of matter of fact. I felt there was no other choice. As a wife and mother, it was my job to fight and stay.
Everyday I continue to learn how to accept this new normal of mine and a need for purpose. Some days are easier than others. Everyday is started with the intention of doing my best. At the end of each day, I try not to be too hard on myself when it hasn’t gone as planned. Knowing that I will wake up and try again tomorrow.
“HOPE, anchors the soul, strong and secure” heb 6:19
