Yesterday, July 22, 2014, was the six-month anniversary of my stem cell transplant. The first six-months post-transplant is the most perilous time. Chances for relapse and life-threatening GVHD are highest; at the same time, patients are at their weakest. It’s good to be getting past this point.
 |
| By Raskim1 (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons |
The first half of 2014 hasn’t been easy for my family and me. We spent five months away from home where it seemed like I battled every possible complication from pneumonia to a bladder infection. There were days when I had barely enough energy to walk. I could barely see for the better part of March and April while GVHD ravaged my eyes. My family was away from all that was familiar to them, apart from friends, family, and our home.
Progress
To say I’ve come a long way may very well be the understatement of the year. I’m not one-hundred percent, mind you, but I’m getting better every day. We still have to deal with the trace amount of leukemia cells detected in my marrow, but I’m confident that the chemotherapy and FLT3 inhibitor will work; so far my body is tolerating both well. GVHD is still a nagging companion, however it’s been manageable and mostly just a nuisance.
But, my, look what the Lord has done! When I got home from Texas in May, I could barely do a push up. Now, I can do fifty (albeit in sets of 10). I walked three miles yesterday to celebrate the anniversary and included several running intervals. Each week I can run a little longer.
And then there’s my job. Many transplant recipients are off work for a year; I started back after about five months. I’m working nearly full time already and have enough energy to get me through the day. I’m getting more comfortable in my new position and slowly becoming more effective. I’m convinced that this is helping my recovery. It’s good for my mind and soul.
Confirmation
A very wise and anointed lady told me something profound at church this weekend. She loving looked at me and said,
“You are healed; you’re just waiting on the full manifestation of it.”
So, there it is. I had been thinking—praying—about a very similar thought. Others have shared comparable impressions that they’ve had while praying.
What do I do with this? Simple: believe it. Stop hedging my bets, thinking “if I get healthy, then…” Move forward. Like the Soldiers assaulting Omaha Beach: “MOVE FORWARD! Get off the beach!”, because the beach is full of mines and covered by withering enemy fire. My beach is laced with mines of doubt, also planted by the enemy.
 |
| “Former Army bobsledder wins back-to-back Team of the Year awards 110125” Photo by Tim Hipps, FMWRC Public Affairs; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
I’m in it to win it. God has been doing a good work in me for the last fourteen months since diagnosis. Why would he stop now? Rather than putting my life on hold, I’m moving forward. I even applied to attend the US Army War College next year. Who knows if I’ll be accepted, but the point it is that I believe God will get me there if it’s part of his plan.
A year ago today I learned the cancer was in remission. A month later it came back. For the second time. My doctor was not very optimistic and recommended treatment elsewhere besides UK. Thus began my journey at MD Anderson.
Today, I am in the midst of restoration. Some days I still feel subpar. Other days I feel like a walking miracle. Every day I am thankful for the good work that the Lord continues to accomplish in and through me.