Well, ladies and gentlemen, I've made it past the "critical" period of my treatment! My stomach is still tight and I'm still not very energetic, but I have, by the grace of God, made it through this part of the transplant process. The doctor took me off of one particularly nasty drug on Wednesday, and I hope that I can recover from its effects soon. My immune system, and platelets, and other counts were at a low point this week, still not low enough to require transfusions, but lower than they should be. My counts had been steadily dropping for 2 months, primarily because of this one drug, but now that I'm off of it, things should begin to recover. What we're hoping and praying for is that I don't develop any graft-versus-host disease symptoms, considering that's what the drug which I'm not taking anymore was preventing. Although the doctor says I should recover much better now, not having to take that drug anymore, it feels like she kicked the crutches out from under me. Or, in a less violent metaphor, she took my training wheels off. My body must now learn to function with my new immune system, and it must harmonize within itself. I pray God grant me strength to become whole again, and I pray in communion with the Blessed Virgin, all the angels and saints, and especially with you, my loved ones, who have been so wonderful to offer your prayers on my behalf.
