Today, Day +20, was my first full day back at the apartment and I spent half of it at the hospital. It was fortuitous that I was discharged on the Ides of March, a very important day in Roman History, and one of my favorite days to do special things. Although I am still very weak, it was nice to walk into my own room and crash on my own bed.
The drugs I'm on which keep the graft grafting eliminate electrolytes quite quickly. Managing my gut is the biggest task right now because like somebody who takes pills to wake up and pills to go to sleep, I take pills to calm my stomach and pills that upset it several times a day. The results are good though, and my blood counts are rising all on their very own without any growth factor shots or transfusions. The doctors say that this will fluctuate and that eventually I may need some blood products, but right now things are trending upwards. My bacteria fighting capabilities are back to normal but my viral defenses are still down and may be for half, or perhaps, even a full year. So, I visit the clinic everyday, for now, until they tell me to come three times a week, then once a week, etc., as they slowly let my leash out. This process usually takes 100 days, for some sooner, others longer. I will be able to resume some normal activities in the meantime; however, I must avoid crowds and children for up to almost a year, as stated in a previous post. I look forward to tapering down the drugs and getting healthier.
During this recovery process I know of no one better to whom to turn than Mother Mary, who has been there with me through this whole ordeal. I don't know what I would do without all the Angels and Saints bearing my petitions to the Lord, and I include all you saints here on earth who have been praying on my behalf as well. My rosary gives me strength and peace in whatever happens, regardless of what time I have left, and those of you who pray it know of its holy power. Accept life for the wonderful gift that it is, never to be taken for granted, and never to be coveted as something that is ours. The sin of pride makes us believe that our lives are our own, but ultimately we all face the same end whether it's a long fight with cancer or getting hit by a bus in the street. We are all children of God, and God is love.
For the next few days I will leave my blog alone with only this, one of my favorite Beatles songs of all time, for you to enjoy.
