Update 1

Hey All,

I promised to keep you all updated, so here's your update!

I went to Columbus Sunday night with my Mom and Monday morning was scheduled to have a port put in and to get some chemo.  The chemo is supposed to drop my counts rapidly so that they can come up rapidly, this way its easier for them to collect stem cells to use during the transplant.  It's considered "mobilization therapy" to get those stem cells mobilized--- I didnt know what to expect because I didn't have to have this last time because my counts were down low enough last time.

Thanks to everyone's prayers and to God, I have done remarkably well with it!  I am already back at my apartment, after spending the first couple of days with my sister Monica in Greenville.  My Mom is staying with me through Sunday and next week I'll have to have labs drawn each day and they'll have to keep a super close eye on my counts and make sure I don't need any blood transfusions.  The chemo makes your counts drop low so I don't know if I'll just feel fatigued a little, but the thing I'm ecstatic about is that the nausea didn't really follow me home from the hospital....and the nausea is the WORST.  So I actually feel relatively noraml which I count as a miracle considering!  I've had so much encouragement and uplifting messages and texts, e-mails and cards from everyone and I've drawn strength from them all!  I haven't lost my hair yet and they say with cytoxan (the chemo i got monday) you usually will.... but whatever, I'll take my hair today and hopefully tomorrow and we'll cross that hurdle when we get there.  I'm not above praying for my hair follicles, bahahaha.

For real though, after my counts come up enough I will go back to Columbus, they will collect my healthy stem cells, and transplant will follow.  So-- for now I just wait and stay away from germs and keep an eye on my counts.  I'm so thankful for everyone's prayers, I'm feeling great, to God the glory.

Have a great day :)

xoxoxo
Leslie