Day 50

Today is “day 50,” that means it was 50 days ago that Don’s stem cells were re-infused into his body. The cancer doctors will count the days of Don’s life from that day forward, unless and until he has another stem cell transplant. Then the calendar gets set again at “1.” Second transplants do happen, and they used only half of the stem cells they harvested for this transplant. Enough cells were stored on ice for a second transplant down the road. However, right now we are focused on Don’s recuperation from the recent one. All is going well. Progress is consistent and steady. Don no longer naps in the day. He has added practicing guitar back into his days as well as small household projects. Yesterday he took the liner out of the back of the pickup and cleaned out the pickup bed. He beats Sami to the after-dinner dishes most days and has run a few short errands. His nights are becoming more settled. Life is looking more “pre-cancer,” although his energy level and physical stamina has a long way to go to be norm

The next big mile post is “day 100.” After then, Don will undergo yet another bone marrow biopsy, his fourth. The results of the biopsy will determine if he is in remission. After day 100 Don’s system is supposed to be good enough to be re-given all of the shots he has had over his life that provide immunity to various diseases; shingles, polio, measles, etc. The stem cell transplant wiped those immunities out. That is also when they begin Don on a maintenance regimen of a cancer-fighting drug, probably Revlimid.

Although we know the future holds all of these things, right now we are just taking it a day at a time and making no grand plans. We are happy with how things are going, even though the progress is slow. We look back on the day he came home from the hospital, and realize he has come a long, long way.

Valentines dinner at "our table" at Canazon Restaurant. Don is back to enjoying an occasional glass of wine. My perfectly wonderful drink is called "the bee's knees."