5 month.... or something like that

It's been a long time since I've blogged. I'm sorry if anyone has been checking in on here and haven't found anything new. Our lives have been busy so keeping up on this has been very difficult

I actually don't know where to begin...

I guess i should just start out by saying everything has gone extremely well. Brett has had no side effects from this transplant. His strength is pretty much back to normal, he has his days where he's a little more tired than usual but for the most part everything is good

He has decreased his meds a lot...but is still taking some. The immunosuppresion drugs are minimal but he still dreads taking them

I guess the most important thing to tell you all is he's back to work!!

The best thing that has happened to him in a while. He said the first day was hard. A lot to remember and a little bit of a challenge. When I came home from work he was practically passed out on the couch. So tired he couldn't keep his eyes open or answer any questions. But day number 2 and 3 went a lot better. He's so happy to be back to living life like a normal adult.

I dont' have very much else exciting to report. We are just trying to get back to where our life was before this crazy bump in the road.

I'm so grateful we have gotten through this so well. I am blessed to be able to go to work and share a little bit of this good fortune with some of our patients. Lots of new patients recently who have the same type of leukemia as Brett. One young man (20 years old) who reminds me a lot of Brett. Brett's story is difficult to share because it's unusal and somewhat scarey to hear when you've been newly diagnosed. I am hesitant to share that Brett has had this disease 3 times ... who wants to know that part right?

What I am not hesitant to share is his miraculous progress and how he has proven attitude and determination will get you where you need to be. I have told the young man and his mom who I've become fond of, that you just need to fight, keep on with your life as much as you can. Don't let the nausea win, or the fatigue keep you in bed, or the lack of energy bring you down. Brett never complains, he never lets the lack of energy keep him from doing what he needs to do. I share stories with his mom and give her progress on what Brett is doing such a short time after transplant. The young man and Brett both had the a lumbar puncture procedure on the same day recently... the following day the young man was in the office and I went to check on how he was doing. The mom said he did better this time, but he's tired, and had a headache, etc She asked me how Brett did - I told her proudly he did great. When I got home from work he was out washing his car. The look on her face was priceless - she couldn't believe it. I just said "i told you, not much gets Brett down. He just keeps on going!"

I spoke with a wife of another patient who was having a terrible time after her husband was given his diagnosis. She was hysterical, and no one really knew what we should do... I decided to take the step and sit with her. I explained I knew how she was feeling, that I have been in her position - I literally had walked in her shoes. The first thing I knew to say was that "today is going to be the worst day. Believe me it will get easier." Hearing that your husband has cancer - well in short makes you feel like your heart has been riped out of your chest and all your hope, faith, courage and strength along with it. But each day after does get easier, until this "thing" that has invaded your life becomes just another task on your list for the day. You will find the strength and courage you need from the craziest places. And you will get through it!

I watch her help her husband each day they are in the office. She has taken control, she's not going to let this disease win. She pulled me aside the other day and said " you know I just want to tell you that what you told me about the first day was right, that was the worst day. Now it doesn't seem so bad"

Brett continues to amaze me each day. Even though he still doesn't want credit for doing anything special, he inspires more people than he'll ever know. He's strong and couragous...and I don't know where I'd be without him

peace, love and happiness until next time