HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!
MARCH 5, 2015 - I cannot believe, with everything I went through, that I have reached my 1 year post transplant birthday and WOW, what a year it has been. From the moment I first showed signs of my disease to this day, it was one heck of a ride. Some of the moments I would love to go back and relive, other moments I wish never existed and would be erased from my memory, but everything from this last year I cherish and hold close to my heart. Last year on this date I received my stem cells back, they call it your new birthday because that is the moment you get a brand new immune system. My new immune system has not let me down and it seems to be just as strong as it was before I ever got CIDP.
So, where do I start? I have already blogged about most of my milestones when I first started this blog, but one milestone I have not shared yet was being able to wear heels again on February 21st for a Chamber of Commerce Gala I attended with my teammates. That was the first time in 2 1/2 years, it may seem like a small thing to some, but it's a huge thing to accomplish for those of us who at one time, had no strength to balance themselves even when standing flat on their feet. My next goal is to master walking in flip flops again. I still have trouble bending my toes so, I can't hold the flip flop on my feet. I've tried and when I walk, my feet just leave the shoe behind and this saddens me because summer will be here before you know it.
Since my last post, I have started a new job working for Keller Williams as a Realtor. I decided that life was too short, it was time to spread my wings and face my fears. I got my Real Estate license 4 years ago and Apartment Locating is not what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, I'm ready to make peoples dreams come true. I love to see people smile and buying your first home is exciting, even for those who aren't buying for the first time, but who might be expanding for a bigger family. I am not sure that I could have made that jump in my career without going through this transplant. If I can face my fears of chemo and hospitals and needles, I think I can face most anything. Let's see where this journey takes me.
Speaking of my fear of chemo, I sometimes sit back and think about when I was first told about HSCT, not knowing what it was and not knowing chemo was involved. I can't believe I almost gave up the idea of not having the transplant because of that fear of losing my stupid hair or of throwing up. I am so thankful I gave that up to God because otherwise, I might be sitting in a wheelchair right now and I definitely would not be typing this blog because I would not have had the energy or the drive and I would probably be sitting in a corner having a one man pity party. Instead, I sit here in amazement of what life has to offer, the joy and happiness that I feel inside because of my new surge of energy I have, my outlook on things are so different, I stopped letting my fears control me, that may get me in trouble, but how can I sit back and just let life pass me by when I have been given a second chance? I want to get more involved in my community and spread the word of HSCT, volunteer with organizations to help spread awareness, help raise money for people who struggle to pay for treatments. I didn't have insurance when I first became ill and when I was told by my doctor that I needed to see a specialist, all I saw were dollar signs. Luckily I was able to get insurance and even more lucky that I picked somewhat good insurance that covered most of the cost of my treatments. I'm talking about my IVIG treatments I received before transplant. At $40K per treatment, there is no way I could have swung that without the help of insurance, what about those who can't afford insurance, or who have high co-pays. So many things on my mind, so many thoughts and ideas of how to help others and pay it forward. To start out small, I started putting together chemo care packages and sending them out to patients going through HSCT for their autoimmune disease. I haven't been able to do it for everyone, the cost is not cheap, but there are some that stand out to me and have touched my heart strings in one way or another and I try to get a package out to them. I want to give back as much as I can because when I was down and at my worst, people came out of the woodworks to help me, physically, emotionally and financially. Complete strangers donated to my go fund me page, even to this day a donation here and there may trickle in so, I use that money to pay it forward to others, to show my appreciation for everything I have been given.
Throughout all of this, I have always kept a smile on my face, even when I was at my worst and I have, for the most part, kept a positive attitude. Today, I have the biggest smile on my face for two reasons. One reason is the obvious, I get to celebrate a year of being CIDP free and the other reason is because of the birthday present I received yesterday. I was given the news that my friend Don Poprock, whom I met in Chicago while going through my transplant, was accepted into the trial to receive his own transplant for CIDP. Exactly one year ago he was turned down and I think he may have almost given up the idea of ever trying again. I am so glad he did not give up and persevered.
February 26, 2014
Time to say goodbye and let's hope for an even greater year than this last. Thank you stem cells for giving me my health back.
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