Having Fun Turning One

Having Fun Turning One
One year ago today I recieved a stem cell transplant.  As all of my blood stem cells were replaced with donor stem cells (my brother Don), the doctors and nurses view it as being "reborn".  Accordingly my transplant date is my new birth date. So I am turning one today.

I plan to celebrate my new birthday by spending time with friends and family.  Tonight I am  attending a fundraiser for the Bill Beattie Foundation and this weekend all the "Albert " family is getting together for a BBQ.  After this experience I truly cherish and enjoy spending time with friends and family.

My recovery continues moving in the right direction.  There are still good days and bad days, but I am now getting out, doing more and pushing myself to find my new "normal". Treatment side effects can be troublesome from time to time, but considering the alternative I am keeping them in perspective and learning to live with them.

 I am so fortunate and thankful to be able to celebrate this anniversary and look forward to many more.

All the best to you and your families on behalf of myself, Kelly and Samantha.

1 year ago....

...I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

It has been one year since I was first diagnosed with leukemia. Looking

back now, I have trouble remembering what life was like prior to cancer.

The battle against a disease like this is all consuming and has impacted me

deeply. I don’t know how I would have survived the physical and emotional

toll without the love and support of Kelly, Samantha, my family and all my

friends.

Today I am seven months post transplant and happy to report that I am

winning the battle and my recovery continues to go in the right direction.

Fatigue remains an issue and there still are some side effects from the

treatment and transplant that I am still dealing with. However the positives

far out way the negatives.

I am looking forward to getting on with life as a cancer survivor and finding

my new “normal” physically. The doctors say that one year after transplant

is a good measuring stick as to how well the transplant has worked and

what your “new normal” will be. So the work to get better and stronger

continues.

Thank you again to everyone for their support and positive thoughts. All the

best for a great 2012.