Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Update...

Sorry for the lack of posts I didn't realize how many people actually relied on this for updated information.

I've been spending virtually all my time at the hope lodge in kansas city. It's been fun for the most part but the down time wears on you. I've been doing pretty good, there's been a few minor complications but overall I can't complain. I'm currently at day 77, I believe, and have less than a month left to stay at the hope lodge if everything goes well (fingers crossed). I've been spending most of my time resting and working on various activities around the lodge but nothing really "fun". I look forward to getting out and slowly getting back to my "real" life. The docs say I will be unable to go back to school for 180 days so I'm not sure what I'm going to do in the mean time. I have some things to work on but nothing that's too exciting.

More technical information...
My blood counts have almost reached normal levels although my true infection fighting cells are lacking and my ability to fight viruses and "bad" infections are low. I do have a defense against some bacterial and other infections. I still have to be extremely careful what I do and who I'm around. Also, at day 60 the doctors ran a test known as the chimerase (spelling?) to see if my transplant was successful. A chimera is a mythical two headed beast so this term is used to identify biological specimens that have genes from two or more zygotes (i think). Anyways, my transplant cells were from my sister so they tested for the X and Y chromosomes. It turns out that 98% of my blood was my sister's (cool). So the transplant has been extremely sucessful to this point. Another cool fact is the my blood type has actually changed to my sisters. I went from A+ to A-. Although it was just the rH factor, it's still amazing.

Lastly, thanks for all the prayers and support I'm extremely grateful for all my friends and family.