My mission moment

This morning I delivered the mission moment for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training's (TNT) Saturday morning team run. My friend Carlo is a trainer and introduced me to the team last Saturday. I have wanted to get involved with TNT for a while, but I just never did. There are 25-30 people that get together to train for various races and raise money for the society. Each week they have an honored hero come and share their story with the team as inspiration. I was honored to be asked to do this. I am not much of a public speaker, but I felt it was important for me to share my story with people that are dedicated to raising money for the Leukemia Society since I have benefited so much from their financial assistance. I practiced what I wanted to say because I know when I get nervous I draw a blank and forget everything. As soon as I started talking I started to tear up. I get emotional when I talk about what I have been thru, but it is important for me to share my experience with others. I am very fortunate that I am doing as well as I am only 5 months after my transplant. Since I started working at the YMCA I have been working out and I feel that my strength and energy level is back to where it was before the transplant. Things are finally starting to look up for me.

I can't believe how bad I am at keeping this blog updated. I would be surprised if anyone still reads this. Well I am doing really good 4 months after the transplant. I still go to Dallas every other Monday for check-ups. About a week ago I started to get a GVHD rash and my doctor put me back on my steroids. I am not having the problems that I was having since I was taken off them. About a week after I stopped taking the steroids my joints started to feel stiff. I really thought I was starting to develop arthritis. As soon as I went back on the steroids I felt so much better. I guess I will have to be on a low dose for a while until my body can adjust itself.

About a month ago I started working part-time at the YMCA near my house. Since I am feeling so much better and have more energy, I decided it was time for me to get out of the house and get back to work. I plan on going back to teaching in August, so I thought this was a good way for me to ease back into working. So far I really like working at the Y (day camp hasn't started yet!). I have met lots of great people and I have been able to catch up with friends that I haven't seen in years. I have decided that this is the time that I need to make a change and start working out regularly. I have read a lot about how diet and exercise can help reduce your cancer risk. Since I am already at risk for developing other cancers I figured this is a good time for me to start an exercise routine. I feel so much better about myself after I work out. Since the transplant I have lost about 20 pounds. My appetite is back now that I am back on the steroids so I have to start working at keeping the weight off that I have already lost.

I am still amazed that I had a stem cell transplant 4 months ago. I never thought I would be feeling this well so soon after. Every time I go to Dallas and see people that have just had their transplant I realize how far I have come in such a short amount of time.

One Word Answers (only)

I got this from my friend Camille. It's hard to think of only one word answers. Have fun and play along.

1. Where is your cell phone? purse
2. Your significant other? somewhere
3. Your hair? growing
4. Your mother? loving
5. Your father? handy
6. Your favorite thing? i-pod
7. Your dream last night? strange
8. Your favorite drink? tea
9. Your goal or dream? travel
10. The room you're in? bedroom
11. Your kids? none
12. Your fear? relapse
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? settled
14. Where were you last night? Walmart
15. What you're not? competitive
16. Muffins? banana nut
17. One of your wish list items? furniture
18. Where you grew up? Benbrook
19. The last thing you did? drink (water)
20. What are you wearing? clothes
21. Your TV? on
22. Your pets? Marley
23. Your computer? HP
24. Your life? blessed
25. Your mood? happy
26. Missing someone? yes
27. Your car? Element
28. Something you're not wearing? shoes
29. Favorite Store? Target
30. Your summer? hot
31. Like someone? yes
32. Your favorite color? pink
33. When is the last time you laughed? today
34. Last time you cried? yesterday
35. The person who sent this to you? Camille
36. Who will/would resend this? unknown
37. A good book? Notebook
38. A good movie? Enchanted
39. A good song? Rockstar
40. One word to share? Love

Update

I have been really bad about letting everyone know what is going on with me. I don't know how many times I have sat at my computer and stared at the screen not knowing what to write. My head was in such a fog for a while, it was hard to put my thoughts together and then try to make them make sense.

Now I am feeling great. It has been 3 months since my transplant and I never expected that I would be doing as well as I am. After the GVHD rash I have not had any more serious problems. I am now seeing my doctor every other Monday and he has started to take me off some of my immunosuppressents. I am completely off steroids which has made a big difference. So far I have not had any complications from reducing my medications. If everything goes well I should be off them before I go back to school in August.

About school I found out that I still have my job for next year. My district has extended my disability leave until August 18th. That is the day the teachers go back to school. I have to be ready to go back and be released by my doctor by July 18th. I don't think there should be any reason that I can not go back to work. I have been in physical therapy for 2 months and I am feeling like I am getting stronger and able to do more things without getting tired. I know the kids will wear me out, but I am fortunate that I will have an assistant with me and that will be a tremendous help.

Last night in Benbrook was the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. This relay celebrates cancer survivors and their families. I participated last year when I was living in Taylor. It is so nice to see everyone that comes out to support the Cancer Society. I decided to go without my hat since I wasn't worried about people staring at me because they have been thru it. Well I was the only one there that had no hair. I was proud to show my bald head and several people came up to me and told me about their experience when their hair grew back. Some had curly hair or it grew in a different color. I'm not sure what to expect. Since I have new DNA I'm not sure if my hair will grow in like my donor's. Right now I have some fuzz growing, but it's still to early to tell what color it will be. I am excited it's growing back, but I'm not looking forward to having to wash and dry my hair everyday.

Here are some pictures from the Relay

7 random things about me... tagged by Camille

1. I never spent a night in a hospital until October 19, 2005. That's the day my life changed.

2. I was born with a lazy ear. Kids use to tease me about it and one boy told me I should sleep with silly putty in my ear and that would fix it.

3. On the first day of kindergarten I walked into the room and said "What the hell are you doing in here." That was my first and last time in the principals office.

4. I still hate needles.

5. I love to hear the jets fly over my house.

6. I do the People crossword puzzles every week. It's the only crossword puzzle that make me feel smart.

7. I read the large print edition of Readers Digest. I hate looking at magazines that you have to use a magnifying glass just to read the words on the page.

Getting better everyday

Everything is looking good according to my doctor. My GVHD rash is almost completely gone so that means we can start lowering my steroid dose. Once I am off the steroids I will be able to get back to my "normal" self. I never realized how much steroids affects your mental state. That has been the hardest adjustment. Once I am off the steroids things will get a lot better. I am still weak, but I am getting out of the house and walking more. I am going to start physical therapy so that should help me a lot to regain my strength. I have been keeping myself busy by knitting hats. I am getting pretty good at it. Now I need to learn how to make scarfs. I am 40 days post transplant and I can't believe it's been over a month since I got my new stem cells. I will say it has been a hard 40 days, but I think things are finally settling down and I am starting to recover from the transplant. Thanks for checking in on me and keeping me in your prayers. I know that is what is helping me get thru this.

Love,
Sam

Doing much better now

Sorry it's been so long since I have updated. For a few days last week things were a little difficult. Last Monday my doctor started to decrease my steroid and I think that really affected me. At night after I took my meds I started to get really confused. This went on for another day and finally by Wednesday night I told mom we needed to go to the hospital. They ran a bunch of tests and keep me overnight for observation and I got to come home on Friday. While in the hospital they adjusted my medication and that seems to be helping. My GVHD is so much better. I think we are finally over that hurdle. Other than that I am doing more. I am getting out of the house and going out to eat with my family. It feels great to get out of the house. I feel like I am getting better everyday.