Immune Systems

Well, it seems everyone in London is sick, or "unwell" as they like to put it here. And that includes us. Dacy's all had fevers hovering around 104 this week and various other accompanying symptoms which remain unmentionable (although that obviously seems like I've mentioned them, doesn't it?)  I knew things were particularly bad today when I called the pharmacy to see if a perscription was ready and the pharamist said it wasn't because everyone was out sick!  What do you say to that?

I feel like I take so many drugs already. Anti-everything. Anti-gvhd, rejection, virus, bacteria, fungus. And then pro, stomach protection, Vit D, Multi, I'm sure I'm missing some. So, to be adding in, tylenol, Immodium, cough syrup...it makes me crazy.  I just want my new immune system to do its fabulous new thing. But the pills I take compromise it so that my body doesn't reject the transplant. It's a scientific ballet. Although graceful I ain't feelin'.

So, each day, I still wake up with this giggle. And still the smallest things bring tears and smiles to me. I probably cry from joy at least once a day. Today so far was two cries. First was when Dumbledore told Harry that his mother infused him with love, and that's what makes him so special. I'm miss quoting, but it's close to that.  And the second was when Pres. Obama awarded Burt Bacharach and Hal David the Gershwin Prize for life achievement.
Here's the link.  http://video.pbs.org/video/2237921072
We're major Burt fans. Burt reminds me of the best of my childhood. He always put the whole family in a good mood. I think I might know all the words to all the songs. I could easily beat anyone at a Name the Tune Burt songfest (if there ever was one).

So, about immune systems. Many people often ask me if I'll ever go back to Goldstone here and tell him I had a transplant, etc, and thanks for your cowardly advice to go home and get my things in order. Honestly, he's killing people by not fighting for looser restrictions for who can be transplanted. I'm soooooo unimpressed and it's so messed up.  There's work to be done here and I just need to get my head around how! I had this image yesterday of Michelle Pfeifer in Batman. Such a great scene. She finally accepts her new role as Cat Woman. She walks into her sweet little apartment that has the neon HELLO THERE sign on the wall. She takes a high heel and punches out the the O and the T. "HELL HERE". I love it. I'm hoping to get in touch with my inner Cat Woman.
Cheers.

Happy 1/2 Birthday

Do you celebrate half birthdays? Somehow we created some precedent for that and now we've got a tradition going. We forgot Ari's in February so he's been racking in the Legos this week online to make up for it. Little Legos. Lego "guys". He's really into them these days.

When he was "little" he had this really cute way of singing the birthday song.  After everyone was finished, he'd get up on a chair and start over. But in his own way. Arms up in the air, top of his lungs, "Happy To You Birthday!!!! Party!!!"  So for a long while when it was someone's birthday, we would say, "Happy to you!"  So, what might seem like an odd digression actually makes some sense. Today is exactly six months from my transplant. September 21 to March 21. It's my half birthday! Happy to me! Plus, I've got all the equinoxes covered. Maybe not exactly, but close to for sure.

The final results from this last biopsy are stellar.  All of my cells are 100% donor cells, meaning non of my sneaky old cells are in me at all.  And as well, the blood-type switch over has happened.  I am now my donors blood-type. I am no longer B+, I am now an A-.  I'm up a half grade and I can still be positive if I feel like it.

I still walk around stunned. Stunned. Stunned. Stunned.

Happy to you!

Self-Portrait in Numbers

I could gaze at this all day. It's golden. It's a clean slate. It's miraculous.  Previously, those numbers would all have an L or an H for low and high, next to them. Now, nothing. Mid-range. Smack down the middle. It might be the most beautiful thing I've ever seen (and I've seen a lot of beautiful stuff).  It's shock and awe in a good way.

Dr. Giralt and the entire hospital of Sloan Kettering went over me with a fine tooth comb last week.  They are meticulous and fabulous. The preliminary look at the marrow biopsy looks, quote/unquote, great! The only thing I have is some GVHD in my mouth and a low Vitamin D level (lack of sunshine much?)  All treatable of course.

And I'm still in love with NY. My comfy blanket. And it, as a city, was even better this time because I still haven't gotten back my sense of smell from the cold I had. So NY smelled GREAT!  Can you imagine? It's like watching annoying TV with the sound down.

I had tons of fun. Sharing a studio with Susanne, Allison and Kaethe. Processing a bit of what this year has been like. For them. For me. For everyone taking care of me. Some I remember, some I don't. But ever grateful I am.

We had a great night Karaokeing (sp?) with all my NY beauties and some of their husbands too! I never even realized that the song Spill The Wine was really saying "spill the wine".  I'm not sure what I thought, but it wasn't that. We all had sore throats the next day...
LoveLoveLove