3 Years Since My SCT... and YES, I Would Do It Again

11/27/16 – Today marks 3 years since my stem cell transplant. Among us SCT recipients we consider this our new birthday and it is something that should be celebrated. But more important… and a question that I often get asked… Do I think my SCT was worth the time and effort… if I think it actually worked?

True, I did have a relapse afterwards. And yes, I had to have chemo in 2015 to address my relapse… But there is one thing that jumps out at me about my SCT that makes we think it was a huge success…

After my chemotherapy treatments were complete I still had signs of Mantle Cell Lymphoma. My chemo was followed up with a DLI (Donor lymphocyte infusion). The goal was to booster my immune system… to help kick it into gear where it could better fight my health woes.

With my first scan after the DLI it was found that I was in remission… this was without additional chemo… Just the work of my immune system. So, could this be because my new immune system was working? Could this be because my SCT was a success?

I am no doctor and I am by no means a medical expert but I truly believe that my current remission is due to the success of my SCT. So… YES, I do think my SCT worked and was worth the time and effort.

Recently I learned that tests show that I am still 100% of my donor. Here I am 3 years into my SCT and it is still working. Today is truly a day to celebrate for me and my family.

Today also marks the first day of Advent. This is a time that we not only prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ but it is also a time when we prepare for him to come again.

Here is a great song to help us kick off Advent. It’s called “O Come O Come Emmanuel” and it is by Matt Maher

Enjoy!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlylvEkpJzw

Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.

Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into.

So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.

Matthew 24: 42-44

More to come…

http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/

Thank You All

11/23/16 – Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

Psalm 107:8-9

I have been making it a practice to end my posts with a scripture verse. I decided to change things up for this post and today I am beginning with a scripture verse. This is because there is nothing I can come up with that better depicts this wonderful day of Thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for. God has been very good to me. I have a great family, great friends and I am feeling fantastic this year. I feel so very blessed. It was just 3 years ago, that I had my stem cell transplant on the day before Thanksgiving. So much has happened since then. I have had my ups and downs and all arounds… but all is good with me and I am very thankful for where I am. In truth, it is a shame that I do not express my thanks more often.

I would like to take this Thanksgiving season to say THANK YOU!!!

Thank you to my wife Sue for 32 wonderful years. You truly take such great care of me.

Thank you to my daughters Jill and Alli for all you love. It is a joy to be your dad.

Thank you to my family and friends for all your friendship love and support.

And thank you to all of you for following my blog. I’m just one of many who is on a journey to survive. I very much appreciate all the support you have given me over the years.

Here is a link to a song for you. It’s called “Thank You All” by Third Day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-rdhofru4U

Enjoy!

Thank You All… and a Happy, Healthy Thanksgiving to you and your families.

More to come…

http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/

My Happy Contradiction

11/2/16 – Throughout my adventures with MCL, my body has had times when it responds in an unexpected way… in a way that surprises my doctors. They expect me to react one way but my body takes me in a completely different direction. The nurses sometimes refer to me as a fine print patient… someone who is the exception to the rules. Sure, at times this has caused me setbacks… but sometimes things work to my advantage.

With my last update, I reported that I had another bone marrow biopsy that showed a positive result of MDS… and yesterday, I had a complete blood count (CBC) test… and the results were remarkably normal. I mean people who have never been sick a day in their lives would be thrilled with such great results.

This is extremely interesting being when you Google MDS you find that low blood cell counts are a hallmark feature of disorder and are responsible for the following symptoms that patients experience — infection, anemia, spontaneous bleeding, or easy bruising. Anemia (low red blood cell counts), neutropenia (low white blood cell counts), and thrombocytopenia (low platelet counts)… and the good news… I have none of the above.

So, what does this mean? I have no idea. It is just one of those mysterious contradictions. In my case it is a happy contradiction.

I have another follow up to check my blood counts on November 29^th and then I have my next set of scans on December 19^th. I’m hoping for continued good results… and maybe a continuation of my life’s contradictions.

Lord, I don’t know where all this is going, or how it all works out.

Lead me to peace that is past understanding, a peace beyond all doubt

Here is a YouTube link to a great song by the Newsboys with this same message.

Enjoy!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6iBGdY1j2w

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

More to come…

http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/