As my time at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD, draws to what we hope is a close, I’m taking some time to reflect on these last two years. Since being diagnosed with Stage 4 Mantle Cell Lymphoma (a Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma) last February, it’s been a trial and many heartaches. It certainly puts things into perspective. After four different chemo protocols and sixteen months of chemotherapy, finding a compatible bone marrow donor and getting a transplant at Johns Hopkins felt like a miracle.
What truly does feel like a miracle is that I had my bone marrow stem transplant on June 20th, 2019, and been at Johns Hopkins since without any major issues, infections, or complications. Most patients will get an infection or some issues after a transplant, and yet my only issue was a week of vomiting, dry heaves, diarrhea, and mouth sores. I was extremely fortunate to have no rashes, reactions, complications, or issues. Many other patients both younger and older than me weren’t so fortunate.
I credit some of my good fortune and health to my relative youth, determination, and medical science… but not all. Throughout this entire ordeal, we’ve been truly blessed to know so many praying for us, to have so much emotional, physical, and spiritual support, and our daily prayers and faith in God, the Holy Family, and Saint Peregrine (Patron Saint of Cancer Patients). We credit our faith, the prayers-and-support of our family and friends, and God for my good health, persistence, and recovery through these tribulations.
…and so we continue to pray and give thanks.
