Transplant Schedule

It's been a week that I knew my schedule for the Bone Marrow Transplant. But I tried not to reveal it to all my friends and family. I was waiting for the more important date and that was my donors full assessment day. The transplant won't happen if I don't have a donor. My other reason was that given the fact that it was arranged, there are still pre-BMT test that has to be done if the transplant will have other risks on my part. Here is the schedule given to me...

• September 1 --- LUMBAR PUNCTURE;


• September 15 --- PRE-TRANSPLANT ASSESSMENT DAY


• September 20 --- CVC INSERTION at Toronto General Hospital


• September 21 --- start of CHEMOTHERAPY


• September 24 --- 24HOUR URINE COLLECTION at home


• September 25 --- ADMISSION to Princess Margaret Hospital


• September 29 --- TRANSPLANT DAY

REFLECTIONS: On Wednesdays, we, as a family, try to attend Mid-week Prayer Meetings as much as we can. The facilitator, Auntie Eden, asked me the schedule for my transplant. Right at that moment, I could not tell the date. Although, I have in mind the exact date given to me by my transplant coordinator. I just want the Lord to give me the perfect date. I want things to happen according to His plan, in His own time.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Good News and Not so Good News

Isn't it nice to have more family with you in time like this?

My oldest sister, Irma who is base in Philippines got her Visa! Very early in the morning, my sister Nancy noticed a new text message on her cell phone and voila! she will be coming soon. This is a very wonderful news for me. Hopefully, I will see her in time before I will have to go back to hospital.

The day started with a very pleasant news but it did not last. Today is August 30th, remember, today is my sister's appointment at PMH. The stem cell collection was postponed.

FACT: Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Collection or PBSC is a procedure involving the separation and collection of a particular type of white blood cell from the peripheral blood. (LIN)

The original date for this procedure and the date she booked for her vacation was next week, September 4th - September 10th. This all has to be changed because the procedure might harm her in her present health condition. But it is quite early to say that my Bone Marrow Transplant is not going to happen. The final words of the doctor who saw her was to wait for his call. He wanted to have a meeting extensively with all my doctors including the whole transplant team and my sister's doctors.

REFLECTIONS: I still believe that all things work for our good... And I still believe in prayers... "Thy will be done"

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us

Ephesians 3:20

For Ate Irma and Dete Amor, thank you very much for doing all these for my sake. I know you will endure pain emotionaly and physically. Pain from being separated from your family and pain for all the procedure that has to be done in order to help restore my health back...

Busy

On my very first posting, I said I will update this blog everyday... I have to apologize for not doing so. I have to admit that I have no excuse for I am doing nothing at all at home. But I've been trying to complete different personal stuff like

• Reading books - I have books lined up that I wish to finish...list will be added later.
  
• Marking my own Bible - This was introduce to me by Pastor Edwin Martin of Mt.Zion SDA Church This is very cool and special thing to do while studying your Bible. I will very proud to show you my Bible and what I did to it. Thanks Pastor!
  
• Updating my computer - This computer needs updating but I guess I better wait for the pro (Jerson) to do it for me, which means it will happen not soon enough.
  
• Updating my knowledge about blogging - I was busy reading and searching on how can I make this blog more enlightening as well as entertaining.
  
• Spending quality time with Jerson and Jensine - If you know how to spend time with a man and half. (e.g. doing what they want to do or simply watching how fast they can use the remote) Whatever it is I enjoy just being with them.
  
• Watching TV at the very least.
  

...so I did not have the chance to post anything for the weekend. But I have made plans on what I should post for Sabbath day, bear in mind, this will take a while before you see posting for Saturdays for I am a newbie. Watch out for that, though!

With regards to my health, for the past few days, I've been feeling very well, with a slight headache. Although, I am not sure if this is related with my disease or just a common headache. Lately, my sleeping pattern has change...like a baby. Seriously, I go to bed late and wake up in the middle of the night for no reason. Going back to sleep was very hard. Maybe this is why I am having a headache. Any suggestion on what I can do about this? Thanks...

REFLECTIONS: Today, Chris and Judy have posted sad news on their blog, refering to their friend who passed away. In our family worship, it was my turn to pray and I couldn't help it not to add his family in our prayers. I did not know him at all but we may have something in common, our sickness. It's hard for me not to relate in view of the fact that I was given 2 months to live when I was diagnosed last March, if no treatment will be done right away... but I believe that our God is still in control... and He always have plans for all His children...

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future
Jeremiah 29:11, NIV

Marvel: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation

John 5:28-29, KJV

Today's scripture from "Alone with God" that I also want to share...

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you

1 Peter 5:7

He'll Do It Again...

I guess it is not hard to figure out why I did not post on this blog...i am still in pain from the bone marrow tests done 2 days ago. But today I just cannot discard the good thing happen to me this morning.

Yesterday, I would say I had a rough day. Let's just say I had one of those days...that certainly will not help my condition. Well, it's over now and thank God.

I woke up this morning still feeling down. I went to my regular routine, read on a daily devotional books, Alone with God & The Promises of God. Lo and behold, the scriptures for today just answered my prayers last night.

From The Promises of God by H.M.S Richards...

The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

Psalm 41:3 (KJV)

From Alone with God editted by Ardis Dick Stenbakken...

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Psalm 55:22 (KJV)

This reminds me of one of my favorite songs "He'll Do It Again"...

You may be down and feel like God
Has somehow forgotten
That you are faced with circumstances
You can't get through.
Right now it seems there's no way out
And you're going under,
But God's proven time and time again
He'll take care of you.
Chorus:
And He'll do it again,
He'll do it again.
If you'll just take a look at where you are now
And where you've been.
Well hasn't He always come through for you?
He's still the same God as then.
You may not know how-
You may not know when-
But He'll do it again.
You see God knows the things you're going through
And He knows how you're hurting.
He sees your tears and He knows
When your heart- when it's been broken in two.
But He's still the God of the sun and the sea
And He's still your Father;
And if He can calm those stormy seas
I know He'll fix this for you.
Oh yes He's still God
And He does not fail
I know He's still God
And He does not change.
He's still God and He's fightinng for you
Just like Moses, just like Daniel,
Just like Shadrack, Meshack, Abednego-
He's gonna do it again.
You know you may not know how
You may not know just exactly when-
You know you may not know how
You may not know when-
But He'll do it again!
Oh yes He will- He'll do it again!!

Sorry, I have no capabilities yet to add an audio or video on this blog I will try to add that next time...

There is Part 2?!

Wednesday morning was my clinic appointment at PMH for blood test and to see my hematology-oncology doctor. Even before-hand, I knew that a bone marrow test will be done. This has to be done to check the status of my disease and also this will be the start of my pre-test for my Bone Marrow Transplant. The bone marrow test consist of Bone Marrow Aspirate...

FACT: Bone Marrow Aspirate is a procedure in which a small amount of bone marrow is removed from the pelvic bone or breastbone to test the status of the patient's disease. (PMH)

Mine was done on the hipbone, this is where my doctor usually takes it. This will be the third time it will be done to me. First, when I was diagnosed and then after I finish my Induction Chemotherapy. What I did not know was the bone marrow test has a "part 2", a Bone Marrow Biopsy...

FACT: Bone Marrow Biopsy is a procedure in which a small piece of bone is removed from the patient's hipbone, to test the status of the patient's disease. If necessary, this procedure is usually done at the same time as a bone marrow aspirate. (PMH)

Yes, a small piece of bone was removed. Although this was the third time doing it I certainly don't remember which one was done to me before. Was it the aspirate or the biopsy or both? Nevertheless, this is the procedure that will tell me if I am still in remission, I will find out in three weeks. But if there is a problem I will hear from my doctor before that...

My Donor

My sister supposed to have appointment at PMH this morning. No! she does not have cancer, she is my donor. Her full assessment was moved on the 30th of August.

Her name is Amor. She is the second to the eldest sister of mine. She is married to a comic guy, Manolo with 3 kids, Rachel, Sarah and Gene. She is willing to donate her bone marrow to me if that's what it takes to prolong my life... and I will be forever thankful for her willingness.

FACT: Group of antigens are inherited from each parent, one from our mother and one from our father. With this in mind it is apparent that there is a 25% that any two siblings will be a match. (PMH)

With her past health condition, I was concern how she will be able to handle the procedures she has to go through and what will be the end result. So we tried to see if any of my siblings back in the Philippines was a match. Unfortunately, they were not a match. Having four siblings only one is a match.

REFLECTIONS: I met few individuals who have the same leukemia that I have and found out that their siblings were not identified as a match. I believe that God has His own exceptional plans for me and also for you.

"So don't be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time."

Matthew 6:34, TLB.

Volunteering

The phone rang, it was Greg, a volunteer driver, he was telling me the time he will pick me up for my Wednesday appointment...

After I got out of hospital, that was not the end of it in my case. I have had clinic appointments and check-ups, upto now. Going back and forth in downtown Toronto with my health condition is a no, no. Neither driving nor using public transportation is a good idea. I have friends and families who are willing to drive me when I have appointments like Karly, Inna, Alexei, Kuya Earl, Neil & May. After a while, I made use of the services of Canadian Cancer Society.

FACT: Canadian Cancer Society offers free transportation for people who needs help in getting to their cancer-related care. Please visit their site or call toll-free 1-888-939-3333 if this service is available in your area.

With the help of volunteer drivers, CCS can provide me a ride to and from PMH and back to my house. Isn't it great?! Most of the volunteer drivers are seniors. I was able to ask them the reason why they decided to volunteer. Reasons they gave like (1) they are retired and need something to do, (2) they have friends or relatives who were in need of same service, (3) they just feel like helping.

REFLECTIONS: When I came to Canada, I always thought volunteering is only for personal gain; to get Canadian experience. Didn't I realize that volunteering is an exceptional act of kindness that you can give back to your community, and to God. Would you render a service to someone in need, even you know that that someone cannot give you back anything in return? Would you volunteer?

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'

Acts 20:35

I Need a Babysitter?!

Can you imagine? At the age of 28, I still need a babysitter...

Saturday night, Ate Nenette, my sister-in-law, called and asked Jerson if he wants to bring Jensine to Ontario Place. How can you say no if the ticket is free? Unfortunately, I won't be going with them. Of course, my loving and kind husband asked me first if that will be okay. Surely, I allow them to enjoy the last days of summer. Then, we found out that my parents-in-law already arrange something for the whole Sunday...and that means I will be alone. I need someone to look after me. I need a babysitter!!!

FACT #1: Acute Myelogenous Leukemia is the most common type of leukemia in adults

FACT #2: AML has other names like Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia or Acute Myelocytic Leukemia.

FACT #3: The term “acute” refers to the rate of cancer cells growth; as a result, the condition of the person can quickly become worse.

Luckily, my sister, Nancy was not scheduled to work so we arrange something with her; she picked me up to stay in her place the whole day. She's very nice to cancel all her appointments so she could stay with me the whole time. I also had the chance to be with my father since he stays with my sister's place.

Although, I am in remission or no signs of leukemia cells, my family wants to show their love and concern that's why they won't let me be alone in the house...

Finally!!!

Whew! I can't believed I finally decided to create a web log...I was hesitant to do it because I was almost certain that I would be the last one to do it, comparing how many blogs and bloggers in the world wide web...I don't know why or what took me so long ;)

I made up my mind to use this to communicate with everyone interested on my well-being :) With my busy schedule, I will try my best to update my blog everyday, if not, hopefully my husband, Jerson will make an effort to do it for me.

I hope you learn something as you read on my Reflections as well as my Facts...