Update,Birthday, and Possible Set Back
I haven’t updated in a while and you may have noticed that I haven’t been posting to Facebook as much. If you want to stay updated, I highly recommend you subscribe to this website for the latest information. I am currently 10 months almost 11 months post-HSCT. My recovery is going very well. I am surprised at the difference my physical therapy is making. Even though I have been walking better and the numbness and tingling is gradually going away, I still have a way to go and I want to thank all of the HSCT Warriors that continue to remind me that healing takes a long time.
Yesterday was my birthday! So many people reached out to wish me a happy birthday on Facebook that my timeline would not load. I was invited to a group study with some church family. I had a great evening and it was fun to just hang out with each other. This time last year I was trying to get my body to make some stem cells and it doesn’t seem like it has been a year. I have came so far in this journey.
Although all of this is exciting news, I have had a set back. In my opinion I feel like it is a major set back considering how much progress I have made. I have done so well that on Tuesday of last week I was balancing on one foot, on a BOSU ball, at my physical therapy appointment. This was something that I couldn’t even do for a half second if at all pre-HSCT. Now I can sometimes balance on that ball with one foot for upwards of 5 seconds! What an amazing thing! So what is the set back? Well on Friday, September 17th I was diagnosed with Shingles. The pain has been manageable but the bigger issue is the burning. I have had moments when it felt like my skin was on fire! I have also had numbness and tingling that has returned on my right side. And today I woke up and my right leg is not functioning correctly. It is operating at pre-HSCT movement level. I even found that I couldn’t pick it up correctly when I walked which would cause me to drag the bottom of my foot. :’-(
I try my best to hold in my frustration and not break down emotional but I have moments when that is very hard (just being honest). My advice to anyone going through this procedure? Take all the time you can off of work. That is where I have made my biggest mistake. I should have taken long term disability until I reached the one year mark (or at least as close to that mark as I could get). My job does not come without stressful moments and in case you don’t know, stress is believed to be the number one cause of Shingles.
So I am praying for no permanent damage. I am trusting that this set back is only temporary. God is writing this story and I am just trying to do the right thing. It still hurts my soul to have this happen because I almost feel that my choices have put me in this situation.
Psalms 18:2 The LORD is my protector; he is my strong fortress. My God is my protection, and with him I am safe. He protects me like a shield; he defends me and keeps me safe
