Denouement

de·noue·ment   /ˌdeɪnuˈmɑ̃/ [dey-noo-mahn]  –noun

1. the final resolution of the intricacies of a plot, as of a drama or novel.
2. the place in the plot at which this occurs.
3. the outcome or resolution of a doubtful series of occurrences.

It has been 6 months since my stem cell transplant in January. I saw Dr. Porter last week and found out that my 6 month labs are all very, very good. My light chains are in normal ratio, and everything else is holding steady since the transplant. It appears that there is no disease at this point. I am so blessed!

I think back on how there were at least 6 doctors and nurses in my hospital room when I had the transplant, and how they all diligently watched me for any reactions. It amazes me that this whole medical journey even happened. There were so many complications, risks and problems that were surmounted. It seems like it was a dream, almost. (Make that a nightmare.) But the best thing is that it worked. Hopefully it will continue to do so.

I think at this point that my amyloidosis blog should come to an end. I hope that it continues to be a source of information to those who are just beginning the arduous journey of treating amyloidosis. I've really enjoyed writing this blog, and I've appreciated your comments and encouragement. (Maybe someday I'll do a blog on all those books I read!)

I am so thankful for all my family and friends who have helped me through this awful time. As I've said before, every cloud does have its silver lining, and mine was to discover the generosity and love of so many people. My gratitude is endless to you all.

Fay

PS...to Becky: please email me at daybydaybyfay@gmail.com. This system doesn’t allow me to respond to your comments, so just email me and I’ll be glad to help you with information for your mother.

Fried Grouper in Paradise

Sorry about the long delay between blogs! Now that school is out, my time is spent chauffeuring my son to and from play dates with his friends. His social life is enviable.

My doctor gave me the go-ahead for a long overdue family vacation with our dear friends the Harts on the fabulous island of St. John, in the US Virgin Islands. We had the most wonderful time and our hosts, the Harts, could not have been more gracious. We stayed in their villa at the Westin resort, and it was tropically gorgeous, complete with jewel-like hummingbirds! The food was wonderful, too, everywhere we ate. We had some fried grouper, served with two sensational sauces, that was so good it could make you cry. Our son and their daughter, who have been friends since she was born, had so much fun swimming and snorkeling with each other. The snorkeling was sensational, just like an underwater Disney World in the clearest water on the planet. It was truly a vacation to remember all our lives. Our thanks to the Harts are unending for inviting us to join them on this unforgettable trip.

No news is good news, and I have no news to share with you on my medical condition, other than that I feel generally good. My only complaint (other than very short hair) is that I get very tired in the afternoon, and I still get edema, especially after a week of jerk seasoning (salty), hot weather, and two very long airplane rides! I also have a very sore left shoulder, and I’m seeing an orthopedic surgeon soon to figure out if it is related to my disease, a result of who-knows-what medication, or simply just age-related wear and tear. Hopefully it will not require any surgury. I will write again once I get another series of tests (ugh), which will probably be at the end of the month. At this point, the tests are 3 months apart. I’ll be very happy if my doctor tells me that the next set will be in 6 months! Until then, enjoy the beautiful summer weather.   ; )