Do you believe it?! Last month was my 7-year stem cell birthday and still no progression!
So much has happened this past year. I was able to travel to New York City two times (see pics below), become the host of a podcast, and was recently asked to be the host of a virtual summit for The MS Gym, but I’m just as excited to share with you this YouTube video, where I talk with my HSCT comrades, Jeff and Tammy, who were treated in Moscow when I was in 2013. We each had different types of MS, different outcomes, and varying recovery trajectories. We share where we’re at now, what our current EDSS is compared to pre-transplant, our thoughts on re-vaccination and lots other insider info. It’s an honest look at what you can expect during treatment, and the often bumpy road that follows post-transplant.
So, whether you’re researching HSCT, scheduled for HSCT or post-HSCT, here’s your chance to hear what recovery looks like at 7 years out!
I Love New York!
From conferences to book launches, South Street Seaport to Midtown, this city I love is like an obstacle course if you have mobility challenges. Slow and easy wins the race was my mantra and by slowing down you notice all the little nuances this city has always served up but were always too busy to savor.
There are gifts in every setback.You can either let your MS be the ruining of you or the reinvention of you.I’ve chosen the latter…trekking poles included.
I’ll be taking this summer off to chill and work on some exciting new ventures. In the meantime, you can find me on Instagram or my post-transplant websitewww.brookeslick.com.
Well guys, it’s coming up on my 6th stem cell transplant anniversary and I’m STILL talking about HSCT whenever I get the chance.
I’ve had more than a few opportunities over the years, and most recently, I was the first Moscow veteran to be interviewed on the HSCT Warriors Podcast. It was an honor to share my Moscow experience with host, “zen” Jen, who had her transplant done in Chicago.
Whether you’re researching HSCT in Moscow, a veteran or currently receiving treatment, I encourage you to give it a listen. There are lots of little details about the treatment, the staff, recovery, Dr. Fedorenko, and two of my “superpowers” that were invaluable during treatment and recovery. Click on the image below for direct access.
While I’ve got you here, keep an eye out for an upcoming announcement about an incredible opportunity I’ve been given to continue advocating for MSrs on a much larger scale, and directly to my target market. It’s an unprecedented chance to share updates on the book I’m working on, speaking gigs, collaborations, and the patented mobility device I created.
DON’T MISS OUT ON ALL THE GOODNESS COMING IN 2019
IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY SIGNED UP FOR EMAIL UPDATES FROM ME, HERE’S YOUR CHANCE
Hello, everyone! I can’t believe it’s September already!
It seems like yesterday I was tearing up the busy streets of New York City, soaking up the energy that oozes from every concrete pore of the city I love so much, and gaining a newfound confidence in my future’s path.
So much has happened since April and I’m dying to share with you what’s been going on in my world of progression-free MS.
You see, here in the northeastern U.S., September typically means crates full of pumpkins, rows of multi-colored mums and occasional cool breezes that sneak their way into the lingering summer heat. They remind us to savor our last chances to dine al fresco or open all the windows in the house before we’re sealed in tightly as the world freezes over for five months.
This year, September means something completely different and exciting for me. As I had mentioned in an earlier post this year, I was considering writing a book. Not long after writing that post, I realized that instead of waiting until I thought it was theperfecttime to write the book, I would plunge ahead with it now, as there really is no perfect time for, well, anything. If that were true, no one would ever get married or have children! It’s all about perspective and creatingyour own perfect timing. I went all in and spent the entire summer carving out the contents of this book from my last 18 years of personal experiences, observations, testimonials, encounters with and counseling of women like me who have been living with disability.
How does September play a role in this story? Well, I have a book proposal deadline of September 30th! In addition to writing the book, I’ve had to create a website under my own name, www.brookeslick.com, hire illustrative designers for logos, book content and cover design, a photographer, and an editor. There’s a bio to be written, a market analysis, a competitive analysis and more that all need to be completed and submitted by 09/30/2018! Whew! I’m out of breath!
Here’s where I need your help! In the eyes of a publisher, one of the most valued assets an author can possess is a healthy-sized “platform”. Platform = how many followers I have that are part of my target market audience and, just as important, how many email addresses I’ve obtained from those followers.
I’ve been so lucky with this blog over the last 5+ years with visitors to the site from 90+ countries and many loyal followers who receive emails any time I make a blog entry. Visitors from the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, Germany and Norway have been consistent front-runners since day one! The only catch is, I originally created this accidental platform with the intent to share my HSCT experience for anyone, anywhere in the world who was seeking HSCT in Moscow. At the time, I had no intention of gathering email addresses from visitors. It was one of the very first HSCT blogs at a time when there were only a handful of free online resources/bloggers. I wanted to help as many people as possible…no strings attached. This site has and always will remain that way.
What I need now is for anyone who reads this post, “follower” or not, to go to my new website,www.brookeslick.com, and sign up for updates on my book, including the title release, sneak peeks, future release dates, and fun behind the scenes antics. By doing so, you will be helping to build my e-mail list which makes me and my book, which will be tacklingvanity, self-worth and disability in a woman’s world, an even more desirable prospect to a publisher.
The fact that you’ve stuck around all these years humbles me beyond words. But, I’m not too humble to ask PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASEgo to my new website and sign up for updates!
I can’t thank you all enough for your continued support and for taking the time to lend a hand with this big adventure.
It’s evident by this post that dreams can come true after transplant. I wish you all the best before, during and after your HSCT journey. I hope you’re finding this blog at just the right time for you to make a move to free yourself.
Peace, love and thank you.
Brooke
P.S. Be on the lookout for an official Brooke Slick Facebook & Instagram Page coming soon.
It was an honor and a privilege to have been selected to co-host a live webinar with Dr. Denis Fedorenko, of the A.A. Maximov Department of Hematology and Cellular Therapy at Pirogov Medical Surgical Center in Moscow. At midnight, Moscow time (yes, that’s how he rolls), on Friday, June 22, 2018, Dr. Fedorenko answered many of the most-commonly-asked questions about HSCT (hematopoietic stem cell transplantation), how it works and why the non-myeloablative protocol he utilizes is considered the most effective treatment available to halt various autoimmune diseases. Below is a sampling of topics that were discussed, which included valuable information and advice for those considering HSCT as well as for veterans recovering from HSCT.
What is HSCT and how does it function to eradicate disease progression?
Who is the best candidate for HSCT?
What is the inclusion and exclusion criteria for acceptance to Pirogov?
What are the pros and cons of non-myeloablative vs. myeloablative protocol?
Relapse Rates
Pregnancy after transplantation
Rituximab vs. ATG in protocol
How to know if you may be a non-responder following transplant
The recovery rollercoaster
Safety precautions after transplant
How a positive attitude contributes to a more cohesive experience during and after transplant
If you ever wanted to know more about HSCT, and to hear the information from the voice of a highly-regarded HSCT legend, click on the image below and choose “Events” from the menu. I hope you enjoy this rare one-on-one opportunity.
It’s finally here! My 5-year post-transplant mark has arrived!! My heart feels like it was yesterday, yet the MS part of me feels like it was decades ago. The taste of creamed corn lingering in my mouth, and Dr. Fedorenko saying “Just breathe…” as my once frozen stem cells were being reintroduced to my body will likely never vacate my memory banks. Seriously, how many MS patients around the world will get to experience this treatment that has saved so many from certain functional disability?! Damn straight, I’ll be remembering it! However, the MS part of my psyche that used to wake up to dread and uncertainty each morning has been gone since I walked out the doors of the stately facility that held me in its healing arms for a month in the spring of 2013.
As fate would have it, I’ve had the privilege of following and offering advice to a drove of patients who have followed since my stay, and, to this day, even though the facility’s program has grown to accommodate the newfound demand, the protocol, the staff, and the experience itself, have remained true to its caring, individualized, safety-minded roots. Ask any Moscow veteran and they will tell you that Dr. Fedorenko always made them feel like they were his only patient. There’s no better gift a doctor can give to his patient during such a tenuous time. The man was born to heal.
Fortunately, 1000s more MSrs have received HSCT in facilities throughout the world since I roamed the halls of Pirogov. I would love to be able to say that more patients have received the treatment because it is now a mainstream option, but that would not be the case. The largest means of public exposure regarding HSCT relies largely upon word of mouth distribution of information from veterans via blogs and social media. Then, of course, there was the 60 Minutes Australia piece that set the MS/HSCT world on fire and caused a ripple effect that continues today. Here in the US, Dr. Burt’s Chicago-based program is making strides, with some patients even having their HSCT covered by medical insurance, but it is still and may never be a first line of defense option in the US.
How I’m Doing Now…
Is my EDSS the same?
My EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale), which judges mobility only, is slightly lower (lower is better) than it was before transplant but can and does vary greatly dependant upon how long I’ve been walking, what type of terrain I’m walking on, and whether or not I’m tired or weak from illness. There is no magic switch that is flipped after you leave the hospital. You MUST put in the time for physical therapy! It likely took years for your body to transform into its current state. It’s important to note that physical therapy/exercise could very well be part of your routine for your lifetime. Discontinuing being active and moving your body after you’ve met your initial physical therapy goals, may not be an option if you are going to continue to remain as mobile as you can for as long as you can. And, please don’t tell me you don’t have the time or money. Have you heard of The MS Gym with over 14,000 members? It’s hands down the best free source of MS-specific rehabilitative exercise rooted in neuroplasticity available on the internet. Even 15 minutes a day is better than no minutes a day. Do you want to recover or not?!
Did my symptoms continue to improve?
My symptomatic improvements started to level out at about 3 years. My MS hug, in particular, remains dormant unless I’m fighting an infection of some type, but I used to have it 24/7 for about 4 years, so I’ll take it! My balance is still not 100%, and relies mainly upon the status of my foot drop on any given day, but is much better than before transplant. The foot brace (AFO) that I shed 4 years ago (1 year AFTER transplant) has remained in a storage bin since that time. The dexterity in my right hand is still less than stellar as well as is the strength in that hand and arm. Remember, HSCT doesn’t always “fix” everything. I’m totally cool with that. Are you?
Have I had any setbacks?
Yes. I have had 3 setbacks. My first was 2 years after transplant, and with the guidance of my neurologist and hematologist, I began my revaccination process. I had a tetanus/Diptheria injection and two days later any improvement in my foot drop had waned and I never did regain all of the prior improvement. It’s still better than before transplant, but after not having to use my trekking pole at all for months, it was definitely a blow to my ego. What would people who thought I was “all fixed” think?
My second was shingles, which I’ve had 4 times over the last 5 years. One of those bouts was on my left knee which is my good leg. The nerve damage from that outbreak traveled from my knee to my foot and has caused numbness in both of those areas. Given my history with shingles, my hematologist has recommended that I continue taking acyclovir twice a day, indefinitely. No breakouts since then.
My last and more dramatic setback really had nothing to do with HSCT, but the peripheral effect has definitely hindered my mobility. For two years in a row (2016 & 2017), I suffered from trigeminal neuralgia attacks (yes, I had glimmers of this bad boy before transplant). The necessity to take Gabapentin for this ailment greatly affected my balance and this last bout left me unable to move (literally) for about 3 months. Thank God, 3 months ago, I was finally able to have surgery for what I would consider the most painful experience of my life and I have not had any pain since. BUT, my core and overall strength I lost during that time has me starting all over from scratch with my walking and balance. Pain in my ass? Yes. Will I get over it? Hell, yes!
Have I had Triumphs?
Absolutely! Let’s start with 5 solid years of MRI scans reporting ZERO progression. Yep. That says “triumphant” to me! It’s like my scans have been frozen in time, thank you very much!
The simple act of being able to plan and dream for the future with certainty and without the chains of a progressive disease weighing you down like an anchor on your soul is the greatest triumph of all. It encompasses a large part of what we all hope for when we undergo this out-of-the-box treatment.
My biggest triumph to date took place two weeks ago, when I lived out one of my pre-transplant dreams. You see, I lived in New York City for almost ten years, but had not been back in over 27 years. If you’ve never been there before, it’s what I would consider a “walking” city. A walking city, that in the eyes of somebody with mobility deficits, looks like an obstacle course that a Marine would traverse at boot camp. Transitioning from surface to surface and sometimes within just feet of each other would have been impossible for me over the last 10 years. But, when Dr. Fedorenko’s assistant, Anastasia (aka, the Angel of Pirogov), contacted me to let me know that she was coming to New York and would love to meet me in person, there was no way I was going to say no. I knew this would be a huge test of what I could or could not accomplish independently. I was hesitantly excited. I didn’t want to slow anybody down. I didn’t want to fall in front of thousands of people. I was no longer an able-bodied 27-year-old navigating at the speed of light. I was 53, had mobility issues, and I was going to have to watch my shit or the masses of tourists would trample me like a bull at Pamplona! That never happened, but what a visual. ha ha
The 4.5 hour drive into the city was without incident. Unknowingly, I found a parking garage with an elevator to the street level. Score one for the limpy chick! I had angels watching over me the entire trip and they came in all shapes and sizes. I felt like the entire city knew I was coming back, but I was going to need a little help. The hotel, The Redbury, was very attentive with my bags, had a ramp and minimal stairs. The doorman was quick to show me how to use the “handicap” door opener button. Room service was super fast and scrumptious. The location was convenient to uptown and downtown so it was perfect! The following day, thanks to the opportunity to have a day to myself, I woke early, grabbed my two trekking poles, the secret to my navigational success, and jumped (You know I can’t jump!) in a cab to Soho, my old stomping grounds. Cobblestone streets, I got you. Hopped another cab to Bryant Park, Washington Square Park, Chelsea Market and topped off the night with a trek through Grand Central Station and then to a rooftop lounge that had a steep chrome staircase that looked like they were straight out of an 80s disco. Check, check, check, check, check! I truly was “living the dream”. Not a single trip or fall the entire time! I think it’s important to mention that I couldn’t have made this trip on my own without a very handy piece of carryon luggage with backup bag from the Travelon company that allowed me to roll all of my items around with just one hand. The lower part of the bag seen in the pic below also fits under the typical airplane seat. I used the water bottle pocket to carry my umbrella. Handy, indeed!! With my newfound confidence, I’ve already decided, my next trip will be much longer. I hope you enjoy the pics of the trip below, including a highly-coveted elevator selfie with Anastasia! 😉
Words of Wisdom from an OG of HSCT…
There are no guarantees or means to predict the amount of symptomatic improvement you may or may not experience post-transplant. If halting the disease, alone, is not enough for you, you might want to look into something else.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE LIVE during your recovery! DO NOT sit around waiting for miracles to happen or for worsening of symptoms or new symptoms to arise. STOP LIVING IN FEAR! Your mindset has huge implications on the cohesiveness of your recovery. Don’t let comparison and impatience become your own worst enemy.
RECOVERY…Because this is my personal blog, I’m going to use a verbally heavier hand than I do as an admin of the Moscow HSCT Facebook group for this topic related to recovery, so, here goes…QUIT YOUR BITCHING! When you read a million times that your symptoms may get worse for the first 3 to 6 months before they start to improve, WE MEAN IT. When we say you may feel strange sensations that you’ve never felt before like tingling or a muscle twinge, it’s normal, WE MEAN IT. When you read that you may have hot flashes for a year or more, WE MEAN IT. When we encourage you to read the list of commonly known post-transplant symptoms, WE MEAN IT. There’s no need to stress because it’s NORMAL.
What’s Next for Me?
More traveling! Now that I know I have the tools to safely navigate even the roughest of terrain, I’m going to go grab the world by the tail. Next stop is Colorado in September.
More living my purpose. I’m convinced I was graced, not cursed with this disease. I’m turning this obstacle into an opportunity to help others. Last year, I received a patent on a mobility device I created that has completely changed the way I live around my home and look forward to being able to use one in public, to travel, and to get back to living a fully engaged, independent life and sharing it with the rest of the world. As you all know, disability has no borders, so I plan on taking it international. All I need is the right company, with the same vision as I have to make it happen. Basically, the premise that being disabled doesn’t have to mean weary and stodgy. You can still be hip, cool active and stylish, but just so happen to be disabled.
More writing. Yes. I’ve already started a couple of books in my head. Don’t laugh. That’s where the magic happens. Blogging was just my playground to test my ability to share.
More mindfulness. I recently embraced meditation and it’s been a game-changer for me. I haven’t been able to sit still for 53 years. Who knew?! Thanks, Gabby Bernstein, Rebecca Campbell, and all the other spirit junkies who make this a habit I don’t want to kick…namaste!
More stepping back. Since last fall I’ve been doing my best to step away from my admin duties on FB, and any news, unless it’s related to weather. Basically, stripping away all the static that life tempts us with that keeps us from living a richer, more peaceful life.
More dream catching. Thanks to HSCT, I’ve been gifted with a brand new set of dreams. Will it be a book? Will it be speaking? Will I be traveling the world representing the mobility product I’ve created? Maybe all of the above.
Ta ta for now…
All good things must come to an end, and that’s my cue to exit one of my favorite posts in 5 years. I can’t thank you all enough (from over 70 countries) who have followed me on this journey. It’s meant everything to me. I’ll leave you with some silly pics that my daughter took in preparation for this blog post and some wise words to my MS with help from Kesha.
To my MS…
“Cause you brought the flames and you put me through hell I had to learn how to fight for myself And we both know all the truth I could tell I’ll just say this is “I wish you farewell”
Hello, everyone! Although my 5-year stem cell birthday isn’t until mid May and I won’t be posting a detailed update until then, I couldn’t wait to share some fantastic news. I had my yearly MRI last week and there was absolutely ZERO progression!! That’s right. 5 years. No progression. I know many potential patients are looking for veterans who are 5+ years post-transplant whose disease remains halted, and now you have proof of yet another HSCT success. I have tons more to share about what I’ve been up to the past two years and will be blogging about it in May. Until then, I hope you are all doing well and I look forward to checking in next month. To be continued…
HELLO, EVERYONE! I’M ALMOST 3 YEARS POST-TRANSPLANT AND DECIDED TO WRITE A LETTER TO MY NEWLY-TRANSPLANTED SELF. PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO WATCH THE INTRODUCTORY VIDEO WITH A MESSAGE FROM ME, AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY READING MY “LETTER”.
**PLEASE NOTE THAT EVERYONE’S RECOVERY STORY IS DIFFERENT. THIS IS MINE.
Letter to My Newly-Transplanted Self
HEY, BROOKE! SO, YOU JUST CAME HOME FROM MOSCOW AND YOU’RE WONDERING HOW THIS IS ALL GOING TO SHAKE OUT OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. WELL, I’VE DECIDED I’M GOING TO GIVE YOU A PEEK INTO THE FUTURE. DON’T BE AFRAID. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOUR NEMESIS, PATIENCE, IS ABOUT TO BECOME YOUR BEST FRIEND AND THAT YOUR PROMISE TO YOURSELF TO EXPECT AND BE GRATEFUL FOR NOTHING MORE THAN HALTING YOUR DISEASE WILL BE THE GREATEST GIFT YOU COULD HAVE GIVEN HERSELF. HERE’S WHAT’S IN STORE FOR YOU IN RELATIVE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER…
Drama
CRAZY THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOUR BODY AS SOON AS YOU GET BACK TO THE U.S.. THE WEEK YOU GET HOME, YOU’LL GET A FEVER AND RASH FROM YOUR NECK TO YOUR WAIST. YOUR PCP AND DR. FEDORENKO WILL NAIL DOWN THAT IT’S A REACTION TO THE LONG-TERM USE OF THE BACTRIM YOU HAD IN MOSCOW AND THE EXTRAS HE SENT YOU HOME WITH. ONE DAY AFTER DISCONTINUING IT, YOUR FEVER AND RASH WILL BE GONE.
Honeymoon
NOW THAT YOU GOT THE DRAMA OUT OF THE WAY, YOU’RE EXHAUSTED, EXCITED, THANKFUL AND GLOWING IN ANTICIPATION OF YOUR HONEYMOON PHASE! ENJOY IT! YOURS IS ONLY GOING TO LAST ABOUT 3 MONTHS, WHEN YOUR SPASTICITY STARTS TO RETURN LITTLE BY LITTLE, BUT THIS TIME, YOU’LL TAKE THE TIME AND EFFORT TO MANAGE IT WITH STRETCHING EXERCISES THAT WILL BECOME PART OF YOUR DAILY ROUTINE…FOR LIFE. NO SHORTCUTS!
HOPEFULLY, YOU DON’T MIND A LITTLE SNOW ON YOUR HONEYMOON, BECAUSE EVERY TIME YOU CHANGE YOUR CLOTHES, IT’S GOING TO LOOK LIKE A SNOW SQUALL FROM ALL THE DRY SKIN CAUSED BY THE CHEMO YOU JUST ENDURED. IT’S ONLY GOING TO LAST FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, AND YOU’LL BE TOO DISTRACTED BY THE HOT FLASHES YOU ENDURE FOR THE NEXT YEAR TO CARE! YOU’LL BE REMINDED THAT CHEMO IS TOXIC! SO TOXIC THAT YOUR FINGER TIPS WILL PERIODICALLY CRACK AND BLEED. I WISH I COULD TELL YOU THIS IS GOING TO GO AWAY EVENTUALLY, BUT, YOU’RE ALMOST 3 YEARS POST-TRANSPLANT NOW AND O’KEEFE’S WORKING HANDS HAND CREAM IS A NIGHTLY BEDTIME STAPLE.
No Pain, No Gain? Physical Therapy
ALL MOSCOW HSCT VETERANS KNOW DR. FEDORENKO’S MANTRA IS GOOD FOOD, GOOD ATTITUDE AND PHYSICAL THERAPY. FOR YOU, HE PRESCRIBED BEGINNING PHYSICAL THERAPY ONE MONTH AFTER YOU RETURN HOME. I KNOW YOU CAN’T WAIT TO START. YOU FEEL BETTER AND HAVE MORE ENERGY THAN YOU HAVE IN YEARS, THE REFLEXES IN YOUR FEET AND KNEES ARE REACTING NORMALLY, AND YOU ARE SO ANXIOUS TO BE ABLE TO SAY “LOOK WHAT I CAN DO!”…NOT SO FAST.
WHEN THEY ASSESS YOU ON YOUR FIRST DAY OF THERAPY, YOU’RE GOING TO BE SHOCKED AND HUMBLED THAT YOU CAN’T EVEN GET OUT OF A CHAIR WITHOUT USING BOTH YOUR HANDS TO PUSH OFF AND WHEN THEY GIVE YOU A GENTLE SHOVE ON THE SHOULDER, YOU WILL STUMBLE BACKWARD LIKE A FRAIL 95-YEAR-OLD. DID YOU REALLY THINK YOU WERE BUILDING STRENGTH WHILE YOU WERE CONFINED TO A HOSPITAL ROOM FOR A MONTH AND WHILE YOU WERE LOCKED IN YOUR MS SUIT OF ARMOR FOR 7+ YEARS? REALLY?
YOUR PHYSICAL THERAPIST IS GOING TO SET GOALS FOR YOU AND YOU’LL COMMIT TO INVESTING AT LEAST ONE YEAR TO MEET THEM. YOU’RE GOING TO TELL YOURSELF “I BREEZED THROUGH HSCT, I’LL KNOCK THIS OUT OF THE PARK, TOO”, AND YOU DO, BUT YOU ARE GOING TO EXPERIENCE MORE PAIN, SORENESS AND HUMILIATION THAN YOU HAVE IN YOUR ENTIRE LIFE.
3 MONTHS POST-TRANSPLANT AND ONE MONTH AFTER YOUR BEGIN PT, YOU WILL BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE EXTREME JOINT PAIN. KNEES, HIPS, LOWER BACK, YOU NAME IT. IT’S GOING TO FEEL LIKE SOMEONE POURED BATTERY ACID INTO YOUR JOINTS, AND ROLLING OVER IN BED WILL REQUIRE PULLING YOURSELF INTO A FETAL POSITION AND GENTLY POSITIONING YOURSELF. YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE MOMENTS WHEN YOU WONDER IF YOU’LL EVER GET ANY RELIEF. YOU WILL. 3 MONTHS LATER, ON THANKSGIVING MORNING, YOU WILL WAKE UP AND HAVE ZERO JOINT PAIN…ZERO! YOU’LL ASK YOURSELF WHAT THE???!!, AND IT NEVER RETURNS. IN THE COMING MONTHS/YEARS, MANY OTHER VETERANS WILL EXPERIENCE THIS SAME JOINT PAIN.
THERE WILL BE A LOT OF MUSCLE PAIN INVOLVED WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY. REMEMBER WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED WALKING FUNNY AND YOUR FOOT, LEG AND HIPS STARTED TURNING OUT WHILE YOU WALKED TO KEEP YOU FROM FALLING? DO YOU REMEMBER HOW PAINFUL THAT WAS? WELL, NOW, YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO HAVE IT ALL SHIFTED BACK INTO PLACE, BUT IT’S GOING TO MAKE YOUR PREVIOUS PAIN SEEM LIKE A WALK IN THE PARK. YOU’RE GOING TO BE PUSHED TO YOUR LIMIT, AND SOMETIMES, YOU’LL PUSH TOO HARD AND REGRESS. GOOD ADVICE WILL COME FROM AN HSCT BUDDY, KEITH. HE’S A CHIROPRACTOR FROM CANADA. HE’LL SUGGEST THAT YOU CUT YOUR ONE HOUR PT SESSIONS TO 30 MINUTES. AT FIRST, YOU’RE GOING TO FEEL LIKE THAT WOULD BE THE EASY WAY OUT, BUT, YOU’LL QUICKLY COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT MORE PAIN, DOESN’T ALWAYS MEAN MORE GAIN AND YOU WILL REACH ALL OF YOUR GOALS 5 MONTHS EARLIER THAN EXPECTED. BOOM!
YOU’LL TAKE THE ROUTINES YOU LEARNED AT PT AND BEGIN DOING THEM AT HOME. DOING THEM EVERY OTHER DAY WILL BE YOUR PLAN, BUT IT WILL BE 2 YEARS BEFORE YOU FIND THE PERFECT ALL OVER BODY WORKOUT. IT WILL COME IN THE FORM OF A HULA HOOP. YES, BROOKE. I SAID A HULA HOOP. STOP LAUGHING!
Let’s Keep This Short – Followup Chemo
3 MONTHS POST-TRANSPLANT, YOU’RE GO
ING TO BEGIN ONE YEAR OF FOLLOW-UP CHEMO, ONE EVERY THREE MONTHS, JUST AS DR. FEDORENKO HAD PRESCRIBED BEFORE YOUR HSCT BEGAN. THE GOOD NEWS IS, OVER THE NEXT 3 YEARS, ONLY A FEW MOSCOW PATIENTS WILL REQUIRE FOLLOWUP CHEMO. YOURS IS GOING TO BE MITOXANTRONE, AKA THE “BLUE DEVIL”, DUE TO ITS TOXIC NATURE. ONCE AGAIN, THE PLANETS ARE GOING TO ALIGN FOR YOU. YOU’LL BE BLESSED WITH NO SICKNESS, A FANTASTIC INFUSION CREW AND TWO SUPER COOL HEMATOLOGISTS TO MONITOR YOUR PROGRESS. DON’T GET ME WRONG, 2 DAYS AFTER EACH OF YOUR CHEMO INFUSIONS, YOU’RE GOING TO HIT A BRICK WALL. EVERY OUNCE OF ENERGY OVER EVERY INCH OF YOUR BODY WILL BE SUCKED OUT OF YOU. BLINKING WILL BE YOUR BIGGEST TASK OF THE DAY. NO WORRIES. WITHIN A WEEK, YOU’LL BE BACK IN THE SADDLE, TEARING IT UP AT PHYSICAL THERAPY. SUCK IT, MS!
Fancy Shoes
SO, GET THIS. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER YOU GET HOME, YOU’RE GOING TO REALIZE THAT YOU NO LONGER NEED THE TREKKING POLE YOU’VE RELIED ON FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS. YOUR BRAIN AND YOUR BODY WILL NO LONGER CRAVE IT FOR BALANCE. YOU’LL KEEP IT IN YOUR CAR, JUST IN CASE, BUT, IN THE FUTURE, YOU’LL ONLY NEED IT FOR LONG WALKS OR UNEVEN SURFACES. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, A YEAR FROM NOW, YOU’RE GOING TO FLY SOLO, NAVIGATING THROUGH SOME VERY LONG AIRLINE TERMINALS TO DALLAS AND WON’T EVEN TAKE THE POLE. YOU’LL GET TO MEET THE ORIGINAL NINJA, AMY PETERSON, AND A HANDFUL OF YOUR SOFA SISTERS IN THE FLESH, BUT, YOU’LL STILL BE WEARING YOUR FOOT BRACE, THE ONE THAT KEEPS YOU FROM WEARING ANY OF YOUR FANCY SHOES AND BOOTS. A FEW WEEKS AFTER THAT TRIP, YOU’LL WAKE UP ONE MORNING AND DECIDE THAT YOU’VE HAD ENOUGH OF THAT FOOT BRACE. YOU’LL PUT ON YOUR SHOES WITHOUT IT AND THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE THE BRACE WILL BE A YEAR AND ½ LATER, WHEN YOU’LL FIND IT IN A STORAGE BIN, WHILE LOOKING FOR CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS, AND YOU’LL BE THANKING GOD YOU CAN WEAR CUTE SHOES AGAIN.
Stop the Train…I Want Off – Revaccination
WHAT ABOUT THOSE REVACCINATIONS?! IT’S GOING TO BE ALMOST TWO YEARS POST-TRANSPLANT WHEN YOU DECIDE YOU’RE GOING TO SUCK IT UP AND GET YOUR VACCINATION TITRES DONE. THE RESULTS SAY THAT YOUR DTAP (TETANUS/DIPHTHERIA/PERTUSSIS) VACCINATION IS NO LONGER VALID. YOU SPEAK TO YOUR HEMATOLOGIST AND NEUROLOGIST, AND DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY YOU COULD PREDICT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO YOU THE MORNING AFTER YOU HAD YOUR VACCINATION. NO WAY!
YOU’RE GOING TO WAKE UP, AND YOU’LL NOTICE HOW SORE YOUR ARM IS. YOU WON’T BE WORRIED. IT’S PAR FOR THE COURSE. IT WON’T BE UNTIL YOU STAND UP WHILE GETTING OUT OF BED THAT YOU’RE GOING TO BE TRANSPORTED BACK TO YOUR PRE-TRANSPLANT BODY. THAT’S RIGHT! YOU WILL BE CRAZY OFF BALANCE AND YOUR RIGHT FOOT WILL DROP SO MUCH THAT YOU’LL HEAR IT MAKING A SWISHING NOISE AS IT DRAGS ACROSS THE FLOOR WITH EACH STEP. AS YOU ATTEMPT TO WALK DOWN THE HALLWAY, YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF GRABBING ON TO THE WALLS AND THEN SEARCHING FOR A PIECE OF FURNITURE TO NAVIGATE THE ROOM. YOU’RE GOING TO FEEL LIKE THIS FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND YOUR FOOT DROP WON’T BEGIN TO ALLEVIATE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. ALMOST A YEAR AFTER THIS VACCINATION, YOUR FOOT WILL STILL NOT BE AS STRONG AS IT WAS BEFORE THE VACCINATION, BUT IT WILL BE BETTER THAN IT WAS PRE-TRANSPLANT. THE ONE UPSIDE TO THIS INCIDENT, IS THAT IT WILL REMIND YOU JUST HOW BAD YOUR CONDITION USED TO BE COMPARED TO AFTER TRANSPLANT. COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!
You Say You Want a Revolution…The Russia Facebook Forum
SOON AFTER YOU RETURN FROM MOSCOW, YOUR MOSCOW COMRADE FROM HAWAII, JEFF, WITH HELP OF THE 2ND OF THE 3 MSKETEERS, TAMMY, WILL CREATE A FACEBOOK GROUP SPECIFICALLY FOR PATIENTS SEEKING HSCT IN MOSCOW. THEY WILL ASK YOU IF YOU WANT TO BE AN ADMIN AND YOU, OF COURSE, ACCEPT. IT WILL BE SLOW GOING IN THE BEGINNING AND 9 MONTHS IN YOU’LL ONLY HAVE 100 MEMBERS, BUT, 3 MONTHS LATER, AN AUSTRALIAN WOMAN, KRISTY CRUISE, THE ONE YOU MET IN MOSCOW, DELIVERED TO THE HOSPITAL AND WHO GOT YOU HOOKED ON TIM TAMS, WILL BECOME A ROCK STAR IN THE HSCT COMMUNITY AND START A WORLDWIDE HSCT REVOLUTION WHEN HER STORY IS AIRED ON 60 MINUTES-AUSTRALIA, AFTER THEY ACCOMPANY HER TO MOSCOW FOR HER TREATMENT. HER STORY WILL OPEN THE FLOODGATES TO HSCT IN MOSCOW AND AROUND THE WORLD. NEW FACILITIES WILL OPEN. MORE FORUMS WILL BE CREATED, AND IN TWO SHORT YEARS, THE RUSSIA FORUM’S MEMBERSHIP WILL SOAR TO OVER 2,000 MEMBERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. YOU AND YOUR COMRADES WILL DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO MAKE IT AN ORGANIZED, INFORMATIVE SANCTUARY FOR THOSE SEEKING HSCT IN MOSCOW. YOU WON’T THINK SO IN THE BEGINNING, BUT, EVENTUALLY, YOU’LL HAVE TO WALK AWAY. YOU WILL BEGIN TO SLOWLY TURN OFF NOTIFICATIONS TO ALL FORUMS EXCEPT RUSSIA. YES, THERE WILL BE MANY. THE STAMPEDE FOR HSCT, WILL BRING OUT THE BEST AND THE WORST IN PEOPLE. THE DRAMA THAT YOU WITNESS WILL WEAR YOU AND YOUR PATIENCE DOWN. LIFE AND A BUSINESS VENTURE WILL FILL YOUR DAYS AND YOU WILL ABLE TO GET BACK TO LIVING, JUST AS YOU HAD HOPED PRE-TRANSPLANT. THAT’S WHY YOU DID THIS. REMEMBER? TO GET YOUR LIFE AND YOUR FUTURE BACK. THERE WILL BE OTHER ABLE VETERANS IN THE WINGS WHO COULD MANAGE THE RUSSIA FORUM, BUT, EVEN AT ALMOST 3 YEARS OUT, YOU’LL HAVE A TOUGH TIME FINDING THE PERFECT FIT AND WILL STRUGGLE WITH LETTING GO. BUT YOU WILL…WHEN IT FEELS RIGHT.
Thank You for Being a Friend
DURING YOUR TIME IN MOSCOW, THAT LITTLE GROUP OF SOFA SISTERS (SISTERHOOD OF THE FEDORENKO ALLIANCE) THAT LISA STALLINGS MALLOY PUT TOGETHER, WILL GROW TO OVER 25 MEMBERS FROM ALL OVER THE PLANET. EVEN THOUGH YOU’LL ALWAYS HAVE A UNIQUE BOND, ALMOST ALL OF THEM WILL GO BACK TO THEIR RESPECTIVE LIVES, AND COUNTRIES, BUT, THERE ARE A FEW WITH WHOM YOU’LL BECOME VERY CLOSE. LISA, TAMMY, KRISTY, VICKI, AND TONI (WHO’S A NON-SOFA WHO HAD HER HSCT IN GERMANY) ALONG WITH A HANDFUL OF OTHERS…THEY’RE LIKE THE SISTERS YOU’VE NEVER HAD. HSCT THREW YOU IN EACH OTHER’S PATH, BUT THE SIMILAR SENSE OF HUMOR, QUICK WIT, STRENGTH AND LOYALTY THAT YOU ALL SHARE HAVE CEMENTED LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS. YOU’LL ALWAYS BE ONE PRIVATE MESSAGE AWAY FROM A HUGE BELLY LAUGH, OR A SHOULDER TO CRY ON. YOU’D DO ANYTHING FOR EACH OTHER AND WILL STAND IN EACH OTHER’S DEFENSE, UNCONDITIONALLY. PRICELESS.
Did That Just Happen?
SPEAKING OF FRIENDS…FOR YEARS, YOU’VE BEEN MAKING EXCUSES FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO GO TO SOCIAL FUNCTIONS. YOU DIDN’T WANT TO PUT YOUR LIMPY SELF ON DISPLAY. HELL, YOU COULDN’T EVEN STAND TO SEE YOUR REFLECTION AS YOU WALKED BY A STOREFRONT. THAT COULDN’T BE YOU, COULD IT? THAT’S GOING TO CHANGE NOW, AND AFTER ALL THOSE YEARS OF ISOLATION, YOU’RE GOING TO JUMP (NOT LITERALLY) AT THE CHANCE TO GO ON A GIRLS WEEKEND TO DEEP CREEK, MD. YES, YOU’LL HAVE TO USE YOUR TREKKING POLE FOR UNEVEN SURFACES, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BUT WHO GIVES A DAMN! YOU WERE ABLE TO DECORATE ALL THREE STORIES OF THE RENTAL HOUSE BEFORE THE GUESTS GOT THERE, AND, THERE’S NO BLACK CLOUD OF MS PROGRESSION FOLLOWING YOU EVERY DAY.
THE BEST PART OF THIS TRIP WILL BE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU RETURN HOME. YOU’LL BE PUTTING YOUR LUGGAGE AWAY AND MAKE A DISCOVERY THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE AND MILLIONS OF OTHERS, OLD AND YOUNG, WHO HAVE MOBILITY/WALKING DEFICITS. WHILE TAKING YOUR SUITCASE FROM ONE END OF THE HOUSE TO THE OTHER, YOU HAVE AN AH-HAH MOMENT AND ASK YOURSELF “DID THAT JUST HAPPEN?”. YOU’RE GOING TO SPEND THE NEXT YEAR WORKING WITH A DESIGN TEAM AND BUILDING ON THE CONCEPT, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE INROADS WITH POTENTIAL MANUFACTURERS. YOUR HOMEMADE VERSION OF THIS MOBILITY DEVICE WILL CHANGE THE WAY YOU LIVE WITHIN YOUR HOME AND WHEN IT FINALLY HITS THE MARKET, WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE OUTSIDE THE HOME AS WELL. TRADITIONAL MOBILITY BARRIERS WILL BE BREACHED, AND YOU WILL EXPERIENCE FREEDOM YOU NEVER THOUGHT WAS WITHIN YOUR REACH. YOU ARE DETERMINED, AND SO AM I! GET READY, BECAUSE YOU’RE GOING TO MAKE SOME BOLD MOVES TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
Shit on a Shingle(s)
DON’T FORGET TO TAKE YOUR ACYCLOVIR! DURING YOUR RECOVERY, YOU’RE GOING TO HEAR OF OTHER VETERANS WHO GET SHINGLES. THE SHINGLES VIRUS CAN APPEAR IN ANYONE WHO HAS HAD CHICKENPOX, THEN, IT CAN LIE DORMANT IN YOUR BODY FOR DECADES. IF THE VIRUS IS REACTIVATED LATER IN LIFE, WHICH IS COMMON IN PEOPLE OVER 60 OR PEOPLE WITH A COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEM (YOU), IT PRESENTS IN THE FORM OF A PAINFUL, BLISTERED RASH. YOURS WILL APPEAR IN JULY, 2015, ON YOUR LOWER BACK, WHICH IS ALSO A LITTLE OVER ONE YEAR POST-FOLLOW-UP CHEMO. YOU WILL CONTAIN IT TO A 2 X 2 INCH AREA BY DOUBLING YOUR DOSE OF ACYCLOVIR UNTIL IT DISSIPATES…ABOUT TWO WEEKS. DURING THE NEXT 5 MONTHS, YOU’LL GET IT ON YOUR KNEE TWO TIMES AND YOUR FOOT ONCE. IT WON’T SURFACE ABOVE THE SKIN THE LAST 3 TIMES BECAUSE YOU WILL INSTANTLY RECOGNIZE THE TINGLING UNDERNEATH THE SKIN’S SURFACE THAT ACCOMPANIES SHINGLES. YOU’LL ATTRIBUTE THE OCCURRENCES TO STRESS COUPLED WITH AN IMMUNE SYSTEM THAT’S CONTINUING TO BUILD. LESSEN LEARNED.
Paying it Forward
IN ADDITION TO YOUR ONLINE WORK, YOU’LL HAVE AND TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT HSCT IN NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, TELEVISION SPOTS AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS. YOU’LL DONATE ANY LEFTOVER FUNDS FROM YOUR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES WHO RALLIED TO SEND YOU TO MOSCOW. WHETHER IT’S A DONATION MADE TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS PARALYZED IN A CAR ACCIDENT, PAYING THE ELECTRIC BILL FOR A CANCER PATIENT IN NEED, OR BUYING A PAIR OF KINDLES FOR A YOUNG PATIENT AND HIS BROTHER AS THEY TRAVEL 2 HOURS EACH WAY FOR HIS IV INFUSIONS, THOSE FUNDS WILL FIND A PLACE WORTHY OF RECIPROCATING THE GENEROSITY YOU EXPERIENCED LEADING UP TO YOUR TRANSPLANT.
The Big Reveal
YOU KNOW HOW YOU’D GIVE ANYTHING TO PEER INTO THE FUTURE TO SEE WHERE YOU’RE AT PHYSICALLY/MENTALLY AFTER HSCT. WILL YOUR LIMP BE GONE? WILL YOUR MRIs HAVE SHOWN ANY PROGRESSION? WILL YOU STILL USE A TREKKING POLE? WILL YOUR BALANCE STILL SUCK? THE BEST ADVICE I CAN GIVE YOU OR ANY NEWLY-TRANSPLANTED PATIENT IS TO IGNORE THE RECOVERY STATISTICS!! YOU KNOW, THE ONES THAT SAY YOU WILL SEE MOST OF YOUR RECOVERY WITHIN 2 YEARS OR 3 TO 5 YEARS. YOUR RECOVERY WILL BE AS UNIQUE AS YOUR DISEASE HISTORY AND YOUR HSCT EXPERIENCE. STOP LOOKING AT THE RECOVERY TIMECLOCK, THE GRAPHS, THE CHARTS AND THE SCIENTIFIC BABBLE. SOME OF THE BEST RECOVERIES I’VE SEEN ARE FROM PEOPLE WHO WALKED AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER AND THE FORUMS, AND GOT BACK TO LIVING WITHOUT LOOKING FOR REASSURANCE FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES. PEOPLE NEED TO STOP COMPARING BECAUSE THERE ARE NO APPLES-TO-APPLES COMPARISONS WHEN IT COMES TO AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES AND YOU ARE NOT A NUMBER!
FOR YOU, THERE’S GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS, IF YOU EVEN WANT TO CALL IT BAD NEWS. BAD NEWS WOULD BE THAT YOUR MRIs HAVE SHOWN THAT YOUR MS HAD PROGRESSED, OR YOUR SYMPTOMS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE THAN THEY WERE PRE-TRANSPLANT. NONE OF THAT HAS HAPPENED.
YOU ARE PROGRESSION-FREE AND YOUR SYMPTOMS ARE THE SAME OR BETTER THAN THEY WERE BEFORE HSCT.
YES, YOU STILL LIMP, BUT, IT’S NOT AS PRONOUNCED AS IT WAS BEFORE AND YOU DON’T USE YOUR HIP TO LIFT YOUR FOOT. YOU USE YOUR LEG. YOUR CONTINUED FOOT DROP WILL ATTRIBUTE TO YOUR LIMP, BUT IT WILL UNPREDICTABLY COME AND GO. SUCK IT UP. YOU’RE WALKING, AREN’T YOU?
NO, YOU DON’T USE THE TREKKING POLE LIKE YOU USED TO…ONLY IF YOU ARE WALKING LONG DISTANCES OR ON UNEVEN SURFACES.
YOUR BALANCE IS NOT 100%, BUT, MUCH BETTER THAN PRE-TRANSPLANT. THOSE CORE STRENGTHENING EXERCISES YOU’VE BEEN DOING AT HULA HOOP CLASS ARE GOING TO PAY OFF. YES, I SAID HULA HOOP!
THE DEXTERITY IN YOUR RIGHT HAND IS STILL HUGELY LACKING. YOU WON’T BE LEARNING TO PLAY PIANO ANY TIME SOON OR TYPING 90 wpm LIKE YOU USED TO.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, ALL 3 OF YOUR POST-TRANSPLANT MRIs ARE PROGRESSION-FREE.
A TYPICAL DAY FOR YOU IN FEBRUARY 2016 IS WAKING UP TO PRIVATE MESSAGES FROM INDIVIDUALS IN ENGLAND, SOUTH AFRICA, CANADA, MEXICO, EGYPT, ETC., SEEKING ADVICE REGARDING HSCT. YOU ARE THEIR AMY PETERSON. BE HONORED AND HUMBLED.
THIS IS THE YEAR DR. FEDORENKO SAID YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A WHEELCHAIR WITHOUT HSCT. YOU’LL BE THRILLED TO KNOW, YOU’RE STILL WALKING TALL AND YOUR FUTURE IS FULL OF ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES.
RAISE A GLASS, GIRL. YOU HAVE A LOT TO CELEBRATE! MAYBE I’LL SEE YOU AROUND SOMETIME.
It’s been a little over 1.5 years since my stem cell transplant and about four months since my last blog update, so, I thought it was time to pop in with a status update from one of the earlier groups of international patients to have been treated in Moscow. I’m happy to say that there are now 100s of patients currently scheduled to receive HSCT in Moscow. In large part, the increase in numbers can be attributed to a 60 Minutes story that aired in March, 2014, in Australia, as well as the many veterans since who have blogged their HSCT experiences to the world. If you think that it would be difficult for one person to make a difference, imagine my surprise when I received my 2014 blog stats from WordPress. The graphic below indicates that in 2014 my blog was viewed by people from 97 different countries. The U.S. was #1 on the list with Australia and Norway following the lead.
My 2014 Checklist – In Pictures
Below is a pictorial of tasks that I was able to accomplish during 2014, many of which I would not have been able to complete pre-transplant, or, if I could have, it would not have been without a struggle.
Completed physical therapy 7 months early.
Encouraged other HSCT patients, like Diana Rees, who is now a veteran!
Drove 15 hours each way to pick up Sochi, a rescue cat, in Atlanta.
Kissed my last of 4 extra doses of chemo goodbye!!
No more “blue devil” (chemo).
Flew solo to Dallas to meet my SOFA sisters.
Kristy, Amy, and Sheli
Me with Lisa
Me with Vicki
Walked without a foot brace for the first time in 2.5 years
Danced at my daughter’s wedding
She was beautiful
My podcast interview was published in an international best-selling book.
Gave a presentation at a local college and senior center. More on tap for 2015.
Got back to having fun and celebrating with friends.
A pink toast to life!
Continued to maintain a Russia HSCT for MS, etc. FB forum page with veterans Jeff Root, Tammy Richert and Vicki Wilson
My Recovery Status
– Still walking without a trekking pole 98% of the time. Only required for rugged terrain or longer walks.
– Still walking without a foot brace since July, 2014. I do not foresee having to wear one again…ever.
– By the grace of God, I have never suffered from MS-related cognitive issues. My cerebral clarity remains untouched!!
– I do retain a degree of spasticity in my right arm, hand, fingers and foot. See pic of right-handed spasticity below. My right hand no longer naturally extends.
– I still retain lack of sensation in my fingers (one thumb still intact), toes, right ear and portions of my midriff.
– Intermittently, I will experience the MS Hug (rib cage spasticity). I may have it for an entire week and, then, not for two months. I may have it for a day, then, not for a week. It’s important not to wear a tight bra or clingy shirt, as it can trigger my Hug.
– I continue to experience a degree of imbalance that also varies, however, nothing as bad as it was pre-transplant. I attribute a large part of my ability to walk without assistance to the improvement in balance.
– I do continue to suffer from coldness in my right arm/hand/fingers. It is not a 24/7 situation, but, once it gets cold, it takes hours to get warm again.
– I no longer have shooting electrical shocks running through my eyes.
– My most nagging remaining symptom is foot drop, which has decreased significantly, but worsens as they day goes on or the longer I walk. I do my best to rest in between walking to reserve my foot strength and function.
– My three MRIs that I have had since I returned from Moscow have all been completely stable. No MS progression (Thank you, Dr. Fedorenko).
My Outlook
My outlook and attitude will always remain positive. That’s just my style! On average, an HSCT patient will realize the majority of their improvements within the first 2 years following transplant, however, improvement has also been evidenced at 3-5 years. My case was thrown a bit of a twist when it was recommended (immediately prior to beginning my HSCT) that, based on my history of failing to respond to every MS drug/treatment that I tried (Betaseron, Copaxone, Gilenya, Tysabri, Solumedrol, Ampyra), I have one year of followup chemo after my transplant. Given that, I’m kind of the “odd man out” in that I have no other Moscow HSCT patients, nor patients from other HSCT facilities who have been pre-emptively prescribed followup chemo.
So, what’s a girl to do? I’ll tell you. Recovery is hard work. I plan to continue stretching and strengthening every single day and will most likely have to do that for the rest of my life. Fair enough. I will continue to move…no excuses. I will accept whatever neurologic shortcomings I have been dealt, knowing the symptoms that remain will be all I will ever have (no more guessing what MS will take next…party over, MS!). I will continue to update via this blog as I progress with my recovery and life. I will gently step away from the HSCT spotlight to relentlessly pursue my dreams in whatever form they may come. I will remain forever grateful for the gift of HSCT.
As always, peace and love from the Pennsylvania countryside.
This is a very quick update to let you all know that I’ve just received the most exciting news!! My HSCT for MS story has been included in a newly published book on Amazon.com along with the stories of 20 other patients who received their healthcare abroad. It’s titled…
Healthcare Elsewhere – Inspiring Medical Tourism Success Stories.
Right now, they are running a promotion on the Kindle version for 99 Cents! (I’m Chapter 5). Please click on the image below to get your copy of the book for your phone or tablet today. Even if you don’t have a Kindle, there is a free Kindle app that works on EVERY system, mobile to desktop, Mac to PC. Woo hoo!!
Disclaimer…I received zero compensation for my contribution to this book.
The hotel manager graced us with a bucket of champagne to celebrate our accomplishments.
With so much to celebrate as many Moscow veteran HSCT patients approach their 1-year, post-transplant birthdays, a select group of my SOFA (Sisterhood of the Fedorenko Alliance) sisters, who are far enough into their recovery to safely travel, took the opportunity to meet in Dallas to savor our successes together and, for several of us, meet face-to-face for the first time. These are women who have been there for each other 24/7 for over a year, before, during and after their stem cell transplants. One of the sisters, Kristy Cruise, from Australia, comes to the U.S. once every two years to visit her in-laws. 2014 was one of those years and we didn’t want to miss out on a chance to gather. What we thought was going to be a relaxing few days, turned out to be a mini media tour with tons of sister laughs, good wine, good food and a few tears sprinkled in. One of the sisters, Vicki Wilson, who flew in from Little Rock, Arkansas, contacted several television stations in the Dallas metro area to share our story of triumph and the unique bond that we all share. ABC and CBS heeded the call and came to interview all of us at the NYLO Hotel where we were staying. The ABC segment featured all of the sisters together, whereas, CBS decided to take the local angle and featured our very own police officer, Sheli Godbold, who lives in a Dallas suburb. We kept the hotel staff hopping and the hotel guests guessing as the local media and their camera crews set up their encampments throughout the hotel. I was even stopped in the lobby by a group of business associates who had seen us on television and wanted to know all about HSCT. Score!! Media tour success!!! Both interviews can be viewed below.
During our ABC interview.
In addition to being picked up at the airport by my gracious sister, Lisa Stallings, who gave me an awesome tour of the Gas Monkey Bar & Grill, then Garage, with her BFF Cindy Cathey, I had the privilege of meeting the woman who made it all possible for me to find out about HSCT and, in particular, HSCT in Moscow, through her fantabulous blog, Amy Goes Ninja on MS. It was an incredible moment with lots of chills (at least for me) ha ha, and that comfortable feeling that I had known her forever. The entire trip was a dream come true for me, and, quite frankly, there is no way in hell that I could have made this trip alone just a little over a year ago, without a trekking pole, no less (see pics).
Taken after my not-so-graceful, yet, victorious trek through the airport.
I took lots of wonderful pics throughout the week, so, I’ve chosen my favorites and have posted them below (they are clickable). Until my next post, cheers to HSCT!!
After a year of diligent work and follow-through, my Moscow HSCT treatment phase has finally come to an end. Unlike most patients who receive their entire treatment in 5 weeks, my path was a little off the beaten one.
When I arrived in Moscow, I had 10 enhancing brain lesions. Those lesions were a blessing in disguise being that medical evidence shows the more lesion activity you have, the more optimal your HSCT result may be. That was the upside to my lesion activity. The downside was, based on the high number of enhancing lesions, Dr. Fedorenko thought it wise to prescribe an additional 4 doses of chemo over the next year (1 every 3 months) in order to guarantee capping off the monster that had plagued me for over 10 years and disabled me to the point that I needed to use a trekking pole to walk, due to foot drop, and the dexterity in my right hand/fingers was noticeably compromised.
Two weeks ago today, I had my FINAL dose of the Mitoxantrone (the “blue devil”), and decided that it was time to document and share my entire journey in a YouTube presentation. It’s a condensed version of how it all began, how I got there, the treatment itself, and how it all played out in the end. There are lots of previously unseen photos and I find that sometimes pictures portray a story better than words alone. I also wanted to share a Podcast interview that I recently completed with Healthcare Elsewhere, a program that specializes in covering stories about medical tourism. In that interview, I explain what HCST is, and how it works. You can click on the pic below or the link above to access the interview. One of my main goals with this blog is to bring hope to those who may think there isn’t any left for them. Please feel free to share the link to the interview or my video with a friend or loved one who may be suffering from an autoimmune disease. It may be the hope they’ve been looking for.
Until my next blog post…peace and love from the Pennsylvania countryside!
That’s exactly what’s going on here in the U.S. and abroad! We are sending the call out to everyone who will listen about HSCT (Hematapoietic Stem Cell Transplant) for autoimmune diseases and the hope that it can bring to so many who think that they are out of options. Several Moscow veterans, including myself, and a woman from my area who will be going to Moscow in a few weeks, have had to opportunity to give a shout out to the public, via the media, singing the praises of HSCT. We’re making as much noise as possible on television, radio, and, of course, social media.
Vicki Wilson’s interview with Good Morning Arkansas
Kristy Cruise’s interview with 60 Minutes Australia.
My WTAJ-TV-10 Interview with Diana Rees
Carol’s Radio Interview
In the meantime, I had my 3rd of 4 followup infusions of chemo (see post from April 27, 2013 for an explanation of the reason for my followup chemo) in February and I’m happy to say that I tolerated it very well. I didn’t even have my usual couple of “crash and burn” days. I just kept chugging along. I have one more to go in mid-May and then I’m home free. My true recovery clock will not begin to tick until that day.
I continue to walk without a trekking pole and have completed my physical therapy about five months earlier than expected because I met or exceeded all of my goals. As Dr. Fedorenko suggested, it did play a huge part in my physical recovery due to years of lack of use and/or misuse of my muscles.
I did have one bout of bronchitis a couple of months ago which I jumped on right away with antibiotics. Surprisingly, I recovered from it much more quickly than I have pre-transplant.
Most of my days are filled with normal, everyday tasks without the dread that used to accompany them. Who would have thought doing laundry could be so fun…not! ha ha I was fortunate enough and physically able to make a 15-hour road trip to Atlanta last week. That is something I never would have been able to do a year ago. Heck, I would have been lucky to be able to get in and out of the car or sit for that long a year go. By the way, I did all the driving. I was able to meet with Brandon Eurek and his family who have been some of my biggest fans since the moment I announced I was having HSCT (see pic below).
Keeping Calm with Brandon!
I also spend a portion of every day trying to spread the word about HSCT in one way or another. As much as I would like to be banging on the doors of political figures to make this treatment more quickly available to the public at large, I know that could take years. I want to concentrate on the people I can reach who need help NOW! If I had $5 for every person who has said they wish they hadn’t waited to have it done, I could afford to pay someone to type this for me! If you want to have this treatment and you think you could never afford it, you may be surprised what you can accomplish. If you do have the funds and you’re simply waiting until you’re “bad enough” to have it done, I beg of you to reconsider and move forward as quickly as possible. Time is not your friend.
As long as HSCT events occur and my post-transplant life evolves, I will continue to keep blogging. I will, for sure, be posting about my very last dose of Mitoxantrone. That will be a day of celebration! It was just a year ago that I was packing my bags for Moscow. I’m so excited for the next group of HSCTrs who will be filing into the halls of Pirogov during the month of April. We are all so blessed by this opportunity. I’m wishing the same for all of you.
After a day of rest at the hotel, today, was to be a day where I try out my sea legs to see how much or how little endurance I may have. One month of isolation in a hospital, does not lend itself to muscle strengthening, and I knew that, but, WOW, I definitely underestimated the amount of atrophy that can take place in such a short amount of time. Just the act of getting a normal, everyday, full-length shower and getting dressed almost completely wiped me out. Normally, I’m able to push through the fatigue. but, when you couple that with the dizziness/edginess that comes with recovering from chemo and being on a steroid (that always makes me feel like death!) and I knew it was not going at what I consider to be a “productive” day.
Last night, my friend, Kristy Cruise, of Australia, arrived in preparation for her HSCT pre-testing which will begin on Monday. She, mom and I had agreed to meet for the hotel’s breakfast buffet, and I really was looking forward to it. First obstacle? There is no elevator to the 3rd floor restaurant. Every other floor has access to an elevator, but not that one. Mom had already been up the stair case several times and knew that it would be a bit of challenge for me, but I could do it. Mom opted to get me safely up the stairs (see pic), literally, one step at a time and to the restaurant and she would meet with Kristy and return.
Stairs to the restaurant in the hotel.
We had a lovely breakfast (see pics) and chat, and it was decided that even though I fully intended to go the flea market for a short stretch, that it wouldn’t be very wise to do so, just yet.
More restaurant.
To restaurant.
Restaurant entrance.
One of the many restaurants at Best Western Vega Ru
Special Agent Koala Bear, reporting for breakfast.
Mom and Kristy proceeded over to Izmaylova Market for a very productive couple of hours of souvenir shopping, site-seeing and photo ops. I will admit, I took one of the most peaceful naps that I’ve had the entire time I’ve been here. Wise choice, Brooke. Slow and easy. Earlier, Kristy had graciously gifted me with one her Moving Mountains t-shirts and a few trinkets. One of my fave “trinkets” was a container of Tim Tams from down under. They are kind of a chocolately, toffee wafer type of cookie that are to die for. But, last, but, not least, was a very thoughtful “Ninja” charm (see pic) that she picked up on her way through Japan this week. It is to remind me of the brave “Ninja”, Amy Peterson, whom, had she not blogged her HSCT experience here, I wouldn’t be here right now and about to venture on a life free of the constraints of MS.
Pink “Ninja” charm.
Below are a couple of pics of me and Kristy in our room. Just a couple of members of the Sisterhood, hanging out.
Me, Kristy and one of her Moving Mountains t-shirts.
Sisterhood!
So, my first whole day on the outside. Was it everything I had hoped? It was spent with friends and family. There were laughs, and tons of food and naps. and, as it should be, the healing of me has just begun. For this “Impatient Penny”, it’s not an easy task to hold back, but days like these, no matter how limited are precious to me because my life of fear is waning and a life of living awaits. Well worth the wait, if I do say so.Peace, love and naps, from Moscow. 🙂
Drama
RETURN HOME. I KNOW YOU CAN’T WAIT TO START. YOU FEEL BETTER AND HAVE MORE ENERGY THAN YOU HAVE IN YEARS, THE REFLEXES IN YOUR FEET AND KNEES ARE REACTING NORMALLY, AND YOU ARE SO ANXIOUS TO BE ABLE TO SAY “LOOK WHAT I CAN DO!”…NOT SO FAST.
YSICAL THERAPY. REMEMBER WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED WALKING FUNNY AND YOUR FOOT, LEG AND HIPS STARTED TURNING OUT WHILE YOU WALKED TO KEEP YOU FROM FALLING? DO YOU REMEMBER HOW PAINFUL THAT WAS? WELL, NOW, YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO HAVE IT ALL SHIFTED BACK INTO PLACE, BUT IT’S GOING TO MAKE YOUR PREVIOUS PAIN SEEM LIKE A WALK IN THE PARK. YOU’RE GOING TO BE PUSHED TO YOUR LIMIT, AND SOMETIMES, YOU’LL PUSH TOO HARD AND REGRESS. GOOD ADVICE WILL COME FROM AN HSCT BUDDY, KEITH. HE’S A CHIROPRACTOR FROM CANADA. HE’LL SUGGEST THAT YOU CUT YOUR ONE HOUR PT SESSIONS TO 30 MINUTES. AT FIRST, YOU’RE GOING TO FEEL LIKE THAT WOULD BE THE EASY WAY OUT, BUT, YOU’LL QUICKLY COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT MORE PAIN, DOESN’T ALWAYS MEAN MORE GAIN AND YOU WILL REACH ALL OF YOUR GOALS 5 MONTHS EARLIER THAN EXPECTED. BOOM!
HORT YEARS, THE RUSSIA FORUM’S MEMBERSHIP WILL SOAR TO OVER 2,000 MEMBERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. YOU AND YOUR COMRADES WILL DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO MAKE IT AN ORGANIZED, INFORMATIVE SANCTUARY FOR THOSE SEEKING HSCT IN MOSCOW. YOU WON’T THINK SO IN THE BEGINNING, BUT, EVENTUALLY, YOU’LL HAVE TO WALK AWAY. YOU WILL BEGIN TO SLOWLY TURN OFF NOTIFICATIONS TO ALL FORUMS EXCEPT RUSSIA. YES, THERE WILL BE MANY. THE STAMPEDE FOR HSCT, WILL BRING OUT THE BEST AND THE WORST IN PEOPLE. THE DRAMA THAT YOU WITNESS WILL WEAR YOU AND YOUR PATIENCE DOWN. LIFE AND A BUSINESS VENTURE WILL FILL YOUR DAYS AND YOU WILL ABLE TO GET BACK TO LIVING, JUST AS YOU HAD HOPED PRE-TRANSPLANT. THAT’S WHY YOU DID THIS. REMEMBER? TO GET YOUR LIFE AND YOUR FUTURE BACK. THERE WILL BE OTHER ABLE VETERANS IN THE WINGS WHO COULD MANAGE THE RUSSIA FORUM, BUT, EVEN AT ALMOST 3 YEARS OUT, YOU’LL HAVE A TOUGH TIME FINDING THE PERFECT FIT AND WILL STRUGGLE WITH LETTING GO. BUT YOU WILL…WHEN IT FEELS RIGHT.
THERE ARE A FEW WITH WHOM YOU’LL BECOME VERY CLO
SE. LISA, TAMMY, KRISTY, VICKI, AND TONI (WHO’S A NON-SOFA WHO HAD HER HSCT IN GERMANY) ALONG WITH A HANDFUL OF OTHERS…THEY’RE LIKE THE SISTERS YOU’VE NEVER HAD. HSCT THREW YOU IN EACH OTHER’S PATH, BUT THE SIMILAR SENSE OF HUMOR, QUICK WIT, STRENGTH AND LOYALTY THAT YOU ALL SHARE HAVE CEMENTED LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS. YOU’LL ALWAYS BE ONE PRIVATE MESSAGE AWAY FROM A HUGE BELLY LAUGH, OR A SHOULDER TO CRY ON. YOU’D DO ANYTHING FOR EACH OTHER AND WILL STAND IN EACH OTHER’S DEFENSE, UNCONDITIONALLY. PRICELESS.
Hello, Russia! B-bye, MS! 