DAY 100!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We made it, day 100, for those of you who aren't aware this is a huge milestone in my recovery process, after 100 days without problems your percentages for survival go up drastically. Last night I had a surprise B-Day party for Mindy's 26th birthday, we all had a good time. This morning when I woke up Mindy made me breakfast (coco krispies and hash), she also had 100 post it notes stuck all over our apartment, with notes of things I have overcome and things we have done over the past 10 months.
My doctor called with the results of the ultra sound I had on my leg, she thinks there is a small neurologic tumor behind my knee. This should be able to be removed with surgery so pray that everything goes well and that it is this neurologic tumor and nothing else.
Today is another great time to reflect on the obstacles we have overcome and all that we have done even though we were dealing with such a terrible disease.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN MUAHHHHH

Day +97

We had a great apt. at the doctors today, we found out that I am 100% donor and that there were no chromosonal abnormalities. Praise God. I'm sure some of you are also wondering how our trip to South Philly went on Sunday. Let me just say that watching the fans on TV doesn't come close to the insaneness when you are really there, I'm sure it didn't hurt that there wasn't an empty seat in the house. I hope the phillies can close this out tomorrow. I don't think I mentioned about Penn States big win on Saturday but what a WIN, 3 more games to the National Championship. Tomorrow I am having an ultra sound on the back of my left leg just above my knee cap. I have been having some pain there and I have lost some mobility in my foot which is a little scary to me.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith
Hebrews 12:2

Day +93

I got my preliminary results back yesterday from my doctor and everything looks good. We should know whether I am still 100% donor or not in a week or two and also the cytogenetics, if there are any of the abnormal chromosome from before. On Wednesday night Mindy and I went to a black tie affair in NYC for a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society at the Pierre hotel. I gave a speech and we had a blast. I opened my speech up by saying I was a Phillies fan because the gentlemen who introduced me said we were from PA but he wasn't sure if I was a Phillies fan or not. After my speech as I was walking off the podium a gentleman approched me with his business card outstreatched in his hand and repeated the following "you call me tomorrow and you got yourself 2 world series tickets." So to make a long story short Mindy and I are going to game 4 in Philly on Sunday. I am speaking tomorrow at another ACS event in Valley Forge. Keep praying for good results on my bone marrow and go PSU tomorrow night and Lets go Phillies!!!!!




God bless,



Derrick

Day +85

Another post from home in Lewisburg. Everything with my appt. on Tuesday went well, I didn't get sick from the IVIG and my doctor gave me the ok to come home for a few days because I do so much better when I'm at home, I get out and walk, I eat more, and I just have a much more positive attitude. I have another apt. on Tuesday when I am having my 100 day bone marrow biopsy done which is HUGE. To all the prayer warriors out there please pray that I am 100% donor again, I was after 30 days but they check this every time the do a BMB, that I have no leukemia cells, and that everything looks good. Even though Mindy and I are big PSU football fans we have to give a shout out to Lenny (thanks for the t-shirts we love them) and all the USC fans out there. FIGHT ON!!!!!!!!!

P.S. Check out the dome piece, can't tell quite yet what color it will be but I am definitely sprouting.

O god when I have food let me remember the hungry, when I have work help me to remember the jobless, when I have a warm home help me to remember the homeless, when I am without pain help me to remember those who suffer. And remembering, help me to destroy my complacency and bestir my compassion make me concerned enough to help by word and deed, those who cry out for what we take for granted.

Samuel F. Pugh

Weekend update

Sorry for not posting in a while but guess what, I am writing this from my apt. in Lewisburg PA whoo hooooo. We don't like to say anything to jinx us but Mindy and I were able to come home last Wednesday just for the weekend, our good friends got married yesterday and I was able to go to the wedding as long as I steered clear of everyone, Mindy was the Maid of Honor. So getting out of NY and back home here has been great, I have been so gitty, I have been outside on walks and just the smell of the fresh air is just refreshing. I miss this so much and can not wait until we are able to be here full time. I am feeling well and I have been eating good so I hope my weight is up when we have out doctors visit on Tuesday. I really can not express how happy I was and still am to be back home for the first time in months and just getting back to some sense or normalcy.

Day +73

Sorry for not posting since my visit and procedure on Thursday but I had good reason. So Mindy and I never like to post about things coming up that we are doing or anything because we think that sometimes jinx's us, so we didn't say anything about us going to Lewisburg for the weekend on the blog. But Thursday everything went well I had the spinal tap and a CT scan which came back good. Mindy and I were scheduled to leave at 6 am on Friday and at about 5 am I woke up and threw up. Then I threw up for the rest of the day like every 3 hours and I didn't eat or drink anything all day, I felt pretty crappy. So Mindy did leave to go home on Saturday and my mom came up to stay with me because I still wasn't feeling the greatest. The vomitting was found to be a side effect from the chemo that was put in my spine. Today I feel much better and I am eating and drinking and I feel really good. Phils are going to the NLCS whoop whoop, PAT THE BAT. PSU got another win yesterday which I was happy about. Mindy gave a great report from Lewisburg and said how much I am going to love coming home, "I can't wait."

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14: 6

Day +69

Today I had a visit with my doctor, and our meeting went very well. For the first time ever, all my counts were in a normal range, my WBC was up at 4 which is the bottom of the normal range. This was an awesome apt. my doctor was very pleased with how everything is progressing and where we are at. So give God a big praise in your prayers for a great meeting today. The Phillies start October playoffs tomorrow, GO PHILS. Markets rebounded a little today which was good to see I didn't want to see another 777 crash. Appetite is coming back little by little, still not really ever hungry but I feel like I'm able to eat a little bit more each week.