2013 already?

Hey there everyone!

It's been quite a while since my last update and in this case, no news is good news :)

Jack has been progressing through his post bone marrow transplant treatment quite well. His doctor has started cutting back on his anti-rejection medication and if everything continues to go as planned, he might be off ALL medications by summertime!

Jack has gained back all of the weight he lost while he was in the hospital and has been playing soccer and softball again. He still can't wear contacts so that was challenging for him out on the field at first, but now he has adjusted to the new field of vision.

Life is starting to return to "normal"- or as they call it in the post bone marrow transplant world,the "new normal". Although his treatment and recovery aren't finished yet, Jack has done everything his doctors expected and hoped he would do.

I try not to get too touchy-feely on the blog, and I usually try to keep it pretty brief, so this next  part might not be what you'd expect- but here it goes.

I think it's natural to pause and reflect on the past year as you begin a new one, and throughout the holiday season Jack and I both took some time to do that. While there were many things that we thought of, what surprised us the most was how emotions and events that seemed overwhelming at the time have become distant memories. For instance, I truly cannot remember how terrifying it must have been for us while we waited for diagnosis. Something that we haven't shared with many people was that the doctor Jack saw before going to Mayo told us that Jack likely had an incurable condition. I can't remember the emotions we felt while we waited to see whether Mayo would confirm that diagnosis or not. I can imagine it was difficult and scary, but I can't remember how it felt.

Similarly, Jack has pretty much blocked out the time in the hospital when he developed pneumonia. That was a rough time for him; constant pain, difficulty breathing without an oxygen mask, the inability to get out of bed without assistance- at one point ICU nurses were coming into his room throughout the night to monitor him and determine if he needed to be moved to the ICU. Yet, he doesn't remember most of it. It's amazing what our bodies and brains do to help us cope.

What I DO remember, is how amazing Jack has been through all of this. He told me that he never- not once- questioned whether or not he would survive this. It was just a matter of what he needed to do to survive. Every day I am reminded that I am married to an amazing man, who faced this disease head on without wavering, without doubt, and without fear. For many people, it can take years to see traits like that in a person they love, and while this is not the path I would have chosen for us, I am thankful that I learned this about Jack so early.

Another thing we both remember, is the many people- from every corner of our lives- who came to our aid. Whether it was a call, card, Facebook message, email, visit, empathetic ear, hug, tissue, prayer or thought, we appreciate all that you did for us. We are blessed to have the huge support system that we have had through all of this.

We also remember that we have so much to be grateful for. We are grateful that we live so close to such a great hospital, with an amazing staff of medical professionals who are the best in their fields. We are grateful that we both had/have jobs that could and would accommodate our crazy schedules.  We are grateful to have friends that fielded calls at random hours when we needed to talk or who visited at just the right time. We are grateful that we both have amazing families that were so involved in Jack's care, well-being and life. Lastly, we are grateful that somewhere out there, a young woman was willing to undergo surgery to give a complete stranger the bone marrow he needed to survive.

Overall, it has been a difficult but enlightening year, and it has taught us so much about the generosity of strangers and the value of friendship and family. It has also taught us so much about ourselves and each other, both as individuals and as a couple. Thank you to anyone who had a hand in getting us through this past year- you all have been amazing. Here's to a happy, and HEALTHY 2013 :)