Time to cut some cake and take a bite for me because yesterday we hit:

DAY 0=TRANSPLANT DAY.

I was called to be admitted to the hospital yesterday afternoon and this is where I’ll be for the next 6 days.

Though physically it was an anticlimactic moment, emotionally it was anything but. Stem cell transplant has been the goal all along since December when I got my original diagnosis. This is my very best chance at long term survival and “cure”. My 1st cousin ended up being the best match for me and he selflessly went through his own journey to make the donation. It was emotional to see his name on the bag that is literally saving my life. I will never be able to adequately express my gratitude to him for saving his cousin; a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter and a friend.

Also a note a gratitude to all of you who swabbed to see if you could be my match. That’s real superhero stuff friends, I hope if you are ever called to be a match for someone you will consider it a great privilege.

If you didn’t swab and are interested, please see the link below.

https://bethematch.org/support-the-cause/donate-blood-stem-cells/how-to-join-the-donor-registry/

Now I have about 6 days on the transplant inpatient unit ahead. They are monitoring me for any complications (1 Transplant day, 2 rest days, 2 chemo days, 1 additional day of meds and then discharge.)

Today my sweet girls started school and it hurt my mama heart that they did that without me. HOWEVER, Cullen and Susan (MIL) did an excellent job and the girls had a great day!

Important Dates:

Aug 16 & 17: Prayerfully my last rounds of chemotherapy ever

Aug 19: Discharge from inpatient back to outpatient transplant unit (OTU)

ROAD to day +100!

Thank you for being a part of my healing journey,

Danielle