Clear scans!  Faye had PET/CT scans today and the scans are CLEAR!!! After being up most of last night with Zoe's coughing (Zoe has pneumonia) Faye and I left for the hospital at 8.  She had blood tests, then a consult then down to radiology for scans then back up for more consults... We got home at 2:30 and I grabbed Zoe and took her over to the Doctors office for her 3pm appt. Zoe is fine but on strict orders to take it easy and that is a very difficult battle I must say....  and, then I got the text message from Faye's Doctor confirming the clear scan, and, well, I'm so exhausted but so elated that I'm weepy.  Time for a nap or a drink --or both!

+203 Days Post Transplant!  Faye and I are at Children's prepping for her outpatient surgery to remove her port today, YAY!  Faye's hair is most definitely red this time around and very curly!  Faye's counts still go up and down but improving overall and her next clinic appointment is May 8.

So many things are happening this spring that our collective heads are spinning; graduation, prom, college planning, spring soccer and of course our DAM Cancer run coming up May 4th!  An amazing group of High School students and parents have been working very hard to make this another night to remember.  If you've not signed up for the emails or the race yet you really should, go to http://www.playstrongcolorado.org and join us for a night run/walk to remember!  ~Lolly

177 days post transplant(!) and we have phenomenal news:  a clear scan!!!  Boy Howdy!!!

Two days ago Faye had her first PET/CT scans -since transplant- and I don't need to attempt to articulate how stressful it has been for us.  How in the heck a person can be so exhausted/dragging and yet so elated/floating is mind boggling -but that pretty much sums up how I feel right now. I don't know how long it will take to get back to normal, I'm thinking this might be the new normal and that from now on we will be living and breathing from scan to scan.

When we got the results Wednesday we had an amazing night of screaming and crying at the Walker household; diametrically opposite the screaming and crying that took place almost one year ago.  Faye is still recovering from the steroids, has more complications from the pneumonitis (low PFT and spots on her lungs), her C cells/T cells (immunity) are still very low but wow we sure can deal with that news.  She will have more tests in 6 weeks and in the mean time she is not permitted to go back to school and she will need to continue her meds and mask wearing... Like I say, we sure can deal with all of that, whew!

More bright news - Faye is still working diligently to graduate but this weekend she is finally taking a short break, a short 'spring break', to travel with friends!  She can't fly but they are driving to balmy (we hope) AZ - the perfect respite!  Happy Spring ya'all and if you've not registered for the 'DAM Cancer Run' do it now! Hope to see you all there!!  ~Lolly

Lots of days since transplant and Faye is officially transferred from 'BMT Oncology' back to regular 'Oncology'.  She is not back in class yet but she has a scan coming up at the end of the month and hopefully her Dr. will give her a 'thumbs up' on most regular activity.  Re-joining classes at this point might be more disruptive than it's worth but it will be nice for Faye to be able to make that decision on her own.  She's very busy catching back up on second semester work as her first semester work spilled well over into second thereby setting back her 2nd semester efforts.  Faye was accepted to CU and is planning away, applying for scholarships and working very hard to graduate on time.

On another note we are also excited to be planning the 2013 Dam Cancer Run.  It was so much fun last year and  it promises to be even more fun this year (and we hope the weather cooperates again)!  If you are interested in participating be sure to sign up online for discounted registration, guarantee your tshirt and other fun glow in the dark type stuff:  http://www.playstrongcolorado.org/damregistration.   Hope to see every one there!  ~L

Our 'day 100' consult did not live up to our hopes and expectations:  the pneumonitis and resulting systemic steroid treatments have set Faye's 'day 100' recovery goal back at least 2 but probably 3 more months.  'Day 100' is typically when the Doctors reduce some of a BMT patient's restrictions and medications. The good news is that Faye's recovery truly is coming along, finally, after a very difficult crash landing from the steroids. Faye is super close to finishing up first semester (one more final to go!). And with the generous and wonderful ongoing support from CCHS, Karl and Bev, Faye has a plan for second semester that will allow her to graduate with her class!  Faye's hair is growing in quickly, but frustratingly she still has the steroid 'moon face' that, dare I say it, is waning.  Faye's energy level is increasing slowly and she'll soon enjoy some easy yoga designed for patients in recovery - and - a special home visit from a masseuse (we really do have the best friends!)! Happy February, and happy spring just around the corner! XXXOOO ~L

Day 100! Breakfast was a celebration with Faye's favorite meal - Draper smoked fish and cream cheese on bagels (with capers and onions of course).  The fish was an extra special Christmas gift from Faye's Aunt Barb and Uncle Roger; fresh caught, filleted, smoked and canned with loving care.  Despite the wonderful breakfast Faye is not feeling well and at the moment is taking a much needed nap. In fact Faye has not felt well this whole week, very likely due to her low CBC.  The clinic nurse had warned us that Faye's counts are going down and at this rate she will likely need a transfusion Monday morning.

It was a busy week, Faye had several medical tests and scans; echo, EKG, ultrasound, CT, etc.  In addition she had x-rays of her knees taken as she's been having terrible knee pain every other morning. We will meet with Dr. Giller Monday afternoon to review the test results and talk about next steps.

At this rate I'm not sure that Faye will be eligible to go back to school right away, and with the virulent flu and whooping cough in the area I'm not anxious for her to be in that environment just yet.  For now Faye is continuing to make an heroic effort to finish up first semester school work.  Best of all; Faye is looking forward to ever diminishing side effects from the nasty/wonderful steroids - and - her hair is growing in at a most amazing rate!  ~L