I Was a Guest Editor's Pick

I want to thank Jude of My Way  for choosing me as a Guest Editor's Pick in Magic Smoke on August 8.  It was an honor to be chosen among those she selected.  If you haven't checked out her blog, please visit; it's an interesting read. 

Tags: Guest Editor's Pick, AOL Journals, journals, blogs

Happy 5th, JLand

I wanted to write an entry tonight because this is the 5th Anniversary of AOL Blogs. I couldn't let this day go by without saying what JLand means to me.   

 

I have been writing a JLand blog for less than a year now, about which I have received many thoughtful and concerned comments.  I knew two years earlier, however, that JLand was a caring community where people would take the time and go to the effort to support and encourage others who they had never actually met.  Even before I had gotten my bone marrow transplant, I was receiving a great deal of traditional mail from JLanders literally around the world wishing me well and offering thoughts and prayers that my transplant would go well.  My wife, Krissy, often told me about the outpouring of concern for both of us in the comment section of her blog, and would read aloud comments left there for me by JLanders. 

 

After my transplant, while I was an inpatient at Hershey Medical Center, Krissy would bring to my patient room each morning a stack of cards and letters from JLanders inquiring about my health and wishing both of us well.  At Hope Lodge, where Krissy lived while I was hospitalized, the staff would keep our abundance of mail at the lodge office and would jokingly ask her if we had a fan club.  The warmth and affection generously offered by JLanders played a large part in keeping my spirits lifted during the long year I spent in the hospital.  All of you have my most sincere gratitude.

 

I learned that JLanders represented the best that humanity had to offer.  Your interest in others continues today, not just for my wife and me, but also for other JLanders and people in general. 

 

Happy 5th Anniversary, JLand!  Your mutual interest and support for each other makes JLand a uniquely welcoming place.

 

John

Tags: AOL blogs, JLand, anniversary, bone marrow transplant, hospital, blogplugs

My cancer is not back

 

I haven't been able to write an entry for awhile, but I wanted you to know that my oncology appointment on July 28th went well. 

 

My cancer is not back.  When my oncologist returned from vacation he told me that the doctors who thought my cancer was back didn't have his experience in treating MDS.  That's why they were mistaken. 

 

He's quite pleased with my progress both with the transplant and with my kidneys.  The reason my kidneys were not functioning as well as they had been was because of a medication I was taking.  My oncologist is taking me off this medication gradually, and my kidneys have already begun to improve.  I will be off this medication in about a week.  

 

The only thing my oncologist is concerned about is my iron level.  I have iron overload from the more than 100 blood transfusions I've had since my bone marrow transplant.  My iron level is more than 7 times the normal level what it should be.  In the near future, my oncologist is hoping to put me on a medication which will lower my iron level back to normal. 

 

I want to thank every one for their concern, comments and prayers.  Your support really means a lot to me.  You made it easier to get through this.  I'll do my best to keep you up to date on my future progress.    

Tags: remission, cancer, MDS, bone marrow transplant, stem cell transplant, kidney damage, high ferritin level, blood transfusions, blogplugs