Thanks for all the good wishes, friends I am doing WELL!

[latebloomer]

I haven't been around for a while, but some of you may remember that this past year I was diagnosed with leukemia and spent a grueling period in and out of the hospital, being dosed with very strong chemotherapy. It has been the greatest challenge of my life, and I had to summon up every bit of spiritual strength within me. Meditating, visualizing, taking care of my body, accepting the love and assistance of friends and family. Also just allowing myself to fall apart and cry when needed. Full of fear about death, and how my young family could survive without me. Soldiering on, putting aside my skepticism about western medicine, which indeed did put my very aggressive disease into remission.Trying to calm myself, cultivate serenity, stay in the moment.

I then made a decision to have a stem-cell transplant, which seems to be the best way to banish the leukemia forever. A perfectly matched unrelated donor was found for me from a registry-- some unknown 35-year-old male angel. He donated a bag of undifferentiated baby stem cells, which were dripped into my veins through an IV bag, after I had gone through some harrowing full-body radiation and intensive chemo. The idea is that my tainted bone marrow was killed off and his healthy baby cells will grow into whatever I need. I was in the hospital nearly a month-- had a lot of annoying side effects, but nothing serious.

Now I'm home, feeling stronger every day, trying to take the best possible care of myself. The docs say I'm doing amazingly well and the transplant seems to be working. I am so full of gratitude, yet sometimes I feel so sad-- as if I'd suppressed so much feeling over the month and now it needs to come out.

I am left with such a feeling of compassion over what so many people have to endure on a constant basis. I met so many who were in such dire straits physically and emotionally. To think of living that way indefinitely just boggles my mind.

From the bottom of my heart, thanks to all who gave good wishes! I hope to participate more in this good group over the coming months. Peace, Love, and Good
Health to all in the New Year!!

[I Have A Dream]

1. Hi, latebloomer! I'm so very happy to hear your wonderful news!

I have a question for you. Did you feel compelled to come here today to check in? I ask because I ran across one of your threads yesterday about your situation (which you posted months ago) and was really wondering how you were doing, and then here you are today telling us exactly how you're doing! I love the Universe! :)

Again, I'm so happy for you, and I ask that the Universe bless the man who made your healing possible. What a gift he has given!

:hug::hug:

[latebloomer]

2. Thank you, I Have A Dream!

I've been thinking about posting for a while, but today the urge did indeed come upon me strongly. I had gotten such lovely responses in the past, and I didn't want to keep people wondering what had happened to me. Perhaps I did feel your vibes-- Thanks for caring!

Yes, that incredible man may have saved my life! Every day I thank the Goddess for him. I wonder what drove him to decide to donate-- something that happened in his life? In a year I'm allowed to write and thank him.

[LiberalEsto]

3. Such good news!

I think we all need to hear good news like yours now and then. It's heartening.

Congrats!

[lildreamer316]

4. This is wonderful!!!

I am so glad you were/are able to sucessfully use mind and medicine together so well!! Thank you for sharing your story.:hug:

[BlueIris]

5. Hey, latebloomer. I was just thinking about you.

Good to know that you are seeing improvement after that ordeal. Continued best of luck with your everything.

[I Have A Dream]

8. You too? That's very weird.

:)

[Grateful for Hope]

6. This is such wonderful news!

I wish you continued good health in the coming year!

[GardeningGal]

7. Hi Latebloomer, so good to hear you're doing well.

I just wanted to comment about your donor. I signed up for the donor marrow list probably close to 20 years ago now. I have a desired blood type (0-) and signed up due to that. I was close to a match one time and was called in for a final blood match which it didn't. So, now they have all the numbers they need and if I get called again it would likely be for a full match.

The reason I signed up was because it seems like such a small thing to be able to do in order to give someone else a chance. I was called another time to give platelets to a man on the east coast who was fighting leukemia. It was really rewarding to me to know that I was helping someone by doing something that only took a small amount of my time.

I'm so happy for you that you found a match. It really is amazing.

[latebloomer]

9. Bless you!!

I have the deepest admiration for those who give of themselves in this way.

[Cleita]

10. Bless you latebloomer!

That is such good news! I'm so happy to hear about the promising treatment you received. Many happy and healthy years to you.

[Dover]

11. Latebloomer! Thanks so much for checking in and letting us know how you are.

Angels all around you. And I'm not certain what "undifferentiated baby stem cells" are, but it sounds like code for 'rebirth', new beginnings, growing into whatever you need.

Sounds like you are becoming very good at reading yourself and understanding what you need, body, mind and soul.

Sadness - maybe it's not essential to understand intellectually what your heart is experiencing, but simply to allow it to be what it is.
I think sometimes when our heart opens...when we are ready for it to open...we have a backlog of feelings that need to come out, or we aren't filtering out as much as we used to so we simply feel MORE.
Or maybe the opposite is true, and you've had your filters up around your heart so you could focus your energies on getting well. The hospital environment may have required you to do this too.
In that case it's sort of a survival mechanism perhaps.

I can feel your tender heart energy in your post and it's just so beautiful!

[I Have A Dream]

13. Wow! What an amazing picture! nt

[stellanoir]

12. lateboomer

My thoughts were with you as well.

So glad to hear that you are doing well.

So glad also that you were sent an angel.

Totally respect how courageously you dealt with this crisis.

Blessings.

[japple]

14. Welcome back, latebloomer, and thanks for catching us

up on your progress. I'm happy to hear that you're improving, and am asking the Universe to send healing energies your way. We hope to hear many more good reports from you in the future.

:hug::hug::hug: