August 12, 2022 - DAY 100 !!

Holy Moly, It's Happening!! 

Happy Friday everyone!

WOW!!  It is day 100. We have been in Calgary for 108 days. In some respects it seems like barely a week and others like an eternity. 

We are currently attending Jackie’s last clinic day at the Tom Baker Outpatient Centre. They have drawn blood and are cleaning Jackie’s central line. Most patients have it removed by now, but since she is still on immunosuppressants she will keep it in until she is weened off most of them.

Jackie’s care team is very happy with her progress right now as her cell counts are still moving in the right direction and her recovery from the graft vs host disease has been nothing short of remarkable.

We are moving out of our apartment tomorrow and heading home.  Yup, you read that right…HOME!!! 

Jackie’s care team has already started the process to transition her to the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton and she is already scheduled there for multiple appointments on Monday.

I’m not sure if we have mentioned this previously, but Jackie is also part of three clinical trials. The research team will continue to follow Jackie in conjunction with her new care team for many years to come.

We are very excited to be heading home, taking one more step towards normalcy. Well, at least our new normal.  It is also not without a bit of nervousness and maybe some apprehension.  We do not know what the next few months will look like, but know it will be busy.  Jackie will have regular appointments at the CCI as well as other appointments.  We know it will still be awhile before she can drive.  Her eyesight has been affected by her medications and the radiation and with the continued muscle deterioration due to the steroids, she also lacks the core strength to react should anything happen while driving.

Simon and Nate are moving into an apartment in Lethbridge and are getting ready for school in September and Katie is getting ready for grade 12 and planning for graduation.

As we prepare for our new normal, we’re not sure what it will look like, but we also know we do not want to return to our old normal.  We have been given an opportunity to see life from a different perspective. An opportunity to reevaluate priorities and a chance to somewhat start anew with those priorities in front of us.


Who's freaking happy to be going home? Yup, this gal.

Thanks for reading.

I'm sure we will start seeing everyone soon!

Mike

Comments

  1. AnonymousAugust 13, 2022 at 8:11 PM

    So so so good to hear.
    I hope to be able to see you guys from afar some day soon.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousAugust 14, 2022 at 3:42 PM

    Welcome home!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousAugust 15, 2022 at 6:39 PM

    Great news. ❤️CM

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousAugust 17, 2022 at 3:01 PM

    Best news! That one made me cry. Well Mike, I look forward to reading a book your write. You sure have a knack for writing :)

    I hope to see you soon! Even from a far. Keep in touch!

    Tricia

    ReplyDelete

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