Wow … I was a bit nervous about returning home, but once I stepped into the house, I felt as if I never left.  The first thing I did was kiss my beautiful sleeping boys … and I simply broke down when I saw Koji.  I had not seen him since September, and an unexpected wave of love and emotion broke over me as I watched him peacefully sleeping.  This morning, Koji and I hugged and hugged.  Then, he looked into my eyes and said, “happy now.”  Clearly, my heart melted.

I plan to gently ease back into “normal life.”  As I sat at the airport in Honolulu waiting for my sister to pick us up, I realized how cocooned a life Dad and I had lived for the past 4 months.  My transition will be gradual and gentle.  And, under doctors orders, I will be avoiding crowds for the next year.  But I look forward to visits at home with my wonderful friends in the near future.

My recovery is progressing really well with some transitions — cosmetically, physically, and emotionally.  To avoid specific side effects, I have been on a high-dose steroid schedule, and will continue for another 2-3 months.  Cosmetically, my hair is growing back faster, but I now have “chipmunk cheeks.”  In fact, Jack looked at me and said, “kind of chubby.”  I told him its only temporary.  But its ok… any residual vanity I may have had vanished a long time ago!

The sun can also trigger side effects.  So, thank you to Malia Paul for the beautiful pink floppy hat.  I will be the one sporting big hats, long sleeves and pants, sunglasses at soccer games and rash guards at the beach (sunset sessions only, of course.).

So, as I ease back into life, this will likely be my last post.  Honestly, I hope I don’t have any updates.  That will mean my life and health are progressing normally and all is well.

In closing, thank you so much to all of you for your love, support and prayers.  We felt every ray of positive energy you put out — and I believe with all my heart that your positive energy is what pulled us through.  We felt God’s love and protection throughout.  He carried us through this journey.  His power was made perfect in my weakness and His grace and love were sufficient for me.  I believe He gave me my cure and long life will be His salvation to me and my family.

We love all of you so much.  As always, we are so grateful.  We look forward to thanking each of you in person one of these days.

Our deepest love to you all,

Barbie, Keahi, Jack, Charlie, Koji, Vicki, Randy, Jackie and Christine

Thank you God!  We did not expect to get the results so soon, but the doctors just called us and said they found no disease in this final bone marrow biopsy!  Its a perfectly clean bill of health!

Dad and I finished our crying session.  We are so grateful to have achieved this major milestone.  Its what we’ve been working so hard for all along.  This was the destiny.  This is God’s plan for me and my family.  He never wavered and gave us our cure.

There is still healing to undergo and progress to be made.  But we are so thankful for “now.”  And we are especially thankful for our wonderful family and loving friends who continue to support and pray for us through this journey.  Your goodness has shone throughout.

Our homecoming date is set for February 2d.  It is with profound humility for the medical knowledge and advancements that we, with boundless hope and enthusiasm, run toward a renewed, rejuvenated and humble life.

Jack, Charlie, and Koji … mommy’s coming home!

We are winding things down here.  This week, I will be undergoing my “exit exams” where the doctors will re-test all my organ functions to ensure they are back to normal (lungs, kidney, heart).  I will also undergo a bone density scan and a final bone marrow biopsy.  My blood counts are strong.  Then, we attend a series of transition classes to learn how to adjust to life back home (hygiene, food preparation, nutrition, etc.).  We are in countdown mode!

As a side effect of the transplant, I developed a skin rash - it looked like poison ivy.  So, I am on steroids and go to a “tanning bed” where UVA light activates my T-cells to fight the rash. I wear goggles and everything.  I have never been in a bed like that before!  Its so warm and cozy in there and I am sad when they turn the lights off!  But it works!  Amazing!

My doctors said things are going “nearly perfect.”  We could not be happier.  I am up to one-hour walks (I even developed a blister!), 30 minutes of biking and lots of stretching. 

As a final thought, please lift up a prayer on January 20th when we do the final bone marrow biopsy.  That is the one thing weighing on my mind, a bit.  But we have every reason to be wholly and purely confident that the results will be clean. 

I believe God gave me my cure and I am ready to run with it!  Ready to celebrate more birthdays, anniversaries, and special friendships.

Til then, back to the fight.

Keahi, Jack, Charlie and I spent a wonderful four days together during Christmas.  Instead of staying at our apartment, we stayed at a hotel near the Clinic.  It had a swimming pool and jacuzzi … enough said.  The boys had so much fun and I had just as much fun watching them.  

The best news was that, the day they arrived, my doctors stopped my daily IV infusions of magnesium and switched me to magnesium pills.  (Some of the post-transplant medications inhibit the body’s absorption of magnesium.).  That meant I avoided daily, three-hour trips to the Clinic and spent ALL my time with the family!  And that included cuddling, eating cookies and watching “The Sound of Music” on TV.

In addition to weaning off my medications, I am exercising and increasing my stamina.  I walk 30 minutes a day (no jogging yet) around a luxurious senior home nearby.  I’ve made connections with a few seniors who, just like me, are doing their best to maintain their health with the faculties they have.  These 80-year-old ladies haven’t given up .. and neither will I.  I also do light weights and am more flexible now than in high school!

So, the next 40 days will be about patience and stamina.  In fact, that is what this entire journey has been about — and what life is about, truly.  Those virtues resonate with me so much more deeply now.

Hope you all are enjoying a beautiful holiday season with your families.  Thank you for all the gifts and cards.  The cards decorate the walls of our apartment and make us feel (almost) like we are home.

Til then, back to the fight.

A few days ago, my doctors told us that we have 100% engraftment.  That means that ALL of my dad’s blood and marrow have replaced mine.  The marrow is the factory of blood cells.  So, it stands to reason that my dad’s healthy marrow will make healthy cells from now on.

Today, we received even more good news that reaffirmed our reason to be happy.  All of my dad’s healthy chromosomes (other cells located in the marrow) have replaced my defective chromosomes.  Although it is unclear what causes leukemia (or any cancer for that matter), normal human cells grow and function based mainly on the information contained in their chromosomes.  Now that I have healthy marrow and  chromosomes, it stands to reason that my body will grow healthy cells, not defective (leukemic) ones.  So, we think this is a big victory!

In the months we’ve been here, we’ve met so many other transplant patients — both from Hawaii and other places.  At first, I was depressed to see so many other sick people.  How wrong I was.  Rather, it has been a privilege to see these survivors as they persevere and regain their health.  Its not depressing, but impressive.  Some are experiencing a challenging recovery, but they are still fighting — and that is SO INSPIRING! All this has taught me so much about the virtues of non-judgment and compassion.  I would have never learned these lessons without this experience and I am grateful for that. 

Keahi and the boys are coming up in two weeks for Christmas. Dad and I look forward to more games of chess with the boys.  And I will be much stronger by then.  Perhaps it will even snow!

Thank you God for all of these miracles.  And thank you, as always, to everyone who has supported us since the start of this fight.  We are preparing for success!

Til then, back to the fight.

Keahi and I had a WONDERFUL time with Jack and Charlie in Seattle.  The boys went to a Seahawks-Redskins football game and to the Museum of Flight where they sat in Air Force One and the Concorde.  And we enjoyed cozy time playing Monopoly, chess and Chinese checkers when it was too cold to go outside.  We shared a warm Thanksgiving lunch with the Espania family and all the boys had a fun time playing soccer in the backyard.  

We even had a nice fish & chips dinner alongside Lake Union.  We were all so happy to be together!  I can’t wait for their return in about 20 days!

Medically, we are doing really well!  My first bone marrow biopsy came back “clean as a whistle.”  It is a perfectly healthy marrow.  Now, we are awaiting more test results which should show that my formerly defective chromosomes have been fully replaced by Dad’s chromosomes.  I am decreasing my medications intake, as my health improves, and the doctors say I am the “easiest patient ever because I am doing so well.”  Thank you God.

I’m slowly getting my stamina back … mostly stretching and light weights.  No jogging or long walks yet.  Sometimes just doing laundry leaves me exhausted.  But I’ll get there.

Thank you, as always, for all your support and encouragement.  Its nice to be able to share good news with people you care about, and who care about you.

Til then, back to the fight.

My doctors, my Dad and I could not be happier with the way things are progressing.  All my cell counts - red, white and platelets - are higher than they have ever been!  My Dad’s cells seem to really be happy in my body.  So far, I’ve suffered very few post-engraftment side effects.  I am told to expect them soon, but there are medications to prevent and treat them.  

Day 28 is a big day.  That’s when I will undergo a bone marrow biopsy.  It will tell us how well my Dad’s cells are engrafting and what percentage of cells in my body are his and what percentage are mine.  The goal, obviously, is that, over time, my Dad’s cells will completely take over.

So, thank you for all your prayers, presents, positive energy, support and encouragement. It has helped us get this far and I do believe, with all my heart, that we will enjoy a long and happy ending to this chapter in our lives.  Truly, we could not have made it this far without your help.  Mentally and spiritually, you have kept me going.  Thank you.

Keahi and the boys arrive on Thanksgiving.  It will be 4 days of cuddles, hugs, kisses and NO MASKS!  As for the boys, thank you for taking care of them.  Nothing makes me happier than to hear that they are happy, laughing and thriving.  Thank you for making that possible.

Til then, back to the fight.

Lucky 13!  My white counts progressed from zero yesterday to 1000 today (normal white counts = 3500).  The doctors were amazed and thought they had the wrong lab results! They also say that it’s all my Dad’s cells, not mine.  So I have officially engrafted!  I may be transferred to out-patient care soon.

I’m trying to stay even and cautious in preparation for any challenges that may still come, but right now, today, is a day to celebrate!  This is one of several milestones throughout this journey … and I am so grateful we made it past this one.

I will still make daily visits to the Clinic for monitoring and surveillance, but we are one step closer to the finish line.  Wow, I am so stoked!

Comically, the Clinic just called and said my name was randomly picked to receive a Thanksgiving turkey dinner!  Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket today!

As always, thank you to all of you for your continued prayers, support and encouragement.  I can feel us winning this fight!

Well, we are chugging right along.  After a few days post-transplant of nausea, fatigue and fevers, I am back to feeling nearly 100%.  Stamina is still an issue, so I’ve been doing laps around the hospital floor.  Can’t wait to get back to running around Kapiolani Park!  

The doctors say my recovery is going really well and uneventful (which is good).  The next milestone is for my Dad’s stem cells to engraft.  This is the point where his stem cells start to put down their roots.  We should see evidence of that around Days 14-21.

Good news! Keahi, Jack and Charlie will be visiting for Thanksgiving … just 20 days away!  The doctors assured me I will be out of the hospital by then.  And it looks like we will be spending Thanksgiving with Val Espania and his lovely family.  Val is an old friend and coordinates student services at the University of Washington.  He is able to walk across the street to visit me in the hospital — and he never lets me get depressed.  He is a gem.  Thank you God for Val and his wonderful family … all of them.

The boys and I Skype daily.  Thank goodness for technology.  Its nice to be involved in their lives on a regular basis, albeit in a different way.

So thank you for your constant love and support. The meals you are sending are so appreciated.  We are doing this!

One of my biggest goals is to get back to Waikiki Beach with the boys .. and now, Koji will be old enough to join us!

Until then, back to the fight…

Day 3, 97 to go.  I am recovering in the hospital and doing well.  I am visualizing Dad’s stem cells finding their way into my bone marrow and settling in.  Over the next few weeks and months, his stem cells will replace mine.  And his strong stem cells will be able to destroy any leukemic cells should they ever regenerate in the future.  That is the hope, the promise, and the destiny.  Please send similar visualizations our way!

Dad has officially completed his donor duties and is back to his life of caffeine and red wine.  Mom came up to serve as caregivers to both of us (!!), but I know she is missed at home.  Meanwhile, all the aunties — Jackie, Christine, Jen and Konane — are doing a first-rate job holding down the fort with the three kids.  Thank goodness for family!

One of my favorite memories this summer is being home to celebrate Charlie’s 5th birthday.  I look forward to being home to celebrate Jack’s 7th birthday in February!

Till then, back to the fight!