Two Years BMT

Hard to believe it's been two years since Erica received the gift of a bone marrow transplant. Everything is still so crystal clear in my mind about that period of time; the weeks leading up to the transplant and the night that she was literally infused with new life. So much has happened in the past two years, not the least of which is her recovery. We all know that the weeks and months post transplant were difficult but at some point Erica just emerged from it all with an energy and zest that seemed almost impossible given the circumstances. But she just moved past it all and that meant that we did too . . . pretty soon it was time for swimming and tumbling and school.

Medically speaking, this two year anniversary of the BMT is notable. Every year closer to her tenth anniversary brings her closer to being considered "cancer free". So, on February first she will have the two year check up; we will meet with Dr. Taylor and Kay and then she will have her EKG and blood work. We expect that all of these test will be fine. In addition, we will make her appointment at the Mind Institute so that they can continue to document her cognitive abilities post cranial radiation/chemo/BMT. Erica is still on seven medications and continues to receive her Growth Hormone shot every night. We still look forward to each and every decrease in medication . . . imagining the day when no meds are necessary. But all in all, her doctors are very happy, on all accounts, with Erica's progress and energy.

Two years also marks are official ability to contact the donor. Kay will submit the paperwork to the donor's transplant center and we will hope to hear back soon. We will just open communication at first and then, our ultimate hope is to be able to meet him someday. Perhaps we will share the book of this blog with him, and then he will know, fully, the depth and extent of our love and gratitude for his selfless act.

Celebrate with us today; raise a glass to all the organ donors in this world, to those that have overcome and to those we remember, to those who are still battling . . . celebrate their strength, courage, and endurance; celebrate all the small victories and in our case, celebrate every year closer to those amazing words . . . CANCER FREE.

If you want to celebrate "Erica style", have a CUPCAKE!

Happy "Birthday" Little!

New Year, New News

The holidays were wonderful . . . Santa, a new doll house, family, lots of cookies and a birthday party for baby Jesus (fit with cupcakes and all). Erica is already asking when we get to have Christmas again!

As many gifts as Erica tore open on December 25th, one of Erica's favorite gifts was the news (that came in early November) that she is going to be a Big Sister! Sometime in early July, we will have a new little member of our family. Erica has already made great demands for a baby boy . . . but after meeting baby Bella Garbo on New Year's Day, she's thinking a "baby Bella" sister wouldn't be so bad. Erica is already saying "HI" and giving my tummy kisses. I think that she is going to be a great sister.

I think a lot about being pregnant with Erica, my pregnancy was so easy and there is such an awe about being pregnant for the first time. I think back on how little I knew about what was to come; there is such a sweet innocence about it all. I think back on the fact that there was no way to know or even contemplate the type of news we received only sixteen weeks after meeting our baby girl. So of course our prayer now is that this baby is super healthy! Bob and I talk a lot about really experiencing "babyhood" outside of the hospital setting. This will really be a "first" in so many ways as Erica's first two and a half years were spent in such extraordinary circumstances. We're all very excited and yes, we will be sharing the boy or girl news as soon as we find out.

Speaking of looking back on Erica's first few years, I must share with you another amazing Christmas gift. As a surprise for me (and actually for the whole family), Bob took every blog entry from December 2006 to December 2009, formatted the entries and the photos, wrote a couple of "chapters" himself, obtained a "forward" from Dr. Doug Taylor and then had all of the contents beautifully bound in a hard back book called Erica's Journey: A Mommy's Blog, A Testimony to the Strength and Courage of a Child. It is amazing, this whole experience captured in a book, with words that I barely remember writing, during times a crisis, times of fear and times of intense appreciation. It is a treasure.

2010 brings a great deal of hope, growth, joy, and celebration. January 23rd will be the second anniversary of Erica's transplant . . . her "other" birthday. We have begun taking the steps necessary to meet Erica's donor.

Happy New Year!