D + 27 - Progress - slow but steady

Since leaving the hospital seven days ago, Courtney has steadily gotten better. The stomach pains and nausea have become less frequent and less intense. Her appetite has improved tremendously. And her energy level, while still below a 5 on a scale of 1 to 10, has definitely improved as well.

Last Friday we received great news at the BMT clinic. Courtney's CMV results had come back negative!! This meant that her six hour Foscarnet infusion could be reduced from a twice daily to once daily ordeal. That has been a life saver! It also meant that we could hope for the side effects of the Foscarnet to decrease, which I think we have. And, hopefully, after she's done with the Foscarnet in one more week, most of her problems with appetite and nausea will diminish altogether.

Her CBC's continue to be great! Last Friday, she did get a shot of Procrit because her hemoglobin was a little low, but she hasn't needed any infusions of blood products since leaving the hospital. The interesting thing about the Procrit is that they gave it to her within minutes, unlike the days it took for her to receive the first dose.

Courtney's next BMT visit will be this Thursday and includes a bone marrow biopsy. Not fun, but necessary to chart the progress of the transplant. They will be determining what percent of Courtney's bone marrow is now her sister Tracy's. From what we understand, the less of Courtney's marrow that remains, the better, because it was Courtney's bone marrow that was the source of the leukemia.

So, for now we're waiting. Waiting for the bone marrow biopsy and results. Waiting for the day that Courtney will no longer need to receive Foscarnet. Waiting for Courtney's overall well being to improve so she can start doing what she would like to be doing. Waiting for the D+100 milestone. Waiting for the Neostar to be removed from her chest. And waiting for Courtney's hair to start growing back so she can feel more like her old self again. While we wish these would all come sooner than later, we know that there isn't anything we can do to rush the process. So, we continue to take each day as they come, moving steadily but surely to that not so distant day when we'll be able to use the word, "cured."