2021.  A new year.  A new outlook.  This time last year, our family was preparing to enter a very frightening and uncertain  time.  Alex was having all pre-transplant appointments taking place during the month of February, and we were preparing to head into the hospital on the 24th.

We are forever thankful to be almost one year post transplant.  We have this all behind us, including a perfect recovery.  We thank god and our donor every day.

Alex had his monthly blood check at Duke this past Monday.  He is no longer immunocompromised, all studies show that his transplant ‘won’, and his blood counts are superb.

Many wonderful people, in our lives, have asked us, “what happens now?” Alex will go to Duke on March 8th for his one year post transplant studies. (Alex was transplanted on March 5, 2020.) This is extensive blood work to check the engraftment from his transplant, his chemistries, as well as other transplant related blood work.  He will also have an echocardiogram and a pulmonary function test, to ensure his organs weren’t affected by having radiation and chemotherapy.   (Alex has been doing this every 3 months since he was transplanted.) After this is complete Alex will then have his first round of immunizations.  After all, Alex has a new immune system and he will need to be vaccinated just like a newborn baby.  Then, every three months after March 8th, he will have a simple blood check and the next round of immunizations.

Once Alex completes his vaccinations, he will go to Duke one time a year to have blood work, an echocardiogram and pulmonary function test, each year,  for 4 years.

Along this journey we have lost some friends from 5200.  We have had news of friends relapsing with their disease.  We have had to deal with a surreal time in a hospital for 52 days, only to live a surreal experience with a pandemic to follow.  Our boy has been living in a bubble since November, 2019. There are times when I don’t even recall what normal is.  What I do know is that we are so very thankful for the positive outcome from his transplant, and that our family was strong, together, through it all.  

Having Riley home and doing school, virtually, has been another silver lining.  They both have school, then they have each other to socialize with; the kids aren’t stuck with me alone. It’s a good thing they like each other and that they get along well.  Whew! 

I am confident that 2021 will bring normalcy to us all, by the end of the year.  We elected to postpone Alex’s Make-A-Wish trip, the Harry Potter Movie Tour, in London, England, until 2022.  We don’t want our family to have any limitations during this once-in-a-lifetime trip overseas.  The icing on the cake would be to meet Alex’s donor while overseas.  We have to wait two years from Alex’s transplant date to meet our donor, since he is European. Perhaps another silver lining?

We are so very thankful for your love, care, and support.  We are so appreciative for this wonderful life that we have and to have our son cured.

Be well.💙