Wow, today marks 550 days since transplant! So much has been happening. Here are some highlights:

Health
- Still cancer-free, YAY!
- Had a very rough Feb/March due to the final taper of my tacrolimus, but it's finally done! I'm no longer on an immunosuppressant 😁  
- Still struggling a bit with the hormones I've been put on, mood swings, appetite issues, etc. 
- My numbers were great at my last appointment, and they even moved me from monthly labs to every 6 months 😊 
- After all of my treatments, I'm now at a significantly higher risk of developing breast cancer. This means I'll be getting annual mammograms and MRIs to keep an eye on anything. It gives me a bit of relief knowing we should catch it quick if it were to ever arise. 
- Strength is improving! My hand dexterity might be the most frustrating mobility issue I've had, but as of last week I can finally open the 'easy tear' Amazon packages - so I'm getting stronger. 
- Fatigue is still my biggest battle. It's tough because it's unpredictable. Some days I'm wiped after a short walk while others I can be moving throughout the day but then it hits like a ton of bricks at night. 
- I've had some recent skin issues pop up, that we're hoping will start to go away now that I'm off one of my meds. I'm hoping it's just a side effect and not GVHD - but I've got some steroids to treat it for now, and if it doesn't improve soon we'll reevaluate. (Not so fun fact: GVHD can essentially show up at anytime post-transplant, and in a large variety of ways. This is something I'll have to be careful to watch for throughout the rest of my life 😕 ) 
- Eye sight is quite a pain. The cataract surgery helped, but now I essentially need trifocals based on my vision tests, but get by with reading glasses. Staring at a computer for work is tough but I've been taking more frequent breaks and I also got a handmade beaded glasses chain (thanks Steph!) to make the constant on/off of glasses a little less annoying. Living my true Golden Girls/Sophia fantasy 😂 
- Brain fog and memory issues are common after chemo, ask any cancer patient. It impacts me daily but I've been trying to give myself grace when I have those moments and remember all that my body has been through in such a short amount of time. 

Work 
I have been back to work since early last year, but am now in the office about three times per week. Having 'normal' human interactions with adults has been fun and exhausting. I'm happy to share that I received a promotion on April 1st to Senior Trainer 😀 I couldn't ask for better coworkers, or a more understanding and wonderful manager. 

Family + Life 
Since my last update, we got a kitty! His name is Luigi and we rescued him from the Tri-County humane society up in St. Cloud. He has been the best addition to our little fam. Him and Marge are like true siblings - playing tag and running around the house one minute, then snuggled up together by the window the next. Marge is in a much better mood, and Ezra loves his fur-siblings. 

Speaking of Ezra - he's great! He's 2.5 now, loves to go to tumbling class, loves jumping on his trampoline, and loves making everyone laugh. We've slowly started potty training and he will be attending preschool in September a few days each week. 

I've been participating in some more AYA Cancer groups recently. I was part of a pilot program with Gilda's Club where we did a 4 week workshop on transitions: life, medical, etc. It was a great experience and lovely to connect with other AYA Cancer Patients experiencing some of the same unique challenges that come with life after cancer. I have also been attending Tough Friends Art Club where AYAs meet and work on an art project together and play games. It's lead by one of the first people I connected with in the Cancer community, @ohyouresotough. Who, by the way, makes the most amazing cancer content (both online and physical merchandise). You can find her shop on Etsy and she has amazing cards, shirts, and other gifts that any cancer patient would appreciate. 

Looking Ahead
I've got quite a few exciting adventures planned this year: two trips to North Dakota, a camping trip in Wisconsin, 2 different weeks up at C.O.P., camping down in Iowa, and of course visits to Milwaukee. I'll have another bone marrow biopsy come October to confirm that the cancer is still gone - but until then it's staying on top of meds, continued appointments, and trying to stay as active and healthy as possible - but with plenty of rest. 

I'm looking to share another update in June after my next appointment. Hopefully it will be another post like this, with the all clear as far as my numbers go!

Until next time <3