Hello, family and friends!

THE GOOD NEWS

My Stem Cell Doctor states that if there is no Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) activity at five years post-Bone Marrow Transplant/Stem Cell Transplant (BMT/SCT), then the transplant is considered “curative.” And with today being the fifth anniversary of my BMT/SCT, that means MCL is one less thing to worry about. (“Hallelujah!”)

THE CHALLENGES

Unfortunately, those rather pesky issues noted in last year’s BMT/SCT anniversary post continue to keep things frightfully entertaining, including persistent Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD) and my bone marrow’s stubborn refusal to manufacture the B Cells required for a happy immune system, forcing me to carry on in the role of The Quarantine Kid while Stem Cell Doctor and other specialists keep me upright and moving forward.

THE GRATITUDE

In addition to my medical team, I am forever grateful to you all for being so kind, thoughtful and supportive since the October 2016 launch of all of this medical drama. In particular, I want to thank my local support team – my dear friends Anne, Kevin, Patrick and Steve – for getting me to and from medical appointments and tending to other tasks as needed. I am one very lucky guy to have all of you in my life. Thank you! Thank you!

Here’s hoping that by this time next year I’ll be in better shape and free to get out and see some stuff, including loved ones like you!

Bye for now.

~ Love, Doug.

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