Journal entry by Pam Saterdalen —
Post transplant 1 year 6 months 6 days: this past week was an important week. Joe had his last of 5 days of infusion chemotherapy, and will finish the rest of this cycle with two weeks of pill chemo at home. At the end of his last infusion chemo, he rang the bell signifying this last treatment there. Over the last 15 months he has had 58 days of infusion chemo at Mayo, and 206 days of chemo by pill at home, for a total of 12 cycles. Along the way he has a monthly antimicrobial breathing treatment and appointments with the transplant team to closely monitor GVHD graft vs host disease, which can affect any part of your body and for him it's been super dry light sensitive eyes and a decline in lung function, so he's on steroid inhaler now also. He keeps moving, not about to let it get the best of him, walking as always. The day after his last infusion, he had breathing treatment, and they hit both arms and thighs to give him 9 shots....with transplant, you lose all the protections you had from a lifetime of immunizations, so they had to make them up and he got every one in one visit. I know how one shot can make you feel unwell for a day or two, well that night he felt pretty awful 😳, but glad to have it done and the next day back to normal. We hope all is well with you. It's been a hectic few months this summer but we look forward to catching up with everyone. Bring on the crisp fall weather 😜
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