Good morning to all my friends who care about me.  I have been out of the hospital for 2 and a half weeks now and am getting stronger and recovering and my doctor and the nurses say I am doing well.
     Please be aware of the fact that my cancer is gone and I have it no more. One of my friends told me he didn't know that so I want everyone to know it is finished and I am on the road to a cancer free life.  I thank God for the gifts of doctors, nurses and medicines and especially His Mercy on me.
     I will have no more chemo!!!  While in the last hospital stay I had chemo for a week and it took my white blood cells down to zero.  Then they did the stem cell transplant where they put back into me the good stem cells they took out on May 20-24th. Being able to use your own stem cells is very good because with a donor there is the risk of rejection.   These little baby stem cells are now producing blood and growing into good adult stem cells.
     An interesting fact about my new stem cell system is that I have to begin the series of inoculations (shots) for all the infant diseases as if I was a baby.  Measles, mumps, polio and others. That's all I know for now on the details.
As of the other day my white cells were back up to 8.4 and my platelets were 148. The doctors are happy!!
     I am still very susceptible to getting sick so I have to stay at home and avoid crowds. I truly miss the Divine Liturgy and the Eucharist and my friends at St. Peters Church but God knows what I need and is there for me.
     Physically I have a few challenges to work with.  I'm shaky, some nausea, light headed and dizzy a little.  I had neuropathy in my feet after my first chemo in 2011 but it seems to have doubled down or even more in my feet and legs and now in my hands.  But hey, I'm walking on green grass above ground and I thank God.
     I'm still weak but am getting stronger with each day it seems.  I have some light exercises with those big rubber bands and am working on walking each day in the house for about 30 minutes. The last few days I have been walking outside for a half mile or so depending on the weather.  Naps are always on the schedule and I am sleeping pretty good at night, early to bed around 8 or 9 usually.
     Meals are a little iffy, lots of little ones throughout the day and I cannot eat any restaurant food or fast food or even food cooked by friends.  It all has to be cooked at home and Be'Be' is doing great.
     In terms of looks, I kinda look like combination of Darth Vader without his helmet and a possum. Kinda rugged!!  Hopefully this too will pass.
     I do know I love ya'll and thank you for your love and concern for me.  I also thank you for your prayers and friendship. God does answer our prayers.
     I had an old friend send me a card during this struggle with cancer and it said  " It's hard to feel blessed when you don't feel your best ".  For me this was true a few times but I have felt a real sense of God's blessing during my sickness and for that I am extremely thankful to Christ for His love for me.
     I will try to update you as time moves on. If you want to text or call do so and I'll try to answer you.
          Thanks so much, I love ya'll!!  God Bless You!