March 6, 2007

It’s day+33 now and I’m getting better by the day. In fact, I am going home tomorrow, Lord willing.

I have been raised from GvHD diet level 1 to level 2. That sounds great but in reality it is still very restrictive. They have added things like mashed potatoes (with no milk, butter or other flavors), pasta or white rice (with no sauce, butter or anything) and cooked carrots to the broth and liquids of level 1. Basically I pour chicken broth over the new stuff. Level 2 is a LOT better than having an appetite and drinking broth only, but a bit boring. I’ll certainly take boring over feeling like I did when I came in.

My GI tract is so much better. What a blessing. My medicines have been all switched from IV to oral and the medicine levels in the blood are staying where they should. All this is a good indication that my GvHD is going away, or at least under control.

I’ve always approached this healing process as pushing myself and being positive will speed the recovery. This bout with GvHD has changed my tactics a lot. With GvHD one must plan on going slower than they can imagine and allow the sloughing of the GI lining to heal at a very, very slow rate. This is another lesson in patience that I protest so much.

God has been so gracious to me. There are 3 bone marrow transplant units here at OHSU. As I walk around the unit I am in and in the previous one also, I have seen so many people who aren’t doing very well. I am truly thankful for His grace and favor in my life.