It has been over two months since the last update.
While a lot has happened, I am in a similar situation at the time I last reported: a few days ahead of a stem cell transplant. In July I went through stem cell transplant #1 with my own stem cells. On 15th Sep. I will be admitted for stem cell transplant #2, this time with a donor’s stem cell.
This brings me to the title of this update. A point of no return refers to a navigation term, in aviation. Once a plane passed the half way mark on a long journey, there is no way back.
My case is exactly the same. Once I did stem cell transplant #1, there is no way back. I must go through stem cell transplant #2 soon and hope for the best.
This is it! After almost 4 years of dealing with my illness, stem cell transplant #2 is the cure! However, the road ahead it tricky, as I explain later in this blog.
The days and weeks before stem cell transplant #1 in July were great. I felt like a free man before serving a prison term. I went anywhere I wanted to, ate at restaurants with no restrictions and even spread red mulch in our garden so that it looks nice. I felt tired but very good.
Shoshi and I explored a few small parks in the area, real jems, took walks in Boston, went to friends and enjoyed the colorful summer. A couple of days before being admitted I had a good ‘last supper’ with friends and also hosted the weekly bridge game with a toast of Champaign for a successful mission.
To celebrate July 4th, I delayed my admission by a few days. Every year in Needham the July 4th celebrations are my favorite: fireworks at the high school, the big parade and good atmosphere.
On July 5th I was admitted. Although I never jumped with a parachute, I hear that the second time is always more difficult because you know what to be afraid of. This was my second stem cell transplant (I did the first one in 2009) and therefore I knew exactly how ugly it was going to be.
The treatment is tough and my body was weak from intensive treatments in the last 6 months preceding this transplant. As usual, I hoped for the best.
On the day of admission I underwent a small operation to insert two tubes in my chest, from which all the medications and chemo can be easily administered.
Lucky for me I was admitted to the same floor with the same crew that I knew very well. It made a huge difference for me.
Two days after getting heavy dosage of chemo, the moment has come. I got my own stem cells as a blood infusion. At the same time I watched the launching of the last space shuttle Endeavor. I couldn’t avoid the thought that just as this is an end to an era in space exploration, my current treatment will be the end of my 4 years illness era.
Being locked for 3 weeks in a small room is a challenge. Shoshi came to see me every day and brought me some tasty foods. I had my laptop and blackberry with me and tried to work and stay in touch. Shoshi told me later that there were some 3 days that I wasn’t myself. I think she is right as I have a few gaps in my memory from the days in the hospital.
After two and a half weeks I started negotiating my early release with the medical team.
I had good experience that home recovery is a lot better. Thanks to my doctor who intervened, the medical team reluctantly agreed to let me go, a real precedent.
The first three weeks at home were very tough (you rarely hear this term from me). The effects of the chemo were still strong, I was very weak, barely eating, vomiting and overall not a pretty picture. Thanks to Shoshi’s dedicated care I made it through.
Due to the very low immune system, I was in a house arrest for the first month. I could eat only well cooked home food and had visitors one at a time and with a mask.
Slowly I began to feel better but eating remained a problem. I lost a lot of weight and couldn’t get it back. Although now I eat better, gaining the lost pounds remains elusive. I guess I have the opposite problem of most people.
I knew that I have 6 weeks between stem cell transplant #1 and #2 and that I must get better. The worry was (and still is) what if my condition will require to delay. On 8 Sep. I will meet the medical team, go through many tests and a decision will be made. I hope for no delays.
The initial tests show that stem cell transplant #1 was very successful. This wasn’t a sure thing and was a great relief for me.
In the interval between transplants I really have to keep out of trouble and this isn’t easy. Two weeks ago I was unexpectedly admitted to the hospital for three days as a result of severe pain for hours at a time. I had inflammation of the gall bladder and luckily for me, the antibiotics treatment took good care of that. Any operation could throw the plans in a limbo.
In the last few weeks I can go out, see friends (not in crowded places) but eat only my home cooked food which I have to carry with me.
As you can see in the photos below, we had a wonderful weekend in New Hampshire, which was organized by Orbotech (company weekend for the employees and their families). Since I don’t travel it was a golden opportunity to see all my colleagues. We drove back home for 3 hours through the leftover of Hurricane Irene, in heavy rain like I never witnessed before. It was very noisy and intense.
Recently I read a long article about Positive Psychology by Intuition. Without getting into the details, it hit me that this is exactly what I practice. Look it up and try to adopt this positive way of looking at hardships.
On the family side, the next few months will be exciting. A few days after I’ll come home from stem cell transplant #2, Inbal and Pierre will land in Boston and will stay with us for a few months. Inbal is expecting in November. I still don’t fully grasp this coming big change, but I will!
Then we’ll have a few relatives visiting us and we’ll have a full house.
Neta is settling in Israel. She decided to stay, got a job and rented a place to stay and is happy.
At the end of June Lior came back home from a wonderful visit to Uganda and Israel. Eight flights, six connections, everything on time and didn’t lose her luggage. A miracle!
Lior started 3rd year in college. It is wonderful to see how the girls are independent and manage school, work and life.
And so, 15th Sep. is coming close.
I look forward for the final phase which will start soon. I need to pack my ‘hospital kit’ and hope to be back at home soon, starting the long and successful recovery.
Middle of September is the anniversary of the Battle of Britain. As you know me from past updates, I take the hospital missions as battles. I’ll wear my favorite P-51 Mustang shirt and with a winning attitude and head to the hospital. I hope that later they will say “this was his finest hour”.
People asked me why I am an optimist. My answer was because there is no better way.
Recently I found out that Churchill phrased it in a better way: “I am an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else”.
Yours, always optimistic,
Guy
