Me and the girlsIn an effort to stop from feeling so ashamed every time someone mentions my blog, I am going to do a quick catch-up.
Plus, I am trying to educate people about the whole stem cell process, and I need a place to send them.
So, here goes.......
(I am a little rusty at this, so bear with me).
OCTOBER 2007
6 Month Check-up
My DLCO is up!!!!! (I really cannot tell you-due to my puny brain (I swear it was the chemo)-what DLCO actually means. It is a lung function test. Suffice it to say that a "normal" (and I use the term loosely) person's is 80%.) Prior to my transplant mine was 43%. It is now 57%.
My chest xray and CT scan show improvement. The inflammation has gone down. The doctors can't hear it in my lungs anymore.
My skin score has decreased. The higher your skin score, the harder your skin. Prior to transplant mine was around 18. (Not too bad by Scleroderma standards.) My skin score now is a 12. Some places even feel darn right loose. (Don't think I haven't realized that I can never have botox or collagen injections or a face lift. It is just like when I wanted to try to have a breast implant auction item at my fundraiser (see November 2008) and someone far more sensitive and with much more class than me brought to my attention just how wrong that would be. Come on, I still think it would have been the biggest money maker.) I can totally feel the difference in my skin. I can make a fist. I can cross my fingers (and I do every time I make a promise to my kids). I can whistle. I can cut food without pain. I can brush the girl's hair. (Shhh. Don't tell Mark.)
My energy is getting better and better.
I have exceeded the Dr.'s expectations. The hope is to halt the disease. My condition is improving.
I could not be happier!
Plus, I am trying to educate people about the whole stem cell process, and I need a place to send them.
So, here goes.......
(I am a little rusty at this, so bear with me).
OCTOBER 2007
6 Month Check-up
My DLCO is up!!!!! (I really cannot tell you-due to my puny brain (I swear it was the chemo)-what DLCO actually means. It is a lung function test. Suffice it to say that a "normal" (and I use the term loosely) person's is 80%.) Prior to my transplant mine was 43%. It is now 57%.
My chest xray and CT scan show improvement. The inflammation has gone down. The doctors can't hear it in my lungs anymore.
My skin score has decreased. The higher your skin score, the harder your skin. Prior to transplant mine was around 18. (Not too bad by Scleroderma standards.) My skin score now is a 12. Some places even feel darn right loose. (Don't think I haven't realized that I can never have botox or collagen injections or a face lift. It is just like when I wanted to try to have a breast implant auction item at my fundraiser (see November 2008) and someone far more sensitive and with much more class than me brought to my attention just how wrong that would be. Come on, I still think it would have been the biggest money maker.) I can totally feel the difference in my skin. I can make a fist. I can cross my fingers (and I do every time I make a promise to my kids). I can whistle. I can cut food without pain. I can brush the girl's hair. (Shhh. Don't tell Mark.)
My energy is getting better and better.
I have exceeded the Dr.'s expectations. The hope is to halt the disease. My condition is improving.
I could not be happier!
This picture has nothing to do with me or my transplant, but I think it's hysterical. The girls turned our dog into "Grady Montana". There are actually people out there who are scared of this dog. (Note to scary burglars--he can be FIERCE when he needs to be!) 
Dr. Burt/Me/Bary 
(don't think that the name of this place was lost on anyone.)
