Still waiting for ENGRAFTMENT, Day 15

I had hoped to hear that Ild hit the magical numbers today to indicate my new bone marrow had engrafted, but alas- no such luck!

A little progress from last week, but not a huge amount. I’m up to an ANC of 420, with still very low platelet counts.

The docs reminded me today that this isn’t abnormal, that engraftment can take up to 30 days, and that the extra transfusion of red blood cells and platelets today, along with a drug called Neupogen will hopefully continue to bolster me while my body does the hard work of getting back to normal.

As someone that “may” enjoy falling on the overachieving end of the spectrum, I find it frustrating to not be overachieving in recovery, but will gladly take the fact that I’m not failing either :)

At Sunrise it was 6 degrees this morning! For my European friends, that’s 6 degrees Farenheit! We still bundled up for a walk… sticking to all the things that will bolster healing (exercise, fluids, eating!) For the first time in my entire life I have doctors telling me to EAT MORE - figures it comes at a time, when I don't find myself very hungry at all!!

In other news, I’m sparingly using my little energy for short spurts of work here and there. Spent my morning before the doctor, launching a collaboration between 20 inspiring young climate activists from 15 countries around the world, and the group management of IKEA. Felt good to feel a bit purposeful this morning, and to see a project months in the making coming to life!

What's Entertaining Us:

Movies:

Julia (Feeling quite inspired as soon as I'm a bit better to start making recipes from Mastering the Art of French Cooking)

Television:

Season 3 of Sinner (We've got Jim Tolkan hooked now too!)

Sex Lives of College Girls (HBO MAX)

Succession

Law & Order: ORGANIZED CRIME (By the AMAZING Fred Berner!)

What I'm Grateful For Today:

• All the winter gear!!! "There's not such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing"

• Being nearly 2 years into a pandemic, today I'm strangely grateful for the way the world has become reliant on remote working solutions... It means that for these 100 days away from the world I still have the opportunity to engage in some of the work most meaningful to me...Actually appreciative of ZOOM today.

• The incredible doctors and nurses making these weekly check-ups as positive as possible, and making me feel like there's a whole team backing up this recovery!