Growing Up A Storm

Hi all,

It’s been another few weeks at home so I thought it was a good time to give an update. I’m doing really well particularly this week I think; I feel a lot less tired and have been able to visit Stephens parents which was brilliant. I had set myself places to get back to after the transplant like the church in Knocklyon and Stephens parents kitchen for a nice cup of tea so I was delighted to walk in the front door and to have a cuppa waiting for me! I also managed to get out of tracksuit bottoms and wear something a bit more me as well as make up. I know this is probably really boring but normality is under rated.

My consultant is very happy with my progress and my blood has been healthy and at the correct levels so she has reduced my visits to once a week for the moment. This really helps with my tiredness levels because it can be very tiresome going up to the hospital all the time. As well as that there are so many people there and I am meant to avoid crowds. Sometimes I don’t like going to the day ward because you just never know what’s going to happen. My temperature is meant to be between 36.6 and 37.4 and if it is up at all even at 37.5 they like to automatically admit you because it’s a sign of infection- so each time I go I am just praying I don’t have a temperature. It’s always really busy with people at different stages which can be both really interesting and really scary because you’re always wondering why so and so has that or doesn’t or why I’m in once a week and so and so is in twice, you can get very paranoid. But at least I’m only going once a week now and I can try and be “normal” for the other days although I think I am slowly realising normal may be a bit harder to obtain than I first imagined.

My hair has slowly started to grow a bit which is very very exciting. It will be interesting to see how it grows back because they say it can grow back any way; I’m just hoping it’s not curly! My eyelashes have also really grown back too in the last week which is mad- one day they were stumps of things and the next I really noticed how long they are- that’s really made a difference because it means I can wear mascara properly and girls know what a difference mascara makes. This hair thing has really given me a boost because it’s a sign of normality and (oddly enough!) growth and a sign that I’m further away from the transplant and hopefully into good health.

Mom and I have decided that for Christmas we are going to just drink champagne and have a merry old time after the year our family has had. I still don’t know how we are coping with it all or how we have gotten through the last few months. I know a lot of it has to do with all the support you guys has given us; it has been unbelievable, thank you all so much.

Will continue to keep you updated.

Lots and lots of love,
Mairéad
xx