Real Life Updates (Mid-ish 2021 Edition)
Added 2021-05-07 07:36:48 +0000 UTCHey there, everyone. How are you all doing? Always well, I hope!
I met with the transplant specialist doctor a couple of days ago and an oncology neurologist right after and spoke at length with them about my situation to see what they recommend for it. They're going to be consulting my oncologist in my city and see what I can do next to move on from this chapter of my life.
The neurologist recommended I get another maintenance round of methotrexate sometime soon, before I do the stem cell / bone marrow transplant (which is my own blood taken, sent through a centrifuge, frozen, and given back to me after another very powerful dose of chemotherapy). I'll have to be in an out-of-state hospital for around two weeks before I would be able to return home.
The other option, if I choose to not do that, is to do 11 months of methotrexate and hope that the problem is eradicated that way. The neurologist doesn't want me to do radiation since that's more of a last-card-dealt move and something I can't undo once it's done (potential memory loss years later, other permanent side effects.)
There are apparently very few case studies of transplant vs 11 rounds of methotrexate to judge which would be best for me to attempt.
The docs said that it's rare for this kind of thing to be happening to someone like me, something that they usually only see in people much older. Because of that, they recommend the transplant. It's a one and done treatment, though stressful and a bit scary, to be honest.
I've come this far, though. Can only hope for the best and then... hope for the best.
I will likely have to pause payments for June, too, I apologize. (Edit: I'll be keeping June going!) But I'll try to make the best of it all and work on what I can. It's one and done, after all. I'll be back into the swing of things. 😊
Thank you for your patience and love. I hope that I can always give that back to you as best I can.
-Lucky 🍀
(And please do take good care!)
Comments
I'm glad to hear that they're doing well! And hopefully they stay on that path, too. Thanks again, man, and you take good care, yourself. 😄
Lucky Stallion
2021-05-10 01:20:34 +0000 UTCMy mother is in great shape - she was in remission for ten years after the first transplant and after 2 years is in such good shape they took her off her regular low-level chemo meds. My step-mother was just admitted and is having the transplant on Thursday. As I said, it is very hard, physically and mentally, but it really does miracles. I'm hoping it will do the same for you if you go that direction.
Darren F
2021-05-09 19:57:09 +0000 UTCthanks for your message... I will track down the pages you mention and see how the rest of May goes....
Gordon
2021-05-09 08:54:46 +0000 UTCI'm really happy to hear that it does! It's still a bit surreal that anyone likes the stuff I make in the first place. I am fortunate and lucky to have some kind of financial support from it, at that! I do have a couple of storefronts with my PDFs (at Lulu and Gumroad and a massively underused one at Renderosity), but since this is a public post, I don't want to put those links here. I also already put those here for you guys as thanks for your support, so I'd rather not be double dipping from you all like that. I really appreciate the thought, however! I might have enough time to do something this month that I can post in June. I'm thinking on what I could do that might work out for that. Thanks for the suggestions; they're something to think on. 😊
Lucky Stallion
2021-05-09 08:15:52 +0000 UTCThank you for your messages! The transplant is something I heard from my oncologist here in the city since almost the very first time I met with him, so it's definitely nearing the end, fingers crossed and all. Thank you again. 😄 I hope you guys are well, yourselves.
Lucky Stallion
2021-05-09 08:10:53 +0000 UTCYour artwork makes a real difference to my quality of life! If it would help you, I would be happy to not worry about pausing payments in June and let that be a small support to you but I appreciate that something like that would need all of your sbscribers to agree. is there anywhere that you sell your work where buying something would pay money to you?
Gordon
2021-05-09 07:24:09 +0000 UTCThanks for your message. This has been quite year for you and I hope this next phase works well. The transplant does (as you say) sound scary but hopefully a promising treatment.
Gordon
2021-05-09 07:21:28 +0000 UTCThanks greatly, Bob! I will. 😄 And you take care of yourself, too!
Lucky Stallion
2021-05-09 07:06:26 +0000 UTCI'm so sorry to hear that they're having to go through that. 🙁 How are they doing, if I may ask? Thanks so much, Darren; that means a lot to hear.
Lucky Stallion
2021-05-09 07:05:49 +0000 UTCThank you, man. ❤️🥰 Hopefully I'll be out of this soon enough and it all end up just a memory.
Lucky Stallion
2021-05-09 07:04:27 +0000 UTCThanks greatly for that. It's honestly helped, you guys' encouragement and prayers and all. I'm fortunate to have them, so thank you again. 😄 Take care!
Lucky Stallion
2021-05-09 07:02:58 +0000 UTCI know, and thank you so much. 😊
Lucky Stallion
2021-05-09 07:01:44 +0000 UTCThanks, Terry! That means a lot.
Lucky Stallion
2021-05-09 07:01:25 +0000 UTCThanks so much, Thomas! Really appreciate that. It's been... 7 months now since this all began, I think? 😅 But honestly, there're others out there who have it far worse, so I'm thankful to hopefully have some kind of closure to it soon. You take good care, too!
Lucky Stallion
2021-05-09 07:01:10 +0000 UTCThanks very much, Alex. 🙂 It should be coming to a close soon enough and I can stop pestering you all with these kinds of posts!
Lucky Stallion
2021-05-09 07:00:01 +0000 UTCWishing you all the luck! Don't worry about us, we're always going to be here. Just make sure you're A-OK!
bob hope
2021-05-08 06:38:53 +0000 UTCMy mother had the transplant done twice and my step-mother is undergoing one right now. It is intense but does do amazing things. I'm sure you'll do what is right for you, but I can vouch for it.
Darren F
2021-05-07 23:01:34 +0000 UTCNearly there! 😊❤️ You’ll make it, and soon!
WideBros
2021-05-07 14:42:16 +0000 UTCI cannot do anything for you. Only to pray. Wish you recover soon. Since you're still young, it will be okay!
BE
2021-05-07 13:39:07 +0000 UTCYou know we're here with you all the way, and you'll beat this utterly!
Steven Cross
2021-05-07 13:00:38 +0000 UTCGood luck man all my prayers are with u
2021-05-07 09:58:43 +0000 UTCThat sounds daunting, but it's great that you have a positive outlook. Wishing you the best with your treatment, Lucky!
Thomas Brown
2021-05-07 08:21:34 +0000 UTCI am sorry for what you have to go through dude! Wish you all the best Lucky =)
Alex
2021-05-07 07:38:39 +0000 UTC
