Maybe the last round of chemo

Here we are the end of April already can you even believe it?  I was scanned this morning while I am here at BWH getting chemo and my fingers are crossed that this scan comes out good.  If the scan is clear or shows 70% shrinkage of the tumors then we are on for the May 9th transplant.  I will be meeting with my transplant doctor on May 4th to discuss all the details of what my family and I need to do for preparation.  I feel pretty good this round of chemo, I did get a little sick and vomit this time but only for one day and I guess milk products don't really work during the chemo. I have been very positive through this cycle and barely got depressed. I have my mind set on the next 2 months that I have to get through it, its going to be tough and I'm going to have to battle it one day at a time.

I would like to thank everyone that has been doing fundraisers...I don't know what I would do if I didn't have you all in my life.. You have all gone above and beyond and the responses to all these fundraisers have been so overwhelming...I hope some day I can pay it forward....

Here is a link to an article that was written up about me and all the fundraisers happening over the next few weeks..

http://m.newburyportnews.com/TDNN/pm_103107/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=LNI5ds77

Also the Texas Roadhouse on Rt 1 May 11th from 4-10pm will be donating 10% off your bill if you bring in a flyer...

June 11th there will be a comedy night at the Italian Club in Peabody there will be 7 different stand up acts tickets are $20 and all ticket sales go to the Danielle Yagjian Fund..

If you have any questions about the events please contact me...

God Bless
Danielle

Theres no place like home theres no place like home theres no place like home

I thought my title would be appropriate for this since i am sitting here watching the wizard of oz... I'm sure everyone knows that this Chemo is really kicking my butt when you don't see me on the computer for over two weeks.. I wish I had the energy to even open my laptop but I cant even get my ass out of bed.. When i am home it takes all the strength i have to get up even though I hear Cole crying I cant even get up if i wanted to thank god for my mother and grandmother who take  care of him daily, I don't know what i would do if i didn't have them... They are so great with him and it means the world to me that Cole is getting to really spend alot of time with his great grandmother its not that often a child gets that and she was such an important part of my life growing up.

I get to go home in the morning fingers crossed I have not had a fever in over 12 hours and my blood counts are climbing quickly...I will get to be home for 6 days then back here again for chemo on Monday.. I am very excited that I will get to be home with my family for Easter! This will be my last round of this chemo and then I will have a scan...Then off the transplant I go May 9th....its really start to set in that its around the corner and I know its going to be the worst 6 weeks of my life but you know what I thought the last 6 months have been the worse and I have made it through that...Just taking things one day a time and if i have to give up this year of my life to live another 40 then I can deal with it..

Thank you to every one for the food you have brought over the last two weeks I know I am slacking with the thank you cards bad....Also thanks a ton for the positive thoughts, prayers and love!

XOXO
Danielle

Chemo - Day 1

Here we go again, I am all checked in at hotel Brigham and Womens..lol  I will begin chemo tonight around 8pm and be here until Saturday afternoon.  I have received information from my stem cell doctor this week that they do NOT have an adult match for me, but they do have 2 cord blood matches which I was told is a miracle.  I know so many of you have offered to be checked as a match but unless you are Italian, Portuguese, french and Indian with the same blood type and tissue type there is no way you would match.  There are 15 million people in the donor bank and no one matched me, which why would they this whole process has not been easy for me so why start now.. At least I have some type of match..So your probably asking what the difference is between the two...well with the cord blood transplants its a much longer healing process.  The cells are immature cells and don't know how to fight off any infections where as adult cells already know the difference between good and bad cells and know how to fight.  I will now be in the hospital for 6 weeks during transplant which sucks because I will not be allowed to see Cole thank god for technology these days!!!  Also the recovery time takes longer and I will not be allowed back out into public for 8-12 months! I am currently scheduled for the week of May 9th for transplant as long as my next scan which will be in about 2 weeks shows less than 70% of tumors...I will keep you all posted as I receive more information.

Don't forget this Sunday 10-6pm Backstage Hair Studio in Peabody, ma will be having a Cut-A-Thon to help raise money for The Danielle Yagjian Fund.....Thank you to all the girls for your support!

Am I coming or going?

The last few days have been very tiresome for me.  Since my last round of chemo I was feeling beyond tired and having a really hard time taking care of Cole, I went in on Thursday for my follow up appointment with my doctor and my counts were so low they could not believe I was even walking.  So I had to go over to infusion and have my first blood transfusion (2 bags) and a bag of platelets...I was emotional and tried not to get worked up but I knew that at this point my body has finally been beaten up and can't produce on its own so I felt weak... So after I was supposed to have an hour appointment and left my poor Nana with Cole, we didn't get home til about 7 hours later and I was running a fever and tried everything I could to sleep and relax to get it to go down and of course not.. SOO back to the ER we went at 8pm and they admitted me and gave me more fluids and some antibiotics.  I was told they would keep me and start another round of the chemo asap.. then a few hours later they told me I could go home for the weekend because my counts have improved so fast.. Then I was told to come in for platelets on Sunday then they said never mind.. As of now I am waiting to hear from my doctor on Monday and if I don't I go in on Wednesday for more blood work and will start another round of chemo right away.. I feel like I have been tossed around and my mind is all over the place with all the doctors I wish my doctor would just deal with me when I am in the hospital not his team.

On a side note just a little venting ... I have enough doctors telling me what I need to be doing I don't need anyone else telling me what I should or shouldn't be eating, cleaning, touching, wearing or where I should or shouldn't be going...I'm telling you living back with my mom, Jeff and Nana has been a huge help with everything but there are people in and out all the time, I am never alone and I cant take the constant nagging...I enjoyed the few days I spent in the hospital how bad is that?!!?!?