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A Word from Jen (on her birthday)

I would like to thank everyone for the kind and heart felt birthday wishes today here on facebook, text messages, snaps, birthday cards, and the nurses who got me cupcakes and sang to me today while I got my transfusion. You all made my day extra special!

This is not where I expected to be in my life at 29. But sometimes our plans in life are not God’s plans. It is hard sometimes not knowing what my future holds. But I do know I will celebrate another birthday and that I will be healthy again.

We have to accept that plans change. Life happens. We need to adapt and move on. We need to trust in God and his plan for us. Although being sick is not what I had planned for the end of 2016 and the start of 2017 I know he is guiding me to a better life. I just have to open my eyes and my heart to him.

Although being sick isn’t easy in the slightest on myself or my family. I feel that I have been blessed with an amazing opportunity to get to know myself better. I get to build my relationship with my family and with God in a whole new way. And I get to see the world with new eyes and hopefully help others like me or those who may know someone like me.

So thank you to everyone who has made today special for me. And remember as I have said so many times before…..

Donate Blood
Register to be a bone marrow donor

Here’s to my 29th year….the best year I will see yet.

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Blood Needed

ATTENTION LIMA AREA FRIENDS!

There is a desperate need for blood donations for the Lima area.

Today I was told I need another platelet transfusion but they can’t get me the transfusion until tomorrow because neither Lima hospitals have platelets on hand for me.

This is a huge issue that needs addressed. Please if you can donate blood do it. One donation equals 4 blood transfusions and 4 platelet transfusions.

Contact the Red Cross or one of the hospitals to get more information about donating.

I am traveling to Columbus to the James to get the transfusion that I need. Please donate. Please.

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A Birthday Wish

With my birthday just a week away I have been thinking a lot about what I want.

Of course I want to be healthy and cured and that is just around the corner with my transplant in a few short weeks. So what else could I possibly want right?

With having 2 full matches on the registry I feel very blessed and wish everyone like me could have the same opportunity.

So here is my birthday wish.

I want 10 of my friends here and now to pledge to go to www.bethematch.org and sign up to get tested to be someone’s match.

That sounds easy right?

So just state in the comments below if you pledge to do this for me and others like me. And if you already have done so then share that too.

But let’s up the pot a bit……I also want to see this post get shared 10 times.

The more it’s shared the more people can see it and get on the registry. And the more on the registry equals the more matches for those like me.

That’s all I want for my birthday. Let’s beat cancer together and save lives today. Who is with me?

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A Word From Jen

So the plan is still on to be discharged on Monday after my last chemo drip and fluids which will be around 2:30ish.

So if anyone sends me anything to the hospital by this point it will most likely get returned to sender unless it is one of the online ecards that get printed and delivered to me.

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Update from Jennifer

So my chromosome testing came back tonight!

There was only one cell that showed the chromosome flop or one sign of cancer. Which is great news.

I will be starting chemo tonight. I will be doing a different chemo than before. This chemo will go over the course of 5 days and if all goes well I can go home on Monday!

Oh and the doctor thinks we are 6 weeks from transplant admission!

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A Word From Jen – Christmas Eve

Hello facebook family and friends. Yes it is truly me. It has taken quite some time to get me to this point to make a post to all of you. As most of you may know I wad quite sick over the past week.

With all the meds they put in me and fluids and being bound to a bed I put on nearly 50 pounds of pure water weight. Half of that thankfully is gone.

My focus issues are still hard to deal with but pushing my limits the best I can so I can get better sooner.

I am working with physically therapy to help me regain my strength while I walk. That too has come leaps and bounds in just the past 24 hours.

We are currently on Day 25 of my admission here. The doctor’s told me yesterday to expect another 10 days plus inpatient therapy program. After today I feel that I may only need out patient therapy and then I could potentially be home by mid next week.

My numbers and counts for my wbc, hemoglobin, and platelets are continuing to get better every day and if it weren’t for my spout with pneumonia I would be home already. My numbers are pushing lower level normal levels for a non sick person.

Today my Aunt Diann Neal and Uncle Ernie came for a visit and my family also came and hung out with me for Christmas eve. Although it sucks to be here through the holidays I am truly blessed to be here today.

Live to love love to live.

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A Word From Jen

Today is Day 14.

I had a bone marrow biopsy today to see how the chemo has worked. Fingers crossed that I won’t need any more. Once I go home they will do another biopsy usually the wee following to see if I am in remission. We should have the results sometime tomorrow.

I have been running a low grade fever off and on for days. Every time my fever goes to 100.4 and over they have to do blood labs from my line and from my arm to look for infections. I have been on antibiotics for almost a week to help kill off what my body currently can’t. The blood cultures they do take up to 5 days to come back.

One of my cultures did show an infection in my central line. They are running more labs to see if it is still there since it was days ago that the culture was done. They don’t believe the infection is in my blood stream.

But with it being in my line they may have to remove the line for a few days and put a new one in after the infection clears. If they do this they will have to put an IV in which they have had trouble find a vein for.

I’m pretty tired today. I got a unit of platelets today and will probably get another unit of blood tomorrow since they took so much from me today.

The art therapist came in today. Although I was too sore and tired to do much we did talk quite a bit which was good.

Although I’m tired and sore I am feeling pretty good and continue to stay positive and take things one day at a time.

Please keep the prayers coming and remember to appreciate the small things. Although it’s cold and snowy enjoy the cold air on your face, the way the snow flakes fall to the ground, or the way the snow sounds as you walk through it.

We take those small beautiful things God gives us for granted. Although I am not a winter person and the snow and cold is not at the top of the list of my favorite things, but they are on the list of things I cannot enjoy right now.

Appreciate and love those little things.

God bless!

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A Word from Jen

The past 12 hours have been long and rough. I spiked a fever late last night. So when that happens they do a lot of blood work and antibiotics. As well as extra vitals through the night. By my 4:30 vitals this morning my temperature was back to normal. I did get sick out of the blue this morning, but other than that I feel good.

I’ve been pretty tired the past few days. I seem to sleep better through the day than I do at night.

My spirits still remain good as we power up to get me through the low cbc numbers and my risk of infection over the course of the next week.

I appreciate all of the prayers, cards, and gifts I have gotten. I truly am blessed to know so many wonderful people.

Lots of love from Columbus!
God bless!

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Surprise Visit

Hello from Columbus!

Today had a bit of a rocky start for me, but powered through.

I didn’t sleep well last night, but managed to get a few winks this afternoon.

Yesterday evening my mom came down and stayed the night. She brought the rest of my stuff to help me feel a bit more at home. We decorated my room for Christmas and the staff here love it!!

I got a surprise visit from my Aunt and Uncle today (Rick & Lori) which was awesome to have.

My dad came down today as well. And we are watching football. 🙂

I haven’t been able to each much. Smells of food turn off my appetite. Seems the only things I have managed to eat in the past 24 hours have been Gold fish, pb&j sandwiches, apple slices, bananas, and captain crunch.

My chemo is now on Day four. No more plus 3s. Chemo is doing its job. My wbc and platelets continue to drop like they are supposed to.

Although I feel tired and icky I know I am where I need to be. I am remaining as positive as I can be.

Thanks for all the continuous thoughts and prayers. I truly think it helps just as much as the meds they give me.

Sending lots of love to all of you reading this. Remember to enjoy the little things and smile when you can.