just a little update from madubois63

[madubois63]

<DT id=content1 style="DISPLAY: block; FONT-SIZE: 1em; WIDTH: 100%" name="rte0">So just a few weeks ago, I was in the hospital again. My liver was in near fatal failure (a rejection from the bone marrow transplant). I was so yellow, my body was glowing green like a dead corpse (no lie) - very scary) and my eyes looked like special effects out of an X-Man movie! I had gotten the best treatment there is for what I have (a horse serum), and it wasn't working at first. The doc was truly upset. They sent me home to do MY thing...cleanse my liver with milk thisle, cut out all sugar, eat only slow burning good carbs, lots of vegies and fruit, tons of water...My bilirubin (liver function number) was a 12 in the hospital. After taking very good care of myself....drum roll please...the bilirubin is down to 2.9 as of yesterday!!!!! Anything lower then 1 is good. I am pink again, and my eyes are nearly all white again! I feel amazing and I am Breast cancer, metastatic BC and leukemia free, and the liver is on the mend!!!! My legs are still very weak - can't climb a stare to save my life - I need a hoist. But I can walk far distances and I am still on heavy duty steroids. I'm thinking of hiring myself out to clean closets sort paperwork, scrapbook...whatever. All the things I've ignored over the last few years of being sick are completed (baby books, photo albums, closets, tax files...) I'm like a mad woman...I've lost 60 lb since the leukemia all started and am happy at this weight. My sister and I went to see Def Leppard and Styx for my 44th birthday present at the Mohegan Sun Casino last week - great show - while my Mom played the 25 cent slots. She won a few hundred dollars and gave me some money to buy some new clothes. I am back to the size I was before all this breast cancer crap started! Not quite pre-baby weight, but this feels really good! This weekend, my daughter and I are going to a hot air balloon festival. She, to see a band (of course) and me to take a five minute ride up in a hot air ballooon (a big dream of mine) I can't afford a real ride $$$$, but I can do the five minute thing. This is on my list of things to do...so I am very excited! I pray you all feel better and have small and large miracles in your life....Love to all -

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[eric]

I was wondering about you and I'm really glad to hear that your on the upswing. You're AMAZING!!!

[nitewind]

MaryAnn, I am so happy to hear this. Not the part about how sick you were, just the rest of it. I first read about your experience a little over a year ago and have been following you ever since (I'm not a stalker, honest)! You're probably sick of hearing this but I still say that you are my inspiration! I've never known anyone like you with so much fight and good humor, I wish I knew you personally. You keep on going, girl and please keep posting, I really do look forward to your posts.
Hugs
Susan

[RhondaH]

VERY GLAD you are doing so much bette. "Up, Up In A Way in my beautiful balloon!!!!" Take care and God bless.

Rhonda

[Leslie's sister]

Maryann:

Thanks for the update. Your life sounds very good now. Keep up the fight. We are pulling for you!

[lilyecuadorian]

thank you for the "gift news" ....and I'm so happy....this takes some weight off my shoulders ....

[Joy]

What an amazing update Mary Ann. YOU are somethin'. And I LOVE that you 'did your thing' and it worked. It is so empowering. Not only is this recovery and disease free status so impressive, but what you have accomplished is so cool. I have NO excus now for not getting these things done!

Thank you for checking in and have a blast at the balloon festival.

[suzan w]

Hi MaryAnn, thanks for your update! In spite of how awful all this is I laughed at the visual image of you...when I was in the midst of chemo I got really sick and ended up in the ER. It was right before Halloween and I was bald, green, puffy, etc. They put a surgical mask on me while I was in the waiting room. A little girl came in with a bad foot cut and I really scared the &%*! out of her! Poor thing! All I could say to her was, "some bad Halloween costume, eh?" Sounds like you are on the right track now...KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! Happy thoughts from me to you!!!

[lexigirl]

Maryanne,

I am always so ahppy to see a post from you! You are always doing something fun, in spite of the tough txs you endure. You are inspiring!

Hugs,
Lexi

[Believe51]

Good attitude and what a fighter. We wish you a belated Happy Birthday and many more Sweetheart, you deserve it. Talk about a miracle. Keep up that fight and do not forget to let us know how you are doing.

Waiting For A Miracle....and commanding one soon!!!>>Believe51

[Carolyns]

Maryann,

You have a fan club here at the Her2 Support board. Thank you for checking in and keeping us posted. Hopefully you can feel the warmth and support felt for you by all of us on the board.

You are always in my prayers. I am glad that you are having fun!

Love, Hope, and Peace,
Carolyn

[Mary Jo]

Hi MaryAnn,

I, too, am very happy to hear that you are doing so well now. You've been through a lot and you truly are a fighter. Good for you.

May God's Peace surround you today,

Mary Jo

[chrisy]

Mary ann
Always a wild ride for you. Amazing story, I'm so glad you were able to turn things around, amazon woman. I know that for you, leaving the hospital has always been good medicine, and it seems so again.

You are such a fighter, such an inspiration. Thank you so much for sharing.
Much love
chris

[Karen Weixel]

You deserve to be happy and health. You are an amazing woman and your spirit is strong. Your story is wonderful and I am so happy for you.

Hugs and prayer,

Karen

[R.B.]

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Big drum roll!!!

Congratulations.

I am so pleased for you after all you have been through.

PS my constant bleat the omegas the omegas.

[Lolly]

"just a little update"?!!!!!

EEEGADS, more like a miracle!!!:) You are one amazing woman, and a great inspiration to me. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy the ride in the balloon and take some pictures, I bet Joe will post them for us to see!

<3 Lolly

[Patb]

Congratulations!!!! It is an amazing story and I am so happy for you.
Enjoy the balloon ride and good health to you.
patb

[chrislmelb]

Oh Mary Ann, the things you go through and manage to come out the other side so POSITIVE. You are amazing. Take care

[tousled1]

Mary Ann,

You are an absolutely amazing woman! I really enjoy reading your updates. With all that you have been through you still shine and manage to do the things you want to do. You are a true inspiration! Have fun with the balloon ride!

[sherri]

You are just amazing! So glad to hear from you, you are always in my thoughts.

[Jean]

It is alwaysssssssssss so good to hear from you.
Sending you a big hug!

Jean

[Adriana Mangus]

Dear Maryann: I was wondering about you, am so glad to hear you are coming back again. We all have missed you and please do not stay away too long, we're worry about you. God Bless you...You are a true miracle.

[LAURIE]

There is a balloon fest in my town this weekend, when I see them flying I will think of your strength and courage. THANKS FOR THE UPDATE.

[Bev]

Maryanne. wow! I was worried that we hadn't heard anything lately. I'm glad things are getting better. I'm curious, as I hate heights, what's the difference between a 5 minute ballon ride and a "real" one? Around the world? Just curious.

Enjoy your weekend. BB

[Patricia]

Hi MaryAnne,

So good to hear from you and that you are doing better. It must feel wonderful to be out of the hospital and on the way to getting stronger. Enjoy your balloon ride, you deserve it! You are always such an inspiration, I love seeing your posts.

Hugs,
Patricia

[lu ann]

Hi MaryAnn,

It is good to hear from you and GREAT! to hear you are doing fun things with your life.

I just completed WBR and can understand some of the fatigue you are experiencing. This is the most tired I have ever been in my life and I will give most of the credit to that little green pill, decedron. I'm down from a full dose every four hours to 1/2 dose once a day for a week, then 1/2 dose alternate days for 2 weeks, then I'm done. They really take care to wean you off steroids.

I could not believe how big my feet swelled in the beginning of my treatment. It's no onder I couldn't walk. My legs probably weighed 150lbs. each.

I met a woman who had lymphoma treated with a transplant and was weak as a new born kitten. Does that ever get better? Do you remain on rejection meds the rest of you life?

God Bless has truly blessed you with the drive and hope to continue on. When my friend told me some of the details, I didn't think I wanted to do that. But we never really know what we would do when face with any situation.

I'm happy to tell you that I have another friend you had leukemia in the early 90's and continues to live her life to the fullest, free from disease. Her 2 little daughters were infants and are now in college.

Keep us posted
Love, Lu Ann

[fauxgypsy]

Mary Ann , it is the women who have gone before me that I can draw strength and hope from. You are so perfectly one of them. I am not familiar with your earlier posts but you sound incerdible. It reminds me to grab on to the present and enjoy the ride. Thank you. ride high!!!

[mslinda]

Mary Ann, you are just great. Such an inspiration to the rest of us Her2 girls. I am so happy for you. I pray you will continue to improve and get back to your old self 100%.

Linda
S. Mississippi

[sassy]

Maryanne,

So good to hear from you and find your joy for life goes on and on. You continue to be a shining example of LIFE! Always an inspiration!
________
DEPAKOTE LAWSUIT SETTLEMENTS (http://www.classactionsettlements.org/lawsuit/depakote/)

[G. Ann]

Balloon ride, concerts, new outfit--you deserve it all. You have been an inspiration for us and a wealth of knowledge. Thanks for the update. I would love to "hire" you to help me get organized and all the loose ends tied up. You are in my prayers for continued gains in lowering and maintaining your liver test results. You truly are living each day to the fullest. God bless you.

[madubois63]

The difference between a "real ride" and a 15 minute ride is a few hundred dollars. The 15 minute ride is tethered to the groud and you just go up and float for a bit....the real ride goes for and hour or so which ever way the wind blows....Either way, I'll be happy (happier with all the cash in MY pocket)!

[madubois63]

RB - I haven't forgotten my omega's! I have to be careful about the amout of pills I intake. I had to stop all the vitamins/minerals and what not's with the bone marrow transplan. Everything I can put back naturally, I do. I love avacados and salmon. Eating all the right oils and seeds...just trying to do the best I can for this tired body. Thanks for the reminder.

[madubois63]

Thank you to everybody for caring and taking the time to post! It just never ceases to amaze me how many people care. Got to go get ready for our trip today. I'll take some pictures and send them to Joe if my daughter let's me (her camera - got to get my own). Hopefully, she will be in a "normal" mood and not the "16" year old mood....I think it will be a great day!! Love and prayers to you all....

[sarah]

Hello Mary Ann,
I always worry when I don't hear from you and your posts are so inspiring and courageous.
I hope you're keeping a diary.
Way to go!
love and hugs
sarah

[Margerie]

Good to hear form you Mary Anne. I have an acquaintence that just finished her initial therapy for AML. She is "cancer free", but very tired.

I hope you feel joy when you are up, up and away in your balloon!

[hutchibk]

Wow, what an amazing story! You are truly an inspiration! It just proves to me how important it is to dig in and not give up... even when we start to turn yellow and glow green! LOL. You are amazing. Hope you enjoyed Mohegan Sun. Def Leppard are still rockin', but I saw Styx once years ago and that was enough!