1 Year Post Transplant 

Better late than never…Happy one year post stem cell transplant to me! On June 13th, 2015, it was exactly one year since the day I received my donated stem cells from my anonymous unrelated donor! This is a huge milestone and means so many positive things are next!

This week I was finally able to receive 2 of my vaccines. I will be needing all my childhood vaccines again. Since my stem cell transplant all the vaccines I have ever received were wiped out, so I’m starting fresh! One step closer to being able to travel to certain places.

This milestone also means I can fill out the paperwork to request my donor’s contact information! Depending where my donor is from it could take 1-2 years, or I could find out that wherever my donor is from it is illegal to contact him/her. Different countries have different rules. Meeting my donor is something I would really be grateful for.

I didn’t want to make the day of my 1 year a huge deal because I’m trying to put the past behind me but deep down I was way too excited. It is a huge deal and I deserved that day of celebration. I spent most of the day with my family at home, enjoying our pool. Later we went out for dinner then a few of my girlfriends came over and we had a bonfire before heading out downtown. Doctors say that even after a stem cell transplant you could still have a relapse or reject the transplant. It is less likely to happen after the 1 year mark, even better chances after the 2 year mark and after 5 years you are considered “cured.” Those numbers still scare me to this day to be honest, but the way things are going for me lately, I consider myself cured.