Being Thankful

The dogs want to be fed the first thing in the morning and as I was taking care of them my
husband called me to hurry up and come into the greatroom. There were 4 Sandhill Cranes
eating in our yard.

What amazing birds! It was a family. Mommy, Daddy and two babies. The picture is a
little blurry since I took it with my phone. Seeing these beautiful birds just reminded me how
thankful I am to live where we we do.

I have seen improvements in my MS symptoms since I have had my HSCT. My foot
drop is better. My fatigue is pretty much gone and I am sleeping better than ever.
I can bend the toes on my right foot. My balance is much better and I am riding my
bike.
I have posted before that I am walking 1-2 miles a day. My dogs are very happy that they
get to go for walks again! My husband has been great going for walks with me. He has
been great throughout this whole thing! We tried out a new trail the other day and it just
felt great to get out!

I saw my neurologist last week and he is very happy with my symptom improvements.

We never went into this expecting my walking or anything else to improve. I think that

he must have done some research on HSCT since he saw me last. Before I left for

Israel, my neuro ordered all the tests that Prof. Slavin wanted, but he wasn't thrilled

about it. Now, he told me he thinks HSCT will be a standard treatment and that he

believes the FDA will 'fast-track' its approval because people are getting very 

discouraged (I can't remember the exact words he used) with the pharmaceutical 

companies charging so much for MS drugs.  

My neuro also ordered more Physical Therapy for me for a total of 12 weeks. 

My PT is great and is focusing on the muscles in my right leg and side that have

atrophied over the last 3-4 years. Dragging your right leg behind you will do that!

She has me doing exercises that are very focused on small muscles and lots of 

balance exercises also. She wants me to use walking sticks when I go for a walk.

Happy Birthday Marilyn!!!

My first dinner out was on Saturday night. We went to a very nice restaurant. It was

very fitting to have my first dinner out with our good friends, Marilyn and Anders.

I am so thankful for Marilyn and having her be with me during our time in Israel.

She took such great care of me. I will forever be grateful for our friendship.

First dinner out! 

My hair has finally started growing back. It is blond and fuzzy. I live in my pink

baseball hat.  

My mom is in a nursing home. She has dementia. They had the Hyalite Country

Care Olympics last Friday. I just wish my mom could know what this treatment

was and would have been a part of it. She would be so happy!

Mom, Dad and Cody

+65 Days

I went to the grocery store by myself this morning! I went early so that there were
not many people there yet. It felt great to get out and go into a store! I was extra
careful. I had a handful of anti-bacterial wipes and used them to sanitize the cart
handle and everything that I touched! There were very few people in the store and
I didn't go near anyone. I'm still a germaphobe and will be for a few more months.

My Monday appointment with the oncologist/hematologist went really well. She is
very happy with my blood tests, which are all within normal range. She ordered
Physical Therapy and I have am going 2 days a week. The exercises are hard, but
feel great. She has me doing exercises to build back the muscle that has been lost
over the last few years of dragging my foot behind me. It is a great feeling to work
on getting better. She has asked me to go see the nutritionist that they use for the
cancer patients that have gone through chemo. When I called to make my appointment,
the nutritionist knew all about HSCT. Not for MS, but for cancer. I go see her next
week. I'm really not sure how she will help me, but I'm following my doctors
orders.

 I have been walking 1-2 miles a day around our
house. This is the start of the trail system that is
about a block from our driveway. The trail system
in Bozeman is amazing. We take our dogs with
us and they love running in the grass and on the
trail.

Another picture from down on the trail.
You can see our house from this view. I love going to walk everyday!
I am also doing the exercises that my
Physical therapist gave me to do at home.




There was a video posted on Facebook a few days ago of the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit
at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. It was so fun to watch! I saw a few of the nurses that took
care of me and a couple of my doctors in the video. As I have said many times, the care is
amazing there! Here it is!