Day 0: Stem Cell And New Birthday. Worth Fighting For.
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Day 0: Stem Cell and New Birthday. Worth Fighting for.
Today is a special day for me. It is the day I received a stem cell transplant to treat my leukemia. It is also the day I celebrate as my new birthday, because it marks the beginning of a new life for me.
I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) two years ago, when I was 25 years old. AML is a type of blood cancer that affects the bone marrow and the production of healthy blood cells. It can progress rapidly and be fatal if not treated.
The standard treatment for AML is chemotherapy, which kills the cancer cells but also damages the healthy ones. Chemotherapy can cause serious side effects, such as infections, bleeding, nausea, hair loss, and fatigue. It can also damage the bone marrow, making it unable to produce enough blood cells.
That's why some patients with AML need a stem cell transplant, which is also called a bone marrow transplant. A stem cell transplant is a procedure that replaces the damaged bone marrow with healthy stem cells from a donor. Stem cells are immature cells that can develop into different types of blood cells.
A stem cell transplant can offer a chance of cure for some patients with AML, but it also comes with risks and challenges. The donor's stem cells have to match the patient's tissue type, otherwise the patient's immune system may reject them. This can cause a serious complication called graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which occurs when the donor's immune cells attack the patient's organs and tissues.
To prevent GVHD, patients have to take immunosuppressive drugs, which lower their immune system and make them more prone to infections. Patients also have to undergo frequent tests and follow-ups to monitor their blood counts and organ functions. They have to avoid exposure to germs and follow strict hygiene and dietary guidelines.
A stem cell transplant is not an easy process. It requires courage, patience, and resilience. It also requires support from family, friends, and medical staff. I am grateful for all the people who have helped me along the way.
Today is day 0 of my stem cell transplant. It is the day when the donor's stem cells are infused into my bloodstream through a catheter. It will take several weeks for the stem cells to engraft in my bone marrow and start producing new blood cells. It will take months or even years for me to fully recover from the transplant.
But today is also day 0 of my new birthday. It is the day when I start a new chapter in my life. It is the day when I hope for a better future. It is the day when I fight for my life.
Day 0: Stem Cell and New Birthday. Worth Fighting for.
I know that a stem cell transplant is not a guarantee of cure. I know that there are many uncertainties and challenges ahead. I know that I may face complications and side effects. I know that I may not survive.
But I also know that a stem cell transplant is my best chance of beating this disease. I know that there are many success stories and survivors. I know that there are many advances and innovations in this field. I know that I have a lot to live for.
That's why I decided to go through with this procedure. That's why I chose to fight for my life. That's why I celebrate today as my new birthday.
I am not alone in this journey. There are many other patients who have undergone or are undergoing a stem cell transplant. There are many other people who have faced or are facing life-threatening illnesses. There are many other people who have overcome or are overcoming adversity.
We are all warriors. We are all fighters. We are all survivors.
We all deserve a new birthday. We all deserve a new life. We all deserve to fight for our lives. aa16f39245