Day +40, Sunday

Today was the second time in two days, where for a wonderful moment, I forgot that I had had a stem cell transplant. It just slipped my mind. I wasn’t thinking about medications, or having a chilled bald head. I wasn’t wondering about appointments at the Clinical Center or thinking about all of the people (Andy especially) and kitties I miss. There was no standing up too fast and getting slightly dizzy, or having to time certain foods with specific meds. I wasn’t thinking about a fragile immune system, or what was difficult to do.

Instead – I just did.

Yesterday I played music while getting dressed. And I sang. Loudly. And this is something that I would do pre-transplant before going for a run in Asheville, or going to HEW (my gym). And today, I was just out on a trail, climbing a switchback and wanting to reach the top of whatever I was hiking up before stopping. I felt that fire in my belly, that wanting to push myself, to do the hard things, to climb that extra switchback, to not stop until I reached the junction with the road. I felt like myself.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m still slow, and get winded. But that spark – that spark that is me, the me that runs and climbs mountains and backpacks trails and is going to climb Aconcagua with Christine to bring in 2023 – she is still there!

To rediscovering myself, post-transplant! And Day +40! Thank you for a wonderful hike Mom – here’s to returning soon and finding your bright red glasses….and hiking a few more miles while getting stronger!