Kickin' MS with HSCT

I’ve been home three months tomorrow and looking back it’s been quite a year. We crammed a lot in over the summer, with selling a house, packing up and moving halfway across the country, fundraising, and then going to Russia for HSCT. For the last 3 months I’ve been in recovery mode. It’s amazing how weak I was when I first returned and how far I’ve come in my recovery. I remember needing to hold on to Tom just to walk up the two steps to our front door, now I’m walking a mile every other day. I’m still not up to my pre-HSCT strength, so watch out when that happens. I finished up PT last week and now it’s all on me to keep working out. I’m going to start going to the gym again January 1st. Lifting weights again should really help, I just have to remember slow and steady.

My hair is really coming in now, and I don’t wear a hat in public any longer. Kinda proud of my new hair. I’ve been taking a photo every week for the past 8 weeks to see the progress. You can almost see it growing.

Look at that side sweep!!
I’ve been improving right a long, but am experiencing extreme joint pain still. It’s fine if I’m moving or sitting still, but once I need to move from sitting, laying down or standing still it hurts. It should go away in 3-6 months, and that can’t happen soon enough for me.

I’ve been truly blessed this year to be able to have this treatment, and I will always be thankful for all of those that helped me get there. I’m still sending monthly updates to Dr. Fedorenko, and he is very pleased with my progress and believes the treatment was successful in stopping my progression. What a way to end the year and start fresh in 2014!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!   VW