My Personal Experience about my Transplant.
Positive Attitude
Dream to Live-Live to Dream
Start
of Story
I
would guess my story starts out like everyone else that finds out that they have
Cancer or any other life threatening illness. I was going thought my daily
routines working and happy to be healthy. I had just gotten married in October
of 1983. We were getting ready for our first Christmas together. I had had a
few sleepless nights and was having back pains and trouble sleeping. I though I
had pulled a muscle while working. I went to the doctor to have it checked out.
After he found nothing at first, he sent me for some blood work. He then
discovered the reason for all my discomfort. He called me and my wife in to his
office and gave us the unbelievable news. My white blood cell count was around
350,000 and that I had Leukemia. What a Shock!
What
to Do?
After
lot of crying at first we started to look for answers for a lot of questions.
What was Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia? What's next for my family and me? How do
we beat this?
Well this was 1983 there wasn't a whole lot of information at the time.
Computers and the Internet wasn't what it is today. I did some reading of
pamphlets and thing like that. My white count was under control with
chemotherapy, but it was beginning to take its toll on my attitude, living week
to week having blood tests every week to monitor blood counts. I wanted
something else. In 1984 Doctors at Rochester General Hospital mentioned a Bone Marrow Transplant. After that my two brothers and I
went to get tissue typed at the Red Cross and both were good matches Tom and
Todd. We decided on Todd because of his age. (Believe me he lets me know every
time we get together what he has done for me!) Thanks Todd!!
Looking
at University of Minnesota
In
the beginning of 1985 my wife Sandy, Todd and myself went out to the University of Minnesota to take a look around and talk to the Staff
and Doctors to see what was going to be involved.
Sandy and I went home and decided to go ahead with the transplant. To me it was
the only decisions to make, with out the transplant I wasn't going to live or
at least not the way I wanted to. A 45% chance at that time was better than a
0% chance if I did nothing.
Make
a Decision
I
was really luck to have the support from my wife and family for this whole time
of my life. Sandy and I had to make lot of tough decisions together I am
grateful for her support!
Go Big or Go Home, Let's Do IT
We
left for Minnesota in July of 1985. I remember the last night I
was out with Sandy and Todd, we went out for dinner at a restaurant around the
corner from the Hospital had a few beers and toasted for the day we all would
come back to this very place and celebrate a victory.
I don't have a lot of memories of the first two
weeks because of all the chemotherapy and radiation. I did loose most of my
hair, but I knew it would come back and didn't let it worry me. I got a lot of
drugs I would have to say it was a lot harder on Sandy than me, all I did was
sit there and watched TV and get sick. Sandy took care of me a lot; the
hospital encouraged the both of us to take an active part in my care, which was
a great idea. After the 2 or 3 weeks of chemotherapy and radiation, it was
August 9 the day I got a second chance on life. I got my transplant. It was the
easiest part of the whole process. I just sat there while I watched the blood
and bone marrow go from the bag to my catheter.
Next was the waiting for the blood work daily to see if it worked. I think it
was about 5-7 days or so when the blood count started to show white blood
cells. They were cancer free!!
Now it was time to get better and get home. Through out the whole process I
maintained a Positive Attitude I think at first it was more for Sandy but then it became for me. I looked forward to
my morning visits by my Doctor (Greg Vercellotti) we would joke about the daily
events, talk about his golf game and the Minnesota Twins. One of the things that made all that
time in the hospital goes by was keeping busy once I started feeling better. I
watched a lot of movies I was able to walk around a little on the floor. Sandy
and I did some leather work and latch rugs. I think we did about 6 of them and
keep them around the house still as a reminder of how lucky we were. Doc
Vercellotti became a good friend who I still keep in contact with. I can't
thank him enough.
Dr Vercellotti was always happy with my good attitude even when I was having a
bad day or two. I would not let this beat me. At the time I was suppose to be
in the hospital 100 days my goal was to get out as soon as possible. I didn't
have a severe reaction just a little Graft vs. Host, a little skin blistering
or something like bad sunburn and a little intestinal problem with acid reflux.
I was finally able to eat solid food and was able to go home. I got to go home
the first week in October only 64 days in the hospital. I was in a hurry to get
home to relax. Minneapolis is a great city, the people are friendly but it was
nice to go home to the rest of my family.
Finally
Going Home!
I
can remember the great relieve of getting on the airplane home. It probably was
the worst plane ride if have ever had, I started to feel sick and really tired,
I was lucky that it was a late night flight where Sandy and I could spread out
in a couple of seats so I could lay down for most of the flight. I guess it was
too much activity to quickly after getting out of the hospital. The doctors
wanted me to stay for a few more days, but of course I didn't listen.
Once I got home I was able to relax. I was having trouble sleeping at night
partly because I was having problems with my intestinal tract and the Anxiety
of being out of the hospital with the constant care of all the nurses and doctors.
I was told that the anxiety part was normal going from a hospital environment
to home with so much care.
What
to do now!
I
was suppose to take it easy until at least January of 1986 But I didn't listen
and got tired of sitting home doing nothing around November I went to my
personal doctor and called Dr Vercellotti about going back to work Part-time
for a little while till it could go back Full-time. I also talked to the
doctors and Medical Department at Wegmans (local supermarket where I work) about
going back to work somewhere until I could work up my strength. They all
decided that it was Ok; I would not be able to go back to meat cutting for a
while because of the heavy lifting and the risk of infection with all the
possible bacteria. Wegmans found me a job in the Main Office helping out with
office information Part-time. I was able to set my hours and leave if it got to
trying. I was able to work up to 8 hour days by January of 1986 and by November
of 1986 I was cleared to go back to what I enjoyed Meat Cutting.
Complications
of being Stubborn (Part of
the Chennell family mindset)
In
January of 1986 I got herpes zoster (Shingles) I think that they were the most
painful side effects of all, I got them on my head I lost some hair again and
the nerve endings were damaged, but I got over it. Also I got Pericardice
(inflammation of the sac around the heart) due to a viral infection. I went
back to Minnesota in March for a 6-month check up and was down
to 135 lbs. I didn't realize I had lost that much weight. I had been around 195
lbs the whole time in the hospital. They were a little concerned about the
weight loss but we determined because of the herpes and Pericardice being so
close together and that was the reason for my loss of appetite and that while I
was there for a week going through tests and was gaining weight again, to let
me go back home. It didn't take long after I got back home that weight gain
wasn't a problem I was back to 200 lbs around the middle of summer. Back to a
real man (my brother Tom says real men are over 200 lbs.)
The only long-term side effects now are cataracts and a slight worsting of my asthma. My asthma as improved greatly since
I wave gotten out of the Meat Department and the constant cold work area.
Well that's my story hopefully
It helps some understand the process of a Bone Marrow Transplant
I cannot stress the
Importance of a Positive Attitude. You Can Beat This.
(The BMT process has changed
since 1985, but this is the way I went through it!!)
Observations
from Sandy
I
was discussing this page with her. She wanted me to add if you are away from
your relatives, that she was unsure of living in a house (In Minneapolis it was
the Hanover House sort of like the Ronald McDonald House) with the rest of the
family's who had family members going through the same thing at the hospital.
She wanted to stay at a hotel but found it really helpful and also comforting
to be able to talk to other people that were going through the same thing as
she was. Sandy says she was glad she did go to the Hanover House.
UPDATES
An Update on 9/09/1995
Well
Weight is not a concern; I was out to Minneapolis in 1995 for my 10 year check up on my Harley
and was given a clean bill of health. I feel great, loving life.
Enjoying my Harley-Davidson, going for long
trips on it.
An Update on 5/16/1999
Well it's been 14 years I am now
Driving Truck (18 Wheel's) for Wegmans. I have not had a problem with my Asthma
since I got out of the Meat Department, being in the Cold all day. I have been
getting lots of E-mail from people that read this. It makes me very happy that
I took the time to write this page.
An Update on 8/17/2000
Well I just got back from Minnesota
from my 15 year Check-up everything is great, I can't believe how much of Minneapolis
has changed since I was there 5 years ago. Lot's of new
buildings by the U of M Campus and hospital. It was great seeing Dr V. and just
talking about what’s going on in the treatment of CML. I drove out this year in
my car. Boy I wish I took my Motorcycle the weather was great all the way out
and a little cool on the way back.
An Update on 1/18/2002
Well its winter in Rochester,
NY Jan 18th and we
haven't gotten more than a few inches of snow. I am doing great no problems or
concerns from my BMT It’s been 16 1/2 years with no problems. I can't believe
the new things that are being used for treatment STI-571 (Gleevec) for one. My
Dr. was talking about this drug in 1999 when I had my 15 year check-up.
An Update on 8/9/2003
Today is my 18 year
anniversary of my BMT I can’t believe it’s been 18 years. I am feeling great I
just had a physical and am in real good shape. No side effects from the BMT
except for little cataract’s that haven’t seem to have gotten bigger in about
15 years. I still work at Wegmans as a truck driver going all over Upstate NY
and Pennsylvania. In a few weeks Sandy, myself
and my 2 brothers and a friend and their wife’s are all going to the
Harley-Davidson 100th Anniversary celebration. The guys are riding
out and the girls are flying.
An Update on 10/12/2003
Milwaukee was a blast for
Harley-Davidson’s 100th anniversary we still wonder why Elton John
was the big surprise guest at the BIG Party on Sunday???? He is a good
performer but didn’t seem the right fit for 150,000 bikers.
An Update on 10/01/2004
Well it’s been 19
great years, still no problems feeling great, still enjoy riding my Harley all
over. Something struck me funny the
other day, now I am thinking about making the correct choices for retirement
with my 401 K’s and other things.
An Update on 8/03/2005
Well it will be 20 years since my BMT
on August 9th of this year.
I have to thank my brother Todd
for helping save my life (yes I know I still owe you).
The rest of my family and friends and
the Doctors, Nurses and the rest of the staff at the Bone Marrow Transplant
unit at the University of Minnesota and My Doctor and friend Dr. Greg Vercellotti.
I still am driving tractor trailers for Wegmans
Food Market, driving my Harley-Davidson and feel great.
An Update on 9/09/2006
Well
I am still alive and kicking 21 years out from Transplant. Now just getting
older and dealing with normal health concerns.
Still
working at Wegmans and driving my Harley-Davidson
An Update on 9/31/2007
Well
another year has gone by and I am still around enjoying life 22 years out.
Still working for Wegmans and driving my
Harley-Davidson.
Just
started planning the Trip To Milwaukee for Harley’s
105th Anniversary Party
Positive Attitude
Dream to Live - Live to Dream
Copyright
© 2005-2008 Tim Chennell. All rights reserved.
Updated 5/30/2008