Trees, trees, and more trees. It's nice to be out.
Today is day 65 post transplant and I just got another surge of energy. I have been staying at City of Hope’s Village and things have been great. The “Beast/Fat kid” is back and I am eating constantly throughout the day…probably every 2-3 hours there is a “meal”, not a snack. Since the whole 3 month hospital stay, I have dropped weight from 170 lbs to 125 lbs. The last time I weighed this much was probably in 8th grade when I was 14 years old. So I hope to gain my weight back over the next few months.
The beautiful fall leaves
Health wise I have been fairing pretty well. No major GVH, just itchy palms and feet, rashes here and there throughout my body, and I’m more sensitive to heat now. I am like a vampire, once the sun hits me I start to get hot a painful pin prick itching feeling that spreads like wildfire on my chest, back and head. Oh I was hospitalized for a week for a slight fever and some lung congestion. They did a bronchoscopy procedure where they slide a camera down my lungs to see if I had any infections. Good thing was all negative. They released my back to the village with a clean bill of health.
Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!
Since my release from the hospital around day 30 something, I have been going back the City of Hope’s Clinic daily to get IV infusions of medication to prevent infections. Today while walking back home to the village I felt so FREE. I had my backpack, ipod in hand, and it felt as if I was back in college walking on campus carefree….No worries, no responsibilities, just me and the fresh air. I’ve been cooped up so long I forgot how nice it is to be outside. I continued to walk through the grass between the HUGE trees, hearing the crunching sounds of the fallen leaves under my feet. This made me feel so happy and strong again. Over the past few weeks out in the village I have met many people like myself with their own stories and struggles. I only hope they will be able to feel what I felt today.
#1 by Jenny at December 7th, 2009
Matt! you don’t know how happy it makes me to hear that you’re doing so well!! everyone on 5th floor asks about you and they always have such huge smiles on their faces when they hear about your progress.. keep up the good fight! i know there’s nothing that would make you want to enter the hospital again but come up and show your face on one of your clinic days~ we wanna see fat matt! hahaha
#2 by Annie at December 4th, 2009
Glad to read that you’re happy and STRONG again !!!
#3 by Nguyen at November 27th, 2009
So glad to see you are back. I don’t know what to say. Just enjoy life, be happy and be strong. You are the real fighter! The real fighter never lose (not even one).
#4 by Nancy D at November 25th, 2009
Its so good to hear Fat Kid is BACK! I hear he’s been sneaking snacks again too. So glad to hear that you are feeling good, maybe soon you’ll feel free enough to go skydiving. =)
#5 by Van Thu Nguyen at November 25th, 2009
Hi Mathew,
We’re glad to hear you getting better. My familly will continue to pray for you.
#6 by Christine Phan at November 25th, 2009
Hey Matthew!
I’m glad you’re able to do more things now then before. I know it’s hard for you. I understand what you’re going through, my dad also had cancer. You’re such an inspiration. I admire you and your family for the all the hope you guys have. Happy Thanksgiving! Hopefully you’ll be able to gain some weight back from this fattening day (:
#7 by Van Thu Nguyen at November 24th, 2009
Hi Mathew,
We’re glad to hear you getting better. My familly will continue to pray for you.
#8 by Stacie at November 24th, 2009
Matthew this is such great news!
Be sure to use lots of sunscreen or even a big umbrella when you walk outside to protect yourself from the sun.
Can’t wait to read more updates like this one. I think about you every day and am having been sending lots of positive energy your way.
#9 by T & Paw at November 24th, 2009
OMG, that’s how much I weigh!! Can’t wait to see you guys. You better not be skinnier than me by then
-T