Dear All,
I am delighted to share some good news with you. It’s almost a year after I relapsed with AML & after a long wait for a match, followed by another long wait until I could actually receive the cells, I finally went into hospital on 7th November. Having had conditioning chemotherapy & radiotherapy, I successfully received my Bone Marrow Transplant on 17th November. My stay in hospital was surprisingly short, as I was an inpatient for less than four weeks. I had very few side effects and although it is still early days my doctors are amazed at my progress!

I was discharged on 4th December but only on the strict instructions that I stay in my house & avoid all the nasty bugs & infections that are so rife at the moment! My wonderful mum cares for me during the day until my amazing husband comes home & takes over! My immune system will be compromised for a long time (so no hugs & kisses for a while!) but this is a minor price to pay for the ‘gift of life’ my donor has so generously given me.

I believe there are many contributing factors to the excellent way I tolerated the treatment & my speedy recovery; mine & my family’s positive attitude & refusal to dwell on the negative, ‘positive affirmations’ (repeating statements over & over e.g. ‘My transplant is a complete success’), the love & prayers of all my family, friends & ‘strangers’ who had seen my appeal.

I am so proud to know that so many people joined the register in my name. I am also  immensely proud of my community & eternally grateful to Beverley De-Gale, Orin Lewis & the ACLT Volunteers.

This has indeed been a challenging two and a half years, since I was initially diagnosed BUT I wouldn’t change a thing because I am a better person now with stronger personal relationships & have met some invaluable friends who I’m sure will be friends for life. I now appreciate life & live for the moment. So far at least three people who joined the register for me have been sent ‘The Pack’ to say they are a potential life saver to someone. If one other life is saved, then the whole thing was worth it.

Much love, peace & happiness in 2007
Sarah Thompson

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