Walking thru the tunnel

Last week I saw the light at the end of the tunnel and now I'm walking thru it.  

Monday met with the "team" and discussed me leaving them by the end of this up coming week.  We had to get my magnesium levels up so I could get off of the home infusions I've been doing since leaving the hospital.  Lisa and I brought up the confusion we were having with not being more than 30 minutes from the hospital, that was keeping me from the hill and cabin.  Doctor Storb said that he understood and then proceeded to talk around when I could get the hell out of Seattle and go to our happy place.  But it seemed like he was hinting that the middle of January would be a good time to venture up there safely.  I also asked when I could get back on the booze wagon.  Not boozing boozing, but the ole have a beer or three with friends during social gatherings and it looks like I'm riding the sober train until the end of March on this one. 
During the rest of the week I went appointment to appointment so they could run me thru almost all of the tests that I did during the 3 week prep leading up to me entering the hospital on September 25th to make sure I could live thru the transplant.
We did a bone density test, to see how jacked the drugs made my bones.  Did I get osteoporosis from the meds?  Nope, clear for take off there.
There was a pulmonary test, which my intake was 10% better than before I took this "journey."  The tech said that it was because I was as light as I am and my chest could expand more than when I weighed more.  Another good result.
The dentist was up next and the first question they asked me was how often I flossed my teeth.  Twice!  "Twice a day, that's great!"  No, twice a year.  I get two teeth cleanings a year and each time the hygienist flosses my teeth.  It's against my religion to floss Doc.
My results came back from the bone marrow aspirate.  I've taken over the Germans blood type of O- and lost my blood type of B+, but still retain my platelet type of B.  Apparently they don't kill all of you during the chemo stage and your platelet type is genetically part of you forever.  Also they said that there is no sign of cancer in my marrow.  Seeing how the type of cancer I had is curable, that's a good sign.
I had a ultrasound on my stomach to see whats up with the small blood clot I got after getting my spleen out.  I've had to get two shots a day since July because of this and honestly, it sucks.  Bad.  I hate these shots more than anything I've gone thru besides the spleen coming out.  They burn, sting and I'm a giant pussy about needles.  The results showed no clot present and boom, no more shots for me.
The best appointment I had was a Long Term Follow Up (LTFU) departure class about what we can and should do once we leave the transplant team and go back to where ever the hell we're from and get in the care of our normal cancer docs.  Lisa and I stayed after class to ask specific questions about me and what I can and shouldn't do.  THIS was the home run meeting we've been waiting for:
Yes, I can go to the cabin once released from the transplant team.  My immune system is still delicate and growing but I will show signs of an infection or sickness before going septic and the Monroe hospital being 45 minutes away is close enough for me to stay alive.  Just tell them I'm a transplant patient and call the SCCA and they'll tell them the drugs to administer to me to keep me going should something go down.
My platelet count is high enough that I can snowboard with out bruising.  Whether my energy and fitness level will allow it is another story.  But I'm betting that this skinny fuck could muster out a couple of runs.
The gym is a go.  Bring some clean wipes, wipe down everything I touch and go when no ones there.
Air travel?   You betcha.  Not for vacation but if I have to go from point A to B, I can.  Bring those clean wipes again, my own drink and food and let it rip.  I should wear a face mask too, not for protection but to keep people away from me.
Sporting goods event are a go as well.  As long as we're rooting for a shitty, loosing team and no ones in the stadium.
This week I have my good bye meeting with the yellow transplant team and then Friday I get the Hickman line removed that goes directly into me.  This is the final straw in me walking thru the tunnel into the the light and getting a well needed tan. Not the chemo tan I'm sporting now.
Bring on next week!

I walked around the waterfront by SCCA in between appointments last week and figured that this would be a pretty good boat to move into with Lisa, once the kids were out of the house that we're gonna sell as soon as their gone.  But upon further internet investigation, the 2.3million price tag is probably gonna keep us land locked.

Gnar and Milo took off from Seattle all week since they were on vacation and we couldn't be at the cabin.  Dr.s orders.  The Clines took over the parenting duties for the week, while Gnar took over the "we wish you were here Dad" text and photo's.

The older dudes at Stevens took Milo under their wing and brought him out in the side county to build jumps and jump off cliffs.  This one's kinda large seeing how he's landing out of the frame.

 Classic Tontini's. 

My first sober New Years in 29 years with these dudes.  One of the more memorable ones in a long time.

Our French friends the Soultrains have been great with the boys, jumping in and getting them to and from the mountain like the Clines have.  Natache sent us this shot of the boys coming back from an event in Wenatchee.  It must be a French thing that Milo's doing, as we've never taught him that.

It must be the BMX in me, cause I jumped the gate yesterday and went up to the cabin to clean up from the week that the Clines and the boys spent there.  Good thing we drove all the way up and back so we could walk into a spotless cabin.  Thanks again for being great humans Jason and Kim, as well as taking great care of our land yacht.