tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49915704562519356002024-03-05T06:01:47.610-08:00HealingreenKarina Grünwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502354939972045465noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991570456251935600.post-76876477172180160572014-10-26T09:12:00.000-07:002014-10-26T09:12:40.782-07:002do año. (¿Último post?)<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Queridos amigos:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hoy se cumplen dos años del trasplante de células madre. Son dos años en los que mi enfermedad se podría haber detenido. Sin embargo, no fue así. ¿Por qué? Nadie sabe...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gracias por confiar en mí y regalarme esperanzas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Y a quienes siguen a mi lado, gracias por regalarme su compañía, amor, tiempo y amistad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Disfrutemos cada día.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eternamente agradecida...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">R. Karina</span></div>
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Karina Grünwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502354939972045465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991570456251935600.post-438512301014023772013-10-26T08:24:00.003-07:002013-10-28T02:45:53.366-07:001st Year<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hi dear friends,<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today is my 1st transplantation Birthday. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This has been a year of accelerated spiritual
growth. It began with three months
wiping off the chemo and its impact, opportunistic infections, physical ups and
downs, hopes and disappointments… It was a year that I lived “isolated” while
life went on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I never stopped doing my three times a week PT,
and suddenly I started being surrounded by a group of angels. Pablo H. helps me go from one place to another
with so much tenderness and patience.
Claudia R, Claudia and Taly E and Nurit P. jumped into my life for no specific
reason, but they always visit me like fairies that sprinkle their dust and leave
home with a special scent … Thanks to Elin’s idea, I started doing Yoga and
there I found Angeles, the Yoga teacher, and a group of sweet women. Of course I can’t do all the exercises, but
I’m happy if I do 1/8</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">th</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> or 1/4<span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> of them; at least I go out of my
house for another reason that it’s not a medical exam or a doctor’s
appointment. Rafael is the physical education
teacher that is with me twice a week for two hours each. He’s been essential in accepting the
disability which has been so hard for me to do. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve witnessed many people with Remitting
Relapsing and Aggressive Relapsing MS experience miracle improvements after
their transplantation, and even some Secondary Progressive ones. I don’t know if it depends on how long they
have been progressive, their disability status… I really don’t know, but I know
for sure that Heidelberg University Hospital was the best facility I could have
gone to and that fully myeloablative transplantation was right for me, and as
HB’s Dr. Blank said, it’s impossible to know how I would have been now without the
transplantation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There’s still a year ahead in which I could
experience improvements. So, as long as
it is hard to continue being patient, being surrounded by these new angels in
my life, helps a lot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I send bright stars to Mellisa, Elin, Phoebe, Bassam,
Maryam, Toni, Monique, George, Carmel, Scott, Wendy and Eddie… We’re so distant apart, but so
close at the same time.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take care,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PS: Important statement: “No matter how many
times I break down, there is always a little piece of me that says ‘NO, you are
not done yet. Get back up’”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unknown</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->Watch this link please.</span>
<!--[endif]--></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX9FSZJu448"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX9FSZJu448</span></a><br />
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Karina Grünwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502354939972045465noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991570456251935600.post-2472889803787376952013-09-23T18:31:00.001-07:002013-09-26T17:09:39.256-07:00Almost 11 Months<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The reason why I haven’t posted anything since
May is because I haven’t experienced any benefit either. This has been the most difficult year of my
life. I know that there are people in a much
worst condition than me, but I can’t help it: I miss so much myself from not-so-long ago. I wish someone knew what
determines or what avoids the progression and feeling fatigued, besides what we all know: sleeping
well, good nutrition, exercise, rest, avoiding stress and heat… Until May I
went one step forward and two steps back, but suddenly everything “seemed” strange. My physiotherapist swears that besides some
days in which I was extremely fatigued, my disease has not progressed. I had tonsillitis,
and became voiceless. I experienced
extreme dizziness. I couldn’t even stand up some days and they run the cranial
nerve VIII test. It turned out I did have some deficiency (??) I still don’t know why the dizziness comes
back some days, but there are stable days too.
In order to eliminate any possible “something” in the brain, I had an
MRI that showed even smaller scars than on March's, which according to my neurologist could
translate in eventually some improvement.
He will attend Ectrims 2013 next month in Copenhagen. Hopefully there will be anything new…</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy springtime southern hemisphere and happy
autumn northern one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take care</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Karina Grünwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502354939972045465noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991570456251935600.post-62685416181742302082013-05-26T09:21:00.003-07:002013-05-26T09:21:57.646-07:007 Months<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #454545; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This has been a very special month :o) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #454545; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been feeling much better, and </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I sometimes realize that </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">things that were difficult to do... I just did them!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> Some people tell me I look like before going to Germany. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #454545; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a progressive, disabling disease, each reversal is miraculous! When I arrived I used a wheelchair, then a walker and now I've been able to use the cane! I walked barefoot in my appartment without holding onto anything (with tears in my eyes!) and I went walking on the elevator hallway with the AFO only holding sometimes to the wall :) </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I still have to avoid crowds because the hemato-oncologist said my immune system is still the one of someone with Aids, but I feel very optimistic. One of my goals was to be able to attend to my daughter's school graduation ceremony on December using the cane and now I know I will! </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #454545; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #454545; line-height: 18px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I asked my physiotherapist a report and this is it:</span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #454545; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">M</span></o:p></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">uch less fatigued.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Higher
tolerance to 45 minute exercises</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #454545; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Right side of the body (the affected):<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #454545; line-height: 115%;">Diminishing spasticity (only some at ankle articulation</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #454545; line-height: 115%;"> level)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #454545; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fluctuating foot ankle articulation clonus that disappears with
exercises.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Lower extremity:</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #454545; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She achieves triple flexion and is improving strength, active mobility
and increasing repetitions<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #454545; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white;">Upper extremity: <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #454545; line-height: 115%;">She achieves shoulder and elbow flexion with more tolerance to the
exercise and increase in repetitions.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #454545; line-height: 115%;"><br /><span style="background: white;">Hand: achieves fist with diminishing spasticity</span><br /><span style="background: white;">Gait: </span><span style="background: white;">Dynamic balance present with larger support base</span><br /><span style="background: white;">Achieves walking without any technical support and fewer compensation of trunk, head and neck.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">My recovery is also dedicated to someone very dear that passed
away.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> She must be very busy now arranging everything for her kids and her closed ones, but </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I know she is also very proud of me in
heaven…</span></div>
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Karina Grünwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502354939972045465noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991570456251935600.post-24711768969043619882013-04-27T19:27:00.002-07:002013-04-27T19:27:58.918-07:006 Months<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My daughter noticed I was feeling better just when</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I got home after the hospital last month. I've been taking the antibiotics and I'm getting stronger. People that haven't seen me in a while say I look more "ambulatory". I even dared to take a cab the other day (with the walker) and went to a meeting with my son's school teachers. Then I took a cab and came </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">back</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">home. I only live two blocks away from school... but I did it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm working hard with my physiotherapist and although the antibiotics make me very dizzy, I realize I get better each session and this has been a tremendous relief for me...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm feeling optimistic. I know the recovery has ups and downs, but now I understand the post transplantation </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">dynamics. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think it's time to share with you the illustration made by Phoebe Scopes (who also went HSCT) that perfectly describes the situation I'm going through.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks Phoebe!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everybody take care</span></div>
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Karina Grünwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502354939972045465noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991570456251935600.post-7171193195510368492013-03-29T16:58:00.000-07:002013-03-30T06:12:03.330-07:005 Months<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I was slowly experiencing improvements, during the last three weeks I started feeling extremely weak and fatigued. I fell many times and couldn't sit up. I had many bruises all over my body and I hurt my ribs in one of my falls. I became very depressed as I couldn't do the small things I had achieved with my persistance and my physiotherapy sessions... I started feeling so disabled like never before. I couldn't go anywhere.... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had a brain and a cervical stem MRI with no new nor active lesions. Some of them were even smaller. That was great, but what explained the worsening of symptoms?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went to see the onco-hematologist and he asked me to have some exams. I turned possitive to Clostridium Difficile Toxins A and B. It is an opportunistic bacteria that was activated because of the long use of an antibiotic called Ciprofloxacin. I've already been 5 months using it, following Heidelberg's instructions. The doctor suspended it right away and hospitalized me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I spent last night in the Clínica Alemana waiting for the oral Vancomycin. The immunologist said we had to wait and see how welI it was tolerated, but if everything went well and I didn't have high fever, I could go home.. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am glad there was something wrong, because I know it will be fixed and I'll start improving again, but I'm still very depressed. I never thought I would be this disabled. I have to use an AFO for the right foot drop, an orthesis for my right hand, another AFO to sleep, I'm still taking Ensure supplements, many medications...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wish I could erase the word Multiple Sclerosis from my head for just one day... hopefully I'll get better with this new antibiotic and I'll start improving again as stem cells still have a lot to do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was the view from my window... I wanted to share it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take care</span></div>
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Karina Grünwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502354939972045465noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991570456251935600.post-65865589138590583822013-02-27T11:55:00.000-08:002013-02-27T12:20:39.649-08:004 Months<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">Many
people thought I would get off the plane walking by myself and many still think
I get better every day, but unfortunately it's not like that.</span> It is
taking a lot of patience, physical rehabilitation and the support of my family
and friends, because it’s not easy… I’m still very fatigued and it hampers easy
tasks such as getting up from bed, brushing your teeth, and so on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">However,
I have had some improvement:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">No more electric
pinching in my soles. It was hard to
fall asleep with that…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I went
twice to the movies and I didn’t have to rush into the bathroom<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I sense
all th</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">e flavors. No more sour sensation
of liquids.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I can
lift my r</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">ight arm up to my head<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I gave
the wheelchair back and now I’m using a walker, which strengths my leg muscles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I wore
sandals and even could give some steps without holding onto anything!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I had the
visit of my brother and his wife from Israel, my uncles from the US and my aunt
from Spain. It was a wonderful month
surrounded by a lot of love…<span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Patience, exercise and love. That is the clue...</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take care</span></span></div>
Karina Grünwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502354939972045465noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991570456251935600.post-84187762109322995542013-01-26T20:47:00.000-08:002013-01-29T17:26:58.544-08:003 Months<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This month has been one step forward two steps backward, but I'm doing better. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's easier for me to roll over in the bed and to stand when I'm lying. I can stand up from a seating position without hand support. I can sit and support my right feet completely on the floor... I feel more upright. Sometimes I can do things that two minutes later I can't and viceversa. I am still very fatigued and tired. I haven't gone out unless I have an appointment with some doctor or if I have to take any exams. I know I have to be very patient, but that's easier said than done... I sense it's getting better, veeeeeery slowly, but it is...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My hair is growing back and so do my eyebrows and eyelashes and that feels great. Well, I don't have too much to tell you, but I know each month will be better. I'm very obedient with doctors: I take all my medicines, I exercise with my physiotherapist and I eat my meals :o)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had the wonderful visit of Simone and Frank from Eisenach, and being with them, even for a very short time, was like a dream... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summer in Chile is very hot, but Santiago is a very beautiful city.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take care...</span><br />
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Karina Grünwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502354939972045465noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991570456251935600.post-18888376761444796242012-12-27T04:57:00.002-08:002012-12-27T04:57:48.763-08:002 Months<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's already two months after transplantation. In fact, it was yesterday, but I couldn't write in my blog. My mom's birthday was on the 25th and because I exceeded a bit with some food, yesterday I couldn't stop vomiting... Ok, it's my fault. I accept full responsibility, but I felt awful...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today I feel weak...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the last month I started feeling more myself. Previously, I felt kind of a zombie: half asleep, half awaken. I've started thinking about plans for the future for the period after my recovery... and that's very possitive.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been slightly improving in some exercises, but lifting my heel 1cm feels like reaching the Everest! There's still a lot to do with physiotherapy and, I've been told, it's for life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I no longer have the Cytomegalovirus!!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I take this opportunity to wish you and your families a very happy 2013 filled with beautiful moments to cherish in your hearts!!! and also health, money and love that are always welcome!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With all my heart...</span><br />
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Karina Grünwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502354939972045465noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991570456251935600.post-1420071710914523132012-12-16T13:32:00.001-08:002012-12-16T13:32:32.486-08:004th Week!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Already four weeks! I must say I feel more "alive". People who have seen me before and see me again say I look better, and I feel better too!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had an appointment with the onco-hematologist and he said it takes a year for the immune system to recover. He also said the prophylactic medications are one year long after HSCT in Chile unlike in Germany where you have to take them during </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">six months. The amount of medications I take have increased...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I keep doing rehabilitation with my PT three times a week and do it twice a week with the assistant nurse.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know the road is very long, but I'm hopeful... </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday I could even attend to Gabriel's B-Day that was beautifully and fully organized by the mothers of my son's kindergarten class. I was touched by their generosity and their friendship... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You see...? </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm still surrounded by blessings.</span></div>
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Karina Grünwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502354939972045465noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991570456251935600.post-86696035770876681072012-12-09T07:15:00.001-08:002012-12-09T07:15:14.210-08:003rd Week<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rehabilitation process is very long, and I experience fatigue and nausea that don't help at all. I have to be patient... even more patient. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Days go by between physiotherapy, bathroom, medicines, food, cream... My whole body is peeling and even the palms of my hands!!! but the exantema is finally gone... Now the itchiness comes from the skin peeling.. Phew!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A promising future is on sight and there is where I go, slowly but surely.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I haven't been out, except for doctors and exams, but today my mom took me on an hour drive tour and It was very nice.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The mothers of Gabriel's kindergarten class are organising his birthday for next Saturday, because his real b-day is in January and people are on Summer vacations. One of them is going to bring the b-day cake, another the piñata, candies, gifts for the kids, small chairs and tables, and so on... I want to publicly thank Joyce Berman for being so sweet, concerned, philantropist, and mainly a good friend.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As you can see, I'm surrounded by blessings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take care</span></div>
Karina Grünwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502354939972045465noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991570456251935600.post-69728886523039702912012-12-02T08:11:00.000-08:002012-12-02T08:11:12.149-08:002nd Week<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the blood tests was positive. It turned out that one of the opportunistic infections appeared and, though it's asymptomatic, I have a cytomegalovirus. The infectologist told me that I shoud take Valganciclovir for a month, and that I should start immediately with it. Nobody transmitted this virus to me. It's a virus that many people have dormant in the body, but after transplants occasionally is activated. I'll have blood tests every week to check how is everything going on.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started rehabilitation with my physiotherapist, following the physiatrist instructions, and though I feel extremely fatigued when I use the right side of the body (my weak side) I do my best to do all the exercises. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My neurologist prescribed a sleeping pill, so I'm finally sleeping five hours plus a short nap in the afternoon!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many friends have visited me and whenever I need to go to the doctor, some close friends take me to them... Also on the first days, I was never alone, because there was always a friend with me. The Jewish Community of Chile hired a nursing assistant to be with me from 9 to 18 hrs, Mondays through Saturdays. I try to do everything by myself, but she helps me a lot with: the medicines, food (I also take Ensure daily), stretching and exercises, putting cream for the exantema (that thank God is each day less itchy), and so on...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's going to be a very slow recovery, but that's the way it is expected.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile, I enjoy being with my son, my mom and my friends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take care.</span></div>
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Karina Grünwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502354939972045465noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991570456251935600.post-25222347895353303532012-11-26T12:04:00.003-08:002012-11-26T14:54:21.630-08:001st Week Update<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel so happy at home... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My daughter left two days after I arrived and went to her school trip to Poland and Israel for a month. She claimed that if she hadn't seen me, she wouldn't have gone to the trip. Luckily we had the chance to see each other... My son is here next to me and he keeps asking if I already got better from MS, but he realizes I don't or, at least, not yet. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been sleeping really bad: maximum 4-5 hours and not even continuous. As I was told, spasticity has worsened, but they say it lasts about 3 months. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I already visited my onco hematologist who asked me to have some blood tests. He said that if I had 38°C fever, then I should go immediately to the ER, because there's the risk of catching opportunistic infections. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today I was with my neurologist and it was so good to see him!!! Imagine the bond created after 16 years... I'm so lucky for having been supported by him in the transplant... I know many people around the world who don't count with their doctor's support. The exantema still itches a lot, and he said it might be the penicillin that I had to take until today. I told him I've never been allergic to anything and he said that was before but now I'm different. He said I may get better by Thursday and if I still have itchiness next Monday then I should have another blood test. Let's hope it's that, because I'm really suffering... He told me I should be patient, because things are going to be very slow now, but he was happy I already went through the most difficult part. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The physiotherapist came to my house and measured my muscles. I definitely lost muscle mass in my right side while being at the hospital for a month. He gave me a list of exercises that I should do Tuesdays and Thursdays, because he will come home Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. He also asked me to press a stress ball all day long and play with PlayDough...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm tired, because I don't sleep, because of my itchiness, because of the chemotherapy that will take months before it leaves my body...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My son just told me: "Mom, don't leave me again. You can only leave the country if its with me"... </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I promised him it'll be that way. It feels great to be here...</span></div>
Karina Grünwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502354939972045465noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991570456251935600.post-29775977307136548422012-11-19T02:49:00.001-08:002012-11-20T02:34:30.010-08:00The Return<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OtAhPgmEBXc/UKn8_49mzTI/AAAAAAAAApk/i_4vNMVGggU/s1600/530927_3993718293581_811487397_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OtAhPgmEBXc/UKn8_49mzTI/AAAAAAAAApk/i_4vNMVGggU/s640/530927_3993718293581_811487397_n.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saying goodbye to our loving neighbours Jorge, Veli, little brave Matthew and precious Liz was very difficult and sad too. It was a very stressing morning and I was also worried about the long trip, because I had vomited the night before and as you may guess, I'm not feeling well at all. Anyway, we will miss you Mexico - Bulgarian friends. Sharing two months and a half so many difficult times, while feeling you are supported by someone very close was priceless.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The flight from Frankfurt to Paris was very short. I wore a mask and we were taken in a kind of special shuttle with the wheelchair to station x where we met someone else who took us with another wheelchair up and down some elevators and all the way to other station and then we waited almost an hour for another shuttle............ The French airport was a total mess. We were taken to where we needed to go maybe two hours after we arrived. When we finally took the plane to Chile, it was wonderful... The flight was very long, but I managed to sleep five hours, while Nachita helped me with everything as usual. It was a very long fourteen hour flight where we felt how each second passed by VERY SLOWLY. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we arrived, we were told we had to wait until all the passengers got off the plane, because people in wheelchairs had to be the last ones... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We couldn't believe we were in Chile... It was a dream come true. A lady took me in the wheelchair and we were so emotional for listening to the Chilean accent... </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, we were taken down the aisle to customs and when we just turned out of the plane there was my mom, Nicole and Gabriel!!!!!!!!!! It was so impressing!!!!! We hugged each other and bursted out crying!!!!!!!!!!! They were accompanied by some detectives and managed to get almost in the plane!!!!!! (this is not done in Chile). I saw Gabriel and I told him how big he was while he replied that he ate everything :o) He also gave me back a small penguin toy that I specially bought for him (he thought it was mine and that it was very attached to me). I had asked him to take very good care of Bobby (that's his name)... Well, he gave it back to me and said he had taken very good care... Awwwwwwwwwwwwww...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then they had to go out and we proceeded to customs. Nachita picked up our bagagge and when we went out.... I was met by my two sisters who kneeled down to the wheelchairs's level and cried so much (mee too) while saying that they loved me so much...... Greeting Nachita's sisters (Gabriel's half sisters) was also very emotional and giving a big hug to her mom and dad too...... There was also Kevin (Frank and Simone's son) and Juanito (my sister Ilona's boyfriend plus my beautiful nephew Florencia.............. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And there it was....... having to say goodbye to Nachita. OMG... I felt too many strong emotions in a short time... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I must say that there's, absolutely, no place like home. It is wonderful to be here..... I had to share this with you, my friends. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope you're doing fine and that everything's alright with you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A new stage of this treatment begins, but it'll be close to my loved ones, at home, in my language...... Oh, how good that feels...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Loves,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K</span></div>
Karina Grünwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502354939972045465noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991570456251935600.post-39529538884805805092012-11-16T14:17:00.000-08:002012-11-16T14:17:16.779-08:00Last Day in Germany<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I almost didn't write anything today. I had my first day out of the hospital after almost a month... and I'm very tired.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tomorrow we'll fly back home so I think I'll take a rest from the blog for a while...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want to tell you that it's been wonderful to read your comments cheering us up throughout this very special journey. Thanks for accompanying us... This was the best way to make all of you know what was going on here...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll write here whenever I have the time, the energy and any news! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks again, Jewish Community of Chile. This dream wouldn't have become a reality and a new chance for my life, if it weren't for you,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Good night.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Loves,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K</span></div>
Karina Grünwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502354939972045465noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991570456251935600.post-11099743278373942742012-11-15T12:47:00.002-08:002012-12-27T16:41:14.337-08:00D+20!!!!!!!!!!!!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally we are back at the guesthouse!!!!!!!!!! It's like being closer to home... because we are going to Chile this Saturday!!!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank God I did not have any fever!!! so when Prof. Ho and his colleagues went to visit me I was smiling from ear to ear and he noticed it, because he said: "now you're smiling! It shows that you're feeling better". I immediately said: "will I be discharged today?" and he said yes!!!! OMG, I feel happy!!!! We had to wait until 17.30 when the Dr. who spoke Spanish handed me many prescriptions we had to buy and a long instructive with how to keep on taking all the medicines for the next six months. I really have to study them now. Our neighbour Jorge picked us up in his car from the hospital and took us to the drugstore... Nachita will have to pick up tomorrow some medications that were not available </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can't tell you how much I cried when Jorge took this photo:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4jzshhGgD48/UKVRA2Gg4rI/AAAAAAAAAo4/4rA-A1COQSM/s1600/DSC09822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4jzshhGgD48/UKVRA2Gg4rI/AAAAAAAAAo4/4rA-A1COQSM/s640/DSC09822.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We especially made this T-shirts for the ocassion... and we wanted so badly to get to the day where we could wear it... and though it took soooo long... the day arrived!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will go to study about my medications...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Loves,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K</span></div>
Karina Grünwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502354939972045465noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991570456251935600.post-6256988307861860882012-11-14T11:06:00.001-08:002012-11-14T11:06:52.194-08:00D+19<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank God the cultured blood test is negative until now, so I could finally leave the hospital tomorrow evening, that is unless I have no fever today. I had 37.4°C earlier, but apparently that's no fever for Germans... (good thing!). Dr. Ursulla's theory about having stressed my body too much sounds quite reasonable.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I met today two other nurses that helped me a lot... and one was Israeli!!! We spoke Hebrew and it was great!!! I've practiced all the languages I speak: Spanish, French, Portuguese, English and even Hebrew! They want to convience me to start learning German, but besides some words, I refuse to do it... It will take some time before I start forgetting everything that I've lived here. On the long run it's going to be good, but not now...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tina the physiotherapist was here again, and I tried to move a bit... but I'm still exhausted.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please pray again for me so as to have a good night sleep, without you-know-what....</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See you tomorrow.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Loves,<br />K</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know I don't look so pretty, but that's the way I am now...</span></div>
Karina Grünwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502354939972045465noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991570456251935600.post-16954957477425638172012-11-13T11:26:00.000-08:002012-12-27T16:40:08.228-08:00D+18<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hi again...</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I couldn't kept my word and yesterday was also a very long night with fever (39°C), blood taking, antibiotics and paracetamol. They said the blood culture will take 24 hrs. to verify if there's any bacteria or germ around, though the Dr. said she thought everything was because even if I'm resting, my body is fighting a lot and that's why I could have got the fever.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, we'll have to wait until tomorrow's results.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now I'll be discharged on Thursday... Anyway, it's better to be taken care of here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope you have a very good night sleep.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Loves,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K</span></div>
Karina Grünwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502354939972045465noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991570456251935600.post-81281899908494464082012-11-12T07:18:00.001-08:002012-11-12T07:18:03.019-08:00D+17<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since I didn't have a good night sleep again, Prof. Ho and his colleagues decided I should stay here until Wednesday. I think it´s quite reasonable.... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a new neighbour from Iraq. She's a nice 24 year old young woman with cancer. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made up my mind and tonight IS going to be a much better one. I promised that to myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, don't stop sending all the good vibes and prayers that you can...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Loves, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K</span></div>
Karina Grünwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502354939972045465noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991570456251935600.post-51304070164787430032012-11-11T08:49:00.002-08:002012-11-11T09:08:37.292-08:00D+16<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After being the whole day with antihistaminics, I've slept most of it. They "painted" me with some other cream, "lotio alba aquosa 200g" which made my body look pink instead of bright red. It did sooth me, but tomorrow at the guesthouse still puzzles me as to how am I going to arrange with everything, even with going to the bathroom....</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nachita was here in the morning and she brought me some clothes and the wheelchair for tomorrow and she went back to the apartment in order to clean it thoroughly.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's for today. I'm exhausted.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Loves,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K</span></div>
Karina Grünwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502354939972045465noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991570456251935600.post-78852356241499168312012-11-10T08:13:00.000-08:002012-11-10T08:13:18.689-08:00D+15<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I thought it would be a much better night... I must tell you that in one of my comings and goings to the bathroom, I fell :o( My neighbour stood up and immedialy called the nurse. They helped me go to bed again and told me to call her whenever I needed. That was not what they had told me before... that there was just going to be one nurse for 20 patients for the whole night... Well, that's some gossip.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My neighbour left today and she'll be back in three more weeks... I thank her for what she did last night for me and wished her all the luck she could get... Being 52 and having cancer it's not an easy thing...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Regarding my rush, it simply looks terrible. I look like a monster! They've been telling me for more than a week that the rush will be out in two days... but nothing seems to be farther from that, and I had to take another antihistaminic to avoid the terrible itch..</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dr. Egert was here again and she said my leukocytes were around 4,500 which is very good, but my CRP needs to be a bit better.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The nurses keep asking me if I'm nervous to be on my own this Monday, and I just take it as another mandatory stage of this journey...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd like to tell you once again, that only getting rid of the chemo will take about three months in which I'm supposed to sleep a lot, and afterwards it'll take about two years to recover whatever is possible, considering the damage done to the myelin sheath for the last 16 years. It'll be a hard work with my physioterapist, but I'm eager to start living this new chance to live...(forgive the repetition).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See you tomorrow.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Loves,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K</span></div>
Karina Grünwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502354939972045465noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991570456251935600.post-78281676669433501012012-11-09T10:27:00.000-08:002012-11-09T10:27:35.533-08:00D+14<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After taking the antihistamine and the pill to sleep, I have to tell you that I slept until 7!!! with some interruptions, of course, but it wasn't only until 5 as on the other days.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today Prof. Ho and his colleagues came and they were happy for me. They told me I would be out of the hospital on Monday, which I supported very much, because I still don't feel quite myself. They withdrew the vesical catheter which had been with me more than two weeks. The allergy was so itchy that I couldn't stop scratching myself. They put me in IV antihistaminics and that was it... but I fell asleep and when I woke up, Nachita was here! They told me I should start drinking 2 liters of water and they withdrew all the IV lines left. I'm free now! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then Tina, the physiotherapist came and made me walk with my new rigid orthesis for my right foot drop. Walking was a bit easier for me. She said I should wear it until I recover some muscle mass and some muscle strength.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I Skyped my daughter and my mom... and realized I could stand and sit as I wished :o)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My tongue is a bit better, so I'm still cautious with everything I eat: mainly yogurts, pudding and soft salty cookies. I managed to eat some small potatoes for lunch plus a yogurt...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I feel as if my soul was coming back to my body"... that's a Spanish saying, but it reflects the better way I'm feeling now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Good night and "see you" tomorrow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Loves,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K</span></div>
Karina Grünwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502354939972045465noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991570456251935600.post-62521011667364192722012-11-08T07:49:00.000-08:002012-11-08T07:49:03.082-08:00D+13<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tío Moishe, you're right: "nimas li"! I'm fed up with all this!!!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Though I had a better night sleep, the first thing in the morning was like everyday, taking more blood samples. They pricked me three times until they told me my veins were not good anymore, and that they should take the blood from one foot. Again I was shocked and couldn't avoid crying... That's too much... I thought...... But, it was not painful at all and now I have some good veins...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then another nightmare began... my whole body started itching so bad, that if I had long nails I would have been scratched ALL over. They gave me more antihistaminics and switched the ointment to a corticoid one, which made me feel better.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tina, this ward's physiotherapist came and we made some exercises in the bed.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everything indicates that I'm leaving the hospital this Sunday. I hope it stays that way... because we're suppossed to fly back to Chile in November 17th!!! (sorry little sister Nonis, I guess we will only be there on the 18th and not on your B-day, so I don't need to give you any present ;o)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BTW, I have been eating two fruit yogurts daily because my tongue is still seriously wounded and everything I eat either sores or it's painful to swallow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All in all, today was a good day (trying hard to see the glass half full) and tomorrow will be a better day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Loves,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As for your questions regarding hugs, sterelization, food and so on, I copy one of the most experts opinion, George Goss's:</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Most post-HSCT’ers go overboard on this subject. You don’t need to be paranoid about all this, just careful and prudent. Your innate immune system (Leukocytes) is back 100% now. It is only your adaptive immune system (Lymphocytes = T-cells and B-cells) that are still not recovered which will take approximately another year. So your best defense to not get sick from here on out is the same thing that keeps people with a normal immune system healthy; common sense.</span></span></div>
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[442].[1][2][1]{comment367186546698587_367293983354510}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[442].[1][2][1]{comment367186546698587_367293983354510}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">In general you don't need to go crazy and maintain sterility when you travel. What you “touch" matters ten times more than what you "breath." For my four months following transplantation I always carried a small bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer in my pocket and used it often. You can't use that stuff too much. And have the people in your home use it often, also. Don't touch your face until you have sanitized your hands first (pathogens enter your body easily through the membranes of your eyes and nose). Stay away from animals and crowds of people because you can't know who is sick that might expose you to something dangerous. Stay away from any person that has an illness. You can hug and touch your kids and your partner if they are well and not sick. Don't avoid hugging your family. It's not necessary and just adds stress to everyone's life. I didn't shake hands with other people (strangers) for four months but after six months I was pretty much back to completely normal behavior. I did get a cold at +4 months, but my body handled it fine and I never had an infection emergency at any time. Because the intestinal mucosa is degraded from the chemo, be careful what you eat following transplantation. For a few months avoid “live” foods such as yogurt, miso and any unpasteurized dairy products. Most everything should be cooked well. Stay away from unpeeled fruits and vegetables that are not cooked. You want to avoid food contamination, pathogens from food and avoid food poisoning at all costs.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">Regarding your airplane flight home. . . . . . I flew from Frankfurt to San Francisco for my trip home on day +15. Be careful what you touch in the aircraft lavatory (use the alcohol hand sanitizer afterwards every time) and don’t eat the airline food or drink the beverages they serve out of open containers. Any pre-packaged or processed food products are OK. You can drink bottled beverages such as water and soft drinks. I brought my own snacks (chips, candy, power bars) to eat on the airplane which you might want to also consider doing. If you are underweight (I lost 7.5 kg following my HSCT) you may want to get some high calorie nutrition drinks to have at home.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">With all of this said there is one EXTREMELY important thing to always keep in mind for the first six months post-transplantation. . . . . . if you develop a fever of 38.6C (101.5F) or greater, this means you might have an infection. If this happens don’t delay and immediately go to the hospital emergency room and tell them you are immunocompromised following your stem cell transplant.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">Use common sense (don’t lick farm animals), and just be careful, not paranoid. No need to punish yourself or your children. Give them a big hug when you see them! It will be one of the best hugs of your life.</span></div>
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Karina Grünwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502354939972045465noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991570456251935600.post-45330219512333497382012-11-07T04:10:00.000-08:002012-11-07T04:10:06.214-08:00D+12<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The bad days are not over yet. I still have fever, I still vomit and to make matters worst, my new neighbour has diarrhea and whenever she did it in the room I started vomiting. I feel very weak, even standing up is difficult for me...The rash is all over my body. So the doctors decided I won't leave the hospital this Friday, but probably this Sunday. This has nothing to do with the engraftment, which means that my body can defend itself... So, I'll keep fighting some more, because the war is not over yet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Send me good vibes. I need them...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Loves,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K</span></div>
Karina Grünwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502354939972045465noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991570456251935600.post-13379528880943154232012-11-06T08:19:00.000-08:002012-11-06T08:19:53.904-08:00D+11<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Engraftment day has finally come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and Dr. Harter said I might leave the hospital this Friday! I have to eat and drink alone, plus have normal bowel and bladder movements. Everything's a huge challenge for me... I even asked why is it that even with my glasses I can't see well and the Dr. said it was because of the chemo and the enormous amount of fluids they've given me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The physiotherapist came and made me walk a bit hanging to a walker rollator.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As for the "chickenpox" it's much worst than yesterday. It has spreaded all over and they said it'll probably last more or less five days. They gave me a gel ointment for burning relief.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 5 minutes they told me they were going to move me into another ward. They took all my stuff, I said goodbye to my neighbour and told her to never give up, because there were too many people who loved her. She promised to do so...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So now I'm in the Ackermann Ward room 3.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everything's here with me, and of course the inseparable photo of my Nicolita and my Gabrielito whom I miss soooooooooooooooooooo much.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, it may not sound a lot, but I'm exhausted!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a lot of inner work to do both mentally and physically.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take care!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K</span></div>
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Karina Grünwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502354939972045465noreply@blogger.com7