Onward and upward

After 23 days, Ed is finally healthy enough to move on to the next phase of his journey - rehabilitation - and no not the kind with Dr. Drew and Lindsay Lohan!

When I last wrote, Ed was fighting back the infections that had made him so ill; during his three week stay he made really remarkable progress. Not only did the infections respond well to treatment, but Ed began eating more normally. His constant "Food Network" viewing must have helped because he began saying things like "wow, that sounds really good" and "I feel like tostadas"! When he asked me to bring him magazines he specifically requested "cooking". I can say for the first time since October I really feel like I have my husband "back". He's more himself than he's been in months and it's a huge relief. It's hard enough trying to fight this illness, but when your best friend, partner and love isn't by your side to do battle, it's really disheartening! The decision we made 3 weeks ago to return Ed to the BMT unit was really tough, but it's the best decision we could have made. He was truly, truly sick and if he had stayed home just a few more days, it could have gotten really bad. So, I'm grateful for the strength I mustered to make the right choice.

During the last 10 days, in particular, Ed really made great leaps forward. He was eating enough to be taken off TPN (the IV nutrition he'd been on since October) and his nausea, pain and intestinal issues are all but gone. He still has some sporadic pain and nausea, but we no longer feel like we have to travel everywhere with a bucket - not really a fun accessory!

So yesterday we moved Ed to his next phase - rehab at the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan. It's part of the Detroit Medical Center campus where Karmanos is located and it's a very reputable facility. For those Red Wings fans out there, I've heard it's where Vladimir Konstantinov was sent for rehabilitation following his 1997 limo crash. There Ed will work to regain the strength he's lost due to prolonged steroid use (it's one of the main immuno-suppressive drugs to combat his GvH) and we're hoping to start to work on regaining some of what he lost pre-transplant with his neuropathy. The next few days the staff will work with Ed on his treatment plan - he'll work with Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy and Neuropsychology (the latter are needed to help Ed recover from the great amounts of chemo he's received). He'll work roughly 3 hours per day in therapy and spend the remainder of the day eating and resting - it will be very hard work! We're not sure yet the duration of his in-patient therapy, but it will be at least a week to 10 days. Given Ed's age and good health (yes, he's in good health compared to others!) he should respond very quickly.

Thanks again to one and all for your continued thoughts and prayers! We could not have gotten here without all your support! Please continue to do what you do!

Love - The Thorps

PS. The picture is from about 2 weeks ago. I think he looks pretty good, but he looks even better today! I'll try to get some rehab action shots to post soon!