DAY 57 - FRIDAY

March 20, 2009: It has been a while since we have updated everyone on Jill's status but she has been trying to get back to “normalcy,” as she says. We apologize for this lapse in our blogs.
Jill went for her second blood draw a few weeks ago with her dad, Ernie, and she passed out cold while walking. Because of the genetic heart defect in my mom’s family, this resulted in her getting checked by a cardiologist. The results came back completely normal and the doctors believe she must have had some sort of anxiety attack. Jill says, "I got scared because as they were drawing my blood it just stopped going into the vial." Since that incident she says, "I have definitely taken a step backwards."
After the transplant Jill immediately started thinking clearly, but since the passing out incident, she has become somewhat confused again. She didn't even know she passed out. She still forgets things but nothing like she used to. The doctor says it will just take a bit more time to get her back on schedule. Jill's blood counts are good. Ernie said he noticed that she is a lot more stable than she was.
Jill has to go every 2 weeks now for her blood counts. Her tremors are a lot less noticeable. When she does a lot in one day, it wears her out. Tuesday, she went for blood work, and then we ran some errands and went into three stores. At the last destination she had enough and became exhausted inside the store so we left. We had one more stop at CVS to pick up her meds. The pharmacist told me she saw the News when Jill's story had appeared on TV. It was when they did the "From Broadway with Love" interview. The pharmacist said she was so moved that it brought tears to her eyes. She noticed Jill's name and realized that this was one of her customers. She was happy to see the news air something positive for a change and said they should do more stories like that. When she saw Jill, she smiled and wished her well. She told Jill how she watched the interview and it made her cry. Jill was moved and her eyes filled with tears as she smiled and thanked her. There are so many well-wishers out there that are cheering her on for a recovery. It is so inspiring because she is surrounded by love. She slept for 3 hours when we got home.
We are still waiting for the date that she returns to Chicago for her follow up visit. It should be the end of April. She will have to go to an MS Specialist at Rush Medical and then has to see Dr Burt. They will do an MRI to see if there are any changes to the lesions in her brain.
I know that everyone is waiting hear good news.
Love,
Doreen