12/15/08 - A Really Big Day!!

Hey everyone....Today marked 7 months since BJ's transplant! His recovery so far has been truly remarkable and he continues to do well. Tonight was the first time we have talked about leukemia in quite a while and it was a very good conversation. I wanted to fill you all in on some of the details.

The results of BJ's tests today were pretty positive. His blood work all looked good. His liver enzymes were a little elevated, but they had come down some since his last visit. The real positive news regarding visits to UAB is that he doesn't have to make another one for a month. After spending so much time there and then visiting as often as he has over the last 7 months, that will probably seem like an eternity.

BJ mentioned how lucky he feels to be doing as well as he has. There are some patients that came to the unit about the same time he did for transplants that still have not left. He sees them every time he goes in for treatment and told me how he thinks about how difficult that must be on them and their families. It is with that in mind that BJ gave me the next big news.....

As you all know, there have been several fundraisers to raise money for BJ's Strike Out Leukemia Foundation. BJ started the foundation as a way to raise awareness and money for the fight against leukemia. One common question that I get asked is "What is BJ going to do with the money?'. My response has always been that he was waiting for a cause that really needed it and he felt good about.

BJ recently decided that he wanted to donate money to the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at UAB, where he has spent so much time for the last 9-10 months. Today, BJ gave the BMT Unit a donation of $20,000. He gave $10,000 towards leukemia research and $10,000 towards a special fund they have at the unit to help families that may not be able to afford all of the expenses that they incur. There are some tremendous costs above and beyond what any insurance will cover. BJ felt like it was important to help some of the people that haven't been as lucky with their recovery as he has and to thank the doctors and nurses on the unit that have been so good to him.

So needless to say, BJ had a really good day. I am sorry to be so long with the post, but I haven't posted in a while and there was too much good to say. Thanks to everyone that has donated time and money to BJ's foundation. BJ felt really good about it going somewhere he is really close to. It may be a little while until the next post, so feel free to leave comments on the site between now and then. I will talk to you soon!