The Big Picture...and Necklaces!

I am here! I am here! Neglecting my blog, but creating jewelry like a woman possessed...

I know I've left you all hanging in regards to my bone marrow biopsy and to my treatment. So here's the big picture.

My bone marrow looks good. My chromosomes even look good (they were a mess before). And the myeloma related proteins in my blood are normal. This is all very good news, especially considering how severe the disease was when I was diagnosed (I had about 90% leukemia cells running amok in my bone marrow.) Using a procedure called fluorescence in situ hybridization, the pathologists identified a SMALL percentage of changes to my DNA that are markers for plasma cell leukemia. Researchers really don't know how indicative of relapse those changes are; essentially, if they hadn't done the FISH assay, I would be considered in remission.

I had already decided I did not want to pursue the donor bone marrow transplant. The potential benefits simply do not outweigh the risks (complications including graft-versus-host disease, in which the donor cells attack the recipient's body, not to mention the risk of infection from a severely compromised immune system) and the lengthy (about a year) recovery time. And I just could not reconcile the idea of another extended hospital stay - this one probably in the neighborhood of three months. But most importantly, the donor transplant would neither cure me, nor appreciably extend my QUALITY time.

It was not a difficult decision.

So now I'm just going to LIVE. As much like a normal person as I possibly can. For as long as I can.

Of course, there's the weency little problem of bringing in enough money to pay the tachycardia-inducing medical bills while I proceed to live my life. So I'll sign off with some images of my jewelry, which is all very much for sale, and will be listed on Etsy.com soon. (Also, I have both So Cal Complete Hoof & Mineral Blend and Thrush Ninja in stock!)

0069 - Green Turquoise Heishi & Shell Heishi Necklace (16")

0068 - Glass Seed Bead and Sterling Silver Steer Skull Necklace (16")

0067 - Glass Seed Bead, Turquoise and Cowboy Boot Necklace

0066 - Matte Gold Teardrops and Glass Seed Bead Necklace (30")

0064 - Amethyst, Copper and Turquoise Necklace (30")

0063 - Glass Seed Bead and Copper Tree of Life Necklace (30")

0062 - Sterling Silver Sand Dollar Necklace with Turquoise and Puka Shells (16")

0061 - Elephant Necklace with Carnelian and Agate (16")

0059 - Chunky Turquoise and Sterling Silver Starfish Necklace (16")

0060 - Jade and Rose Quartz Necklace (16")

0057 - Turquoise Heishi and Copper Cross Necklace (16")