Day +1828 - Five Years (+2d)
Last Thursday marked 5 years since I received a bone marrow transplant containing Scott’s stem cells. It has been 1415 days since I last wrote, and in that time, I have been quite busy living. What seemed like an impossibility five years ago has come to pass: I’m hematologically boring again, although this is the only thing about my life in the past few years that could charitably be classified as ‘boring’. In stark contrast to the ‘Medichest: Large’ days of Seattle, I have been off all medication since the fall of 2013. I have generally spent my time trying to be the best husband, dad and scientist that I can. I still mountain bike frequently, and I’m no longer wary of infection, sunlight, GVHD, or most importantly, relapse. Last week, I decided to get marrowed for the first time in three years. The results show that I am not going to die of t(3;3)(q21;q26.2) MDS.
My hematopoietic stem cell transplant was curative.
In the past 1415 days, we have spent time with Scott, Kari and their kids twice. The first was in October 2013, when Zane, Dianna and I flew to Michigan. We spent the weekend talking with Scott, Kari, and their extended families, and I got to sample an authentic coney dog (Flint style).
Zane became fast friends with their kids, and quickly assembled assault weapons out of legos to play with them. It was a whirlwind of a weekend, and it made it clear that in addition to Scott being a 10/10 HLA match, our families are also very compatible.
Building upon Michigan, Scott, Kari and the kids came to California to visit in July 2014. We showed them around the bay area and they got to meet my Mom and my friends.
Scott and I rode Fassler. He humored me, and I think he had a good time.
We rented a Sprinter and drove to Disneyland, which was about as chaotic and wonderful as you could imagine.
As you are aware, these are good people. Despite not being a ninja or Lou Ferrigno, and not having any SEAL training, Scott was exactly the right person for this job. Looking back, I cast Tom Marrow as a superhero because I couldn’t have reasonably expected my recovery to go as well as it did. I engrafted quickly. I didn’t relapse. My BK virus infection resolved quickly, before I had a fully functional immune system. I didn’t get chronic GVHD. Tom must have been a superhero - how else could I have explained the consistent stream of good news?
Scott isn’t a superhero. He’s a great father and husband, and he has a steady moral compass. He works hard for his family and he’s there for them. He is just like the rest of us, and that is the most profound part. If we all decided to help a stranger when called upon, the world would be a much better place. It doesn’t take a superhero to do extraordinary things, we all have the power to help other people. Scott embodies what’s possible when we give in ways that can’t be reciprocated. I aspire to be like him.















