Over time, we've had to reduce my steroids - this is because long term use, have caused more health issues and especially Osteoporosis. Because of this - we went from 10mg to 5mg dialy and currently I am at 4mg. As a result, I am now feeling the stronger effects of my severe GVHD. My eyes are difficult to see through and by the end of the night - it feels like someone has poured sand in my eyes. I have to get Greg & the girls to read for me.

It's been way too long getting my blog going again. Often what I find is I get busy or have work to do for myself or my daughters and I rarely get time for myself. On top of that, I have to mitigate and deal with fatigue and pain, on a regular basis. What can one do, do your best, try smarter and not harder. So, what's going on since my last blog. 2020 was quite literally the year from medical hell, for me

Hello to my faithful family & friends

IT'S A GOOD DAY: when you thought (including your doctor) that your cancer might have returned - but THE most definitive scan disagrees!!

My specialist doctor and I had a bit of a happy smile together recently, when the results were all clear. For the past 2-3 months I've had a sore & swollen R Lymph node underarm, swollen R breast, swollen R arm - lots of other weird extra symptoms. We thought it was either my port-a-cath, GVHD, blood clots or Lymphoma.

Hello to my faithful family & friends. So, I’ve had some mystery swelling going on (in now) both feet | ankles | lower legs, the R foot gets bigger than the L - we think due to my S1 neuropathy, causing drop foot, causing stress fractures. The overall swelling my new OT believes is a late common issue/side effect after bone marrow transplant of GVHD (Graft Vs. Host Disease). After asking she did confirm that she has seen Odema type swelling post transplant in many other Heam patients.

Hello to my faithful family & friends. For the past 3 + months, this R swollen ankle has been a total mystery. No break on X-Rays and no fall that I can remember. However, after a nuclear bone scan, 2 sore locations on either side of the foot, correctly revealed a lit-up patten of ‘Osteoblasts’ or ‘New bone growth’ in those sore locations. The pain (even with pain relief) was strongly felt, although without extra meds, I wouldn’t have been able to move. The nuclear science doctors, who recently performed a bone scan on the foot, agree that it is possible stress fractures and/or arthritis, caused by what happened to me 10+ years ago.

Hello to my faithful family & friends. Another blog from yours truly. I know you all enjoy reading what I have to say and I enjoy writing for you. Currently, I have 2 articles appearing on websites and I'll provide those links for you to visit and read. This article was on the Queensland based website, Survive Strive Thrive, all about how 'Creativity and writing can impact health.’

Hello to my faithful family & friends. Being a health blogger means I get to talk to many patients, medical staff, health committee’s and media. Just lately, as a family we've decided to try becoming 'foster carers' for a city dog & cat rescue group. We have now had the experience of caring for 2 rescue dogs. Our first one was 'Oscar' - a 13 year old Bischon Frise and then 'Bailey' - a 5 year old Maltese-Terrier. Both dogs came from a background where they were either dumped or neglected and both little boys were adorable in their own ways. As much as we gave to them in love & food: they gave back to us in licks and cuddles.

Hello to my faithful family & friends. Some exciting media opportunities have arisen for myself to participate in and be part of. The first one was via ABC Radio National, on a programme called 'All In The Mind' with host 'Lynne Malcolm'. Lynne's programme focuses on mental health and the importance of taking care of it. She also covers lots of topics in regards to families and the latest research in this area.

Hello to my faithful family & friends. Some exciting media opportunities have arisen for myself to participate in and be part of. The first one was via ABC Radio National, on a programme called 'All In The Mind' with host 'Lynne Malcolm'. Lynne's programme focuses on mental health and the importance of taking care of it. She also covers lots of topics in regards to families and the latest research in this area.

Hello to my faithful family & friends. You've all been on my mind a lot lately, as I know some of you read through my blog carefully to garner strength and coping strategies when life is tough for yourselves, in whatever you are facing and being challenged with. Usually, I don't blog, unless I have a major health set back, but to keep my blog up-to-date, I usually make sure I enter something at least once per year to let you all know that I am alive and well.

Hello to my faithful family & friends - Just a very brief blog to let you know that I am OK and still recovering from my Allogenic BMT, performed in December/14. My mouth, skin and throat are all OK. My lungs still rattle with a condition called BOOP, however are much better since contracting the condition (GVHD of the lungs) in August/15. My biggest struggle at the moment is my Ocular GVHD, which is slowly getting better, but since March/2016, has been a total bummer and one that annoys me daily.

Hello to my faithful family & friends. Being a health blogger means I get to talk to many patients, medical staff, health committee’s and media. Just lately, as a family we've decided to try becoming 'foster carers' for a city dog & cat rescue group. We have now had the experience of caring for 2 rescue dogs. Our first one was 'Oscar' - a 13 year old Bischon Frise and then 'Bailey' - a 5 year old Maltese-Terrier. Both dogs came from a background where they were either dumped or neglected and both little boys were adorable in their own ways. As much as we gave to them in love & food: they gave back to us in licks and cuddles.

GREAT TRANSPLANT NEWS: After lots of emails and phone calls between hospitals and donation registries - we've got a 'green light' from my overseas bone marrow donor. We start chemo this Friday, 12th December. My donor's bone marrow/stem cells will be 'harvested' in his country between 15-16th December, whilst this is happening a Brisbane scientist will be dispatched on international flights on the same days.

Just a general update after a crazy past 7 days and a doctors visit on Tuesday (02 Dec/14), this week. My transplant doctor agreed with me that my escalating (out of control) bone pain was a crisis and we needed to manage it properly with strong morphine medications. Previously, I've been on low doses. I was given some higher doses and we had a plan to check my pain levels twice weekly + the virus.

Hello All, TRANSPLANT UPDATE (DELAY DUE TO A VIRUS): I was all ready to go for admission tomorrow and chemo on Saturday, progressing to transplant. However, I got an urgent call from my transplant doctor this morning to say that we needed to delay transplant (for a 2nd time) for at least a couple of weeks or longer. I have a virus in my throat and nose, probably picked up when out in the community or via my children's school. I avoid going out as much as possible, however with kids - they bring everything home, even if they don't show symptoms themselves.

TRANSPLANT UPDATE (one week away!!) When I leave hospital in early to mid January, I'll be a new person with a new immune system and free from two cancer's - we are believing I'll be cured, I will leave with twenty-two medications to keep my body healthy and keep me free from rejection complications (a disease called GVHD). I will have new DNA (my own in my regular cells and that of my donor in my bone marrow) and a new blood type (from O+ positive to A+ positive). How incredible is that?

My work-up appointments are basically finished and so far all looks good - I just have a dental, bone marrow aspirate and Pet Scan to go and then we wait until 28th November for transplant admission. Today, I asked one of my doctors about the DNA/Blood types again. It is true that I will have two DNA's, my regular cells DNA will be from my parents, my bone marrow DNA will be from my donor. I also found out that my donor's blood type is A Positive. I was born as an O Positive. When the chemo kills my bone marrow - my blood type will cease as O Positive.

Hello All, Stem Cell Transplant Timetable for Jodie

Pre-Transplant Work-Up/Testing will start in the 3rd week of November. Medical dates sometimes change depending on hospital requirements.

10/11/12th November

Jodie will have three days of testing, pre-transplant to make sure her body and organ's are healthy enough to progress to transplant. The comprehensive physical work-up also includes skin and dental check's. The cost of the transplant is approximately $200,000AUD, covered by Medicare.

Hi everyone!! No doubt you have all been wondering what is happening with the Jodster and her transplant. Well, here's the scoop. Yesterday, Greg and I again saw my transplant doctor to discuss a new transplant proposal. Due to the risks involved in my treatment/past treatment and my possible sensitivity to radiation - we've been offered a less aggressive Allogeneic Transplant.

Hello everyone and thanks for you interest, Basic Stem Cell Timetable for Jodie has been changed - we are seeking professional emotional and mental health hospital based support prior to transplant. We had firmly asked for this in July - however, it had not been followed through. We are pleased about this, as we want to be absolutely 'prepared' in every sense of the word. Currently, we are looking @ a November start for transplant, at this point.