MY SECOND BIRTHDAY! Álvaro, the summer before transplantation
"Wauuuuu ".... I become a member and I request to tell you my plan for leukemia and the truth that although I had more time with friends, acquaintances and other patients who have had the misfortune to start this ... I feel like it speaks more to that note the normal patients have been hematologic and demonstrate that leukemia is also out, and lives and is reborn!
My name is Alvaro, I have 31 years and eight years and nine days, ie January 9, 2003, I entered in the Hospital Universitario Rio Hortega, because I had been diagnosed a AML (AML). Is obviously a shock to one's self, family (thank you) and for all friends (whom everyone from here, I want to thank once again!).
also a moral blow, being diagnosed with AML, is to put a lock on your life at that time and put a little sign of "return in a season." In my case I was in my final year of studies at the Conservatory, while he was in a Master of Architectural Restoration, and was also beginning Pedagogy Course (Graduate prerequisite in order to introduce education oppositions). So this morning, when I returned home, I had to get in touch with all organizations to sign off on everything I was studying, and mobilize partners to collect some papers if necessary. After that, I had to pack my stuff, call my friends, my partner then .... and tell them that he had leukemia, I was scared as could be, I had no idea what was going to pass with my life (literally), and I entered the same afternoon. And a friend told me something that I repeated a thousand times: "This is like the flu: has the process and beyond." And he was right!, Was a process of almost ten months and exceeded!
At the time of admission, met D. Luis Javier García Frade (Chief of Hematology), which told me what would be the process, how would chemotherapy, how would the possible side effects and probably all end up with a bone marrow transplant.
That was the first entry ... then came four more. I remember many details of the time: blue pajamas, turns the road that became my friends to agree with my family to be with me (considering I was alone and could not be more than three people day, taking turns in the room), the posters that hung in the room (one of them sent to frame the end all and is now hanging in my living room), the books I could read, what I drew, music heard, the musical conversations with one of my doctors (which still my revisions, Dr. D. Alberto Cantalapiedra ), telephone conversations with all people (especially with Fernando, a former patient friend hematologic) , conversations with my views (some people arriving from Asturias and Madrid for an afternoon with me), the puzzle I was doing and that made my companions, the effects of chemotherapy, being hairless, the laughter and tears, the nights with my parents, the changing seasons through the window ... and great desire to fight, survive, overcome and power tell.
treatment generally did, with pluses and minuses, bearable. Previously I was in good health, nor drink excessively, or never smoked and over 18 years, exercised regularly, in addition to lead a good diet and think all that positively influenced, so I did not have too many bleeding complications except nasal rather heavy and repetitive, hair loss, inflammation gums, upset stomach, some vomiting (which was what scared me most and least I had), and infection as a result of not having any kind of defense ... we, as "normal."
I went into complete remission after the third cycle of chemo (I think), but was still on the idea of \u200b\u200bhaving the bone marrow transplant . First, trials of family support to see if we were lucky that my only brother was compatible with me and SURPRISE!, it was ... so prepare things to "move" to Salamanca (where I met the Ascola Association) and all the preparations to start there ... but the bad luck would have on the recognition that they did to my brother, found he had hepatitis B and could not do the transplant. If I saw was a tremendous jolt when it seemed that we began to pick up, the good side was that in this way could diagnose my brother something that he himself was aware . So they had to return to Valladolid for two cycles of chemotherapy and finally concluding with an autologous, for which they had to inject a growth factor for cells to pass into the peripheral blood and hence adequate "filtering" "Clean" and volvérmela to inject a month or two later. On September 4, 2003 I made the autologous (Dr. in charge was Mrs. M ª Jesús Peñarrubia ) and since then has become my second birthday always celebrated in style , perhaps because I think it is more important, if possible, than the first, so in addition to 31, I have 7 years and I go way of the eighth.
What are my plans? Well, basically, to live as a person of 23 years and back up where I left. But mostly and LIVE fully enjoy both the good, as at least good and always getting a taste for all those little things that happen to us daily and we do not realize, learn to look at things in a different light ... and thank all those who were there, professionals (doctors, nurses, auxiliaries), the known (caress me so much) and unknown (many thanks to donors of blood and platelets) for all you did during that 2003 that allowed me to birth (literally).
currently Álvaro
A time I could rejoin "my life", I got my driver's license, I finished the Conservatory, I made a few trips, I did a postgraduate course in college, I returned to the CAP, I continued my reviews (and everything was in order), I continued traveling , I went solo and started a new stage of my life ... and continue with my review (and everything is in order.) Not a day passes that I do not remember any detail lived, and I do pride, I have no trauma, does not hurt to talk about it, I think it helps yourself and others, and I think, from time to time, helps me know where the north.
hope this testimony fits all those in this process, they hope , to know that this is overcome and that is relived with fullness. My support, my energy and spirit for all. Greetings!
Álvaro For becoming a marrow donor or cord blood, learn HERE If you want to help by becoming a member @ Josep Carreras Foundation, click HERE Discover other ways to cooperate by clicking HERE
Jordi 
