Dorothy's recovery after bone marrow transplant

May 1st, 2021 is a day I will never forget, I was on a group call with two of my besties when I started to feel a headache like no other. I assumed this headache was from stress as I just completed my final classes and was set to graduate with my Bachelors in English in just a week's time. I took a couple of Excedrin and went on with my life, unaware that this life of mine was about to change forever. A few weeks later the headache returned and so did the Excedrin I would take them around the clock in an attempt to grasp some kind of relief. I would call my mom and complain to her daily about this persistent headache and she would beg me to go to the hospital. I didn't have health insurance in the state of Arkansas so I was reluctant to set up appointments. I finally went to ER and after adequate bloodwork, I was told that my hemoglobin was at a 5 and I needed a blood transfusion quickly. (for context a normal hemoglobin level is 12) This process would repeat itself more than ten times over the next six months. I moved from Arkansas back home to Minnesota where I would spend the next few months being poked and prodded in hopes to find the cause of all of this pain. In October 2021 I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma a type of blood cancer found in older people. In my case, this kind of cancer is extremely rare because I am young, have no family history of this, and am overall healthy. Since October of 2021, I have been on countless medications and three different kinds of chemotherapy. I undergo chemotherapy weekly. In Spring of 2022, my team of physicians collectively decided that my best chance at remission would be for me to undergo a bone marrow transplant which will take place at the end of this Fall. I will lose my hair as a result of the intense chemotherapy. The recovery time will be 100 days with 24-hour care each day. I will not be able to work during this time. I also won't be paid while I am on this three-month leave. I will not be able to leave my house during this time as my chances of infection are at an all-time high. I will have to pay out of pocket for my health insurance after two months of my leave. The financial burden of all of this weighs heavy on me. I never expected cancer would be a part of my life in a million years, especially not at this capacity. Though I get discouraged, I know that there is a purpose for everything one endures in this lifetime. I am blessed regardless of the circumstances, and I will stay blessed regardless of the outcome.