Still hanging in

I rehomed Oscar, my beautiful BIG Chartreux cat some weeks ago. I didn't even get to say goodbye. I'd left him at my boarding facility and they knew I was looking to find him a new home. They had a vet tech from the vet's office next door who had taken a shine to him. She offered to adopt him. I said yes, but for him to stay another weekend in an airplane crate since they really hadn't had room for him, I couldn't stand it. I wanted him to be free. I miss him so very very VERY much.

The clinical trial at UT SW almost did me in. I dropped out after only 3 weeks. Still transfusion dependent every 7 to 10 days, usually weekly. 

I am getting ready to move to Albuquerque, NM and will go to the UNM Cancer Center with a new doctor who will try another drug that helps some people extend the time between transfusions and hopefully naturally lessen my sky high ferritan levels. My daughter and husband recently bought a really big house in Sandia Park, which is just east of the Sandia Mountains which are on the east edge of Albuquerque. Because my ex-husband (divorced 47 years!) presently lives with them, they have to find a medicaid dementia bed before I can live with them. His is so bad he hallucinates but at some points he seems to almost make sense. Very sad. I've contracted to live in a retirement home just off I-40 closest to them in the meantime. I may or may not later move in with them. Their view of several range of mountains is absolutely beautiful, but unless I can get out and do things, it will be very isolating. I just realized their charge by the service medical assistance will cost more than a dedicated assisted living center, but would likely have to share a room. The one I contracted for will hold all the furniture I want to take AND have a full size kitchen despite providing meals. Sorry, I don't eat dinner at 6pm!!! It's going to be a very upsetting transition even though I chose the facility. Las Colinas Village. I have to move the 21st. I'm no where near ready! Don't know even how that will happen. The idea is to have the movers put stuff on truck then hightail it to DFW and fly out!

Because I am deemed a fall risk, I'm now required to use a walker most of the time. I don't around home here. They bought me a wheelchair as well, though I only need it when out and short of breath. The altitude didn't bother me but now I get out of breath a lot quicker. Most people with MDS who do not qualify for a stem cell transplant die from infections or diseases/pneumonia. A certain percentage will convert to Acute Myloid Leukemia. With my certain set of wonky genes it is highly unlikely. I'm hoping to stay alive until next April when they FDA is supposed to approve a new MDS drug which works for about 40% of MDS patients. It is NOT a cure, but can extend life. I'm hoping it does for me.