Life Before Cancer...
Me practicing emergency medical evacuations for peace mission training, Austrian Alps 2010. Who knew then that I'd become a pro at medical emergencies?
Firefighter water-rescue training for peace studies, Austria 2010
Soul sisters in Innsbruck, Austria 2010
Peace Studies, Stadschlaining, Austria
My incredible roommates in Costa Rica, 2011
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Peace mission training with the Austrian Army as part of my master's degree 2010
My international family, Austria 2010
Trip to Salzburg with Dianne, 2010
Me and Daddio May 2011
My dearest friend and rock, Cait. Toronto, Canada
After getting stung by a jellyfish while snorkeling in Panama, 2011
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Life, Interrupted...
With Sofie and Chelsey, heading on our road trip to see a blood specialist in Macedonia, Nov. 2011
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Enjoying my last greasy delicious burak with yogurt in Kosovo before starting my strict treatment diet. Dec. 2011
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3 dear friends from Canada, Guyana and France sharing Thai food in Kosovo the night before I flew back to the U.S. for treatment. Dec. 2011
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Feeling great before my first biopsy Nov. 2011
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Thessaloniki, Greece Nov 2011
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Went to the ER, had tubes inserted in my neck, and was driven 2 hours by ambulance to Stanford's ICU Feb. 2012
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Back in the ICU for the 3rd time--Recovering from septic shock and Pneumonia a few days before the transplant. March, 2012
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Entering Stanford on day 1 of my 30 day stay, which turned into 51 days, March 2012
After getting my central line placed in my chest...happy to have it out of my neck! March, 2012
All this hype over this 1 liter of marrow!
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Believe it or not, this is what a bone marrow transplant looks like!
Shannon's pretty pink Bone Marrow!
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Recipient and Donor- Shannon snuck away from her recovery room to rest with me just after the transplant! April 4, 2012
My first visitors, keeping me germ-free and helping me decorate my room! :) April, 2012
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Jay and Adam visited me at Stanford every Saturday..Jay even shaved his fro with me! April 2012
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It was not an easy job being my physical therapist (or personal trainer, as I called her) It usually took her a good 20 minutes to convince me to do my 5 minutes of daily exercise...sitting in a chair and peddling a bike because I couldn't walk or balance without falling!
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Daily activities consisted of gargling, stationary bike, sitting upright in a chair, taking deep breaths to exercise my lungs, showering and eating. I don't remember a day when I completed them all! April 2012
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Struggling to find foods I was allowed to eat that I actually wanted because of the change in taste-buds and accentuated sense of smell (I even smelled a sealed packet of crackers in my mom's purse and made her take them out of my room because it was too overwhelming!) My diet was basically restricted to Twinkies, canned foods, and Ensure (foods that were sure to be 100% germ free...like space food, the more processed, the better) Mostly, I ate ramen, watermelon and grape juice, though the kitchen usually sent a variety of things for me to try.
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After my incredible friends pampered me with manicures and massages using bone marrow healing crystals my labs improved overnight! (I'm not kidding!)
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Yup, that's my hair. Well, the amount I lost the first day anyway. April 2012
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rockin' a hawk, April 2012
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oooh dear. April 2012
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Mom and I, April 2012
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Sisterly love! April 2012
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Taking Shannon for a ride :) April 2012
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Leaving my germ-free hospital room for the first time in 35 days!! (And seeing the postcard my friend sent that was put on my door of a male model that said "Wading for you to visit!" That always got a lot of attention from the nurses!
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Out for my first stroll around the transplant unit...A very excited explorer, April 2012
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The dreaded physical therapy, April 2012
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Leaving the transplant unit for the first time in 43 days, May, 2012
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Outside for the first time in 43 days with my brother and sister-in-law! May 2012
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Happy happy tears, moving out of Stanford after 51 days!!! May 2012
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My beautiful family. Thrilled to be out of the hospital just in time to celebrate Mother's Day together!
Out of the hospital! May, 2012
Heading to the transplant unit for the first time since I was discharged to deliver treats, May 2012
San Francisco, Sept. 2012
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Meeting my sweet nephew Xander who was born while I was in the hospital. He didn't seem to mind me sporting the Darth Vader mask I had to wear for 100 days!
Envious of baby Xan's luscious locks ;) May 2012
Someone got ahold of my wig!!
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Baking cookies for my incredible docs and nurses! May 2012
Out of the hospital just in time to celebrate Grandma's 90th! August 2012
What do I do when stuck at home? Make gingerbread cookie replicas of my doctors :D
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My sweet 3-year old niece taking good care of me. She was very understanding on the days I had to cancel our play dates because I wasn't feeling well. June 2012
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Back to the hospital for an endoscopy to figure out why I was experiencing so much nausea months after chemo ended, June 2012
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Baldies stick together! July 2012
My wiggin' out birthday party, June 2012
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Celebrating my 27th birthday, June 2012
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Stella and I at my wig party, June 2012
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Dad checking out my wig :)
Beyond thrilled to have my glamorous port tubes that went to my heart artery taken out after 5 months (Although taking it out was worse than getting it put in!) August 2012
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A family that wigs together stays together
Grandma came all the way from Canada to celebrate her birthday with us! August 2012
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Taking in some fresh air without the dreaded mask!
My incredible Brazilian roommate sent me endless tv series recommendations for my bedrest days and came to visit all the way from Guatemala! Sept. 2012
Pretending I have the energy for silly jumping pictures like we took in Greece
Feeling extra extra thankful on Thanksgiving
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Couldn't ask for better friends! Leticia and Chelsey visiting from Guatemala and Kosovo!!
Chelsey and I, touring San Francisco instead of Istanbul :)
A perfect Thanksgiving with fun and family
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At my 1 year appointment getting my final blood draw which revealed my platelets are almost back to a normal level!
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At my 1 year appointment with the man himself, Dr. Miklos, my incredible transplant doc. I finally have his permission get back to work, but still waiting on travel clearance..
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The Tilston clan, 2010
