The 'ton' is up!

Sunday marked Day +100 since transplant, a really important milestone. Day +100 marks the boundary between a side-effect being labelled acute or chronic. Acute is usually more severe, and can typically further develop into a persistent chronic effect. But, the good news is that if kids don't develop anything by Day +100, they usually don't show any side effects after that. Luckily, Abigail is in this category and has remained free of all symptoms of graft vs host disease, so she is now very unlikely to develop them down the track, touch wood of course. This is a really big milestone that has been ticking away in our minds for quite a while, with only remaining in remission for 2 years occupying a bigger place on our calendar. In short, this is brilliant news that she has made it so far in such fine form (though worryingly is showing signs of interest in taking up percussion on the right).

All of this means that she can come off the anti-rejection drugs next Wednesday. This will mean no more immunosuppression and she can begin the slow process of rebuilding her defences. Earlier in the month she finished another of her drugs, so as of next week will only need 3 lots twice a day. This is all excellent news before Christmas.

Sleeping is slowly improving, as is her appetite. Over the next couple of months she will gradually be allowed more and more contact with others. Her first trip to see others outside the house was also on Sunday to a family Christmas dinner, a really nice way to mark Day +100. Next milestone will be getting some immune function tests and the central line out early in the new year. We hope everyone out there has a great Christmas, and look forward to posting more good news in 2010.