The Happy-Birthday-To-Me Letter!

11 comments

Posted Sat, 2008/09/20 - 03:17 by Amy B. Scher

Filed Under: The India Story, Stem cells, Amy's journey

iStock_000005545245XSmall.jpg
Photo:
Sophia Tsibikaki

Dear Me,

Happy Birthday!

I can’t believe I know that I will wake up tomorrow, on my big day, in no pain. It seems celebration days were always the worst. I’m not sure what kind of lesson that could have been but the dependability of the pattern was uncanny.

So many birthdays spent in bed and cakes I could never eat because of allergies....and some years, forks too heavy to lift to my mouth even if I could.

But now….. I can stand up. Eat pizza and cake. Jump up and down with a party hat on if I want to. Go out of the house and walk for miles. Not worry about painkillers and medicine bottles and timers for taking it all. No nausea from medicine and no headaches either. No tears for moments I know I am missing, and guilt for the happy ones I see that are absent from the faces of my oh-so-patient and dedicated loved ones.

But do you know what the absolute best part of my 29th year is?

I am alive.

And that for the first birthday in a very long time, there is not a thought in my mind that I might not be here for many, many, many more years to come.

Love,

Me

Permalink | 11 comments

About Amy B. Scher

Amy B. Scher's picture
A passionate author, pioneering patient, and sassy spirit with just enough sweetness to get me by, I live by my self-created motto: when life kicks your ass, kick back.Amy B. Scher's profile Amy B. Scher's blog

Comments

1

Happy Happy Birthday

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 2008/09/20 - 03:47.

Amy
Reading your birthday letter was very touching.
It's not just about being alive, but about living your life and now, in the utmost sense of the word, you are able to do that.
What a celebration it is, wish we were there to share it with you, But will have to take a raincheck as next year, there will be even more to be grateful for.
xoxox
m

2

Happy Birthday!

Submitted by Nadine on Sun, 2008/09/21 - 21:55.

Happy Birthday SuperAmy!!

I hope you have a wonderful birthday - you deserve every second of it!! To think how far you have come from your last birthday, it is amazing!!!

Thank you for being a wonderful friend, writing buddy, and inspiration.

You rock!

Enjoy your special day!!!

3

Happy Birthday

Submitted by Dr. Sudeep Sharma on Sun, 2008/09/21 - 23:12.

Hi Amy,Wishing you great health and countless wonderful years ahead...enjoy,cheers
Dr.Sudeep,NuTech Mediworld.

4

You don't know how great

Submitted by TMW on Mon, 2008/09/22 - 19:33.

You don't know how great this is for us all to read!!!!

5

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!

Submitted by Marci & Will on Tue, 2008/09/23 - 22:06.

To Our Dear Friend,

We wish you the Happiest Birthday ever! We truly hope you enjoyed your day and partied like a rock star with some delicious cake, pizza and good friends. You deserve only the best life has to offer...

And a mani/pedi if you ever make your way down here;)

xoxo,
Marci & Will

6

Happy Birthday!

Submitted by Catherine on Mon, 2008/09/29 - 00:55.

Happy Birthday! Am so glad that you have so much to celebrate this year. May there be many more to come.
--Catherine

7

So why did they work?

Submitted by jen on Mon, 2008/09/29 - 17:45.

So, if antibiotics didn't work, even IV, why didn't they work?

Did lyme disable your immune system, creating perpetual inflammation and perpetual immune incompetence? And at some point there was no way out of that, and since no antibiotic kills all of everything etc etc...

Did stem cells reboot your immune system, creating fresh cells that could function normally? Why then couldn't your own stem cells do this since you make them?

I'm trying to figure out why this worked.

How is your weight, hunger and lactation? Have those side effects gone away?

What do the doctors think about people not of childbearing age using stem cells (ie past childbearing)? Since we know that hormone replacement therapy increases cancer risk by stimulating growth, so could stem cells? Any thoughts?

Do they believe only embryonic stem cells would work?

Thanks.

8

'Why did they work' question....answered

Submitted by Amy B. Scher on Sun, 2008/10/05 - 22:43.

I think the stem cells worked due to a combination of things. First off, the antibiotics worked to some point. There is no way to gauge, but I feel confident it contained the bacteria to some degree (by killing a fair amount of it). I do believe though, that many Lyme patient's bodies are so degenerated from the chronic infection, that they cannot even put the meds to use. The body must be strong enough to tolerate them and use them to do their job. I think stem cells can strengthen the body to be able to better use the antibiotics. Also, with a boosted immune system, it can fight some of the bacteria on its own.

The reason your own stem cells wouldn't work....because they are from a diseased body. Frankly, my cells were useless to me so I needed new ones and perhaps ones without any inherent immune dysfunction. Some people with Chronic Lyme are in that position because something in their immune system malfunctioned in the first place.

My weight gain, hunger and lactation are all under control now. Not gone completely but I think part of it is just that I'm healthy and my body is thriving.

I don't have any information on those of non childbearing years going through the therapy and the risk of cancer being higher. I've seen many women of that age do it though with no consequence.  Cancer is basically a malfunction at a cellular level and if stem cells encourage healthy cell growth, it doesn't seem to be a risk. But, there have been no studies to prove my theory.

Why embryonic stem cells? I used them because they have the most capabilites, but other stem cells could possibly work as well. For me, this was the best choice since I had such a dysfunctional immune system and couldn't run the risk of having to take immunosuppresants after a transplant.

Hope all those answers helped!

Remember, I am not a physician and all of these statements are just my own opinion drawn from personal experience :)

9

Hi!!!!!!!!!!

Submitted by Chavi on Fri, 2008/10/10 - 11:44.

Hi Amy,

Wish u a very happy b'lated b'day.Sorry for one day delay . I wish u gud health. Nice to read that your b'day morning was so gud .

Bye n Take care

Chavi....

10

Happy Belated B'day

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 2008/10/18 - 20:46.

Just found your sight. My niece, age 26 and mother of two, has been diagnosed with Lyme Disease. Apparently she had it for several years and has significant physical problems. I read with great interest about the stem cell transplant. Can I learn more about it? This disease has affected our entire extended family as we all continually look for something to help her with this.
Susan

11

Contact for Amy

Submitted by Amy on Sun, 2008/10/19 - 06:22.

Hi Susan,

I'm so sorry for how this disease has affected your family. Please use the contact button on the homepage and feel free to e-mail me with your questions. I'm more than happy to help.

Many blessings,
Amy

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