We are en route to Chicago for my inpatient stay, where I will be getting more chemo starting Friday and finally my stem cells on February 23rd, my Stemmie Birthday!
So exciting!! The roller coaster is still in full swing. Definitely a lot of emotions surrounding this trip! Let’s do this!
Recapping my dates to show a timeline of my HSCT journey (and to remind myself of my dates!)
A quick review of my HSCT timeline.
I’m hoping to help give everyone an idea of time that it took for to get to where I am from that first NorthWestern email.
05/13/16: MRI showed that Tysabri was no longer working. Stopped Tysabri. No options left except Lemtrada or HSCT.
05/16/16: Called NW to ask if I could apply if I was having a relape
05/22/16: Sent initial email to NW
05/23/16: Contacted by NW to send paperwork/CDs
Waited because I got nervous and also my dad was having some bad vision problems that needed surgery.
09/07/16: Sent Paperwork and CDs to NW
09/13/16: Phone call from NW to come for evaluation.
09/20/16: Initial evaluation
09/21/16: Offered the treatment By Dr. Burt
Ty washout period was 6 months so I couldn’t start until Nov 13th at least. Also, insurance wanted more information to make their decision on whether to approve and pay for the treatment. NW had me do pre-testing early to give the insurance company more info. My insurance company paid for all the pre-testing. This was the period of time where I was fighting with insurance – HSCT was denied by Medical Mutual of Ohio and all three appeals were also denied.
12/30/16: NW calls me and suggests I apply for Part B Medicare, so I did.
01/01/17: Medicare Part B kicked in!
01/17/17: NW called with my dates
01/27/17: Mobilization
02/06/17: Harvest
02/17/17: Admit
02/23/17: STEM BIRTHDAY!!!
I got the chance to enjoy my son’s basketball game today. In person! So proud of him!!! It was my first day out of the house during this rest week before I return to Chicago for the final leg of my journey!