Test Results

This is the moment I have been anticipating (and dreading) for the last six months. This afternoon I spoke with Dr. Rosenzsweig over at Boston Medical Center to get my test results. I had prepared myself for the worst of circumstances due to some of the blood tests, but I was hardly ready for what he had to say.

According to my test results, I have succeeded in holding back the disease! There no more signs of amyloid in my system. I have achieved what they call a 'durable response'. Specifically:

• My bone-marrow biopsy was normal, with no abnormalities.
• My serum immunofixation tests were normal.
• My lambda free-light chains are normal (although a tad high) at 26.2.
• The amount of protein my kidneys are leaking has been reduced from 13.8 grams to 4.3 grams.

I am still in shock.

Where do we go from here? Well, my body is still damaged, and recovering from the treatment. I am still leaking a ton of protein, and my triglycerides are still very high. I need to continue doing what I have been doing, watching my diet, doing light exercise, and checking in with the doctors. I will go back to BUSM in June for another set of tests, and if things continue to look good, I will get the coveted status of "complete response".

I want to thank everyone who has helped me and given me support throughout the last six months... I grew from your strength and couldn't have done it without you.

Wow. I am still in shock. I am speechless.