🌀Mood: Thorough. Evaluated. Protected. Prepared. Strengthened. Intentional.

If you think a stem cell transplant is just about cancer, you would be wrong.

Before they give you high-dose chemotherapy, they test everything.

Heart.
Lungs.
Kidneys.
Liver.
Infectious disease panels.
Chest X-rays.
EKGs.
Pulmonary function tests.
Dental clearance.
Vein checks.
And yes — even a full gynecology exam.

No stone goes unturned.

And honestly? That’s comforting.

The Body Audit

This week wasn’t just about my PET scan or bone marrow biopsy.

It was a full-body audit.

They aren’t just asking, “Is the cancer quiet?”

They’re asking:

Can her heart tolerate this?
Can her lungs withstand it?
Are there hidden infections?
Are there underlying issues we don’t know about?
Is there anything that could complicate what we’re about to do?

Because transplant isn’t gentle.

They will intentionally wipe out my bone marrow with high-dose melphalan. They will suppress my immune system. They will bring me to a place of profound vulnerability — and then rebuild me using my own stem cells.  Just like a baby being born.

That only works if the rest of the body is strong enough.

The Humbling Part

There’s something deeply humbling about having every system evaluated.

You realize quickly: this isn’t about pride.

It’s about survival.

Sitting in a gynecology exam knowing you’re there because of cancer feels surreal. But it’s necessary. They need to rule out infection, inflammation, anything that could flare when my immune system drops to zero.

Nothing is overlooked.

And oddly enough, that thoroughness feels like protection.

What It Means

This week wasn’t glamorous.

It was lab draws.
Paper gowns.
Breathing into tubes.
Electrodes on my chest.
More waiting rooms.
More forms.

Heart checked.
Lungs checked.
Kidneys checked.
Infections ruled out.
No stone left unturned.

Six months ago, this kind of week would have terrified me.

Now?

It feels like preparation.

Not chaos.
Not crisis.
Preparation.

Because transplant isn’t about reacting.
It’s about timing.
It’s about strength.
It’s about going in ready.

And one by one, test after test, the message has been consistent.

Every test says the same thing:

We are moving forward.