Setting expectations......

You've all been amazing!

I'll never be able to thank you enough for giving me this opportunity.

By the end of next week I'll be able to give you an updated amount but I know it's going to be impressive, and I'll be forever grateful.

We're flying out to Bangalore at 2pm on the 23rd August to be seen by the now famous Dr Amit at the beginning of the following week.

I have to go through a battery of tests to make sure that I am fit enough to go through the procedure. Heart, lungs, kidney function and a dental examination amongst others I'm sure. At first I was slightly confused about the dental one but it's been explained to me well.

Any infection during the stage when you have NO immune system could potentially be a serious complication and so all the pretesting is geared towards making sure that there isn't anything lurking that could cause a problem.

It's not a pretty procedure. I hope my mum knows what she's in for while we're in isolation.

Diarrhoea and vomiting for a start....

But, eventually once I get my stem cells back, a day named your new birthday by HSCTers, I'll have a brand new immune system with hopefully no memory of MS.

The time when your harvested stem cells begin to create a new immune system is called engraftment and this is what I'm aiming for. A swift and relatively discomfort free journey through to my new baby immune system that I'll nurture carefully through to a fully functioning one, MS free!!!

For those that are interested, here is a guide to HSCT but please note I am NOT having Total Body Irradiation...

http://www.lymphomas.org.uk/sites/default/files/pdfs/Autologous%20stem%20cell%20transplant%20booklet.pdf

So, setting expectations...

Please don't think that when I get home I'm going to be ready to apply for the London Marathon. The recovery from the chemo could take a year or so and the chances are that I'll feel very weak and my symptoms could worsen before they get better, if that happens at all.

My reason for doing this is to primarily stop my MS from getting any worse and I have an 80% chance of that happening. If improvements in my disabilities happen then that's more than a bonus.

My way of getting through this is to hope for the bare minimum - for things to stop and not worry about the other improvements.

I'm calling myself a positive realist. Hopeful, but not naïve.

I won't be able to say that this has or hasn't worked for me for another 18 months, even 2 years! Recovery can be slow if at all so please be patient with me .

I'll be updating this blog and FB page regularly while I'm away so please stay in touch and send messages. I think spending 3-4 weeks alone with my mum in isolation could make us or break us and we could do with some other human interaction!

Seriously, I'm so grateful she's coming with me. Who else is better to offer some TLC than your mum? And, I'll be able to relax knowing that Paul is at home with the kids.

Simples!