<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Heather's Health Journey]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sharing My Health Journey Together]]></description><link>https://www.heathershealthjourney.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:13:52 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.heathershealthjourney.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Packing...and waiting...]]></title><description><![CDATA[I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July!  Today has been spent packing...then resting a bit...then packing...and repeating.  I thought I was somehwat prepared for all I think I need to take to Chicago.  When I began actually putting things in bags and totes and suitcases, I realized that everything may not fit into my parents' vehicle if the three of us, plus my parents' belongings, want to fit as well.  That will be a problem to figure out tomorrow! As of this moment, 5:30 pm. on Sunday,...]]></description><link>https://www.heathershealthjourney.com/post/packing-and-waiting</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a4ad9300e6d4656949c1ca1</guid><pubDate>Sun, 05 Jul 2026 22:47:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2cbb13_1eb0b2f9d74c4de1831fb555001e171d~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_477,h_615,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>hschwarting7</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Staying in Touch]]></title><description><![CDATA[A few people have asked how they can stay in touch with me while I'm in Chicago, so here are the options: Cards and/or anything mailed:  please use my home mailing address; my family will continue to pick up my mail at my post office, and it will be brought to me as soon as possible.  I receive a daily email from the USPS in which I can see what is being delivered in my mailbox each day, so I will have a heads up that items will eventually be delivered to me! My mailing address is:  PO Box...]]></description><link>https://www.heathershealthjourney.com/post/staying-in-touch</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a49427b0e6d465694989e76</guid><pubDate>Sat, 04 Jul 2026 17:41:50 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2cbb13_a61601e803834d3da4275e2a58c9e701~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_218,h_208,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>hschwarting7</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Appointment Day &#38; New Prayer Requests]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ed, Joy, and I made it to Chicago last evening after a little bit of rush hour “slow down.”  We easily found our hotel, then walked around the hospital campus to orient ourselves for our appointments.  We ate supper at Tallboy Taco (and no, Ed didn’t choose it because he is tall and likes tacos!) - the food was delicious but we received inconsistent service! Overall, our appointment day (today) went well, but for me, could've been a bit better. I finally got to meet my transplant coordinator,...]]></description><link>https://www.heathershealthjourney.com/post/appointment-day-new-prayer-requests</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a446fad69b2dfbbf12d0168</guid><pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 02:04:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2cbb13_791229c2ff904ccdadee44254d38e6d2~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>hschwarting7</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Life &#38; Website Updates, June 28]]></title><description><![CDATA[The picture I've selected for today's post is one that I took of abundant lavender while visiting Ireland ten years ago this week.  I chose to use a photo of "purple" flowers for this update as a tribute to my Grandma Kay Schwarting, who passed away on June 18th. Our family and her friends said goodbye to her yesterday... and I want to thank all who came to her service/visitation or who have sent cards or messages.  I get overwhelmed when I think of the support we have received in the last...]]></description><link>https://www.heathershealthjourney.com/post/life-website-updates-june-28</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a4192293c06bdad5424863a</guid><pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2026 22:24:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2cbb13_6ffa61c38ed34cb488ca6a3fadd1c32b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>hschwarting7</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Transplant Details]]></title><description><![CDATA[As the transplant timeline approaches, I thought it would be interesting for many of you to know more about this process.  If you have Googled "bone marrow transplant" - as I did - you will find what is planned for me is different than what is described online. On Tuesday, June 30th, Ed and I will have several appointments at Northwestern.  We will drive up the day before so Ed can get started at 8:30 am with his appointments which will check his overall health ahead of donating.  My...]]></description><link>https://www.heathershealthjourney.com/post/transplant-details</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a39b1e0bc774dc6e46f2bfd</guid><pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 22:59:11 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2cbb13_eb6cd97a4a0a43928c8e466fa8071c4d~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_175,h_129,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>hschwarting7</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[June 13th Prayer Requests]]></title><description><![CDATA[It has been a quiet week since my last update, but that is a positive!  After a few days of waiting for communication between my oncologist and my transplant doctor, I was able to begin a five day regimen of infusion chemo on Thursday.  My platelets are not near the "required" number of 75, but apparently that was not a big enough reason to cancel this round of chemo altogether.   After two days of infusions, I am very, very tired, but that seems to be the only side effect.  I will have three...]]></description><link>https://www.heathershealthjourney.com/post/june-13th-prayer-requests</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2dc03500dbe48b1c77d00f</guid><pubDate>Sat, 13 Jun 2026 21:04:56 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2cbb13_9ff49f61fa96410c8d007543e208593f~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_275,h_183,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>hschwarting7</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Life &#38; Website Updates!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Life Updates I'm afraid I don't have anything as exciting to report as my last update, but that is actually a good thing!  My blood counts have remained more stable over the last week and a half, which means a long stretch without getting blood or platelet transfusions and overall, feeling better and much more like myself.  Some little annoying issues linger, but since my blood counts are still not in a typical, normal range, my body still isn't healing itself very well. Yesterday (Thursday,...]]></description><link>https://www.heathershealthjourney.com/post/life-website-updates</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a236b1e7af0f733569209be</guid><pubDate>Sat, 06 Jun 2026 01:43:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2cbb13_92c6e9da3978475ba15c380fbd3f8d27~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_465,h_280,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>hschwarting7</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[25%?  How about 100%!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Yesterday, both Ed and I were informed that he is a 100% match to be my bone marrow donor!  This means the transplant process is being scheduled, and we should have a timeline soon!  This is such a relief for many reasons!  We are still not sure why the odds of sibling matches are so low - 25% - but at this point it doesn't matter! Ed will have to undergo preliminary health testing prior to his bone marrow donation.  He will also have to be at Northwestern about a week into my transplant...]]></description><link>https://www.heathershealthjourney.com/post/25-how-about-100</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a19fcc7325ac88c49cf83d1</guid><pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 21:40:47 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2cbb13_510eb566f06440a0ad6fa8c0e38f58b2~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>hschwarting7</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[ER Visit]]></title><description><![CDATA[Thursday (oncologist appt and other appts) and Friday (trip to Chicago) were physically, mentally, and emotionally draining.  I was thankful that Saturday (yesterday as I write this) was a low key day.  I spent a lot of time resting as well as managed to shower and wash my hair without incident!  I was also thankful I had an appointment at 7:30 on Sunday morning to get another unit of blood and another unit of platelets to get me through the long weekend. I'm also thankful my mouth issues...]]></description><link>https://www.heathershealthjourney.com/post/er-visit</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a135318d681fe01d166ad57</guid><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 20:40:40 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2cbb13_88c302abe45e4cc0bb7e49d303201826~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_204,h_192,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>hschwarting7</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[First Trip to Chicago]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sadly, this is one of the only photos I took today in Chicago, but it does represent the fact that we needed just under three hours to arrive at this parking deck!  (I also don't know why my photos are not clear.)  We did not have any delays on our drive and were able to easily rely on GPS to get us there.  Thank you to my friend, Judith, for the pro tip to enter the parking deck address, not the hospital address, as our destination! The building in which all of my appointments were held...]]></description><link>https://www.heathershealthjourney.com/post/first-trip-to-chicago</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a10ee0fa2438924d10db5f6</guid><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 01:09:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2cbb13_800854697192493db393ba823d6ec8fe~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_204,h_320,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>hschwarting7</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Oncology Appointment Update]]></title><description><![CDATA[I think today's appointment can best be described as "it went well" but my mom and I still left feeling a bit underwhelmed.  The complete biopsy results are not back yet since my most recent biopsy was just a week ago - full results do take longer.  However, Dr. Liu was "encouraged" by the early results she could see.  No, we still don't know if the cancer is in remission, but the other numbers are headed in the right direction, apparently.  Dr. Liu also reviewed the April biopsy (the results...]]></description><link>https://www.heathershealthjourney.com/post/oncology-appointment-update</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a0f7f31f0529c749996910a</guid><pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 22:18:36 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2cbb13_76b03cbbb15246feb49fab9151fdcac5~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_240,h_320,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>hschwarting7</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Prayer Requests - May 19th]]></title><description><![CDATA[My current prayer requests are as follows: Thursday, May 21st, I will have a meeting with my oncologist to learn results of the latest biopsy. Please pray this biopsy result is clearer than the previous ones. Please pray the biopsy shows the leukemia is in remission (required for the transplant). Please pray that I will not need to endure another round of chemo. Friday, May 22nd, my parents and I will go to Northwestern Hospital in Chicago to meet with the transplant doctor, Dr. Mehta. Please...]]></description><link>https://www.heathershealthjourney.com/post/prayer-requests-may-19th</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a0c9df48e0cce8d79c60658</guid><pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 17:34:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2cbb13_9ff49f61fa96410c8d007543e208593f~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_275,h_183,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>hschwarting7</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How I've been doing along the way...]]></title><description><![CDATA[On Monday, March 16th, I awoke to a surprising email that my school district would have an eLearning day due to hazardous road conditions which had developed overnight. Around 11:05 a.m., while I was technically on my "lunch break," I received the call from the hematology provider whom I'd met with the previous Thursday when my blood had been drawn. She told me I had AML, and I needed to be admitted to the hospital by the end of the day. To say I was shocked is an understatement. Nothing can...]]></description><link>https://www.heathershealthjourney.com/post/how-i-ve-been-doing-along-the-way</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a0c9b44315901193654e107</guid><pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 17:27:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2cbb13_5a3d06a812e14783ba1b3467ea0be1b6~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_240,h_320,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>hschwarting7</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Transplant needed!]]></title><description><![CDATA[On April 16th, my oncologist also began the proceedings needed for me to have a bone marrow transplant, which included swabbing the inside of my cheeks and sending the sample to a national donor registry.  This was not information I wanted to hear.  I was hopeful that the disease had been caught early enough that the chemo would put me into remission and a transplant would not be needed.  I now believe a transplant is standard treatment for my type of leukemia. I have been referred to Dr....]]></description><link>https://www.heathershealthjourney.com/post/transplant-needed</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a0c992b983c9f06161ea046</guid><pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 17:16:19 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2cbb13_eb6cd97a4a0a43928c8e466fa8071c4d~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_175,h_129,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>hschwarting7</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>