Ever since the transplant I've been rebuilding back. I stayed in the hospital about a month after that and lost about 35-40 pounds. I spent the whole summer just walking again, doing little things because staying on my feet was the challenge.

It's taught me to become more patient with people. I don't get as upset over the small stuff. It's all about your health and family, things like that really matter.

Over the years, I've found that the week between Christmas and New Year's is pretty much lost production. Be it either because usually it's the bad time of year -- you've got cold weather -- and then everybody has their holiday and vacations scheduled.

My white blood cell count was so high they thought I may not make it. My blood was so thick to the point where I could have had a stroke or heart attack at anytime.

They told me they had a bed already set up for me and to bring a family member with me, and I knew that couldn't be good. I knew it had to be something really, really serious.

The chemo came in all types of forms, by injection, fluid, pill.