As my regular readers know, I am in the midst of my first stem cell transplant to treat my myeloma.

I don’t care how many doctors say this is a “tolerable” procedure--it isn’t any fun.

I am nauseous constantly, tired as my blood counts crash, and battling to keep diarrhea and mouth sores at bay.

But I’m always looking for a positive spin or silver linings as I wait for my stem cells to engraft.

For example, when I learned I would be receiving anti-fungal medication, I lobbied the transplant pharmacist to give me meds which could help cure my toe fungus at the same time.

She didn’t, of course, but it was worth a try!

However, I have discovered an unexpected bonus as I suffer through all of this:  The superpower of incredibly heightened smell.

OK, it’s not the ability to fly or see through walls.  And I’m not sure how being able to smell like a bloodhound can be used to fight evil.

But I will share with you that I am now able to tell when the meal cart hits the floor--whether I’m hungry or not.  When I’m walking through the halls, I can follow a scent cloud for minutes after the perpetrator has moved on.

Beside the fact that any smell can make me nauseous at no warning, I’m still not sure if there are any benefits to my new-found superpower.  But, HEY!, it is fun being able to identify what someone who walks by has had for lunch or what type of shampoo they are wearing, minutes after they pass by without asking.

I would like to pause here and thank all of you who have left positive comments and suggestions here at the Beacon, by email, or on my blogs.

I may not have the strength to answer each contact individually, but please know your kind words absolutely make a difference.  I live for you guys!

Feel good and keep smiling!  Pat