The days are moving along and boring continues. Although Eric hasn't had a fever in a while, the doctors are still suspicious of his lungs. He has had another chest xray, CT scan and will have a second broncoscopy today. So far nothing definitive is showing up but he does have a sore congested throat. Fortunately, it's not affecting his breathing or causing a fever.
On a brighter note, he did complain today that he wasn't allowed to eat until after the broncoscopy! Considering he has had NO appetite - I am taking this complaint as good news.
I am still snowed in at home. Traffic in Ottawa is absolutely outrageous today with the constant snowfall (2 days now) piling up and the bus drivers on strike. With a bit of luck, the snow may settle down this afternoon and they will be able to get the roads cleared so I can get into the hospital. I hate being stuck here! Glad this is an inpatient transplant this time round.
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Sunday, 7 December 2008
Day +3
Not alot of news - which is probably a good thing. Eric is tired and has no appetite - just feeling overall blah....
Although he hasn't had a fever in over a week, the team continues to monitor him carefully for any signs of infection. So far, nothing. A tiny spot on Friday's chest xray won him a CT that he'll have sometime over the weekend when there is an open space in the schedule.
Shelley and Dave's 'at home' reception was last night and it was lovely. The snow did change our plans and Cor and I ended up staying overnight in Belleville. And that ends the months (years?) of wedding planning and weeks of celebrations!
Thanks again for your comments, emails, prayers and warm thoughts as we wait for these cells to do the trick.
Although he hasn't had a fever in over a week, the team continues to monitor him carefully for any signs of infection. So far, nothing. A tiny spot on Friday's chest xray won him a CT that he'll have sometime over the weekend when there is an open space in the schedule.
Shelley and Dave's 'at home' reception was last night and it was lovely. The snow did change our plans and Cor and I ended up staying overnight in Belleville. And that ends the months (years?) of wedding planning and weeks of celebrations!
Thanks again for your comments, emails, prayers and warm thoughts as we wait for these cells to do the trick.
Thursday, 4 December 2008
The Biggest Bag O Marrow Ever!
Today was transplant day and that was the biggest bag of cells that anyone had ever seen! Just under 2 litres of marrow! It was alot of fluid for Eric to take in (combined with all the regular IV antibiotics and antifungals) but it's all in there and hopefully lots of stem cells will be ready to set up housekeeping.
The actual transplant is just like a blood transfusion - it is not terribly exciting to watch. Although, I look at that bag of cells with amazement and think of the years of research behind procedures such as a bone marrow transplant. Eric is fine - Morgan arrived with a Booster Juice for him just as I was leaving and they had just watched the wedding video.
Dear donor, I hope you are not too sore following the bone marrow aspiration. Thank you.
The actual transplant is just like a blood transfusion - it is not terribly exciting to watch. Although, I look at that bag of cells with amazement and think of the years of research behind procedures such as a bone marrow transplant. Eric is fine - Morgan arrived with a Booster Juice for him just as I was leaving and they had just watched the wedding video.
Dear donor, I hope you are not too sore following the bone marrow aspiration. Thank you.
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
Day - 1
A bit of a bummer of a day for Eric. Some people should not be nurses... or maybe their strength is just not in helping a young man.... I have to say that 99% of the nurses who have helped Eric have been awesome -- perhaps we are spoiled! Anyway, a quick mention to the nursing supervisor and Eric will get another nurse tomorrow. I am always impressed by quick positive responses.
So, conditioning chemo is finished and it was fairly easy and well tolerated. Today Eric had a session of plasmapherisis to reduce the A antibodies in his system (don't want them to attack the A - cells that he gets tomorrow). It was tough to get veins, but Cheryl was summoned and she had him hooked up in no time. Eric has made it clear that she is the only one who is always successful in finding a vein. I figure he has been poked enough in his life that he only deserves the best. Thank you Cheryl!
Dermatology came in for a consultation today too. He has some spots on his legs that they wanted to look at. An interesting specialty... they seem to travel in pairs and do alot of "hmmm... look at this.." Bottom line is that these spots have been around for a couple of weeks, they haven't changed and they don't bother him. A biopsy would not likely tell them how to treat and it may be risky for him. It was a total non - consult.
Tomorrow is transplant day. The donor will be collected (bone marrow aspiration) in the morning. As with the first transplant, my theory is that the donor is near Ottawa or travels to Ottawa and the bone marrow harvest happens in the Ottawa Hospital. And I ain't telling how I know that! Eric will get the marrow late in the day which means that he will likely have 2 Day 0s. Saturday will be considered Day +1.
I am curious to see if Eric loses his hair again. The chemo drugs he has had do not tend to cause the type of hair loss that most chemo does. This time his hair is growing in quite fine and fair. The last time it grew back, it was very dark and coarse. We'll see - not really a huge issue for him. He's lucky that bald is in and it quite suits him!
And again, thanks for all your warm thoughts and prayers. Truly appreciated.
So, conditioning chemo is finished and it was fairly easy and well tolerated. Today Eric had a session of plasmapherisis to reduce the A antibodies in his system (don't want them to attack the A - cells that he gets tomorrow). It was tough to get veins, but Cheryl was summoned and she had him hooked up in no time. Eric has made it clear that she is the only one who is always successful in finding a vein. I figure he has been poked enough in his life that he only deserves the best. Thank you Cheryl!
Dermatology came in for a consultation today too. He has some spots on his legs that they wanted to look at. An interesting specialty... they seem to travel in pairs and do alot of "hmmm... look at this.." Bottom line is that these spots have been around for a couple of weeks, they haven't changed and they don't bother him. A biopsy would not likely tell them how to treat and it may be risky for him. It was a total non - consult.
Tomorrow is transplant day. The donor will be collected (bone marrow aspiration) in the morning. As with the first transplant, my theory is that the donor is near Ottawa or travels to Ottawa and the bone marrow harvest happens in the Ottawa Hospital. And I ain't telling how I know that! Eric will get the marrow late in the day which means that he will likely have 2 Day 0s. Saturday will be considered Day +1.
I am curious to see if Eric loses his hair again. The chemo drugs he has had do not tend to cause the type of hair loss that most chemo does. This time his hair is growing in quite fine and fair. The last time it grew back, it was very dark and coarse. We'll see - not really a huge issue for him. He's lucky that bald is in and it quite suits him!
And again, thanks for all your warm thoughts and prayers. Truly appreciated.
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
Day - 3
Ugh - didn't really think I'd ever be starting new posts with another countdown...
Day -3 was an uneventful but sleepy day. More Fludarabine and Campath - lots of benedryl to counter some minor reactions to the Campath.
Eric was relieved to hear yesterday that the do not expect he will have the severe mucositis that he had with the first transplant. Because his white counts have been low for a while now, there will not be that sudden drop in counts that leads to the nasty sore mouth, throat and gut. Certainly hope they are right - he deserves even a tiny break.
And finally, just for you, Veronica..... After all, you have been our number 1 fan forever! You know we love your support and messages and I could never ignore a request from you.
Day -3 was an uneventful but sleepy day. More Fludarabine and Campath - lots of benedryl to counter some minor reactions to the Campath.
Eric was relieved to hear yesterday that the do not expect he will have the severe mucositis that he had with the first transplant. Because his white counts have been low for a while now, there will not be that sudden drop in counts that leads to the nasty sore mouth, throat and gut. Certainly hope they are right - he deserves even a tiny break.
And finally, just for you, Veronica..... After all, you have been our number 1 fan forever! You know we love your support and messages and I could never ignore a request from you.
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