Thursday tests: caution : graphic pix!

L-R: Iva Jo & Bubba from Mississippi; Deb, Don and Anita from NW Arkansas

We seemed to have a class reunion in the waiting room for  the Bone Marrow test. Right after this photo, Israel came in and livened up the party. Of course, most patients were  'on drugs!' The friendly banter helped relieve the very-real stress each one was going thru as the painful procedure was contemplated. Everyone's favorite nurse for gentle reputation had just transferred to a children's hospital and was sorely missed.

The bone marrow tests use a 2 person team. For many cancers a single test helps determine the diagnosis. For Multiple Myeloma, these tests are used many times in order to measure progress. Typically a kind gentle lady comforts and records data while a muscular guy does the dastardly deed. Sort of a good cop, bad cop approach. However, today Big John was the kindest nurse yet and is the new gentleness champ.

The T-handle is inserted into a slit cut down to the pelvic bone. Then it is rotated to cut a plug of bone out of the pelvis. Then multiple hypodermic needles are used to draw out the marrow which looks like very thick blood. The drawing out of the marrow seems to be what hurts Deb the most.

 The big goal of some tests today was to determine Deb's ability to undergo the stem cell transplant.Two threats can kill her based on my discussion with a Dr.  Kidney destruction or lungs-pneumonia.

Both of these have been checked out and she seems ready. Her lungs were extensively tested in this glass box. Her breathing and lung capabilities were exhaustively tested-really! Then her heart got a thorough checkout.

At breakfast I had a long conversation with Dr Don Evans from UGA. He gets the results tomorrow about how his year-long treatment is doing. He did two years research at MD Anderson in Houston. They are famous for all sorts of cancer research but send their myeloma patients here. Don does works with many of the same DNA processes with animals. He helped me understand much of the science that is being used to heal Deb.

After a long hard day, Deb went to bed when we got home. I went out to get her some supper and fed her a small plate while she rested.