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| Our lovely and sweet nurse today |
Deb fully expects another infusion of her own frozen stem cells. She also wants to understand what's going on in her body and why the last stem cell transplant fizzled.
She has been pre-meded for red blood. She will get that ASAP. There can't be an original drop of blood in her body by now! Thanks donors!
Deb has an appetite! She is craving bananas and peanut butter and coke! We call that a good thing!
It was a typical long interrupted night. Our nurse walked in the door and said 'Are you the folks that do that blog thing? I do not want to be on it!'
So, she isn't on here, although we had a most pleasant evening and even played some of her nation's favorite music as she worked.
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09:55 am Just saw the doc. Doc said:
> Results of the bone marrow yesterday are not in yet available
>No virus is detectible anymore. The strong anti-virus IVs that are most likely the cause of rashes and diarrhea will soon be reduced to a maintenance dosage which should provide Deb some relief.
>The rash is better today.
>Deb has many questions. Doc answered the ones that he could. Number one : why did the third stem cell infusion fail to 'take'. Answer: unknown, but most likely the extremely high virus levels made it ineffective.
>Dr van Rhee instructed our hospitalist to infuse new stem cells ASAP. There is no other option besides ultimate death since Deb has a 0.05 white blood count today. She basically has no immune system left.
Deb feels abandoned emotionally since the infusion docs and nurses are separate from the hospital side of things. Doc explained that they communicate daily and will be having a sit-down meeting to discuss Deb's case tomorrow at 8:00 am down the hall from us. He said most patients over here on the 7th floor myeloma wing have the same emotions as the staff divides duties to provide the needed medical services.
Deb hopes to see Dr van Rhee and /or his assistant Kristen tomorrow.
>Doc produced a document for Deb to sign which allows the infusion to happen around noon. On a side note: the stem cells are not allowed to come on elevators to the seventh floor. They must be hand carried up the stairs in case the elevator failed. The life is in the blood!
So, Prayer warriors: Pray that the new stem cells will find their right places and functions and will be welcomed into Deb's body.
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12:55pm
The doc and two nurses just completed the infusion of Deb's stem cells. The doc himself handled the cells, hookup, tubing, etc.
This makes Deb's fourth stem cell transplant. These cells were obtained several years ago and kept in liquid nitrogen. See the pix I took in the lab in October.
Deb now has the strong smell of DMSO exuding from her body. It will last several days if this is like last time.
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| Delivery service hands off to Doc |
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| Hooked up and ready to go! |
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| Stem cells now flowing into Deb |
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| Confirming all is OK |
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8 pm and all's well. Deb has an appetite and is sitting in the recliner. She dressed and has been trying to stay awake more. Hopefully her white count will soon begin to go up. It can't go much lower!
Blessings!
Platelets -(Normal range 150-500) a whitish colored component of blood. Low platelets=higher Woozy factor!
CRP -(Normal range = 0.0-10) An indicator of relative health. Lower is better. When the number creeps up, Deb could be getting sick.
CRP -(Normal range = 0.0-10) An indicator of relative health. Lower is better. When the number creeps up, Deb could be getting sick.
Day White Count Platelets CRP
0 0.04 29 12.8
1 0.07 15 77.0
2 0.03 42 140.3
3 0.07 27 144.1
4 0.23 52 206.0
5 1.21 33 168.2
6 2.32 26 214.0
7 2.29 11 209.3
8 2.84 25 230.2
9 2.32 12 234.1
10 2.66 24 220.1
11 2.50 15 196.0
12 2.54 28 186.0
13 1.98 18 181.0
14 1.22 28 199.9
15 0.95 20 138.6
Stem Cells on Day 15
16 0.83 32 129.4
0 0.04 29 12.8
1 0.07 15 77.0
2 0.03 42 140.3
3 0.07 27 144.1
4 0.23 52 206.0
5 1.21 33 168.2
6 2.32 26 214.0
7 2.29 11 209.3
8 2.84 25 230.2
9 2.32 12 234.1
10 2.66 24 220.1
11 2.50 15 196.0
12 2.54 28 186.0
13 1.98 18 181.0
14 1.22 28 199.9
15 0.95 20 138.6
Stem Cells on Day 15
16 0.83 32 129.4
17 0.86 22 121.4
18 0.70 12 110.3
19 0.55 9 159.2
20 0.75 14 162.9
Admitted to hospital Day 20
Admitted to hospital Day 20
21 0.36 26 127.9
22 0.53 13 86.2
23 0.34 28 59.6
24 0.29 14 95.8
25 0.38 28 114.5
26 0.40 17 129.1
27 0.37 29 87.0
28 0.41 24 72.6
29 0.35 12 73.3
30 0.59 30 95.4
31 0.37 17 84.5
32 0.19 35 80.5
33 0.25 25 94.3
34 0.05 24 117.0
Stem Cells on Day 34
Stem Cells on Day 34
We love you.
ReplyDeleteDavid & Linda
I read this prayer yesterday and I am praying it for you: "Living God, I thank You for Your sovereign control over life's events. On behalf of Your dear servants, I ask that You would give them deep peace. I pray for the physicians as they apply their medical skills, that You would give them excellent results. May Your healing hand touch them and bring them back into full service for You. In Jesus' name. Amen" (So much better than I could have said it.) Love, Doris
ReplyDeleteSending you love from Newnan. Just want you to know you're in my thoughts and prayers all day every day, every night, too ... gL xoxox
ReplyDeletePraying
ReplyDeleteMark and Joy
Praying for you both. Is there anything that we can do for you?
ReplyDeleteThanks all! Prayer for the cells to engraft in the marrow is #1. When engraftment happens, fighting the persistent cancer on Deb's breastbone area can happen.
ReplyDeleteVern