Becky had a good day yesterday..appetite still pretty good..some weakness but generally stable and able to walk around the hospital floor with ease..of course she has her 'drip tower' as I call it, in tow..this 7 foot 'med carrier' on wheels..Her attitude, as I mentioned before, is generally positive and ready.
She is receiving the transplant drugs...these help with warding off the 'graft versus host' disease, the big 'boogieman' of post stem cell transplant..The next 100 days are crucial to observe...and this disease can even rear it's head for up to two years..if I have my facts correct..
Seems like we learn something everyday..Please be prepared for corrections on any of my/our medical information output..
The transplant drugs may produce a more uncomfortable state for a few days or even week or two..But we have been told, each patient is different, so we pray Becky will have ease of days..
Other than Sunday, she has had mostly comfortable and manageable days..
She is developing a sore throat, which is due to the transplant drug treatment..And again, if I have my facts correct, she is techincally done with chemo and will be receiving the transplant drug regimen, BUT Becky just informed me today, she has to take one certain transplant drug for months, to again, deflect the graft vs. host disease..This will be one among many when she first arrives home..We have been told she may take as many as 21 drugs! BUT we cannot forget, this is on the road to a CURE! Yes, a CURE!
Becky has a Hickman catheter that is inserted in the right side of her chest, it has 2 tubes that run directly into the heart. This catheter is where she receives all of her intervenous medications, and they also remove blood for blood tests! This means no punctures to any arm veins.
Today she received a plasma apheresis which will assist in the transition of her blood type that will change from her current O negative to the donor's A positive! Yeah, mindblowing! The plasma apheresis was 2 hours 45 minutes in which all of her blood was slowly removed through the catheter, and her plasma and antibodies were all removed into a bag and replaced with albumin to balance out the red blood as it returned into her heart and keep her blood pressure even.
The cells are to arrive tonight, they are counted, then we think sometime around 11am tomorrow, the actual infusion of the 'fresh' stem cells will take place..
Pray for this to all be smooth and comfortable, for all medical care involved in this, to be precise and confident ..Can't say it enough, we thank the Lord for this procedure in this day and time and for a donor who has released 'life giving' stem cells to another human being..my wonderful wife..
Will be back soon.. with an update and again any neccessary corrections.. :)+=
**Abbey doing good..has better appetite and more upbeat in her voice and actions..Please keep her in your prayers..
May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you..
Celebrate Life..
Bill and Becky
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