Prayer for the Blessing of Stem Cells

After Bob's stem cell transplant, I asked the chaplain for a copy of her prayer.  We received it today so I thought I'd share it with you.

THIS IS THE DAY1  THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE.  LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT.

Most Merciful God, Creator and Sustainer of LIfe,

We come before you today, humbled by your great gift of life.  In your infinite love, you planted within us these tiny cells that have the power to heal and renew.  For giving scientists, physicians, and nurses the knowledge to use these cells for our well-being, we give you thanks.  For having brought us to this special day, we give you thanks.

Today, we ask a special blessing on Bob as he receives these life-giving cells.  Let him trust not only in their power to heal, but in Your invitation to new life and new birth.  Grant Bob patience and hope as he waits for the restoration of body, mind, and spirit.

And now, send your spirit upon these cells, blessing them with your love and healing power.

In Your Holy Name, we pray.  AMEN

Bob's new birthday, February 2, 2011

Day 6 and 7 after transplant

I went to school half day on Tuesday so I could spend the rest of the day with Bob. The mouth sores are getting a little more intense. Bob says it's like a really bad sore throat. He was able to eat some soup and a little more of that Swedish cardamum coffee cake. He wanted me to bring some noodles so he could add them to his broth. I'll bring whatever he feels like eating!

Bob had two very special visitors. The hospital chaplain, who he has become good friends with and our pastor from our church in Michigan. It was a beautiful day and the sunshine filled up Bob's room.

Today, Wednesday, February 9, day 7, when Bob called me before I left for school he sounded terrible. His throat was so bad and he compared the way he felt to how you feel with a bad case of the flu. He thought he would stay in bed and just sleep. When he called me at lunch he said he had an infection and a fever. I got really nervous even though I knew this would probably happen. The nurses said he didn't have to worry about walking or showering. He was happy his nurse was the same nurse he had on the day he had the stem cell transplant. We both thought she was wonderful. Today Bob found out she was an Augustana graduate and a Phi Rho!! I knew there must be a connection! Bob's brother John spent the afternoon with him. Around 4:00 the fever broke and he felt much better. He took a walk and even ordered a little supper.

I talked to him again this evening and again he had a fever but he has great pain medication now and that is really helping him to feel like he can manage his symptoms. In fact the sore throat didn't feel that bad! He was sure he would sleep well tonight.

I'm going to go to the hospital tomorrow morning just to check things out and see how Bob is doing. I have Open House in the evening so I'll go back to school later in the day. One day at a time, one foot in front of the other. I know Bob is in very good hands and therefore I too will try to sleep well tonight.

The Weekend

Bob and I spent a quiet weekend together at the hospital. Church friends offered to drive me down on Saturday and then pick me up on Sunday. No need to worry about another CTA experience. Also my neighbor agreed to be on top of Wesley's needs. They also brought me dinner when I arrived home on Sunday. People are so kind!

On Saturday Bob and I played a game of Scrabble. I can tell he's not feeling 100% since we put the game away and I was winning! It's good to be there with him so I can encourage the walking and make suggestions for meals. He really has no appetite and today the first mouth sore appeared. I hope he doesn't get too many! He had a little bit of nausea this weekend too but they have great medications that help.

The doctors want Bob to walk outside of his room 3-4 times daily. They don't care how far but so far we are doing 3 to 4 loops 4 times each day. I've also found a stationary bike that looks out at the lake. Great place to make phone calls as well as get a little exercise myself.

When you are in the hospital you are up early. So Sunday morning we enjoyed some Swedish coffee cake that Bob's sister sent us. This triggered Michigan memories with its wonderful cardamum smell. Bob said maybe we can go in a couple weeks. That's Bob, always very optimistic. I sure do hope he's right. We went to church by watching one of the services at St. Olaf but for the rest of the afternoon I did school work and Bob napped.

Most times when you are in the hospital, if you've had a procedure, you hopefully start getting better the next day. With Bob's stem cell transplant, days 7-11 are considered his hardest days. Today, day 4 he is doing ok. His biggest complaint is being tired. The nurses feel he is a low maintenance patient. What will tomorrow bring? We don't know what reactions Bob will have with the chemo as he gets to days 5,6,7,8,9,10, 11 but we do know God will be watching over him. I reminded him that by next Sunday, day 11, each day he will be getting better. :)

Transplant + 3 days

I've learned that once you have a transplant, every day after that time is based off your transplant day. So today, according to the doctors I am on day 3 of my new life. The days since the transplant have been quite uneventful filled primarily with tiredness and lethargy. Don't quite have the energy to read or write and I've discovered that the hospital's choice of TV stations is rather weak once you get past the major networks. Mostly they have movie channels which seem to show a number of rather dark movies. Seems to me that a couple of channels with light sit-coms might be more appropriate for the patients on these floors. Oh well, I can tell you that I have become an expert on the news of the week--both local and international--as I am amazed at how often the stories are repeated verbatim--day after day!! How many of you heard about the 76-year old Texas woman who was trapped in her apartment in Cairo but ready with her rolling pin to take on any protesters who might harass her?

From what I understand I have entered the calm before the storm as it relates to the side-effects from the chemoblast I had this past Tuesday. They usually kick in around day 4 and can run through day 11 and can include loss of appetite (which I already have), nausea, vomiting, hair loss, and, of most concern to me, mouth sores, which I understand can be quite nasty. If you are so inclined, please pray that I am spared being walloped by them. At the same time, all of my red and white blood cells and platelets are going down until the reinfused stem cells find their way back to my bone marrow and start reproducing. I guess around day 12 or so is when they should have regenerated enough to overcome the chemo side effects--or the side effects will have run their course. I'll be most glad as I approach that day-- which is VALENTINE'S DAY! How appropo! Terri and I can really celebrate this year! If all goes well, I should be discharged a few days after that.

For those of you who have asked, I can have visitors as long as you are healthy since I am at a risk for infection. You will be asked to wash your hands as you enter and leave the room. If you are planning to visit, please call ahead to see how I am feeling (312-472-1589). While I would  love to have you visit, please do not be offended if I turn down your visit should it not be a good day for me.

I'm waiting for Terri to arrive shortly. She will spend the weekend down here with me. We'll find some things to do like playing games on the internet, watching some light-hearted DVDs, playing a little Scrabble, and, of course, getting in my daily walks around the floor which are so important. The Family Room on the floor also overlooks Lake Michigan so we'll stop down there for awhile and watch the various lake moods. They actually have been quite interesting over the past few days given the huge blizzard and extreme cold we have been experiencing.

Thanks to all of you for the care and concern you have shown to Terri and me in so many ways over the past few months. We feel so blessed!

Peace to you!

February 2, 2011: A rebirth

Today I had my stem cell transplant, or reinfusion of my stem cells, and it was most certainly a powerful experience. After a couple hours of IV hydration, the frozen stem cells were brought into my room in a dry ice container. Vapors poured out of the container as it was opened and the burgundy-colored stem cells removed to be placed in a warm tub of water and defrosted. The hospital chaplain quietly blessed the stem cells as Audrey, my wonderful nurse, held them in her hands over my bed. Then Audrey hung the bag of stem cells on the IV pole to begin the flow into my body. As they did, we all held hands and recited the Lord's Prayer. Audrey mentioned that she had prayed last night for a successful infusion of my stem cells as well, even though I know she had to battle blizzard conditions to get home last night and back to work this morning. The medical profession looks at this procedure as a rebirth and I guess I would have to agree. It was a very moving experience for both Terri and me. From now on, I will celebrate two birthdays, March 29, 1951, and February 2, 2011, as my new life has begun. Praise the Lord!

Blizzard of 2011

Son-in-law Mike helps Bob get settled in Monday night

What a way to begin this major event in our lives. We began on Monday with a doctor's appointment and because Bob wasn't able to check into the hospital until later in the afternoon, they didn't want to begin the chemo until Tuesday morning. So I drove home Monday evening thinking about how I would get down to the hospital on Tuesday morning. Not so much how I would get down but IF I could get home Tuesday. It was major for me just to get comfortable driving down to Northwestern, parking in the garage and then getting around the hospital. Now, a blizzard! I drive cautiously in the snow but I really don't like it one bit. So I made the decision to take the Blue Line (Subway) down to Chicago Ave. and take the bus to Michigan Ave. and then walk over to the hospital. I would spend the night in Bob's room and not worry about having to get home. Now you also need to know that taking the Blue Line and the bus is a bold adventure for me too.

Bob's sister got me to the Cumberland station and now the next thing was to get my ticket with transfer. Again, doing this puts me way out of my comfort zone but I'm never afraid to ask for help. Most people are really wonderful. I asked the attendant how to add money to my card when he told me my card had expired! Who knew!!! So, with his calming words I got on the train and headed downtown feeling pretty relaxed. Now I just had to watch for Chicago Ave. Here is the great thing. A few years ago I did this same trip when I went to meet Bob at his office. So he had written me step-by-step directions which I had saved and they came in very handy. Bob's directions were like GPS directions on paper!!!

Well, I got off at Chicago, worked my way up to Ogden Ave. and Chicago and waited for a bus. Figured out how to put my transfer in and found a seat on a very crowded bus. I had a pretty heavy overnight bag with me so I was glad for the available seat. Being a suburban gal, even riding the bus in the city is taxing for me! I got off at Michigan Ave., walked over to Prentice Hospital and immediately got a cup of coffee. Oh was I relieved and very proud of myself. :)

Bob and I spent a very nice day together. We were both very relaxed and happy to be inside watching and listening to this weather event together.

Early Tuesday evening I decided I wanted to go outside and really experience the blizzard. I walked over to Superior and then over to Michigan. I walked north on Michigan to Walgreens where I purchased some snacks for us. Bob's appetite is wonderful, which is great. As I was heading back to Prentice, the winds were unbelievable. I had to grab onto a street sign so I wouldn't blow on to Superior. As I was doing this a young man was behind me and told me he would grab my arm and help me across the street. What a good Boy Scout! When did I get so old!!!!! He was a new daddy so what a happy conversation we had until we got back into the hospital. People are good.

Bob and I had a quiet evening on his floor. We walked a little and watched out the windows. The lightening was incredible. The sounds of the windows rattling was a little scary but we felt very safe. The nurses brought me bedding, I pulled out the little bed next to the window and when we turned out the lights, I watched outside a little bit. We are on the 15th floor. Finally sleep came and both Bob and I slept pretty well until about 6:00. His nurse came in during the night to do some things but they are so quiet and gentle that sleep is barely disturbed.

We got up at 6:00 and began preparing for the day. I went and got coffee and got locked out of the floor. Again, I had to learn to be a bit bold and look around to figure out how to get back on the floor. The person who sits at the desk wasn't due back in until 7:00 if she was even going to make it. I found a phone number to call on the hospital desk phone and eventually got back to Bob's room. Bob ate a good breakfast and we have taken a couple walks. He has a hydration drip before the stem cell reinfusion at 11:30. Soon they will bring in two bags of his frozen stem cells. There will be a blessing of them and then they will be placed in warm water to defrost right here in his room. It is all so amazing! Then the transplant will begin. It will take about 30 minutes and then more hydration. He is given some medicine to help him relax so he will probably be napping more this afternoon.

I planned to take Monday and Tuesday off of school but when the transplant was delayed until Wednesday I was very lucky that we had a snow day! I'm always just as happy as the kids. In fact, I'm really hoping that we have another one tomorrow, maybe because of the cold 'cause then I'll stay here another night. Remember, now I have to figure out how to go home again! All these new things! Oh my! Doing things the first time is always more difficult for me. We have a wonderful neighbor that is taking care of Wesley. Imagine, volunteering to walk a dog in this weather. Last night she even came over and sat a bit with him just to give him some human companionship. What a great lady. She also has a dog, but her husband will walk him. Thanks for both of these caring people! People are good!

So now Bob and I are going for a little walk. He has to try and venture out of his room four times a day. It doesn't matter how far he walks, just so he exercises a little. It will make his recovery much easier. Then will come the reinfusion. Elizabeth and Michael will be with us for this wonderful event. Thanks be to God. I'll write soon. Bob is a brave man to let his wife write on his wonderful blog!

A New Look on January 25

I'm glad I had a week to rest after the harvesting. I can't believe how fatigued I was. It was good just to relax and build up my strength. The only thing I had to deal with was a new look as you can see. I made an appointment with Pino, my barber, who helped me out. What do you think?

After the Harvest: Jan. 21-23

Fell behind in my blogging last week from feeling very fatigued so I'm playing catch up today.

Was so glad to get a little r & r after the harvesting of the stem cells. Celebrated my sister Susan's 70th birthday on the 21st at our local Chinese restaurant. We've celebrated a number of special occasions there because it is convenient, usually empty (aren't most Chinese restaurants?) and the food is EXCELLENT. It was a favorite of my Mom's so, in a sense, we could honor her as well. The owners know us well and set up a nice arrangement for all 16 of us, including my brother John who came down from the Twin Cities. We could easily get up and move around to keep the celebration going and our chorus of Happy Birthday sounded like a church choir. A good time was had by all and it was great way for me to end a week of harvesting, feasting on egg rolls. Chicken Almond Ding, Beef with Sweet Pea Pods, and Sweet and Sour Chicken.

On a lark Terri and I decided to go to Michigan for the weekend. Snow gently falling on the deck,  a roaring fire in the fireplace, a walk in the woods, worship with our friends at Harbert Community Church, and a brunch of Swedish pancakes at Viola's, the local restaurant, made for a very restful and relaxing time. Too bad the Chicago Bears couldn't have made it a perfect weekend by winning the NFC championship! Oh well, there's always next year.