Stem Cell Transplant, Day 5

I haven't posted anything in the last few days as there really isn't much to say other than I don't feel very well. In short, the chemotherapy makes me feel lousy with lots of fatigue, nausea, lack of appetite, and other GI issues. Definitely no fun. I need to be careful, too, as my blood counts are dropping and my immune system has bottomed out so the danger of infection is high for the next several days before the new stem cells kick in. Sometime around Day 11 things should begin to improve. I CAN'T WAIT! So I guess this week I'll spend my time laying around trying to pass the time. Not much is of interest! Please continue to pray for a successful transplant and that each day I begin to feel a little better.

My Stem Cell Transplant

Terri and I thought you might be interested in what actually happened when I had my stem cell transplant. She and Elizabeth were fascinated by the process and took pictures as it occurred which we are sharing. I was just happy to lie on the bed and let things happen. Please note that although it is not shown we did have the stem cells blessed just before the infusion by the hospital chaplain, Jeanne Wirpsa, who has become a good friend of ours after my 2011 stay in the hospital. It transformed the transplant into a holy event given the significance of new life it is offering to me in the reintroduction of healthy stem cells into my system.

A stem cell transplant is NOT surgery. And it was done with my own stem cells harvested back in 2011 and kept frozen since then. It was done in my hospital room by the attending nurse and the stem cell transplant technician through a pic line in my arm. I can liken it to getting an IV, but I know that it is much more complicated than that. It is all quite painless, but when we think about what is happening we realize that it is not just a standard medical procedure but quite an amazing event. Over 6.6 million of my own stem cells were reintroduced to my body. And I still have over 6 million still on ice.

Of course, I couldn't show you these pictures without letting you know that the bloated look of me that you see is the result of lots of hydration prior to the transplant. Even a guy can be vain once in awhile.

1.  Getting ready for transplant

2. Delivering my cells from 2011 harvest in dry ice shipper

3. Opening shipper to retrieve cell bags

4.  Thawing frozen cells in hot water bath

5.  Massaging the cells to speed up thawing

6.  Hanging the first bag of thawed cells

7.  Hooking up the bag for stem cell transplanting

8.  Preparing 2nd bag of stem cells

9.  Finishing up with the stem cell transplant

Stem Cell Transplant Day 2014--Day 0

Sunrise over Lake Michigan

Moonrise over Lake Michigan

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
If the beginning and end of the day were any sign, God is watching over us today. The photos don't do any justice to either the sun rising over Lake Michigan this morning or the moon rising over the lake this evening. They were both phenomenal as seen from my hospital window. And the stem cell transplant seemed to go quite well too. I'll try to have more on that tomorrow. Just know that they transplanted back approximately 6.6 million stem cells harvested from me in 2011. And slowly they will rebuild my immune system. I still feel fairly good, but the real test will come around days 4-7 from today's transplant when the side effects from yesterday's chemo blast kick in and my immune system is at its lowest. As I recall and as the doctors and hospital staff keep reminding me, I'll feel quite crummy so don't be surprised if you don't hear much if anything from me on those days. In the meantime, please continue to pray and hope with us for the best--remission.

Checked in and Ready to Go

Greetings, All!
Having problems with my blog so not sure how often you will hear from me but just to let you know I checked in to hospital yesterday, got the chemo blast, and all looks good for the transplant today. I am waiting for doctors to come in and give final ok. The chaplain who is now a good friend of ours will come in and read a blessing for the stem cells. Please pray that all goes well. Peace!!

Saw a beautiful sunrise from my room which faces Lake Michigan but I haven't figured out how to upload photos yet. Hopefully Elizabeth will be able to figure it out when she comes in.

Getting ready to walk along the beautiful Chicago lake shore

Terri, Elizabeth, and Mike just before the race

Terri and I stop for some water.

Watch out, bicyclists and runners!

Stopping with Daisy to view Buckingham Fountain

What a beautiful view out to the lake!

Daisy and Mike take a rest.

Celebrating with our medals

Dr. Mehta and me at the finish

I'm on the top right.

Last Sunday I participated in the Cancer Survivor's Walk for the Lurie Cancer Center of Northwestern Memorial Hospital. (This is not the big fundraising walk we do in the fall for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, but one run by the hospital that has been treating me.)  Terri, Elizabeth, Mike, and their dog Daisy joined me for a beautiful day along the lake. I am proud to say that I was able to walk the entire 3 miles with the aid of my cane and a couple rests along the way. I have had to replace one of my leg braces because I actually cracked it from so much wear over the year and am still trying to break in the new one.
One highlight was seeing my oncologist, Dr. Mehta, who sought me out when I was finishing the race. He is a great person in so many ways--not only a very skilled doctor in the forefront of treatments for my specific cancer, but very caring and concerned not only about me but also about Terri and my whole family. He is a big part of why Terri and I are where we are today, really enjoying life.

Medical update

Just to let you know that I recovered from my fall quite quickly and am back to walking without my cane again. Leg braces only! Looking to get together with my physical therapist for a follow-up evaluation to assess my gait (walk) and lower back to see that all is ok. It's been quite a long but successful trip since I was released from the Rehabilitation Institute just a little over a year ago.

In the meantime I have begun taking the medication to keep my cancer in remission. Unfortunately a couple of the side effects are neuropathy and blurred vision, both of which have been affecting me to a greater extent lately. So I've had to get a new prescription for my eyeglasses and have been dealing with more tingling and pain in my feet and calves. It's more disappointing than anything else since I had been making such great progress in controlling my neuropathy. I hope the impact will be minimal so that I can continue living my life as I have over the past couple months without increasing any of my pain medications which have their own set of side effects. And side effects of any kind can be a real pain! Wish me luck or say a little prayer that the effects will be minimal. Cheers!

A must-read article

I'm attaching a link to a must-read article written by Elizabeth in her blog "The Singing Nurse" should your family ever be faced with a situation similar to ours when I ended up in the ICU. (And who can know when that might ever happen?) She shares her nursing expertise, personal experience, and compassion in providing practical and reassuring tips for surviving that experience when you have a loved one in the ICU. Please share with other family and friends. Peace.

Navigating the ICU

Oops

Fell for the first time since I began rehabilitation just about a year ago. What a bummer! And, of course, why is it always when we do something foolish? I was just trying to let the dog out onto the deck in Michigan when I got caught on the leg of my pajama pants and tumbled into the porch. Fortunately, all I did was jam the toes on my left foot (my good one) and skinned my knee. One of the toes is now painful and discolored so I don't get around as easily as I have lately. I'm using my cane more and moving very slowly. Reminds me of my first few weeks at home a year ago. What a pain! Hopefully this will heal up quickly.  I'm happy I have a week ahead with few mobile tasks so I can recuperate. More later on some great experiences over the past months, including the celebration of my first birthday since hospitalization.