Day +10

No matter what we were told at the detailed pre-transplant meeting and from Seth’s doctors and nurses, and all that we read, until one actually goes through the post transplant process no one can really comprehend it.
Seth has had the spiked fevers (to be expected), extreme fatigue (to be expected) lack of concentration(to be expected) [...]

Day +4+

Just to give you an update:  Seth is going through the post transplant process quite well.  As expected, the medication he is taking is bringing his blood counts down. (this is a good thing)  The goal is to NOT to have an immune system so that nothing will interfere with the new growth of healthy [...]

Transplant day 0: Receiving cells

It was an anxiety-ridden day, but all went well. Around 1pm all sorts of people were in the room – the defroster, the nurse practitioner administering the cells, my oncologist’s assistant, two nurses, my mom, my brother, his wife and tons of prayers and spirits of good will — in a tiny tiny room. (Oh [...]

Transplant days -3, -2: Total Body Irradiation (TBI)

I think my anxiety leading up to this procedure was probably disproportionate to what the actual experience was. Fear of the unknown. It was fairly simple: put me  on a table, close the door and a low-level buzz for about12 minutes. Then they came in, literally flipped me over and 12 minutes later I was [...]

Transplant day -4: Chemotherapy again

They are pumping me full of saline solution – liters and liters of the stuff – to keep my bladder irrigated which is the standard procedure to avoid infection. The corollary effect, however, is a lot of … uh … discharge. The Chemo is starting to make me queasy but it’s being managed. My appetite [...]

Transplant, day -5: Chemotherapy

It was a fairly uneventful day after getting a foley line installed. I received my chemo today along with anti-nauseau drugs, some magnesium and a bunch of vitamin E. I had a diuretic to help get some of the fluid out of my bladder which is being flushed and that’s worked well. I’m tired earlier [...]

Back in hospital now

Was admitted this afternoon after some initial administrative issues. Had the procedure to install my hickman lines and am resting comfortably before moving me to my bed up on Rhoads 7. More to come.

Friends helping friends

Michael’s running bib, originally uploaded by sdpalmer.

My good friend, Michael, recently ran the Race for the Cure in memory of his mother, and in celebration of me – both noted on his running bib. Click the picture to see a larger version. (Also, check out Michael’s team mates!)

Also, please remember to support us for the [...]

LIGHT THE NIGHT WALK – NYC & PHILLA

Please come walk with us in NYC and in Philadelphia as we raise awareness and money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Mom is team captain in both cities and you can sign up to walk and pledge money at lightthenight.org.
To join our team, go to http://www.lightthenight.org. From the top navigation, click on Register. On the [...]

Guess who came to visit

Here we are, resting after a great day together. The Flickr photoset says it all!