Wednesday, January 3, 2007
Update #88
Day Plus 22
Happy New Year!
Things have been going fairly well since I haven't had to send an update for almost a week.
Jeff counts last Friday in StL showed numbers slowly rising on their own. The anti-rejection medicine level was fine so no adjustments in the dose had to be made. He was still having some effects of the C-Diff and I had to call the BMT Fellow on-call late Friday night. Food was still not of interest to Jeff but he did begin to eat a little on Friday and even more on Saturday.
Exercise is an important part of recovery so over the weekend and holiday we went to my school and walked inside. Yesterday we joined the fitness center connected with our hospital. We'll use only the walking track at first but as Jeff gains strength in the upcoming months, he then can use the machines.
"Above average" were the words the nurse practitioner used to describe Jeff's recovery so far. His counts again today had risen so it proves engraftment from the donor's cells. In fact, she was so pleased with the counts that a 2nd CBC each week will not be necessary. So we only need to go to StL once a week!!!
The anti-rejection medicine level had stayed exactly where it was so this dosage maybe is just right. They added Bactrim to Jeff's group of medicines. He also took it when he had Hodgkin's.
A bone marrow aspiration is usually performed on Day Plus 30 which would be next Thursday the 11th. Dr. DiPersio wants to see Jeff next week and that is scheduled for Friday the 12th so they'll just do the bone marrow that day. That will tell us how much the donor's cells have taken over Jeff's marrow.
We go through this one step at a time and today we learned a new part of this process. It makes sense but we didn't realize that Jeff is starting over from square one -- immunizations included. All childhood immunizations have been wiped out so starting about 9 months, Jeff will begin all of his shots again. He was not too pleased to think of that but more aggravated since he hopes to be in Iowa at that time and it will "be a hassle" to come down. Jeff had agreed months ago to be part of a study Dr. DiPersio is doing so he has to have all things done in StL.
Our day was very good. We liked hearing how well Jeff is doing but realize how serious complications can change things. We fill out the daily papers on his temperature and fluids to make sure we watch for problems. There are many days ahead but each one gets Jeff closer to his goal of returning to Iowa.
We are in this new year due in thanks to all of your prayers. We ask God to continue to bless Jeff and all of you in 2007.
love,
Marcia