Monday, November 13, 2006

Update # 72

Good Evening,

Still no date yet!  The three of us left at 5:30 this morning to be at Barnes by 7:00 AM.  Jeff had his CBC before his Pulmonary Function Test at 8:00.  Then the appointment with Dr. Dipersio immediately after that.  Dr. Dipersio has put in for the transplant that first week of December since that's when the donor had indicated was the earliest possible time for him.  So we all wait.  When Barnes hears -- we'll get called.

We were able to tour the transplant unit after the appointment.  A room was open so we could see how things are arranged.  They also gave us the binder of information that Jeff would have received in the transplant class last week.

Before we left Barnes, Jeff also had a chest x-ray.  We had a copy of x-rays from CG to give to Barnes.  Dr. Gauvain felt they should have something to compare their x-ray to a normal x-ray of Jeff.  Jeff's chest x-ray still shows the calcified shell from his Hodgkin's so it does look strange at first glance.

Our next stop was a tour at Hope Lodge about 5 blocks from Barnes.  It's similar to Ronald McDonald House but for adults.  When Jeff is inpatient, one of us will stay in the hospital with him and the other one will probably stay at Hope Lodge.  When Jeff is discharged, Dr. Dipersio wants him close to Barnes for a few weeks so then Jeff can stay there also.  

Jeff's CBC today showed his counts dropping significantly from last week's chemo.  Heartland Home Health will come this Thursday to draw another CBC.  Dr. Gauvain wants to see Jeff at Costas next Monday the 20th.

Jeff returns to Barnes on Wednesday the 22nd for a bone marrow biopsy.  Dr. Dipersio thinks it will be close enough to the transplant time.  He likes to check the marrow to help determine pre-conditioning chemo for the transplant.

All in all, we had a good day.  We felt we got a lot accomplished by seeing those 2 places that we'll be living in for several weeks.

Our wait is getting closer but we're anxious to know exactly when the process actually begins.  We know we'll get to celebrate Thanksgiving at home.  Jeff attended church yesterday for the last time till who knows when in 2007.  And today was his last day to be out and about until after transplant levels are normal again.  So Jeff is in for the long hard haul.  They are pleased with how well he is doing and we know that's important.  Your prayers are what help him through all of this.  We just can't thank you enough.  God bless!

love,

Marcia