My stem cell donor came through and I received the stem cells late last night. Of course, having the active imagination that I do, the day before I came up with a variety of scenarios of how the stem cells coming my way could not have found me - you know, car, plane, or helicopter accidents, planes grounded due to volcanic ash, etc. When I mentioned this to my physician he had a answer for every situation, which was very reassuring.
Yesterday was exciting because they have a board at the nurse's station stating what time each patient's stem cells are meant to arrive. Once the courier and the stem cells arrive at the international airport at Lambert Field they come to Barnes by medical helicopter. They then go to the stem cell lab for processing and counting and then come up to the floor. My stem cells were scheduled to arrive at 10 PM and then late in the afternoon my nurse informed me that they were able to catch an earlier flight and were meant to arrive at 8:30 PM! They were processed straight away and they were done running in to me by 10 PM.
So, we are now at the point of waiting for the donor stem cells to find their way into my bone marrow, engraft, and start working!
As I am writing this on Tuesday it is now day "1" and I must admit I have a lighter step and know that my new journey begins! I expect to be at Barnes 4-6 weeks for my cells to recover fully; afterwards, we'll remain in St. Louis for an indefinite amount of time. My new journey is bound to have its ups and downs but knowing how supportive everyone is has made the up days outnumber the down days!
Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteWe are so glad to hear that this new journey has begun!
ReplyDeleteWhat an auspicious occasion! More like March 21 (the beginning of spring) than November 21 (dark and dreary).
ReplyDeleteHooray! What a wonderful new journey! I'm sending healing and speedy thoughts your way to hurry those stem cells along. I'm sending them road maps so they can find their way FAST and get their job done and make you feel better. It's nearly Thanksgiving and I'm thinking about how thankful I am for the donor who gave you those stem cells and for your medical team taking great care of you and all your friends and family who love you very much!
ReplyDeleteThey are busy, busy creating a healthier you. So many hugs & prayers from all the LeRoys.
ReplyDeleteSo wonderful to hear this news - go, cells, go!
ReplyDeleteFrances and Mitch
Deborah, We are rooting for you. Tauby Shimkin
ReplyDeleteDeborah, this news is fantastic! My entire family wish the stem cells a speedy trip and strength for their important journey. GO STEM CELLS GO! Love, Your Katz Family Stem Cell Fans! Jonathan
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear you received your stem cells. Wishing you strength and improved health each day.
ReplyDeleteYou can do it!
Love Donna and David
I imagine you'll have a little different sort of prayer to say over your Thanksgiving meal this year!! You and Joe (Seeley) are always in my thoughts. Warm Thanksgiving wishes to you and whoever you will be celebrating with. Janelle
ReplyDeleteThinking of you every day.
ReplyDeleteSkeletons don't have a tendon, see, to stay together--so here is some hip, rib-tickling humerus to speed the heel-ing:
A skeleton walks into a bar . . . "Bartender, give me a beer and a mop"
When I first heard about the Winter Olympic sport of Skeleton I thought, "Where did they dig this sport up?" But it turns out that this was a bone afide Olympic sport nearly a half a century ago (54 years to be exact...that is a bit of tibia for you).
I just watched the event, and saw the competitor who won the Cold Medal in by a marrow margin (just fractures of a second!). One of the commentators said that there is a world cup circuit for Skeleton but their winnings are small compared to other sports so they are pretty much doing this all pro bone-o.
For those of you who think that skeleton is easy you have been seriously miSLED. It takes a lot of skull to do this spine-tingling sport. Unlike the things that you strap on your feet and then ischeum down the hill, you have to lay on your tummy as you sled down the run. I think I would femur comfortable knowing that I had a soft cushion of snow to land in rather than the bone-crunchingly hard ice of the skeleton run. If you don't take the curves just right it can coccyx several seconds on your time. I think Skeleton is going to turn out to be a hip new sport. They probably won't get as much ribbing as the lugers do.
Turn on the radius and relax, Ulna longer pun-ish you with this nonsense : )
--Kari