The stem cell transplant is almost complete......Ed had the 6 bags today with no problems, just a strange odor that we agreed smelled like very ripe tomato juice with garlic in it. That's exactly what it looked like too. The lab nurse came in with a big silver canister on a handtruck that contained metal sleeves with the frozen bags inside. They were very flat, like a DVD jacket box. When she opened the canister, the plumbes of vapor from the frozen core spilled out, just like in a sci-fi movie or something. Very odd odor, but not overwhelming or anything. The whole process took a little over an hour! Like I said, very underwhelming in terms of the complexity of the actual procedure, but the science behind it is incredible and we're so grateful for the opportunity to utilize it in Ed's fight.
The nursing staff brought in a cake and sang Happy Birthday to Ed afterward.......they used a mint swab sponge as a "candle" and Ed ate a small piece of cake to celebrate. (The cake wasn't terribly tasty because it was a frozen cake for the low-bacteria diet he's on, but the sentiment was wonderful. He'll have plenty of time to eat delicious cake in a few weeks.) Now we continue to wait for the cells to find their way back to the bone marrow, engraft and begin to multiply. The doctor said that 8 days is the shortest amount of time it's taken for any patient they've had, but the average is more like 12-15 days. Even though they expect that period to be the roughest, Ed still feels pretty darn good for what he's going through. He slept quite a bit today and hasn't felt like doing much of anything, even watching TV, but I just talked to him and he IS watching Bill O'Reilly. Imagine that. (I just drove back to the office late today to get payroll ready for tomorrow, so now I can breathe easier knowing he's not missing his show.)
So, everything went welll today and I just wanted to let you all know that the transpslant has taken place. I know you will continue to keep him in your prayers and thoughts, and we appreciate that very much. Until tomorrow.......
The whole process took a little over an hour! Like I said, very underwhelming in terms of the complexity of the actual procedure, but the science behind it is incredible and we're so grateful for the opportunity to utilize it in Ed's fight.
ReplyDeleteA good post indeed! That’s the sunny side of your writing, you write in a lucid manner and I have no difficulty to understand.
ReplyDeleteI said, very underwhelming in terms of the complexity of the actual procedure, but the science behind it is incredible and we're so grateful for the opportunity to utilize it in Ed's fight.
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