Transplant + 35

October 23, 2012

It has been 5 weeks now since I had the transplant.  I have been home for 11 days.  The Lord has indeed been very good to us.  I continue to do well without any major setbacks.  Eating is going pretty good, and the vast amounts of liquid that I am supposed to consume is the hardest task.  Today at the clinic the doctors again reminded us of the importance of drinking a lot of liquid for my kidneys and liver.  So I sit with my measured fluids and keep on consuming.

I had my weekly Cancer Clinic appointment today.  The Neupogen effect is now completely over.  My white cell count dropped from 9.1 last week to 2.1 today.  This was a bigger drop than I had anticipated, but seemed fine with my doctor.  These are my new systems cells without any assistance.  The neutrophil portion  was 1.6 and that is good.  My platelets rose from 20 to 27 and that was a good sign of continuing engraftment, as these cells too would all be produced from my new cells.  The hemoglobin number dropped from 122 to 97.  With the long life span of red blood cells, some of the remaining cells are still original and most are from transfusions.  With red blood cells the last to be seen affected by the transplant, that number could fall easily into transfusion territory.

We did talk about my fatigue and limited energy.  This is to be expected after all the treatments and time confined in a hospital room.  This will take time to regain, and patience will be needed as good days and tough days are to be expected.

Tomorrow is my daughter's due date!!  Soon, Lord willing, we will have our 8th grandchild.  We pray that the baby may be born in good health, and Mom will be well too!  Much teasing goes on about having a granddaughter, after 7 grandsons.  I am sure there are lots of little girl gifts being held in reserve it that were to be the case.  We love them all dearly!!

We see the expectation of new life in the household of God.  We have also seen this past week the death of a saint in the congregation.  How wonderful to be born into, live in, and die in, the promises of God! To God be the glory.
Romans 8:38,39  ESV
For I am sure that neither death nor life,
nor angels or rulers, nor things present nor things to come,
nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Prayer Requests
1.  Thanksgiving for another good week, and a good report from the doctors.
2.  For the safe arrival of another grandchild.
3.  For continuing engraftment.
4.  That I may be spared infection and GVHD