Transplant 2 Day 0

The big day arrived!  Many of us in our family had one of those nights' rests where you spend a lot of time waking up, thinking, and back to sleep again.  But the Lord does provide rest and peace, and morning came.  

Clarence and Irene were here bright and early this morning to begin his procedure for bone marrow collection.  Meanwhile, I was having an abdominal ultrasound, checking out my organs, which went well.  Everything is within acceptable ranges for me and while my spleen is still sore, it is not a big concern at the moment.  My hemoglobin was up after two units of blood yesterday, so I didn't receive any today.  I did receive platelets.  

At 10:30, I was back from my ultrasound and Adrienne, the transplant unit head, came in and said that the procedure with Clarence was done and went well.  She was going down to pick up the bone marrow and that they would start transfuse it right away.  That was quite exciting!  They have a target number of a certain type of stem cells that they are looking for and when they get to that number, they stop.  The doctors extracted over 1.1 litres of bone marrow out of Clarence, from numerous sites in his pelvis.  The bone marrow transfusion began at 11:10 this morning.  It was a big bag!

Thankful!!

Clarence and Irene were able to come visit us shortly before 3:00 this afternoon, after he had been discharged.  He was able to be here when the last of it was transfused into me.  It was very good to spend a bit of time together and rejoice that the procedure is done.  We pray now that the Lord will bless this process for my healing. 

My hematologist came to visit me after 5:00 and we talked for a while about how everything went today.  He reported that the whole procedure with Clarence went well this morning and was happy to hear that he had been able to visit us. We reflected back on the first transplant in September and how that all went, and the disappointment on how it didn't work.  We also talked about our hope that doing it differently this time will make the difference.  He remarked again that the disease is a tough one and that all we can do now is wait.    

Sarah was able to spend some time here this afternoon and then Karen came later on.  We also were able to skype or talk with all of our kids today.  We are all thankful that the transplant went well today and now begins the next phase: waiting.  Lord, please grant us patience!

Psalm 103:13-18 (ESV)

As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him.  For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.  As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.  But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children, to those who keep His covenant and remember to do His commandments.