30 Day Biopsy Results

Sorry to keep everyone awaiting (I feel like that's how every entry begins). I write to you from the couch, filled with some sort of mystery illness, no it is not strep and the nurse practitioner told me over the top of her gigantic framed glasses that I will get over it.  What an opportune time though, I thought, between school sessions and lack of motivation to do much else, to update the blog.

Monday Tom had his results appointment to reveal his bone marrow biopsy reading.  If I remember correctly, he's to do a biopsy 30, 60, and 90 or 100 days post transplant.  After that there's one six months post-transplant, another 1 year post transplant, and then once a year provided all continues well.   So Monday was the results from the first of these.  The results let the doc know if there is any sign of leukemia and what % donor cells he has.  They prefer to see at least between 98-99% one month out and Tom came in at 99.82% (so nearly 100%!).  The Doc literally only hung out for all of fifteen-thirty seconds so we didn't get a whole lot out of him other than this is "good" and "everything looks good. See you Thursday."

So hey, we'll take it!  Tom is doing way better this time around than he did last transplant.  He has more energy, I even think his taste buds are coming back faster.  By "energy" I mean he gets a good couple of hours of doing something in each day.  Sometimes more than that, but that leaves him wiped out the next day so we have to plan accordingly.  He's been cleared to attend a music festival in September, provided we purchase the VIP tickets so that it's shaded, has seating, and semi-private bathrooms.  So like Tom, needing to be VIP (haha).  He's down to three days a week going to the hospital which is probably quite the relief for both him and Oliver each morning. Currently they're down at the drag races (a weekly evening event which allows him to get out of the house, pollute his lungs with tire burnouts, and get some good people watching in).

I think that's pretty much it. I hope everyone has a fun and safe Labor Day Weekend! :)

Two weeks Post Transplant (Day +14) July 31, 2014

Well, yesterday Dr. Carroll returned and he is very pleased with Tom's progress.  They plan to change him over from IV cyclosporine to the pills this weekend to see how he's doing and he may be out of here early next week! Doctor says maybe Tuesday or Wednesday, so that's exciting.

Now they just watch for signs of graft vs. host these next few months with his daily visits.  Tom has been very tired, which is normal.  It's tough work making all of those new cells and having them be accepted.  The doc says between the stem cells reproducing and all the things they have him on it's pretty understandable why he's so tired.

He's still battling the nausea, but that's nothing new for Tom following chemo.  It's likely to continue maybe another couple of weeks or so, but it seems to lessen a little bit here and there.  He hasn't been eating a whole lot, the mouth and throat sores attribute to that, but he just doesn't have an appetite and so frequently feels ill, he manages little things here or there.  He's had a craving for a couple of more adequate foods but they're too heavy and make him throw up pretty immediately, so we have to take it easy.

He shaved his head today (the beard went a few days ago), he woke up and his pillows looked like a Newfoundland dog had been sleeping there so we thought it was best.  We got some more cards delivered today, some from Team Effy.  For those who don't know, Oliver played rugby in Aptos with Effy's dad and Effy is a young girl who also was diagnosed with leukemia and she is quite the trooper.  She and her brother made Tom some cards and sent a "Team Effy" bracelet.  If you'd like to follow her story, you can find it here on Facebook.

I think that's about all we have to offer for today.  I return back to work Monday (so I'm scheduled), but depending on Tom's discharge we shall see. :)

Day +13 July 30 2014

Tom is doing super well as far as his counts go.  Looking back on last year's transplant blogs, we were told that counts wouldn't start to rise until day +14 and Tom's did on day 11 last time and day 8 this time.  His doc has been on vacation so we've been seeing Dr. Kiwan, so it should be interesting to see what his doc says today since he's returned.  

Tom says if anyone is bored to send him a message as he has nothing to do while he's here. Message him via fb or you can text him if you have his number and if you need either or, just ask me :)

He got some cards delivered yesterday from Aunt Linda and Uncle Fred and their church :) as well as a card from Auntie Cheryl and Uncle Rod so cards being sent to the hospital definitely works.  I think that's like VIP status, receiving cards to your hospital room. 

If you know any good articles or funny things you want to share with him to keep him amused, send them his way ;) Now is just the waiting game and hopefully no more fevers now that the counts are on the rise.  Nurses speculate the counts mean he's definitely engrafting (the cells are taking... gotta make sure this is in English for ya Will).  

Okie doke, well that's all folks. Tom has only had one blood transfusion so far (which is pretty darn good) and only two days of platelets I believe.  He hasn't had either since the 26th. :)

I've been praying and praying that God just heal him and make him better.  Being a week ahead of schedule I think is a good sign that we're getting answered. Thank you to everyone who's been praying and thinking of us and sending such thoughtful and supportive things our way! :)