What a difference a week makes...

As I write this blog, I'm lying in a bed at the Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) hooked up to the Stem Cell collection machine. Today is the first day we've been able to collect, my white blood cell and platelet counts have been too low. So today is our lucky day; my WBC has rebounded to (almost) normal levels and my platelet count is good. The goal over the next 2 or 3 days is to collect 20 million stem cells (sounds like a lot). The stem cells they collect will be used for both transplants. The first transplant is scheduled for the first week in October, and the second probably around the first of December.

This past week has been a whirlwind; not sure the best way to describe it, other than to say our lives have changed dramatically over the course of a week. Marleigh has done a good job of describing the situation on the previous posts. So I thought I would update everyone with what has been happening on this side.

As you know I spent almost a week in the hospital at DHMC, returning home on Labor day. On Wednesday (Me and Marleigh's 20th anniversary) I was on a plane headed to Utah. I was greeted at the airport, not only by my father and sister, but also Frank and Elaine Anderson (good friends who reside in UT but also have a home in VT), Richard and Kathy Hall (who are like my second parents), and my cousin (and friend)Tara and her son Jordan. It was quite a reception, and some say that I almost cried (others say there was no doubt about it-I blubbered like a baby) though I would most likely deny it. I headed straight to the HCI from the airport, where they were expecting me. After a long day of traveling, I then had a Bone Marrow Biopsy and an MRI (my two favorite things... see previous posts). Needless to say, it was a long day. I've returned every day since then for my lab work and to meet with the Doctors. We have been waiting for my numbers to rebound so that the stem cell collection could begin, and today is the day. Again the objective is to move as quickly to transplant as possible, so this is the first step towards that. This collection will continue tomorrow and Friday. Then I get a bit of a break.
On Monday I had a 'Central Line' (not sure what the correct medical terminology would be) put into my neck. This allows them to hook up the collection machine. This line has two ports sticking right out of my neck (I'm set for Halloween-I look a little bit like Frankenstein). The collection machine draws blood out of one of the lines, separates the stem cells, then puts the blood back in through the other line.

So that's the situation for me at the moment. I owe you another post to let you know of the wonderful people who have stepped up to help us on this side of the country. I also need express my gratitude for the good folks in New Hampshire/Vermont who have been so good to me and my family. Again, I will do that with a separate post.

But for now, know that I am in good hands. The folks here at Huntsman have been great and I feel very confident in the direction that we're going. I believe that all the prayers and fasting have led us here.

Blaine