OMG!!!!! He's coming home today!!!!!!

It's about time, huh?  Before we leave.....I've been wanting to tell you about the thousands of extremely cheerful dafodils that we're surrounded by since the beginning.  Spring is just exploding around us.  And I've got to tell about the humungous yaughts outside our window.  Seattle has a full spectrum of people.  I'm especially fond of the people we've  met on this floor.  They are extraordinary individuals.  It seems so strange to just leave.  To have gone through such a unique experience with people who genuinely care about you is something you can never forget.  And to think these people were perfect strangers only a month ago.  Not sure how I should feel about Jim coming home.  I mean of course I'm thrilled that we'll be together again.  But the journey is going to be challenging.  Finally, Jim will get some good uninterupted sleep.  He will be forced to get some exercise by going to the clinic everyday.  I know the food thing is going to be a battle.  His tastebuds are just fried and everything tastes like cardboard.  Bottled water tastes like swamp water.  His immune system is like that of an infant.  He hasn't built up any anti-bodies like you and me yet.  He will be real susceptible to catching just about anything.  So, we need to keep a close eye on his temperature.  People ask me how I'm doing in the midst of all of this.  And all I can say is that there has been a tremendous amount of grace that has been bestowed upon me.  I feel strong.  I'm ready to be the Caregiver I promised I would be.  Bring it on!!!!

Shooting for Sunday......

Jim is just super tired.  The diarea is still keeping him up at night.  So, we told him we wouldn't bother him for 3 hours so he could sleep.  Not sure why I rushed down here to watch him sleep.  The Speech Therapist is here now so we need to wake him up.  She'll be reassessing his ability to swallow.  He has been on a puree diet so now we're trying to update to solids.  Bingo!  He's been updated to solids.  The doctors say that he should be getting out of here by Sunday.  They are starting to make us appointments at the clinic for next week.   I know Jim would love to hear from you.  His cell number is
(509)838-1088.   Remember, he'll be pretty tired for a while but that doesn't mean he can't say "Hi".  I've been able to work throughout all this believe it or not.  I haven't been able to pursue business but I've processed orders.  My boss is a saint.  I don't know how much longer I'll be able to keep this job since it requires a lot of travel.  Don't know how this is all going to unfold.

Kinda Frumpy today......

Jim ate some Cream of Wheat and some yogurt for Breakfast - Good Job Jim!!!!   He just ordered some mashed potatoes and some vanilla yogurt for lunch.   They're going to take him off the TPN(food interveniosly).   We went for a quick walk this morning.  Two more to go.  Jim's skin is pealing and he's loosing his hair.   We received really nice cards from Craig and Ann Sweat yesterday.  A great pick me up.  It's nice to know we have your support throughout all of this.

3 WALKS!!!!!!

We did it!!!  Three walks a day is what is expected.  Yeah!!!  Jim wanted me to say "Hi" to everyone for him.  "Hi!!!!"

Been through the Ringer......

Jim was up again all night with the diarea.  It's getting old.  But, the good news is he was finally able to swallow some Immodium.  He'll be taking that three times a day until he becomes regular.  Thank God!  He had some pudding this morning.  He is on a puree diet.  I'll be making suggestions throughout the day.  We just went for a walk.  It's nice to get out and see all of our favorite Nurses.  Everyone here is so supportive of Jim's progress.  They moved us to a new room yesterday.  It just so happens to be the same room he was in when he was undergoing chemotherapy before the transplant.  Jim likes the view better on this side of the hospital.  Water - sailboats, skulls, and the like.  I was reading up on the history of Stem Cell Transplants last night.  Dr. Thomas is the one who started the program here in Seattle in 1969.  He actually won the Nobel Peace  Prize for the role he played in Research.  This place attracts people from all over the world.  There is a Nurse's Aid here from Ethiopia.  Jim had a Nurse at the Clinic from Nairobi.  Even our Cleaning Guy was from Nicaragua yesterday.  Our doctor right now is from England.  It's fascinating to me.  I love it!!!!!

Jim wants out of here real bad!

The doctors say that he should be able to go back to the apartment by the weekend.  We're over the hump.  It's only downhill from here on out.  The Speech Therapist came in this morning and did an evalution.  He's able to swallow small amounts of water now.  He actually ate some Jello too.  Things are looking up. He went for a walk with the Physical Therapist yesterday.  Yeah!  PT says Jim & I can go for walks by ourselves now and we need to do that at least three times a day.   He's still pretty tired though.  He is just not getting a good nights rest.  Joe Miles is coming for a visit today.  Jim is looking forward to that.  I feel comfortable going back to the apartment at night now.  Jim is using the Nurse's call button and is a lot more coherent than he was.  Plus, he's talking.  What a relief.   I trust that he is in good hands here while I'm away.   I know that I need to be well rested before he comes home since I will be the only one taking care of him day and night.  Need to pick up some last minute supplies today.  And I think I may pamper myself with a pedicure while Joe is here visiting Jim.  Everyone tells me I gotta take care of myself too.

Wow! What a remarkable recovery!

Jim's mouth looks like new!  He has been like a Snake shedding it's skin. And he's talking!!!!!  I'm so excited!!!!  I have to admit I was beginning to wonder but the doctors knew all along.  Being that I am the Food Police I suggested a Milkshake and he actually went for it.  Unfortunately, it was way too cold.  The Nutritionist recommended Chicken Broth or Jello to start out. The nurse just suggested a popsicle and he said "yes", we'll see.   Looks like we need to move to another room today.  Some Construction Workers need to get in here and do some stuff.  I just realized that I forgot to mention the fantastic view we've had of Lake Washington.  We see all sorts of boats puttering around. Another nice day outside.  Inside has been pretty great too.

Another Gigantic Globual!!!!!

Yahoo!!!  Jim did some saline swishes then he was using this suction and the next thing you know this huge hunk of junk came out of his mouth.  He'll be talking and swallowing before ya know it.  Progress!!!!  We heard from Margaret Haas, Tom Hemkin's wife, this afternoon.  She had a lot of positive things to say.  What a great day for well wishers.

Nutriphils are up to 1570!!!!!

He is officially engrafted!!!!!  The doctors suggested that we have a Ear, Nose, & Throat specialist come in and look at Jim's mouth.  He has a scab on his tongue and on the roof of his mouth but we're starting to see pink.  That's good.  His energy is still pretty low.  I'm hoping he'll partake in some physical therapy today.  I took another night off and met with our good friends Carol and Dennis VanHoff who were visiting from Spokane.  It was so nice to see some familiar faces.  We went to this fantastic restaurant in the U District called Pam's Kitchen.  The food comes from a little island in the Carribbean called Trinidad.  By far the best food I've ever tasted, a cross between East Indian and African.  I highly reccommend it.  Another beautiful Spring day!  We heard from Hughie Galligan, an old friend from Back East, this morning.  Michael Moon Bear called wishing us well.  Jim is still unable to talk but likes hearing from everyone.  Thanks for all the comments on Facebook too.

Nutriphils are up to 850!!!!!

Two days of nutriphils over 500 and Jim will be officially engrafted.  His stem cells will have taken hold. It is possible that they could go down below 500 tomorrow but pretty unlikely.  As it stands right now he is not nutripenic anymore.  Yahoo!!!!!!   His mouth is still incredibly dry because he's breathing out of his mouth.  So, the nurse suggested we try using an oxygen mask that covers both the mouth and nose and is hooked up to water to sort of steam the dryness.   We tried this before but he can only tolerate it for so long.  It's kind of a hard plastic that cuts a little.  I was concerned about how deeply he is breathing and asked for another chest x-ray yesterday.  The results came back fine.  They think that it's because his throat is probably swollen due to ther mucusitis.   His energy level is pretty low which as you can imagine is quite normal in this kind of situation.   He passed on physical therapy yesterday.  I hope he'll muster the energy to do it today.  We've got to keep the momentum going.    You know, keep the ball rolling.  I thought the diarea was starting to subside but I was wrong.  It is still quite a nuisance.  Overall, Jim is doing quite well considering.  He may be pretty miserable but he has a good attitude.    Another beautiful Spring day here in Seattle.  Wish we were out enjoying it instead of looking out our window.  Only 4 or 5 days to go and we'll be looking back at this relieved that it is all over.   Now, we need to pray that the cancer doesn't come back.  I can't imagine going through this all over again.  Remain positive!!!!!!!!!!

Sunny Blue Skies!!!!

OK, I've decided the weather here in Seattle is 50/50, some rain, some sunshine.  My glass is half empty - half full.  Just like my hopes and fears.  Gotta remain positive!!

Nutriphils are up to 350 today!!!!

Only 150 to go and Jim won't be nutripenic anymore.  Yahoo!!!!  Ya know, neither one of us really knew what to expect going into this.  People can tell you all about how it's going to go down but until you've experienced this you just can't even begin to comprehend it.  It has been a "Baptism by Fire" kind of experience.  Moment to moment, as you go along, things unfold.  It's hard to prepare for it.  And everyone is different.  The PA actually said that Jim should be ready to go back to the apartment here in Seattle around Wednesday of next week.  He needs to be able to swallow his pills before they will release him.  Right now, he is breathing out of his mouth so it's really dry.  He needs to do more salt water rinses.  But it's very difficult for him.  Physical Therapy is also extremely important right now.  So, in the next few days, the priorities will be to get his mouth cleaned out and moisterized and to get him as mobile as possible.  The PA actually mentioned going "Home-Home", Spokane!!!!  He said that it's possible that we could be leaving Seattle in about three weeks.  Now, that would be fantastic!!!!!!!!  Oh, to see those little pugs again and all of our good friends of course.  I pray that there are no hitches.  Because anything is possible.  Please keep us in your prayers.

His nutrophils are up to 110...They need to be 500

Jim is rallying to the occasion....

I can't get over how much progress has been made just in the last 24 hours.  He is getting stronger by the minute.  He has also become very cognisent.  He is trying so hard to communicate.  It's still difficult to understand what he's saying but I'm getting more and more as we go.  We're using a pen and paper now too.  The diarea is starting to subside.  I hope I haven't come accross as insensitive to Jim's plight.  I realize that he has been in a very vulnerable position.  But these tidbits of information are just my observations to the side effects that he is experiencing.  Anyone undergoing a transplant of this magnitude would be going through the same stuff.  I know my descriptions may have seemed a bit crass, but at the time it seemed like the only way to convey what was actually happening.  I really am trying to be his advocate with all the doctors and nurses.  Everyone knows that I only want the best for him.  I stayed here for five days and nights, at a time when he really needed me to be here.  And we made it through the roughest part so far.  It was only last night that I felt I could leave him in the care of a "Constant Observer".  And it went fine.  He was OK without me.  Now I feel somewhat refreshed after six straight hours of non-interupted sleep.  I was able to pack a bag that was a little more organized than the first rush job.  So, now I'm prepared to stay for as long as he needs me.  There has been a tremendous amount of Grace throughout our stay here and  I know that all of the good vibes that you've been sending out have made it so.

Great Job Jim!!!!!

Physical Therapy was here just a few minutes ago and took Jim for a walk around the 8th floor.  He used this contraption with wheels that you stand behind while you rest your arms on it and grip it.  I was so impressed!  He listened to this guy and did exactly what he asked.  This hospital has taken a wholistic approach to this whole process.  They think of everything.  Maybe by the time Jim gets out of here he won't need a walker.  I am so pleased!  Lot's of progress today!

Overall, the transplant went really well......

I just talked to the PA again and according to him the whole transplant went extremely well.  He says there was no problem with an enlarged heart which was a possibility or damage to the lungs.  That was their major concern going into this.  He said that they just didn't expect the mucusitis to be so bad.  The good news is that this is all going to go away and he will be back to normal within a  couple of weeks.  His nutrophils are at 10.  They want them to be at 500.  I heard that it starts out slow and starts to pick up it's pace.  It's just a matter of time.

Making progress....

The doctors say Jim's nutrophils are up.  That's great news!!!! Now they can fight off this mucusitis.  Man Oh Man, the nurse pulled out this huge slimy globual out of his mouth today. Unbelievable!  No wonder he couldn't breathe.   He's is breathing so much better now.  This is an incredible medical team.  Each person contributes to helping Jim get better.   I inquired about getting a "Constant Observer" to come in tonight to relieve me.  I've been here overnight for five nights and could use a good night's sleep.  The nurse reassured me that these "Constant Observer's" are qualified Nurse's Aid's and they keep constant watch.  Believe me, I was concerned about leaving overnight but now that he's breathing properly I feel better about it.  And as long as there is someone to constantly watch him,  I feel confident that he will be cared for.  I asked the doctors today about how coherent he is and when that is going to get better.  They said that once his temperature remains normal(which it has decreased) and he gets a good night's rest, things should start to get better.  That urgent diarea comes on almost every hour and keeps everybody hopping all night long.   I think,more importantly, they are going to stop the constant morphine drip overnight.  He will still be able to hit the button every six minutes if he wants.  I really think that it is a good idea.  He is so sensitive to pain medication.   His cognitive capabilities really need to  kick in so he can do some physical therapy.  As it stands right now he will probably need a walker and more outpatient physical therapy.  He is on the mend right now.  Things are starting to get better.  Thank you for your support throughout this.  Your prayers are greatly appreciated.

Trouble breathing....

Because Jim has so much crud in his mouth, it's getting in the way of his breathing passage.  Worst case scenerio...doctors say that some people have to be intubated(have a tube inserted into the throat).   That's not going to happen with Jim.   Last night the nurse used like a sponge-like swab in the inside of Jim's mouth.  He's been breathing out of his mouth which created a lot of  dried blood, dried mucus and scabs.  The salt water drenched swab was used to soften it up and get it out of his mouth.  This morning they gave him a oxygen mask that covers his whole mouth.  The idea is to soften up the sores and the dried blood.  It seems to be working:)   His tongue is swollen too.  Today's nurse said she hasn't seen this bad of a case of mucusitis in a long time.  The PA said that was true, but that they don't use this chemotherapy regiment as often as some of the others anymore.  His counts are up though!!!!!   That was great news!  But these cells are having to work extra hard to heal his mouth and the rest of his digestive system.  He still has the urgent diarea.  I don't feel comfortable leaving him alone in the hospital.  He is still a little out of it and unable to talk.  The nurse says he's just not processing all of this.  He is also impulsive.  He doesn't use the nurse's call button.  He just starts to get out of bed which causes the bed alarm to go off.  It wakes me up and we go through our little routine.  He is very unstable on his feet and is at a high risk for falling.  I barely leave the room- no longer than ten minutes.  But even then, I've come back to find him out of the bed.  I try to help the nurses as much as I can.  I tell you what...Nurses work hard and there really is not a whole lot of glamour in there line of work.  I am so impressed with how knowlegable they are and how much they care.  Today, the hospital's chaplain came for a visit.  Such a breath of fresh air!  Prayer comes in many forms apparently.  Just being here feeling the empathy and compassion is all a part of God's plan.

Today has been the worst day so far....

I can tell that Jim is in a lot of pain.  It's hard to see him like this.  But again, this is a waiting game.  All I can say is tomorrow better be a better day.  I wanted to clarify something for all of you that may not understand where this mucusitis came from.  I know that you know that the chemotherapy is killing the cancer cells.  But, the chemicals are also attacking any other fast producing cells.  That is why people's hair falls out.  Apparently, the membranes in the mouth, esophogus, stomach and intestinal track are fast growing as well.  Just an FYI.

The doctors say things should start to get better tomorrow.....

Jim's mouth got worse overnight, bloody.  He's real difficult to understand because he can't talk very well.  He's also bed-ridden because he's so weak.  Probably because his white blood cells are so low.  The doctors ordered physical therapy.   PT gave us some exercises he can do.  But he doesn't feel like doing much of anything.  Sometimes I wonder.... knowing what we know now, if Jim really would have wanted to do this.  I think he felt like he didn't really have a choice.  I mean this is suppose to save his life,right?  Well, if the doctors are right , he only has one more day of feeling absolutely miserable.  Then his white blood cell count should start to come back.  I've been staying with him night and day.  I try not to leave the room too often.  That diarea comes on so suddenly that it is urgent to get him to the comode.  Plus, I don't remember if I mentioned this but they gave him lacex because he was retaining fluid.  So, if you can imagine, staying on top of it is almost next to impossible.  Please keep Jim in your prayers, we're going to need them.

Extremely weak....

I stayed again last night at the hospital and we were up every half hour with diarea.  He is so weak he needs help standing and turning towards a camode next to the bed.  Remember, I said this mucusitus is all throughout the digestive track.  He still has a fever.  They just took him down for an x-ray of his lungs to see if he has any fluid collecting there.  He's a bit cranky and rightfully so.

Out of it....

I know Jim is super sensitive to pain medication but this is different. He's not hitting the morphine button all that much.   He seems confused and has less control of his body.   The PA says it's a combination of his high temperature, his low white blood cell count and lack of sleep.  I looked in his mouth and"Oh my God!" it looks like he swallowed acid.  Sorry for the graphic description, but can you imagine?  His mouth is creating this thick secretion.  The nurse gave us a suction tube to get it out of his mouth.  You know, this is just incredibly painful.  Even the PA said this was an extremely bad case.  But, it looks like it should only last for a few more days or maybe a week and a half.  I feel for him.
I spent last night at the hospital.  I don't know how anyone is supposed to get any sleep around here.  If it's not the nurses coming in and out of the room checking vitals, it's the pump beeping.   Jim is getting a transfusion at the moment  I think he may want me to stay again tonight.

Sunny Blue Skies all afternoon....

Talk about "Knocking the Shit" out of somebody...

Jim is miserable and rightfully so.  He just keeps hitting the morphine button.  He still has his sense of humor about him though.  The doctors are coming in the room, gotta go.   Oh, and by the way, I was wrong, it really does rain a lot here.

Spring is on it's way!!!

To all of our Spokane friends, I just want to assure you that Spring is just around the corner.  The Cherry Blossom Trees are in full bloom here along with several Aezalea Bushes.  We get the occasional blue sky and not nearly as much rain as Seattle is known for or at least that's the way it seems.  Maybe it's because my glass is half full. 
I wanted to touch on the International community here in Seattle.....  It blows me away!  I wish Spokane was as diverse as Seattle.  It is especially apparent in this medical environment.  Jim has had doctors from Isreal, India, China, Egypt,Switzerland and Poland.  He's had nurses from the Phillipines, Cambodia,and Kenya.  Everywhere you turn, you hear an accent of some kind. In every capacity. It's amazing!  I just love it! 
Jim is fast asleep....This blog keeps me occupied.

They're pumping him full of all kinds of stuff today....

They started out with three different kinds of  anti-biotics  which seemed to help break the fever.   Then they gave him platelets. Now they're giving him all of his medication that he would normally take via a pill.  Because the mucusitic is super bad today he is unable to swallow anything.  I looked in his mouth and his throat with a flashlight and it is bright red and a yellow color.  It doesn't surprise me how excrutiatingly painful Jim says it is.  He's still swishing salt water around in his mouth though.  I guess that is the only thing that helps.  They gave him his own little morphine button today.  He can press it every 6 minutes for pain.  He's not eating anything so they're are going to put him on TPN or basically a nutrient supplement via the IV. 

Jim has spiked a fever...

Jim's temperature hit 102 tonight.  The nurses don't seem to be too concerned.  They say it's normal under these circumstances.   I'm not sure what to think.  I'm glad he didn't come home though.  We would have had to bring him back here anyway.  He's been real low key all day.  He has no energy.  Well, it looks like he's going to sleep.  I'll head back to the apartment.

I'm not holding my breath...

They wrote out Jim's discharge papers yesterday and said he could leave today but this morning things took a turn for the worse.  The mucusitis is starting to get really bad.  Jim says he had no idea it would hurt this much.  They are giving him oxycodone for the pain.  His platelets and red blood cell count was low today also so he is getting a transfusion right now.  His white blood cells have bottomed out so he is officially nutripenic.   So, they've decided to keep him in the hospital for a while longer, which is actually a relief.  I felt like I had the apartment all ready to go for his homecoming but that time will come soon enough.  He will need around the clock care.  I've prepared myself for just that.  But in the meantime, it's nice having him here knowing that he is getting the best care possible.  Once he is released we will be making daily trips to the clinic for blood work and meetings with the team of doctors there.
I want to say how grateful we are to the Miles for their support.  Julie expressed how much grace we've actually had throughout this whole experience.  And she's right, we couldn't have asked for a better outcome.  I call these guys every night and give them an update.  It has been so nice to be able to process this whole thing with friends.  Thank you Julie and Richard!

Jim's stem cells are coming home to Daddy!!!!

That's how one of the nurses put it...  Everyone on the floor is wishing Jim a " Happy Birthday".  I guess today is the first day of the rest of his cancer-free life.  The second infusion went as well as the first.  No nausea.  He only had a tickle at the back of his throat which is common.  The whole process was actually anti-climatic.  We anticipated that a lot more adverse reactions would occur but he was able to tolerate it just fine.  I was telling a friend last night that I thought Jim had a strong constitution.  He rarely gets sick and he has just breezed through chemo in the past.  I know we're not out of the woods yet.  Just a little wishful thinking there.   Prayers are what we need now.  Anything you can send our way would be appreciated.  He's sleeping off all of the medication right now.

Round One went off without a hitch so far

So, the first infusion went quite smoothly.  The nurses came prepared with benedryl, ativan and zophran, all drugs to prevent nausea.   They had room service deliver a sliced up orange and a lemon ice because citrus is also suppose to supress any feelings of nausea.   The good news is Jim hasn't experienced any nausea thus far.   They gave him hydro-cortizone which was intended to prevent any adverse reactions.  It is an auto immune drug to help the body recognize his own cells.  The room smells like creamed corn.  That is the DMSO I mentioned yesterday.  Jim will be putting off that odor for a few days.   All of the drugs made Jim tired so he's sleeping them off right now.  Overall, I have to say we couldn't have asked for it to go any better.  So, now we wait to see how he reacts.

What a long strange trip this has been....

Well, the day we have all been waiting for has arrived.  The stem cells should be here around 2:30 p.m.  They're going to start him on hydration at 11:30 a.m.  His white blood cells are dropping which means he has no energy.  The diarea has finally subsided and he doesn't seem to have nausea symptoms right now.  But that could change any minute.  For the most part, he seems to be tolerating this treatment quite well.  He says that his mouth is getting a little sensitive so we need to keep up with the salt water rinses every hour.  Once things start rolling around here I'll keep you updated as to what's going on.

Tomorrow is the big day!

The nurse came in this afternoon to explain how it's all going to go down.  Apparently there are ten bags of stem cells.  Five bags will be infused each day for two days.  They'll bring the bags to the room frozen and heat them up in in a warm water bath.  The bags have been stored in DMSO.  They say there will be an odor exuding from Jim's body as he sort of burns it off.  The nurse calls it "off-gassing".  She said it would be coming out of his pours and breath and any other secretions.  The actual "transplant" will take about a couple of hours each day.  Side effects include nausea, headache etc.
Jim has just been real lethargic these days.  He doesn't feel like doing anything but overall he is doing really well considering.

Settling into a routine...

Everything is a process...  From gowning up as you walk into the room to washing your hands as you leave.   Showers every morning can be quite an ordeal.  We need to cover Jim's central line with plastic before and wipe him down with chlorhexidine when he's finished.  We're getting the hang of it though.  It is highly recommended that he walk around the floor to get some exercise so we try to do that at least three times a day.    I've become the room "cop".  Jim's appetite sucks right now but I'm here to make food suggestions.

Hardly a day of rest....

The side effects are starting to take hold.  First, a major bout of diarea and now the nausea has begun.  No fun, that's for sure.  Jim is just wiped out.  The nurses are doing everything they can to help prevent the discomfort.  They have pills for just about anything.
We had a great visit with Justine, PJ and Finlay yesterday.  They're coming back today before they go back to Portland.  Jim always enjoys spending time with his grandson Finlay. 
I've been busy getting the apartment ready for Jim's homecoming.  Carol Vanhoff is my organizational guru.  Plastic boxes are the secret. 
I forgot to mention that Jim's niece Sara O'Connell came for a visit last weekend.  She took us out to lunch.  We had a fabulous time!  She's a great gal.
I sometimes wonder who is actually reading this blog.  There's gotta be a way in which you could all respond.  I know you can sign up as a member and once you do that these entries automatically go to your email.  If anyone can figure out how to provide feedback let me know. 
Well, Jim is sleeping now. It's nice to see him resting.

Justine is coming!!!!!

Jim's daughter Justine is coming for a visit today.....  That will be nice for Jim.  Still no adverse reactions to the chemo and today is the last day.  Tomorrow will be a day of rest and Monday they will reinfuse his stem cells.  Jim is in good spirits.

Day four......

Jim is still doing allright.  He was feeling a little queasy last night and his energy is starting to wane.  But that has to do with the fact that he hasn't been getting a lot of sleep.  The pump keeps going off night and day.  He is being very compliant.  He's rinsing his mouth out with salt water.  Anything to prevent the dreadful mucusitis.  He's taking walks around the floor to stay somewhat active.  And he's been keeping extra clean.  Yesterday, I was talking with this woman who told me that her daughter didn't experience any nausea or mucusitis throughout her whole transplant.   That was good news.  We can only hope for that that will be the case for Jim.  I hope. I hope.  We just have to wait and see.

Another day in paradise!

Jim is still feeling well,  which is great.  All of this anticipation makes for stressful times.  We really just need to take each moment one at a time.  So far, so good. Nothing to complain about.  Jim is getting the best care possible.  They've reassured us that they will try to make this whole experience as painless as possible.  They've got medication for everything under the sun and really know their stuff when it comes to these transplants.  So, Jim really is in  good hands.  The best in the country!  We are confident that this is the best place he could be under these circumstances.  So I guess there is no reason to freak out about this.  They will do everything they can to prepare us for anything.   I feel much better today about this whole thing.  I just have to remember to take One day at a time and not forget to "Breathe".

The next day....

Well the first day was pretty uneventful.  We checked in and got situated.  Last night, I needed to come to grips with this whole process.  I can't kid myself anymore, this is really hard.  I want to be hopeful but I'm so scared at the same time.  I could very well be in denial.  I mean Jim has been doing really well now that he's been in remission.  As great as can be - considering.  He has been pretty strong throughout this.  But I know the worse is coming.  By tomorrow Jim will start to feel bad - nausea etc.  Even though they have been giving him anti - nausea medication, more than likely he will still feel icky.  They've told us a lot of things to look for.  One thing that is really common is Mucusitis, which is sores in the mouth and digestive track.  This is one thing that causes people to have to go back into the hospital because one is unable to swallow pills and therefore medication needs to be administered via an IV.  That may be what we have to look forward to.  It's hard to say how long he will have to stay in the hospital.  It just depends on how well he's doing.  I admit I'm afraid of taking care of him.  On day five of all this serious chemotherapy - he will become nutropenic and real susceptible to catching anything.  They are real serious about screening people for cold or flu symptoms because if one of these patients was exposed to any one of those illnesses it could become a real serious problem.  The whole apartment has to be wiped down with bleach and other sanitizing agents.  It is my responsibility to keep it sterile.  He may also need IV's for hydration.  So, that is something else I may need to learn to do at home. 
We live in this apartment complex that is filled with patients undergoing stem cell transplants.  Everybody's situation is different so we hear all kinds of stories with all kinds of possibilities of how this could all unfold.  Yesterday marked the third month that we've been here.  We thought we were only going to be here a total of 3 months but after being here a while we know it could last a lot longer.  It just all depends on how he responds to this treatment.   We'd like to think that everything is going to go according to plan and that he will recover in a months time however, there have been people here for 16 months and transplants that have gone south and had to do redo's.  So, it's one thing to be optimistic and trust that everything is going to go all right and then it's another to be realistic and just go with the flow.  We choose to be optimistic!!!!  Jim says "Hi!!!!"

Super Tuesday!!!

Well, today is the day.  Jim checked into the hospital this morning and the chemo has begun.  No turning back now.   Right Now, we're watching the results of Super Tuesday.  Thank God for MSNBC!!  Unfortunately there is no Comedy Channel which means No Jon Stewart or Stephen Cobert for a while.  Bummer!

Let's get this show on the road!!!!!

We met with the doctor on Friday and went over all the test results.  All of the test results looked good so it was time to sign the consent forms and schedule a date for the transplant.  At first, I hesitated to write about what was actually said only because I don't want to freak anyone out.  I really needed to digest it all.  So then I decided I would present all the facts.  First of all, Jim is in complete remission, (finally, after the last 3 months of chemo here in Seattle).  It may seem weird but one needs to be free of cancer before one can go through this process.   He goes into the hospital on Tuesday.  There will be 5 days of intense chemotherapy, a day of rest, and then they will infuse the stored stem cells over the course of 2 days.  We were warned that this will be a high risk transplant because of his heart and lungs and because of his age.  We were given all the possible side effects like liver and kidney damage.  The doctor said there is a 10% chance that he might not make it.  But, if he didn't go ahead and do this the cancer would definitely come back and his chance of survival would be close to none.   Because of the risks, Jim will more than likely spend the majority of recovery time in the hospital which will be about 3-4 weeks.  With the treatment, it has been said that there is a 50/50 chance that they will be able to keep the cancer in remission.  But, because this is such a rare form of cancer they don't have a lot of experience curing it.  They are going by other forms of Lymphoma that they have treated.
We are trying to remain positive and appreciate anyone who supports this attitude.  We would like to believe that everything will go off without a hitch but are realistic and know that Jim will be real sick.  We would love to hear from you especially if you have words of hope or any kind of inspiration.  Since Jim will be pretty weak,  he asked that I leave my cell number for anyone who would like to contact us.  You can reach me at (509)998-1754.  I will continue to keep you abreast of the latest updates via this blog.  But I have a feeling things will be happening at a quicker pace from here on out.