He's Home!

After 15 days in the hospital, and accompanied by a fist-full of prescriptions, Dennis is at long last home.  His immune system will take quite some time to fully recover, and so will his strength, but he is well on his way!

It's a good week. Time to pour myself a glass of wine and exhale. Thank you for all of your love, support, greeting cards, and prayers. They mean more to both of us than you can ever know.

Happy Valentine's Day BMT +10

These are the signs on the door to Dennis’ room.
Hover over it to enlarge the photo

Dennis is feeling 100% better today. His white blood cells are on their way up, Up, UP and so far today there has been no nausea. Yesterday, Dennis received a blood transfusion, as well as a platelet transfusion since his red blood cells and platelets bottomed-out to dangerous levels.  Not to worry – it was expected to happen at some point.

God bless each and very person who takes the time and cares enough to donate blood.  Those donations have saved Dennis’ life more than once.

It' a new day BMT +7

Lungs are clear, so no pneumonia, and all other tests show no infection. We are waiting only for the 72-hour tests of blood cultures, but the doctor doesn't anticipate a problem; Dennis' temperature is back to normal today. The doctor suspects the spike in temperature yesterday was most likely caused by "engraftment syndrome", an inflammatory condition occurring during the engraftment process.

In regard to the body rash, the doctor suspects that Dennis has the first allergy in his life - to Acyclovir.  That antiviral has been switched-out to another, so we will see. At least the rash doesn't itch.

Today has not been at all boring BMT +6

This is the way Dennis looks when he does his laps in the hallway.  "Let's cook" (bow to Breaking Bad).

Today is post-transplant day #6, and it hasn't been at all dull.  Den’s white blood cell count hit baseline this morning and as well as being exhausted, he suddenly spiked a 102° temperature this afternoon.  In addition to the temperature, his entire body is covered in a rash, which doctors advise may be attributed to the Acyclovir (an anti-viral medication).

Now we wait for the test results to find out the reason for the sudden spike in temperature: Chest X-rays ordered to rule-out pneumonia; blood cultures and urinalysis ordered to rule out all other infections.  We will know the results of the urinalysis and chest X-rays yet tonight, but cannot be certain whether there is an infection hiding somewhere for another 72 hours.  So, in the meantime, Dennis is being given a wide-spectrum IV antibiotic “just in case”, Benadryl to counteract the rash, and Tylenol for fever.

In addition to the drop in white blood cell count, the red blood cells and platet counts are declining too. Dennis may be in store for more excitement in the coming days with platelet and blood transfusions.

Dennis would like to thank everyone for all of the get-well cards he has received (they really help to lighten the spirit and alleviate the boredom), as well as all of your positive thoughts and prayers.  He is almost half-way to going home!

He's been "Marrowed"! (BMT Day +3)

A gift from his medical team

Today, Saturday, is post Transplant Day #3 (BMT +3) and Dennis is feeling "OK"; although as expected, he is more tired each day. Eating is becoming less a priority. Protein supplement foods have been ordered for delivery at each mealtime, whether a food tray is ordered or not. Dennis is happy there are choices other than Ensure (the only choice 2 years ago).

To keep his strength up, we have walked a mile in hallway laps each day since Dennis was admitted.

Some of you have inquired about visiting Dennis. Visitors are not restricted, other than for the obvious reasons - no signs of a cold, fever, or other illness.  Children under 18 are asked to wait until Dennis builds his immune system before visiting; at home and about 30 days after he is discharged from the hospital. Here is a general timeline/guide for what to expect in regard to how Dennis might be feeling during each of the coming days -

Because the chemotherapy affect is gradual, Dennis will feel pretty good, other than very tired, this weekend as his white blood cell count continues to drop. Today his WBC count is 2.65, but it will eventually drop to 0.

The red blood cell and platelet counts are dropping too, but can be replenished with a transfusion if necessary. The white blood cells must rebuild themselves and as they do, Dennis will have an almost non-existent immune level. We are told that by the time Wednesday & Thursday (February 11 & 12) arrives, the white blood cell count will be at it’s lowest and Dennis will feel at his worst (and will lose his hair). After that, however, the white blood cell count will begin to climb and, as it does, Dennis will begin to feel better.

The exercise (walking) goal today is 16.5 laps of the hallway (a mile). Dennis completed 8 laps this morning and is napping now. We'll attempt to finish-up later today.

Transplant Day 2

    This is the container that held Dennis' stem cells

    harvested 2 years ago. The cells were stored and 

    then shipped to us from Karmanos in vapor phase 

    nitrogen. Dennis' stem cells are in the case being 

    retrieved by an RN from Michigan Blood.

The bone marrow transplant is complete! Now we wait for signs of engraftment - when the new, transplanted cells start to grow and make healthy stem cells that stimulate bone marrow growth. Engraftment typically takes two to three weeks.

During this time, Dennis will be carefully monitored for complications that may arise. Until the stem cells engraft, he will be at high risk of developing an infection. This is because the chemotherapy destroyed the white blood cells in his body, which are the backbone of his immune system.

Wednesday evening finds Dennis exhausted, but otherwise feeling well. If you would like to read more about the bone marrow transplant process, you can find more information at BMTinfonet.org

Please do not leave a comment on this page; instead, select the "Messages" tab and leave your greeting the here.

Transplant Day1

And all is well!

I am writing this at 4:30 a.m. (so 12 hours after transplant). Dennis has been waiting to feel, well, better. He is not quite himself (different than after his transplant two years ago); but he is doing great! He has been sleeping very well all night, waking only for vitals taken every few hours.

Many thanks from both of us for all of your comments and support!!!!

We are moving on to Transplant Day 2!



Please do not leave a comment on this page; instead, select the "Messages" tab and leave your greeting there.

Hospital Admitting Day

We arrived at Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion this morning at 7:00 a.m. so that Dennis could have labs drawn and his PIC Line inserted.  He has been cleared for the bone marrow transplant.

Dennis was admitted to Spectrum-Butterworth Campus this morning, and will receive a heavy dose of chemotherapy and IV fluids all day today.  The chemo will completely destroy his bone marrow so that he can receive bone marrow transplant #1 on Tuesday and then transplant #2 on Wednesday.

Dennis is in Room 5722-South.

Please do not leave a comment on this page; instead, select the "Messages" tab and leave your greeting there.

Onward and Upward!

There are enough stem cells harvested to proceed with a bone marrow transplant!

Actually, because stem cells were harvested twice, Dennis will receive two transplants, 24-hours apart.

Thank you for your positive thoughts, support and prayers; they are working!

The next leg of this adventure begins February 2, when Dennis will be admitted to the hospital.

Please do not leave a comment on this page; instead, select the "Messages" tab and leave your greeting there.

Apheresis (Stem Cell Harvest)

Spectra Optia Aspheresis System

Dennis advanced to the Apheresis stage this morning. We’re hoping that within the next 6 hours on the machine, enough of his stem cells can be harvested.  We won’t know how successful this procedure will be until the process is over. Unfortunately there is no blood test available that will read the results of the Mozobil injection Dennis received late yesterday afternoon. But, he is connected to the Spectra Optia Aspheresis System (with a catheter in each arm), and our fingers are crossed that his bone marrow woke up last night!

-------------------------------

Evening Update: Good news - Stem cells are being harvested.
                             Bad news - There are not enough.

Another day of Apheresis is scheduled for 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Thursday (tomorrow).

Please do not leave a comment on this page; instead, select the "Messages" tab and leave your greeting there.

Mobilizing Stem Cells

In order to be collected in sufficient numbers from the blood, stem cells have to undergo the process of ‘mobilization’ from their usual bone marrow habitat.





After 5 days of Neupogen injections (used to encourage his bone marrow to produce stem cells), Dennis and I were at Spectrum at 7:00 a.m. this morning, anticipating a 6-hour stem cell harvest.  No go. The chemotherapy has suppressed the bone marrow to the extent that the stem cells will be very difficult to produce. Dennis’ bone marrow is tired and is being stubborn.

We will return to Spectrum this afternoon so that Dennis can receive the latest approved drug, an injection of Mozobil. Hopefully his bone marrow will respond to that, and the stem cell harvest can begin on Wednesday, January 14.

Oh! And we found out today that Dennis is the FIRST adult to go through a second stem cell harvest with the Spectrum Blood and Marrow Transplant Program.

Please do not leave a comment on this page; instead, select the "Messages" tab and leave your greeting there.

We have a plan

Autologous bone marrow transplant

We met with Dennis' medical team this morning.  Medical research and many advancements have occurred within the past two years with regard to treating Multiple Myeloma (Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma). Enough success with bone marrow transplants has given insurance companies the confidence to fund second stem cell harvests.  SO - it is settled, Dennis will begin the process of having more of his stem cells harvested and available to him for a second transplant. We pray, of course, that his bone marrow will cooperate and produce enough stem cells for Dennis to use, in addition to those which survived the freezing process two years ago.

To assist the production of stem cells from the bone marrow, Dennis will receive 3 injections each day (of drugs which stimulate stem cell growth) over a 5 day period. One of those drugs is new to us, recently approved by the FDA. The goal is to begin the stem cell stimulating injections on Thursday, January 8, giving Dennis a stem cell harvest date of Monday, January 12, assuming the stem cell count is high enough for a harvest.

A nurse from Michigan Blood answered a special call from our medical team, and braved the icy roads to do a "vein assessment" on both of Dennis' arms today. Both arms will be used for the harvest . . . one tube to send his blood through the machine which harvests the stem cells, and the other tube to return all but the stem cells back to his body. Although it certainly isn't ideal that Dennis must again go through a stem cell harvest before a bone marrow transplant can be performed, we are happy that he qualifies and has been approved for one.

Thank you so very much for your prayers for strength.  This is the best news we could have received under the circumstances. We will keep you posted.

Please do not leave a comment on this page; instead, select the "Messages" tab and leave your greeting there.