Grace for Stem Cell Step 1

Yesterday, Friday 2/9/18, during a serious Chicago snow storm, we headed to the amazing hospital to begin the real work of Step 1.

The first part is mobilization thanks to a huge dose of chemo.  Most of the morning was spent getting me set up, checked in and on board with a working IV to give me the medications my body needs to fight this horrible disease.  A stem cell transplant is such a new protocol and seen as a true miracle and beyond my wildest dream in the past.

There are meds to counter act other meds, meds to keep certain symptoms at bay then then there is the true poison, Chemo. Loved Nurse Emma and NP Amy who made this entire process so much less scary, talked me through everything, answered every single question we had and just were simply top shelf.

I have been on chemo pills for years but they are NOTHING like this nasty stuff.  The ones I have taken have given me the use of my fingers back, they have made it so the progression of my Scleroderma induced lung disease gets worse at a slower speed but they are a different type, delivery of and strength of this chemo.  They are still chemo make no mistake being on the crap for 7+ years has worn me down at the same rate it has worn down my disease.

This is a Control – Alt- Delete process.  A Betsy 2.0 not a new app or a faster drive but an entirely new re-set.

Now I was expected to be sicker then a dog, feeling ill, nauseous, vomiting,  not a happy camper.  None of that has happened.  I got a headache. Took an Excedrin and it was resolved.  My blood pressure dropped a bunch and then recovered.  I had a seriously hard time with the IV’s as my veins are toast from being so sick for so long.  I was a little cranky……That was it.  AMAZING!

I am back in our gift of a condo for the evening, waiting for my daughter to get here on a plane from back east.  My bonus son has our home all covered, cared for and well watched as he is calling that home this week.  Waiting on yummy pizza from Rosati’s cause, well I can get Rosati’s here in Chicago, yesterday was National Pizza Day and I just didn’t trust my tummy.

Whats next? Well on the calendar is:
MOBILIZATION: Saturday Feb 10^th to Tuesday Feb 13^th recover from the chemo.

I will probably go get the hair cut as I do expect it to fall out within the next 10 days.  Would be cool not to have that side effect but well as I live my life I will plan the plans not the outcome.  We shall see what the outcome brings.

Thank you one and all for your love, prayers, thoughts, wishes, donations, hats (that have shown up at my office), generosity beyond measure and all things making this awesome challenging opportunity not only possible but actually manageable.

Thank You!