Over the Transplant Mountain!

We have waited an eternity for this day.  So much went exactly as it was explained to us verbally and/or in writing.  Other things you just had to experience.  A hot, humid, but beautiful day.  The Chicago Air & Water Show is this weekend, and we could see fighter jets scrambling in the air as we approached the hospital.  

Arrived in Steve's room around 1:30, with transplant time scheduled for 2.  Two nurses today, one more senior in tenure at NW, and one (a Badger!) learning the intricacies of the stem cell transplant process.  Our Advanced Practice Nurse, Paula, stopped in during the transplant.  

I was not expecting so much activity.  Both nurses were busy setting up the IV stands/pumps, double-decker style.   He ate his Jimmy John sandwich while Nurse Kelly injected his pre-meds into his PICC line.  I am talking some serious amounts of drugs, people.  Ativan, Benedryl, Zofran.....it took both of her hands to carry all the empty syringes to the garbage.  Hanging were anti-rejection drugs and hydration fluids.  Steve's vital signs were watched extremely closely, especially at the very beginning of the transplant.  

At 1:58 one of the hospital chaplains arrived, a seminary intern, and we spoke for a few moments with him.  At exactly 2:00, Mary's cells arrived.  I was not prepared for what that looked like.  It was a whole heapin' bit of science on a blue cart.  The cells are stored, frozen in a liquid nitrogen environment, until needed for transplant.  The lid came off....it was magical!!!!  All that fun smoke, like a wizard should pop out and cast a good spell.  The technician removed a metal case around each bag of frozen cells; the case would remind you of a thick CD jewel box.  

 

The cells were thawed to room temperature, and then to body temperature.  There were three full bags and one partial bag of stem cells.  We were told about 4.5 million stem cells in all.  And yes, it does look like tomato juice!  The bags are very small and thin.

So, here is all THIS STUFF, all this cutting-edge medicine and healing, and in contrast, this young man who is going to pray with us, strangers, while Mary's cells give life back to her brother.  It was completely overwhelming to think about all THAT with my head down.  Steve was very brave, but very scared.  The first bag of cells was given a blessing....the line clip was unlocked, and off they went to their new home!  Nurse Elena called us to come and watch the cells run through the tubing toward Steve's arm.  Pretty cool stuff, and very humbling.


Things were going pretty well until the preservative used in the cell solution had a reaction with Steve's stomach.  Bad news:  Didn't really ever own that sandwich, just borrowed it for a while.  Good news:  At least he didn't yack on an empty stomach.  The staff added some Compazine to the mix, we wiped down his face, and the transplant went on.  He had some face flushing side-effects too, and those are quite common from what we are told, also attributed to the preservative.  As the last bag was hanging, the narcotics kicked in, and Steve was drifting off.  He got a fierce case of the chills, and somehow I thought to ask Nurse Kelly if they still had the blanket warmer on that floor.  That was a stroke of genius, I must say!  She scurried off and warmed two big blankets.  Steve was soon ZZZZZZZZZZZ and the transplant was done.  All told it was 1 hour and 20 minutes.  (3:30 p.m.)


He slept soundly until about 6 p.m. when his eyes popped open, he got up (what?) and went to the washroom.  Got back in bed and decided he was hungry!  That was mind-boggling to me.  He is already joking about asking Dr. Altman about going home.  Hopefully, I miss that conversation.  He ate some fruit, had some water, and we tucked him in for the night on the couchbed.  As you can see from the picture, he refuses to wear a hospital gown or pajamas, and no one really cares!


The next week could be a challenge.  We play a dual-edged waiting game.  Hoping the cells find their new homes and engraft and multiply, and hoping Mary's cells don't reject Steve's body and produce any Graft-Versus-Host-Disease.  One day at a time.


Thank you to everyone for your support.  We aren't out of the woods yet, but we have certainly battled some of the biggest challenges and come out on top.