The chemo phase of this process is over. Hey-Hey. Now we wait for that to take effect. I can tell the treatments are additive as I had a bit more fatigue today. Having said that I did take 2-laps around the hallways today where yesterday I had none.

The new event is to add a medication that calms the new cells down and prevents their chomping away at me. To refresh that is referred to as Graft vs Host Disease (GVHD). I have been told I will be taking this medication for up to a year from now.

The one constant from my stays here is 2019, 2020 and 2022 compared to today, is that I can have as much ice cream as I want – or have an appetite for because my usual appetite is much reduced now. The difference is that the ice cream used to be Haagen Dazs. Now it is some generic brand. Still okay, but just shows that there are cuts to healthcare everywhere.

Tomorrow is another day. I will report in after the days events. Appreciate everybody’s support.

Larry and Sharon

I know, how can this be a half day. Again, based on my transplant cell infusion time the chemo that is usually received on Day +3 and Day +4 was moved up to middle of the afternoon each day.

Today, I received the last blast of chemo. So happy to be writing this. And no way around the side effects, I am fatigued, dry mouthed, and having some GI upset, mostly a feeling of indigestion in my esophagus. I am trying to eat as much as I can although I have been forewarned that the protocols here now include feeding tubes at an earlier stage. If I need that so be it. I have a bit of PTSD from an nasogastric (NG) tube I required in 2015 associated with my colon surgery. That one was to treat an ileus – air in my loops of bowel – and I an told a feeding NG tube is much smaller and softer. I can only hope.

Otherwise, I am told I am following the “normal” curve after a transplant. As I had mentioned about my blood counts. today my bacteria fighting neutrophil counts are virtually zero. My platelets are falling as is my red cell count although they have a ways to go before I might need transfusions.

The next week is the critical week during which time my bone marrow cells have disappeared and we are waiting for the donor cells to begin producing and doing their thing. During this week I will be given supportive therapy whatever form that takes.

I told my doctor today that I do enjoy the day of the summer solstice – June 21. He thought if all goes really well I could be out of the hospital to celebrate that celestial event.

Sharon has been of great support coming to my side daily and I know we both appreciate the messages of support. Thanks so much.

Larry and Sharon

Officially I’m day +2 today. Having said that on Day +3, the plan was to begin my next round of chemo needed to allow the new cells to feel more at home. This chemo is given for 2-days and has to be timed based on when the new cells were infused. As Agent Smart said on Get Smart,” I missed it by that much.” Meaning the clarity of the days. As such, the chemo was started today at 3pm and I will have a second and final dose tomorrow at 3pm.

At team rounds today with my doctor he said I was pretty much a boring case up to this point. All is going as expected. That does not imply that I am having no side effects. I am, and they are the ones expected.

If you are interested in the nitty gritty of blood counts during this process I can tell you my white blood cells are virtually wiped out. That is expected although until the new cells “engraft” and start producing I will be very vulnerable to infections. The staff here is being very careful with me. My red cell counts are down about 3-quarts if you think of oil in a car. If the counts drop another 3-quarts, like a car, I will need some transfusions. Also, not unexpected.

You know I like to walk and on this hospital unit they have the distance mapped out to tell us a mile of walking is 10 loops around the floor. I did that earlier today and received a nice note to post on my door.

That is the report for today. Hope you are well.

Larry and Sharon.

So far so good. The medical team tells me i am reacting and responding as predicted. What that means, and this is probably too much information, is that as a result of the chemo I have had in preparation, my blood counts are falling and creating fertile ground for the new cells to take root. That will put me at higher risk of infection.

All of this does have its set of physical manifestations. My GI tract is affected with bouts of nausea and poop changes. I am told to strap in because these are bound to get worse over the next week. Eating may become a challenge. Not that hospital food is gourmet.

Sleeping in a strange, hospital bed has its own set of challenges. I was so uncomfortable the first night that I asked for, and received an egg crate topper. That seemed to help last night. Today Sharon is going to bring me one of my favorite pillows and I hope that helps as well.

Tomorrow it is planned to begin the last 2-days of chemo to assist the new cells into liking their new home. After that, I will be in recovery mode waiting for the these to “engraft’ meaning get comfortable and be fruitful and multiply.

Take care

Larry and Sharon

Yesterday was a long day, for David my donor and for Sharon and I awaiting the cells. We figured out which flight from Chicago to Seattle the cells were on. Of course the plane was a bit late in arriving.

I was admitted to the transplant floor at the U WA hospital at 8pm. We got checked in and the wait began. The cells arrived in our room just after Midnight, meaning that June 1, today, is my rebirthday. The cells came in a large volume bag.

The transfusion began at 12:30am and lasted 4-hours. After that I was watched like a hawk so not much sleep last night. I hope for better rest this evening.

The “team” saw me on rounds this morning and let me know the plan. They said I will likely have continued side effects from the pre-treatment chemo and on June 4 they will blast me again. The purpose of that became a bit clearer and this is supposed to nudge the new cells into being more comfortable within me, hoping to avoid Graft vs Host Disease. All in all, I will be here for 21 days +/-.

Jennifer looked up the signs of the Zodiac and let me know that for my re-birthday I am a Gemini, meaning I have a twin. Seems perfect now that David and I have become commingled in a good way.

More to come in the days ahead.

Sharon and I have had so very much support here. It feels just wonderful.

Larry and Sharon