Journal 3/7

Journal 3/7

Main Page • John's Journal • CLL Information • Contact John • Seattle Cancer Care Alliance • MD Anderson

Twenty days post transplant. Been home for five days now. I continue to do
great. Definitely prefer recovering at home versus the hospital. I do,
however, continue to go to my local oncologist's office or the hospital for
blood count checks ever couple days.

I have been able to get out to a couple of my boys basketball games. So much
fun to watch them. I never imagined I would get to see anymore games this
year. I spend most of the day resting and eating as much as possible.
Trying to give my body all the calories possible so it can repair all the
chemo and radiation damage. It is pretty humbling how wiped out the
treatments have left me. I have never been this fatigued. Then again, I
have never had a bone marrow transplant before. I did, however, walk a mile
today. My youngest son, Tanner, rode his bike and kept telling me he'd wait
ahead for me. Little bit of my own medicine.

Every morning after I shower I have to change my Hickman dressing and flush
the lines. Takes about a half an hour. The nurse who trained me said to be
sure I never leave my lines unblocked(open) when I change the little caps at
the end or I could give myself an air embolism prompting an immediate 911
response. OK...no problem nurse. You can imagine how long I stare at the
line clamps before changing the end pieces. I stand there saying, " Ok, are
they closed? Yep! Wait a minute, let me check again....and again...and
again."

Recovery Information:

Current Weight: 160 lbs (173 before transplant)
Energy Level on Scale of 1 to 10: Still 2 or 3
Other? Mouth pain is limited to tongue. Minimal discomfort. Appetite almost
completely back. I'm eating and drinking well.

Overview of my blood counts (3/6):

Hematocrit 3/3(27%) Today(27%) Normal(34-55%)

Platelets 3/3(15,000) Today(28,000) Normal(150,000)

Neutrophils 3/3(4,380) Today(2,190) Normal(7,000)

WBC's 3/3(6,200) Today(3,110) Normal(7,500)

My hematocrit holds at 27% and my platelets are going up and holding without
a transfusion in four days. Excellent sign. My WBC and Neutrophil counts
have taken a drop. Dr. Petersdorf said they would and my local oncologist,
Dr. Ostensen, said not to worry. I will do my best. Honestly, I probably
spend more time worrying than I should. It is an area I commit daily to the
Lord in prayer. Recovery from this transplant is definitely as much mental as
it is physical.

Hematocrit	3/3(27%)	Today(27%)	Normal(34-55%)
Platelets	3/3(15,000)	Today(28,000)	Normal(150,000)
Neutrophils	3/3(4,380)	Today(2,190)	Normal(7,000)
WBC's	3/3(6,200)	Today(3,110)	Normal(7,500)

I continue to be overwhelmed and humbled at the incredible acts of kindness
so many people have done for me and my family. For example, we have been
getting these incredible dinners from the staff at the Elementary my boys
attend. It has been such a blessing to have these great meals every night.
My school district has been awesome. So many people, doing so many nice
things, I will never be able to properly thank everyone. I'll just say
thank you again to 'everyone' who has supported, helped, prayed, encouraged,
and shown love to us. It has made such a difference.

I will make another posting a week from now. Earlier, of course, if I have
something really exciting I just can't wait to share.

Next
Back