Today is Monday September 16, and it carries with it a bit of exciting news. I have now moved my lodgings up one floor to reside on the third floor. This is where all the transplants occur in the hospital. You can see the differences immediately when you step through the door. Everything is a bit more sterile, and each room is like a mini isolation chamber of its own. I have completed 3 nights of stimulation shots for the stem cell production, with tonight being the fourth and last. Tomorrow morning, likely before any of you all are awake for your day, I will be sitting on an apheresis machine watching my blood being taken out of my body, into a machine which will separate my stem cells from the other goodies in there before returning them back safely into my body. It stands to be a long process, generally lasting in the 4-5 hour range.
The goal number is to achieve 2million stem cells per Kg of body weight. If we don't get those concentrations the first day, we have already arranged that Wednesday could be another day of collection if necessary. If I have it my way, we'll get those numbers and more in the first go around. Never try to do anything half way, right?
I'll try to get some good videos up of my current lodgings. Very comfortable, very sterile. I do give full kudos to the staff here as the bed linens are at least something with some color on them instead of sterile white. Makes for a 'homier' feel.
The goal number is to achieve 2million stem cells per Kg of body weight. If we don't get those concentrations the first day, we have already arranged that Wednesday could be another day of collection if necessary. If I have it my way, we'll get those numbers and more in the first go around. Never try to do anything half way, right?
I'll try to get some good videos up of my current lodgings. Very comfortable, very sterile. I do give full kudos to the staff here as the bed linens are at least something with some color on them instead of sterile white. Makes for a 'homier' feel.
Here is a quick pic of yours truly getting his IV Solumedrol steroids first thing in the morning. Maybe I'd get more benefit if I did some push ups at the same time. Perhaps tomorrow...
Feeling very safe and very comfortable. Ready to start this journey ahead and the good health beyond!
Feeling very safe and very comfortable. Ready to start this journey ahead and the good health beyond!