Kinsey was scheduled for the bone marrow transplant to occur on June 30. She was to go into the hospital tomorrow, have her broviac (central line) replaced, and begin chemo on Wed. which would be Day -5. For five days she would take two different drugs to wipe out her immune system in preparation for the transplant (Day 0). Then the counting would begin--Days 1 through 100, watching first for signs of infection, then signs of rejection, signs of engraftment (we hope), signs of graft vs. host disease and a variety of other potential complications.
Along with those days of counting and watching would come LOTS of medications to help circumvent some of the potential hazards of transplant. We had the calendar ready and the bag nearly packed, but a hint of a cold has put it all off at least a week. Dr. Big Dog has asked that we remain in "old fashioned quarantine" this week in an effort to avoid further exposure to germs. Fortunately she showed cold symptoms yesterday, the worst case scenario being that she would be exposed to a cold and then show symptoms a couple of days after the chemo starts--when she'd have little or nothing left to fight it off.
I will write more during
this week of "quarantine" and try to provide a few more details
about what has been and what is to come. So much has happened and so much
lies ahead. It is an exciting and terrifying time. But these days ahead
(squeezed into the calendar so unexpectedly), Days -14 through -7 are
days we are all a little bummed AND relieved about. An extra week to get
"ready," do last-minute chores, play a few board games or watch
movies to enjoy "quality" family time and help pacify the kids
who cannot go outside to play with their friends. Find joy in this time
and each other while we wait a little longer . . . counting the days.
Karen
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