What a difference five weeks makes

Monday, August 19, Eric was admitted to LDS hospital to prepare for and receive a bone marrow transplant in hopes of curing his bone marrow cancer.

Monday, September 23, five weeks later, Eric was discharged from LDS hospital.  During those weeks he had four days of high dosage chemotherapy to kill his bone marrow and the cancer.  On August 28 he received the bone marrow transplant, which consisted of an IV drip of stem cells harvested from his sister Debbie's blood. 

As of this Monday, Eric is 30 pounds lighter and looking slim and trim.  His appetite is increasing even though his taste buds are still messed up from the chemo (a bitter after taste for most foods).  Eric is pain free and nausea free.  And best of all, now that Eric is home he can sleep in peace without worrying that anyone will interrupt to administer meds, take vitals or draw blood for labs!

Now we just wait to see what happens next.  The doctor warned us that it is not unusual to be readmitted to the hospital a few times during the healing process in order to fight the infections that are bound to occur.  Graft Versus Host Disease could also occur at any time, so we have carefully monitor anything unusual like changes in skin, increases of temperature, and change in bodily functions.  We will be returning to the Bone Marrow Transplant Clinic numerous times so that Eric's blood work can be checked.  And every time his blood is checked we get a report so that we can watch as Debbie's awesome stem cells help Eric to develop new bone marrow that is cancer free.  Today his neutrophils are up to .7, prompting the doctors to call off tomorrow's scheduled blood draw.  Eric's platelets and red blood cells are doing so well that he may not have to receive any more transfusions!  It is a miracle!

From Eric:  I can't begin to tell you how amazing and humbling it is to be out of the confines of a hospital room and back in my own home.  It is an immense blessing!  I am confident that, absent the encouragement, kindness and prayers of so many, things would not have progressed to this point in such a positive way.  Please accept my love and gratitude for every good wish, loving deed and word of hope and faith.  I am still somewhat isolated and confined:  stay in the house is the rule, but walks in the neighborhood, drives, visits from healthy adults and activities that do not expose me unduly to potential infection are all permitted.  Thus, I would love to hear from or see any or all of you.  Rest  assured that in every way I can I have attempted to return your love and put each of you in my thoughts and prayers.