Just checking in. First day of cytoxan yestereday and it was pretty rough. Had the worst heartburn even in my life that was almost unbearable with moderate nausea. Second and last day of it today and then we are done with the conditioning. Thank God.

Counts dropped a ton yesterday. WBC at 14.2, Plt, 191, HGB 13.0
AEC: 6.3, ANC 5.8

Ready to get rid of the eosiniophils!

Andy,
How are you doing?

J

John,

I'm awaiting the "big day" tomorrow! My nausea has began to subside and I was actually able to eat something of value today. Still a little anxious, but I'm also ready to begin the healing process once and for all. The last two days I've been on an anti-rejection drip called Tacrom and slowly but surely more meds are being added to my daily list. The process is becoming really real now!

We will both be reborn again in an earthly sense of the phrase haha

Andy

Andy and John,

You two are such an inspiration! !!! Your new birthdays are just around the corner, Monday for Andy and Tuesday for John, right. Through the conditioning process, you take time and use precious energy to allow us to share (a little) of this difficult journey. I am convinced that by documenting this you will help others. We never know who is lurking that may be getting help right now from your courage.

I am so thankful to both of you. I'm praising almighty God in advance fir both of your successful SCT tomorrow and Tuesday. I often relate the importance and significance of the holy blood of Christ that washes away ALL of our sins and the precious blood (stem cells) you two are about to recieve.

Just as Christ's blood gives us new life and life more abundant, so shall your new blood and marrow renew your bodies. The blood is life.

You two are at the tip top of my prayer list. May God guide your med team's through this process.

Blessings
Julie

Special thoughts and prayers this week to both of you. The actual transplant is a non-event --- like getting blood --- but what hope it offers. My brother is about 5 months out and other than some fluid on the lungs that the docs think is connected to the trial drug, he is doing well. Has some fuzzy baby-like hair, is getting stronger, and his blood type has changed from A to O.
It is a grueling process but keep your thoughts on the goal and the possibilities.
Happy Birthday to you both.
Susan (aka Twilight)

Happy re birthday Andy! !!!

Praying for you

Julie

Transplant today at noon! How you doing Andy?

Congrats John on your new birthday! Look forward to many more to come!

My transplant was uneventfulish yet more eventful than they had lead me to believe. As soon as my first of six bags began, I got that taste of what I like to call "synthetic garlic" in my mouth and sinus cavity and although I had mints it made me nauseous. They eventually had to slow the infusion rate because my blood pressure got really high. Mine is usually around 123/75 but was constantly checking in at 160/111. It wasn't an unheard side effect and the team wasn't worried and handled it accordingly. I found myself more tired when everything was all said and done, but today I've had a might fine day filled physical therapy, sitting up and even eating!

I know the days can vary greatly but I'll take today and all the wonderfulness it has to offer. Now onto discharge and from then Day +100!

Andy

Thanks for the update Andy! I'm glad today was a better day. My transplant went well but was also more eventful than I was led to believe. I got chills and next thing I knew there were about 6 people in the room in a matter of 60 seconds. They tucked me in bed with extra blankets and gave me a cortisone injection and then things calmed down. All in all I had one bag of about 500ml of cells and it took about three hours.
In other news, my WBC came back up from 14.2 two days ago to 26.4. AEC was 21.8 last count. This seems scary but the docs aren't worried so I'm determined not to be. They assure me with a myeloablative conditioning, they will eventually go to 0, it just might not be until day +5 or so.
I have been able to eat a little bit the last two days, which has been good. Salty foods taste best - nuts, chips, etc. Everything else tastes weird. I just got back from walking laps which I've been trying to force myself to do everyday. Once ANC drops below 0.5 I will be confined to my room and they won't let me walk the halls, so I'm trying to take advantage now. I've been feeling better yesterday and today compared to the two days I got the cytoxan (that was really rough) but I hear the worst is yet to come once my counts zero out, up until engraftment. You have the right attitude Andy. One day at a time, and today has been a pretty good day.

John

Happy rebirthdays to both of you! Im so proud of you both and your positive attitudes. The mind is truly as powerful as the body.
Tony had a reaction to the stem cells as well, a few minutes into the transplant he got red/flushed in the face & warm, the MD quickly calmly and quietly had the nurse infuse cortisone into an iv line and got things under control. (MUD donor)
we always had Pandora on in the hospital room and as the bag of cells started, the song Hallelujah came on, it was remarkable
His counts didn't bottom out till day 4 or so and he engrafted by day 8, I'll say day 6 the mouth sores arrived and hung around until his ANC was 1000. Eat as much as you can now and continue to walk as long as they allow. He only needed one blood transfusion and one platelet transfusion the whole time, hoping it'll be the same for you guys
The new stem cells are an amazing thing. I never left his side for the entire inpatient time, and we would talk to his new cells at night before bed, and welcome them to their new home!
Go cells Go! (I wrote that on his nurses board every day)
Xo
Lea

Andy and John

Happy Re-Birthday! Please know that you are both in my prayers.

Karen

John & Andy,

Had my Bible study group tonight and I let them know you both recieved your Sct yesterday and today. They and my congregation have been following and praying for you guys all along. I submit your names every Sunday and this week the card I recieved had this verse:

Psalm 107:1

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His Faithful love endures forever.

Happy happy re birthday. Praising almighty God for this opportunity for Cure once and for all

Blessings
Julie

Happy belated re-birthday guys, its sounds like things are going as they should. As Lea said, go cells go!

DaveJ

It is GREAT to hear good news -- everyone, please -- never stop sending it to us. As for me, I am a 5.7 year survivor, and someday all of you will be as well, if you are not already. -- dave

Dr. Dave,
You are such an inspiration!!!

Hello Team,

Wanted to give a quick update and see how things were going with Andy too.

Day +3 is drawing to a close. No new counts as of today, but should know soon. Yesterday we came in at WBC 8.0, AEC 6.3, ANC 1.2, Hgb 10.5 and Plt 113. They continue to come down slowly. Hoping ANC remains above the quarantine threshold (.5) and hoping AEC finally plummets below 5. Docs not concerned. They continue to say that the marrow is dead, these are just remnants in the blood periphery.

My energy remains pretty good. No mouth sores yet and hoping we don't get them. Had my second infusion of methotrexate this afternoon so we will see if that kicks them off. I am praying for a miracle. Seems that thus far my lower GI track is most involved. No diarrhea really, but boy does it hurt to go. Sorry if TMI. Everything pretty raw. :o

Our prayers remain a quick engraftment, no infection, no GVH, and no cancer return or organ damage, especially to my heart.

Andy, I hope this finds you well and taking it one day at a time as well. Praying for you daily.

John