Lori

Such great news that Keir made it through his third consolidation with no complications. Please take care of yourself and try to get some wellfeared rest. I understand concerns with changing hospitals. I don't like going anywhere else even for labs. Praying all goes to plan

Julie

Lori -- thanks for the great update details. A few bumps along the road but Keir is soooooo much better of at Loyola. You are in the best of hands and it sounds like things are well planned out. Be sure to keep Keir away from people and anything else that might have bacteria. Make sure he wears his mask when outside of his room, and be sure he washes his hands. I even went so far as to carry a paper towel for all "strange" surfaces (especially door nobs). Take care and get some rest -- we are all praying for Keir and you -- dave

Very glad for the news that things are finally moving forward, Lori - I know that your worry is still great, though. Hope it is something of a comfort to know that we are all pulling for Keir. Please keep us updated if you can.

Robin

Thanks for letting us know how everything went. I'm happy to hear that he completed the consolidation and is doing well. I can only imagine how difficult it is to change hospitals midstream. Please keep us posted on the transplant plans and on how you are both doing. sending good thoughts and prayers your way.

Colleen

Thank you all. He had a fever or two during consolidation but no infections or other serious issues. He's now a week out and his counts are dropping. I have to take him to clinic three times a week for bloodwork so we go tomorrow and are expecting he will need platelets and/or rbcs. I am getting nervous - his expected date of admission for transplant is Feb. 4 so we badly want to avoid infections or other issues. He has to have another MUGA scan for the heart; all prayers that this goes well much appreciated. Lindzee, when is your husband scheduled to enter for transplant? My anxiety is pretty sky high as usual. We went to a three hour class on the process and aftermath yesterday and it was quite overwhelming. But the staff has been quite good and I just hope that this time things go on schedule. Keir has been amazing but this is his fourth transplant date....(first was Dec. 18, then two weeks after that, then Jan 1).

Hi Lori,

Happy to hear that Keir's consolidation went well. sending good thoughts for a smooth and speedy time for his counts to come up. actually I'm at the Hospital with my husband as I type. he was admitted this morning for his transplant process to start. he will receive his transplant on January 23rd. I didn't think we would ever get to this point and I know you and Keir will get there soon as well. please continue to keep us posted on how things are going.

Colleen

Lori and Coleen -- I am praying for both of you and your patients. Lori -- counts dropping a week out is normal -- it takes that long for the chemo to really take effect. They could stay low for some time but I am sure that the Loyola team has it all worked out. Getting blood and platelets at this stage is also normal, so please just take it in stride. Things are going as expected. Main thing now is since Keir is neutropenic that he be kept away from people, wear his mask whenever outside of his room and all of those other nitty things they told you about for diet and whatnot. Don't let up -- you cannot be too careful. I know you will do your best. Take care of yourself -- dave

Lori,
You all have been through so much. I am so happy that Keir is doing well with this consolidation and that he has a transplant date. Great job slugging through the mess, I know it takes so much time and effort causing fatigue and anxiety. I did get fevers with each of my consolidations. Praying for a good report on the MUGA scan and all go for the transplant Feb 4. Hang in there, you all are doing a awesome job! I remember the 3 hrs pre-transplant class, it was so full I had to sit on the floor and they went through lunch time! I was sad seeing so many people in the class, care takers and patients.
Take Care,
Suzanne

Keir had to have some platelets yesterday and blood today and on Wed. we go back to have more blood draws (Loyola does them 3 times a week) and see the doctor. I would just ask that you all please keep him in your thoughts & prayers. He is supposed to enter hospital Feb. 4 for transplant prep and this is his fourth date. We are all about to climb out of our skin (me especially). He's still on his heart meds, of course, and we are praying they are working well.

Lori,

Continuing to pray for you and Keir

Julie

prayers to you and keir

Thank you all for your prayers and good words for Keir. He goes three times a week for bloodwork. Yesterday he also saw the doctor. He has needed platelets twice and a transfusion since chemo ended two weeks ago - I assume his numbers are bottoming out now. He feels good, and hopefully will remain that way. As of yesterday the doctor was still talking about a Feb. 4 admittance for transplant. He has been on the cardiac meds for almost two months (or will be) by that time so hopefully that will make a difference. His blood pressure has been low (which is what they wanted).

I am scared, and like everyone on this board, worried about Ed and those struggling right now. Your words of encouragement have meant a great deal to me. I wish there was a "Team Transplant 2014" - it feels kind of lonely out here!

Hi Lori, so happy to see things on schedule for Keir. Sal will hopefully join Keir soon and be a member of Team Transplant 2014 (need to start that thread). Sal is doing very well now, things got rough for about a week, I will update separately.

Warm hugs for you both,
Monique

Monique, SO glad to hear Sal is doing well. He (and you) are certainly on my daily prayer list.

Lori -

It is so good to hear that things are going as planned now (finally) for Keir - I know how anxious a time this still is for you, though, and so I will be praying that these next days as he approaches SCT are boring in the very best way they can be! :) It really sounds like he is n the best possible shape for his transplant - how awesome!

Monique - We will be anxious to read your update of Sal, too - I know how glad you must be that transplant is in sight and that he will be able to put the last of this behind him and move forward to good health again.

All the best to both of you - hang in there!


Robin

Robin