Counting Down

Counting Down  

Entry #6                                                   February 19, 2015

A series of greeting cards labeled for
each day of hospitalization.

     When Dan was diagnosed with CIDP in 2011,  Megan started the tradition of writing a letter to her Dad each time he had to go for an IVIG infusion.  Back then, it meant one letter per month.  We took turns writing letters filled with encouragement, humor, memories, or any topic that was on our mind.  We'd quietly slip the letter into the blue bag he took to the Cancer Center for his 8 hour infusion.  Sadly we weren't able to keep pace when the frequency of treatments increased to weekly or multiple times per week.  During this hospital stay, I've taken from that idea and made a series of 18 cards into which I put greetings and well wishes from family and friends.  

Couldn't possibly leave home without the
pictures of grand dogs, Kaiser and Luca.

      The days of the process are numbered -6, -5, -4, -3, -2, -1, for the days leading up to the stem cell transplant.  The 0 day is the transplant day itself.  The days following the day Dan gets his stem cells back are labeled  +1, +2, +3 and so on.  Today is the second day, or Day -5, in Dan's hospitalization.  He has had two days of chemo, and today an immune suppressant drug named rATG was added.  So far he's tolerated everything fine, with no side effects.  We know everyone reacts differently, but the protocol that includes plenty of meds to precede the chemo has worked to keep him comfortable.  We are aware that the greatest side effects are likely to come right around transplant day when his white blood cell count is pretty much nil.
     Dr. Burt and his team have been on the floor each morning to monitor the process for each of the current transplant patients.  Some are on the up swing of their transplant whereas Dan and a few new patients admitted today are just getting underway.  The best part is the spirit on

Sitting in the Hugh Heffner PJ's while
the IV drips.

the floor where patients and families all know the prayers invested in having a successful outcome.  We are all well aware of the toll that each autoimmune disease has taken on them, bringing all to this point in their battle.           
     It is abundantly clear that if all goes according to plan, their lives will be incredibly changed for the better.  And to that point, Dan will never need another letter written to accompany him to an infusion.    

     

Taking a walk around the floor for exercise with
Joe, another of Dr. Burt's patients.  Seventeen laps
equals one mile!