Days 3, Day 2... The Big Fight is On!!

 "Kick butt Janell!  ...Just put on your boxing shorts and you'll be good to go!  Take care and fight like hell!  This is the one time your mom would tell you to fight dirty, whatever it takes baby!" --Tracy 


So ready or not, here goes.  


Tomorrow (Day 2) I get one more dose of the conditioning drug that Geoffrey referred to, and then a high dose of the toxic chemo, melphalan.  The delivery of those drugs takes a combined total of 33 minutes, but then there will be hours of observation and pumping with IV fluids to wash the melphalan out.  That means 24 hours of IV fluid, that my most trusted and competent rear admiral Geoffrey will keep going for me.  (We took an IV pump class yesterday to learn how to operate the pump.  And I must say that my working at WSIPC has certainly helped me not to be afraid to program it!  Thanks WSIPC!)


Here's a picture of Geoffrey and me, (sporting my new non-hair-do) and a picture of me.

Here are some pictures of me in my ultimate fighting gear that my oldest son, the doctor - Geoffrey got for me at the beginning of this battle.  

Thank you all for joining in the fight with me with your prayers and healing thoughts.  I couldn't do it alone.  Love to all.


Peace,
Janell

Latest BREAKING NEWS!

IT'S HAPPENING!!!!!!!   The time is now for the long anticipated procedure.

• Tuesday, June 29..... First dose of conditioning drug
• Wednesday, June 30.....Second dose of conditioning drug and the large dose of the major chemo to kill the cancer and the bone marrow.
• Thursday, July 1.....The cancer dies as well as the bone marrow finishes dying = NO IMMUNE SYSTEM!
• Friday, July 2 .......The stem cells are re-introduced into Janell's body and monitored over an eight hours time frame.
• Saturday, July 3......The start of long 100 days road to re-building the bone marrow so she has an immune system = Isolation and restricted activities at home. 

 Thank you for your prayers!

Janell's New Look

As we get closer to the actual transplant procedure, Janell's body is responding extremely well to the treatment.  That also means that her hair has responded.  Although none of her locks have fallen out, they were holding on by "a hair."  Janell decided to have her head shaved and to not wear a wig.

I had the privilege of performing that task.  I told her I would cut her hair, shave it, massage her scalp and moisturize it.  She agreed to let me do exactly that.  The process went smoothly with a very stoic Janell awaiting the final results.  SHE LOOKS STUNNING!  (Pictures are forthcoming as soon as she gives the OK.)

After the her new beauty treatment, I took her on a "scavenger hunt" throughout our home.  In various locations (closets, cabinets or drawers),  Janell found a small gift bag.  Inside was a note expressing what she means to me plus a pair of custom made earrings.  Yes, I made each of the seven pairs that she received.  I have included a picture of four pairs.

Janell is a phenomenal woman.  I am blessed, that out of all of the men in the world, she said "YES" to ME, thirty-five (35) years ago.  God is soooooo good!

Got 'er Done!

What happened earlier today with Janell's stem cell collection?  How did it go and how is she?
Pictures speak 1000 words.  We have about 6000+ words to share with you.


Janell was hooked up to an Apherisis machine used to extract her stem cells from her blood stream. She is pointing to the tube that is filtering out the stem cells.

Janell had many tubes hooked up to her Hickmann Catheter and the Apherisis machine.  The machine extracted about a cup of blood outside her body at any one time, extracted the stem cells and returned the blood back into Janell's body.  The picture on the right shows the first set of stem cells being funneled into the collection bag.


The process normally takes about four to six hours.  Remember Janell's severe hip pain?  That was an indication of her strong response to the growth hormones to stimulate the production of the stem cells.  Because of her high production, the process only took three hours.

The picture on the left shows the bag of stem cells.  The goal as for a number of stem cells (measured in the millions per liter of fluid) was "10."  Janell produced "30.81" today. They got all that they needed in this one collection.  Glory to God!

The picture on the right shows Janell,  a remarkable and beautiful woman during the process. The book she is hold is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.  This woman is responsible for the cancer treatment drugs benefiting the people around the world.

Thank you for your cards and your prayers.  Please continue to pray as we move into the next phases of this journey.  Our prays are for your continued health and wholeness in body, spirit and relationships

Gettin' 'er Done III

Last night while resting and knitting in the recliner I was struck with a sudden and excruciating pain in the hips; and ascertained that it must be the bone pain that I was told was a side effect of the nupagen injections.  I took a powerful pain pill.  That only took the edge off so that I was able to get to sleep!

Ann picked me up this morning to take me to SCCA for labs and clinic evaluation.  When I told the doctor and nurse about the pain, the biggest grins I've seen in a long time broke across their faces!  They said that the pain was a good sign that the stem cells themselves have shown up!  So back to the lab for another blood test to confirm.  The target number for stem cells is 10.  At about 1:00 p.m., Geoffrey answered a call from the nurse at SCCA who I saw this morning.  She said that my number resulting from the test was 43!!  So tomorrow, I'm scheduled to go to SCCA at 8:00 a.m. to begin the stem cell harvest!  Geoffrey is charging his camera as I write, to take pictures so that we can share this long awaited milestone with you.  More later, and probably via Geoffrey's prose.

Gettin' 'er Done II

Getting closer!  Last Tuesday evening through Saturday night were spent hooked up to IV bags of chemotherapy drugs and hydration.  Sunday I received 2 units of blood over an 8-hour period, got my first neupagen shot and went home.  This week, Geoffrey is taking me to SCCA daily for blood draws, clinic evaluations and neupagen shots.

Invisible results:   My white blood cell (WBC) counts are now falling; and in my case, that's good!  As of today's blood draw, my neutraphil count (the WBCs that provide us with immunity)  was down to 9 from 18 on Monday--well on the way to 0.  That's why for the time being I have to stay away from gatherings of people.  Somebody in the mix might be coming down with a cold; and that would be dangerous for me at this point.

Visible Results:  I didn't get sick from the chemo like anticipated, and so far I still have hair!  While in the hospital, I took 1 - 3 mile walks around the halls.   Right now, I'm very fatigued, and haven't been sleeping much the past couple of nights.  (Suggestions welcome.)

What's the next milestone?  After the WBCs bottom out, they'll start to climb again, thanks to the neupagen shots.  This signals that little baby stem cells are generating, and spilling into my blood stream.  When that count reaches the magic threshold, tests will be done to make sure that it's really stem cells.  Then, the stem cell HARVEST!

How's Geoffrey holding up?  This adventure is taking its toll on him--he's my first line of defense.  There's a lot that has to be done--maintaining a cleaner than normal environment in the house, especially kitchen, flushing my central line, changing the dressing on my Hickman catheter--but he has courageously risen to the challenge!  He is so vigilant and takes such good care of me.  He gets me to my appointments, asks questions and doesn't stop until he understands the answer.  He monitors my medicines, cause sometimes I get mixed up.  I trust him with my life.  Thank you Geoffrey!

And many thanks to all of you for your concern, interest, notes, healing thoughts and prayers.  More later as this adventure unfolds!  Peace!