Michael received the donor stem sells on March 4th. To keep these donor cells from declaring war on the existing cells that, in sum, that compose his entire body two Rx Meds are critical.
They are MMF and cyclosporine! Michael kept throeing-up the cyclosproine and side effects that run from mild to destruction of organs begin to show up. Only his skin was affected, turned the color of a bad sunburn and felt like saddle leather.
Two days in the hospital and cyclosporine by IV, fixed the problem. He'll do IV induction for seven days then back to pills. The doctors, staff and facilities are outstanding. They seem to always have a "Plan B........Nth at hand. And, spring into action 24/7.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
New Stem Cells at the Gate- "And their Off!
Wednesday 3/4/09: The new donor stem cells arrived from Europe by courier. They were check by the lab at The University of Washington Medical Center and declared, "good to go". By 10 PM that evening these cells were cruising through Michael's body, just looking for a home.
To date all is going well, very well. Window for problems is 14-21 day out.
What if the courier dropped the package of stem cells or left them in the Bar at the Munich airport? Redundancy, there was a second container of the donor's stem cells on a flight four hours after the first.
I would have set it up the same way. Cover all the bases and such and such.
To date all is going well, very well. Window for problems is 14-21 day out.
What if the courier dropped the package of stem cells or left them in the Bar at the Munich airport? Redundancy, there was a second container of the donor's stem cells on a flight four hours after the first.
I would have set it up the same way. Cover all the bases and such and such.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Ready, Set, GO!
The donor transplant process has started! Michael started his chemo treatments on Saturday 2/28 and will have three days of chemo. The dosage or strength of the chemo chemicals is only about 1/4 as strong as previous treatments. Side effects are minimal, so far.
He will receive the donor stem cells on Wednesday 3/4.
At this point you wait to see what happens, with certain side effects a sure thing and they get treatment by pre-loading specific meds. The big issues are rejection of the transplanted stem cells and infections. Both will be monitored closely and treated as needed.
But still, it is a wait and see game of watching for positive gains or emerging problems!
He will receive the donor stem cells on Wednesday 3/4.
At this point you wait to see what happens, with certain side effects a sure thing and they get treatment by pre-loading specific meds. The big issues are rejection of the transplanted stem cells and infections. Both will be monitored closely and treated as needed.
But still, it is a wait and see game of watching for positive gains or emerging problems!
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