Big day approaching

Since my last post I have been enjoying a "normal" week off from treatment and sickness. I worked 4 days this week, got a lot accomplished and had some fun in between. The weather has been cool and rainy, but it hasn't stopped me from being out and about. I went out Wednesday for $1 PBRs at Saleem's with the crew from my Mizzou class. That was fun catching up.

This weekend I have been spending a lot of time with friends in preparation for my transplant admission which is now scheduled for this Wednesday, May 17, 2006 at 10 am. I am ready for this big date physically and mentally. I want to get in there and get it over with as soon as I can so I can move on with life. I am getting nervous about the high-dose chemotherapy that I will get my first 6 days in the hospital. To review, the total time of the hospital stay is 3 to 4 weeks. The first 6 days are chemotherapy--IV Carboplatin, Thiotepa, and Etoposide/VP-16. Then I get a 2-day reprieve, but stay hospitalized. After the two days of recovery for my body, I get my stem cells back. This day is considered the day of the transplant and it is said to be day "zero." The nurses and hospital staff count down until your transplant, and then up after it. So for example, "day four" is 4 days after my transplant.

Speaking to nurses and other staff about stem cell transplants, they have said the fastest a patient has been released to their knowledge is 12 days after transplant, or "day 12." They said the key to being discharged is to keep moving and keep eating. I am planning to keep these suggestions in mind carefully as I go through this procedure and to push myself to get up and keep the blood flowing even if I don't feel like it. The nurses said the patient that got released after just 12 days was young and walked the halls every day, so that's what I plant to do. So 12 days after the transplant would be 20 days after being admitted, almost 3 weeks. So I really plan to get in there and do this thing as quickly and painlessly as I can and move forward.

I am ready to go in--I have all the Harry Potter audiobooks stored away on my computer, got my laptop of course, and will be packing lots of homey things to keep my comfortable while I am in the hospital for so long. For visitors, I will be on the 5900 floor of the Schoenberg Tower, Barnes-Jewish Hospital's North Campus. Always call before visiting to make sure I am up for it (cell phone 314-974-4603 or the room # which I will post when I get it). Parking is best found in the North Garage at Euclid and Parkview. Enter through the Center for Advanced Medicine/Siteman Cancer Center, take the Schoenberg elevators to the 5th floor and then follow the signs to my room. Wash your hands real good and don't come if you've been sick!

I am going to the Cardinal's game tonight so I gotta jet...getting picked up as we speak. But I will be online from the hospital (it's dial-up, but nonetheless). Wish me luck and I will see you all on the other side...remission.