Day 29

Hello,

Happy Tuesday...today Chad has labs. Please say a quick prayer today around 12:45 for him and his blood draw. Again his veins in his left arm are shot and they cannot use the right arm, but we have to get labs today so that he can be evaluated.

We had a good weekend...Isabel's birthday party was yesterday. She got a lot of girly gifts and still more to come on her actual birthday!

Short week this week as I am off on Friday to get some things done.

Have a great week!
Hugs
Jackie

Day 25

Well we've almost made it to 30 days post transplant - just a few more days!

Chad has weekly labs starting next Tuesday for the following three weeks then he sees the doctor on the 14th. He is very anxious to return to work and is feeling better each and everyday. We just need them to be able to find a vein easily as his veins are shot from the prior chemo last year.

We had a little excitement in "The Burg" on Wednesday when a very small tornado touched down only two blocks from our house. Chad was actually outside saving the glass patio table top when it must have been passing over the house. After it hit 10 minutes later the sirens went off and Chad hit the road to try and get to Isabel (as the tornado was heading that direction). It stopped at the cemetery - which is close to daycare.

Chad had a hard time trying to get there as the police would not let him through. I finally got ahold of daycare and everything was fine. Then I heard there were touch downs around 135th and Metcalf and Jordan was at a movie with the entire 6th grade class at 135th and Antioch. I called school when he would not answer his phone and they had heard from a teacher that all was good. Monty, Connie and Grandma Foster were all OK too...it just knocked down some power lines over by Grandma's and downed some trees took off shingles etc.

Wow - what a day and Chad thought he was going to be board!

Hopefully this weekend is less eventful! I am donating platelets on Sunday and taking Isabel for her 5-year pictures (we have a very cute outfit I must add as well). I'll post a link when they are available. Much to do as I am making Isabel's birthday cake for Monday's party as well.

Remember the Veterans and everyone out there who are serving our country near and far!

Hugs,
Jackie

Blood Donations Needed

During Chad's Transplant he was lucky not to need whole blood but he did receive platelets three different times. At that time there was always an available source and we did not go without the life saving blood product.

However, now there is a desperate need for blood donations. I am going on Sunday morning to donate platelets at the Overland Park Center if anyone wants to go with me...or you can contact the CBC of KC below to schedule a time to donate.

Over the next few weeks, our Community Blood Center of Greater Kansas City http://www.savealifenow.org/ at 4040 Main will supply not only blood for Kansas City patients but also some of the blood for the 500+ injured folks in Joplin. They are especially in need of blood types O-, O+, B- and platelets.

If you have these blood types and are able to donate in the next several weeks, please go to https://www.esavealifenow.org/index.cfm?group=registration or call 816-753-4040 to register and make an appointment to donate.

Please share this request with others you know who might be interested in donating.

Thank you for spreading the word...
Hugs,
Jackie

Day 17 - We have been released!

This is the machine that collected his stem cells back in April - I found it fascinating...especially the part on the left that looks like a radiator. It actually warmed up his blood before it was returned back to his body.
Outpatient BMT Unit (Bone Marrow Transplant)
This is where we spent the last month!

This is the sign outside the door to the BMT unit - I really like bullet #5 (Extreme Tiredness - Do not enter) some days I had to laugh because we were there at 7am everyday and were EXTREMELY TIRED!


Shelli - working on taking out Chad's pick-line (she has a great smile).

Chad and the BMT Nurses - They were all wonderful!

Chad is still neutropenic (basically until his counts all return) he has to be careful and keep the same precautions that we have had this last month but I'll be giving him some freedom when I return to work on Monday.

Day 14

Chad looking good!

Today we got our discharge paperwork to look over - yeah! We still have one more day of antibiotics tomorrow and a discharge appointment on Thursday but basically our everyday appointments are going to end. We are so thrilled because as of tomorrow it will have been 22 days straight of early morning appointments.

We are both tired and it's nap time so that is all I will write for today...

Have a great Monday - hey after all that bright ball in the sky is finally shining...

Jackie

I redeemed myself at dinner tonight...the steak was much better and not overcooked! The movie was awesome - very suspenseful! I like Denzel W. movies... :)

Day 12 & 13

This weekend was pretty uneventful...I've even gotten better at being an at home nurse. I have to hook up the antibiotic and flush his line after the two hour dose in the evening. Usually every night there is some sort of malfunction with either the user or the machine and we have to trouble shoot and fix the problem. It looks like Tuesday will be the last day of the treatment so of course now that we are really good at hooking it up it will end. But that is OK...It might end up that he only needs to go to the clinic every other day once this antibiotic is complete.

All we really want now is a day we do not have to get up at the crack of dawn and come into the clinic...a real day of rest.

I also have to admit that I do not care for cooking especially for only two...I seem to be overcooking most things because I am paranoid that I will leave something undercooked and he will get food poising an cannot fight it. I have made some really good meals but he was so sick at the time that he did not even feel like eating. I'm not afraid to admit that I really like it when Chad does the cooking...he has really spoiled me these last five years. I seem to cook breakfast and lunch OK but struggle when it comes to dinner...

Connie brought over a few movies this weekend since we cannot go to bed at night until after the antibiotic is done and it does not start until about 9pm...tonight's movie "Unstoppable."

Well that is all I have for now...again we are hoping for a easier week with his counts continuing to rise and maybe less visits to the clinic. I'm scheduled to go back to work next Monday so I need him to be released so that this can happen.

Connie's bringing her world famous cinnamon rolls to the clinic tomorrow so we can say thank you for all the good care that we have received from the staff. They really have all been great.

Happy Sunday all...

Hugs,
Jackie

Day 10 & 11

Blogger was down so I could not post yesterday...

Chad's WBC has increased significantly over the last two days...although he still is not out of the woods, he has been taken off several medications.

He still is on a two a day IV antibiotic for his past infection. He gets this in the morning at clinic then we bring the second dose home with us for 12 hours later. This will continue until next Tuesday/Wednesday.

They keep mentioning release from KU back to our oncologist at the end of next week. We are really hoping this will happen. We would love to have a day where we can sleep in and not have to be at the clinic at 7am. That is still a week away so I'm not going to get overly excited about it.

However, I think back to this time last week and realize now how sick he really was and I am so thankful we are past that point. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers...we are still day by day but we are seeing the end of the tunnel.

Hugs,
Jackie

Day 9

A much better day today! That about sums it all up!

We just had the normal labs and antiobiotics from the infection that was detected on Sunday. His counts are starting to improve ever so slightly. He still is not out of the woods but we can see the end is near...

We were out of there by 11 am today...his arm is still really sore but we came home had lunch and he is resting now. I think I may take a quick nap myself, then go for a walk before the storm starts and it's time for dinner.

Thank you everyone for the additional prayers over the weekend and this week as they were very much needed.

Hugs,
Jackie

Day 8

I'd love to say that today was one of those great wonderful days...it was anything but that. We were at the clinic, then hospital, then back to the clinic and did not get home tonight until after 6pm.

They moved his line and hooked up the antibiotic to his new port this afternoon...this was after we spent all morning at clinic.

We are both exhausted...I am waiting for 11pm so that I can unhook his antibiotic and then he will be free for the night.

Funny quote from Isabel:

Connie told her tonight that she needed to eat her chicken (or at least two bites of it) and her response was: "I'm allergic" (To the chicken - really?)

At least that made me laugh today! Maybe tomorrow will be a better day!

Hugs,
Jackie

Day 7

Another long day...more antibiotics, platelets etc. At least they sent his night treatment home with us today, it will start automatically and then we unhook it at 1am. This sure beats going back down to the hospital again tonight.

Thank you Connie for driving us down last night and staying there with us. It helped pass the time faster...

Early day tomorrow and another trip to the hospital so they can switch out his line. They said his counts should start climbing back up by Saturday. But already he can feel himself improving...if feeling less sick everyday is a way to judge that.

The kids are fine, Jordan mowed the grass today and took out the trash (what a guy)...it sure was a warm one today...sorry Jordan that you had to mow, better today than tomorrow!

Isabel is good...they both are going to be spoiled rotten when they come home. They get breakfast cooked everyday and popcorn at night! What a life...

Hugs to all,
Jackie

Day 6

Happy Mother's Day!

Another treatment day...have to go back tonight at 9pm for another treatment! What a long day!

Hope everyone had a fantastic day!

Hugs,
Jackie

Day 5

Well one of these days I will be able to say that we see some improvment but today is not one of those days...that's all really that I can add about today.

Maybe tomorrow will be better...we are home and he is resting now.

Have a great weekend everyone...
Jackie

Day 4

Today was a rough one...basically Chad is almost to the bottom of the "hole" as they call it and you know what they say "the only way to go is up."

Maybe tomorrow will be better...

Too tired...but I did get to see Isabel and Jordan today - they both gave me several hugs!

Hugs to all,
Jackie

Day 3

Pretty tired today...came home from clinic and we both slept over 3 hours this afternoon. Isabel and Jordan stopped by but did not come inside. Isabel asked from the car if she could see her daddy (I think she needed to see that he was still OK).

I do miss them. I've been meaning to ask the doctor when the kids can come home after Chad's counts start rising. However right now one thing at a time...I'll ask towards the end of next week.

OK off to bed now...

Hugs,
Jackie

Day 2

I'm so tired yet I cannot go to sleep...I miss my kids (there I said it in print). Every time I let my self really think about them I start to tear up...I even miss the arguing about who touch whom etc.

Isabel has a make-up soccer game tomorrow night that I am going to try and sneak away to so I can see them. Connie said she has grown another couple of inches and the new clothes that my mom and aunt bought her are none too big. Jordan left me a surprise self made mothers day card in the mailbox today after school - OK I need to quite while I can still see to type!

OK, you can see it is imperative that I go to bed soon since the morning comes quickly.

How's chad - well he's had much better days than today (I will leave it at that). Two weeks is the magic number of days until he starts feeling somewhat better...please say an extra prayer for him in the morning as that is the roughest part of the day.

He did call it his "morning sickness" today so he still has a little sense of humor...

LY
Jackie

Day 1

Well today was not too bad (my opinion not Chad's)...Chad still is weak and feeling terrible but then again he is supposed to feel that way - unfortunately.

We were in and out of the clinic today and back home early this morning.

Chad's sister Cathy wrote the following for Chad about his name...again we are so thankful for all the support, prayers, and well wishes that have been given to us. We could not do this alone and I know so many feel helpless because there is not a lot many can do but really your kind words mean more to us than you can imagine.

Cathy wrote...and I added a few words...

C - Champion - beating cancer with all he has
H - Hopeful - hope that this treatment will bring an end to his disease
A - Ambition - to not let this get him down
D - Desire - to live the life he has dreamed about with his family

Thanks Cathy...
Hugs to all,
Jackie

Day 0 - Happy Birthday Connie and Chad

Well today was busy...first clinic then over to the hospital to get his stem cells back. At least with this type of transplant we were able to walk out of the hospital the same day and back home within the hour.

Happy Birthday to my MIL Connie and also to Chad as some say that transplant patients now celebrate their transplant day as their "new birthday." It's kind of nice that Chad and his mom share this day now...anything to get extra presents - right?

Well he felt rotton on the way home but was able to eat lunch and dinner and is now in bed - which is probably where I need to be because after all "tomorrow is another day" like Scarlett says!

Thanks for all the prayers today...now it will take about two weeks for his counts to start coming back up so we are not out of the woods yet. Everyday from this point on he will be carefully monitored seven days a week at the clinic each morning. We have to arrive at 7am each morning so everyday we leave at 6:15 (needless to say my coffee alarm goes off at 4:45am). But hey on Saturday and Sunday we don't have to be there until 8am - really we get to sleep in.

Ok that is all for now...more later.

Hugs to all,
Jackie

Day -1

Well at least today was uneventful...we were home this morning by 11:30. All they did were labs and some meds then we were out of there. Tomorrow is transplant day or (Day zero) and at that point we start counting upward to 100 (magic number).

We both came home and took a nap then I made lunch...I might actually become Betty Crocker again - NOT! No really it's not that bad just cooking for us again...except I made enough chicken noodle soup for six people yesterday and gave it to Connie and Monty since Chad can't eat left overs and Isabel really likes it. I will be happy when Chad is able to cook again down the road, as he has spoiled me since Isabel was born.

Connie should get grandma of the year (sorry mom) but she invited Isabel's little friend Julia over for an afternoon playdate. Isabel was super happy! Thanks C & M for taking care of my kiddos...I am so thankful for you!

Jordan's been at his friend Cole's house all weekend and having a good time. I think he prayed for rain at church today so that he could get out of mowing the lawn - however it will still be here for him tomorrow! Thanks Leslie and Brett for letting him stay the weekend...

Ok, more later...Chad really feels bad today and they said he probably will for the next couple of weeks until his counts come back up.

Tomorrow should be one of those adventure days where we don't know what to expect and are just along for the ride...

Thanks for the prayers everyone. Take care...

PS - Ms Shirk if you read this, send me an email with your home email and or your blog address. I hope you are feeling better...Jordan said that you were at school and said to tell me hi!

LY
Jackie