Day 0: Yes, ZERO! Brock was still nauseous this morning, but his fever was gone. Jaw pain is a side effect of the radiation (something about the glands there), and his jaws have been sore. Hes also had a sore throat, and, when his fever was high, pain in his knee. He was getting Lortab regularly and this morning, a shot of morphine. He will start TPN (an IV nutrition) tonight since he cant eat, and the vomiting earlier would have prevented placement of an NG tube. Hopefully, tomorrow, the nausea will be gone, and he will want something to eat. Last night, we went to bed without knowing what time to expect Brocks new marrow. I only knew that it would happen some time after 11:00 AM. Around lunchtime today, it was confirmed that the marrow would be here at 2:00. Brocks dad, his girlfriend and his mom came, along with my boyfriend to be present for the anti-climactic event. Our day nurse, Sharon, brought in the small-ish bag of dark pink liquid, like melted popsicle. After all the photos and proper checks, she hung the marrow on Brocks pole and connected it to his pump to deliver over 90 minutes. It officially began entering Brocks body at 2:18. And he did well with the transfusion, though he seemed unimpressed. The donors blood type is not the same as Brocks, so all the red blood cells were removed from the donation. Interestingly, Brocks blood type will change...from O+ to A+. It will take quite some time, though. We know from the label on the bag that the marrow was harvested in Minnesota. So weve made it this far...only to have a few bigger worries looming. Infection is a huge risk, as is engraftment. GVHD is both and immediate and long-term concern. (Graft-versus-host-disease, when the donors white cells grow and attack Brocks body.) But we just have to take it one day at a time. Thank you for your continued thoughts, prayers and support.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 22:57:34 +0000
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