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| It was quite the birthday party up in 1668!!! |
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| My life is in my hands... Powerful pic...😍 |
Hard to believe I've been here 11 days already. I can't necessarily say "time flys when you're having fun..." but I am finding ways to make the days pass by - mainly with naps, books and Cubs games. Of course, my husband brought the Roku so I have a lot of movies and shows at my fingertips, but he certainly uses that more than I since I'm not a big TV watcher. Keeps him entertained because I still don't seem to be doing any circus acts these days. 😜
Last Friday, August 4th, was my re-birthday. The day I was transplanted with 8 million of my brothers stem cells. It was quite the ordeal, while still being very anti-climatic at the same time. A cooler was rolled in where they were frozen to nearly -200*F. Brrr. A lengthy identification verification, followed by the most moving blessing before they were thawed at my bedside and placed up on Ivy. I had a pre-transplant medication regimen that included fluids and Benadryl to prevent any reaction to the cells. Followed by a few days of smelling like creamed corn... you read that correct. Creamed corn. The preservative the cells are placed in omit a creamed corn scent as I breathe, sweat, and pee it out. Lovely.
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| Cooler of stem cells, anyone?! |
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| Ringmaster of the Shit Show 💪 |
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| Strong for them 💓 |
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| My Donor, My brother 💙 |
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| Bag of life... |
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| My brudders! Love them!💙 |
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| Watching mommy's special blood trickle in. |
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| My babies holding my hand. Can you even???💕 |
Today is day+3. I''m like a 3 day old baby in terms of my immune system, blood cells, stem cells and sleeping habits - haha! The goal is for white blood cells, red blood cells, and neutrophils to reach 0.1 - "bottomed out". They remain here for hopefully no more than 2 weeks where they *SHOULD AND HOPEFULLY* start rising indicating ENGRAFTMENT!!! I'm about 2-4 days from bottoming out.
***The next 30 days are critical. Many prayers please. We are praying these cells are finding their way into the bone marrow and starting the blood building process... 🙏🏻🙏🏻***
Overall, I'm exhausted... but, "ok"... so far. I can certainly tell I'm being drained because today I set myself a goal of 10 laps around the floor and had to quit at 5 and 8 (I try to walk 3 times a day). 19 laps = 1 mile. Last week I was walking 1 mile PER WALK. Today I'm hoping 19 for the day. 6 more laps to meet today's goal. Little soap box story... met another woman walking the halls today. Significantly older than I. She is day +5. Really in "the thick of it" as everyone calls it. Here I'm bummed about having to quit 2 laps early and she's praising me and telling me "I can't wait to get to walking your speed and distance again soon." One man's disappointment is another man's goal.
I'm off to knock out those last 6 laps and snuggle into my famous body pillow for the night. Between my view and my body pillow I could be charging admission and rental fees to foot this tab I'm racking up. LOL! 😭😭
Be well, friends.
Love,
Rhonda Kay
xoxo
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| Chocolate shake? Yes please! |
That is so awesome! C'mon Rhonda the cubs can pull off a series, you are capable of total victory. Go get it Mrs. Dixon
ReplyDeleteHi Rhonda look at awesome :-) you have been entered into my families nightly ritual of prayers. So my kids don't know you, they pray for you like your variance :-) I've been watching your blog and looking for updates. I know you have a lot of strong support but if there's anything that we can do to help.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoying reading your blog! Sounds like your getting excellent care! Tim and Mary Millage are my Uncle and Aunt. Jason and I were in their wedding together as kids. My boys and I pray for you every night!! Stay strong! Casey (Swift) Frank
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