Post Transplant Update

Deann has a couple of days off from any treatments today and tomorrow. She’ll get her final chemo Sunday & she also finishes up taking steroids & thalidomide then. I guess that means they’ve wiped out all the bad cells, along with quite a few good ones! Now, it’s up to her system to start generating new cells. She’s doing great...no more “good” vomits lately. We’ll be reporting her progress regularly.

Picture to the left is of Deann’s doctor, Dr Tricot (Tree-co as we say here in the States). He comes to Salt Lake from Belgium...with an intermediate stop in Arkansas (It looks like somebody from Arkansas under the influence of moonshine took this picture)! Dr. Tricot is just the kind of guy you want treating your loved ones for a serious illness. He is very thorough in his treatment of patients...takes the time to know all the details of their medical history and knows exactly how best to treat them. He loves Deann... always gives her a big smile & a pat on the head!

Another Birhday???

Well, Deann had another birthday yesterday and received a new birth certificate to prove it! I know most of us reach an age where we’d just as soon not have any more birthdays, but Deann now has three a year. I think she thinks she can use this as an excuse to pick herself up “a little something” three (more) times a year!

Things went great with the transplant. Deann is given her own stem cells through a blood transfusion. She collected enough stem cells last time for six transplants and did so in just one day of collection...that’s why she’s known as the Clinic Queen. An interesting side effect from the transplant is that the patient smells like corn for about a day afterward. ..pretty corny, eh?

Deann now has a couple more rounds of chemo, tomorrow and Sunday and the waiting begins for her “engraftment”. That’s when her body starts producing blood cells on its own again. Until then, she’s going to be vulnerable to infections and probably not feeling well. She loves to hear your messages of support, so please keep them coming!

Day minus one

The clinic queen is taking her medicine like a real trooper! She got her second round of heavy duty chemo earlier today. She made it through the first round last Friday in pretty good shape...had a few of the potential side effects, nausea & vomiting among them, but, as only Deann can describe, says the vomiting isn’t like regular vomiting. She was eating her breakfast Saturday morning, jumped up and ran to the bathroom, did her thing, and then came right back and finished up her scrambled eggs...no problem!

Things are very different from her first transplant experience. They are administering the drugs through implants in her chest! Now, I know what you’re thinking, but it’s not those kinds of implants (darn). Anyway, things are a whole lot easier this way as compared to the old port method the first go-round.

Tomorrow is transplant day, so we’ll post a full report then.

doing ggggrrreat!

Deann survived round one of chemo!  She was a tired and got a little sick, but handled it like a champ.  Tomorrow is round two, wish her luck! 

She was also able to go to Mazzi's 1st birthday party, she was pretty excited about that!

new home!

Also Jim and Deann moved into their new place, which just so happens to be bigger than Sarah and Trevor's house...so they are thinking about doing a house swap!  Pictures to follow, we know you all are super excited!!!

negative day 4

On Friday Deann will have her first round of chemo, which in the process of her treatment is called "negative day 4".  She will have 2 total rounds of chemo and then have her transplant....so her days will go as follows:

Friday:  Chemo

Saturday:  Off

Sunday:  Chemo

Monday:  Off

Tuesday:  Transplant

We will continue to keep everyone posted!

Some sad news...

We had some sad news today, Jim's dad passed away early this morning.  He was currently battling lung cancer and recently came down with the flu and wasn't able to recover.  He passed away peaceful and without pain.  He will be truly missed, but Jim and Deann are so grateful for the opportunity they had to be with him in their home for the last 6 months.  Their relationship with one another was something very special and important and this time that they were able to share with one another was very precious.

As Bob said, "You scream, I scream, we all scream for ICE CREAM!!!"

We love you Grandpa and will miss all the wonderful things about you!

We're waiting.....

And waiting...

Deann and Jim are in Salt Lake City, preparing for Deann to begin the first phase of her stemcell transplant. She is feeling positive and strong. However things have not gone as smoothly as hoped in regards to the office procedures. We were hoping that she would be starting chemo on Monday, but it has been postponed until Friday the 23rd. She will have two rounds of chemo and then go right on into the transplant.

It has been so good to hear from many of you, Deann and co. appreciate the love and support. Please pass on this blog and news to those who around you. We love you all.