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Released for Good Behavior

They released Chris from the hospital yesterday and we were home by 6 pm. There is not too much more to add other than we are all very grateful to have her back home.

Daily blog posts will end but we will add to posts as important or interesting details come about.

Day Plus 12

Neutrophils Take Off

Rocket Neutrophil

Yesterday they said Chris may be able to come home on Sunday or Monday depending on how she is eating and how she reacts to reductions in antibiotics that she has been getting. More to come ...

Look Pa ... no bags or lines!

The physician assistant that came in and talked with us said he has never seen someone Chris's age do so well with the transplant and get to go home so soon.

He also said we can even go for a walk outside ... have to check  with nurse fist.

Day Plus 11

The Neutrophils Are Coming ...

The Neutrophils Are Coming

Day Plus 10

Chris Has Heart Attack Last Night

WBC adds another point ... neutrophils are waiting in the wings

Day Plus 9

Chris Impresses Doc!

The doc came in and told Chris that the overall white blood count (WBC) going from 0.1 to 0.2 shows that progress is being made. This is a sign he has seen in other patients that indicates that her other counts will be start coming up quickly. He was impressed with her progress. He also said that if things keep continuing that she will be able to come home the first of next week!

Come on neutrophils ... follow the overall WBC

Day Plus 8

Chris is feeling a bit blah today. Her blood counts continue to fall and therefore she has a very good excuse. She had a transfusion of platelets today. They say it will most likely be another 2 to 4 days before we see a rise in her counts.

Blah!

Day Plus 7

Passing the time crocheting. She is making headbands for the grand kids.

Day Plus 6

Enjoying the Sabbath

Chris is enjoying the Sabbath Day by watching church meetings and the Spoken Word on TV. We also enjoyed and are thankful for local ward members that came to the room this morning with the sacrament.

They gave her a card written by a young women named Abigail from a ward in Florida. This touched Chris very much.

Only direction is now UP

Day Plus 5

Go Neutrophils

Here is the number we will be watching, the absolute neutrophil count. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that fights against infection. When it starts going back up and reaches .5 we get to go home.

Day Plus 4

Shell and I had a fun night watching "The Croods". Feeling really good today!Went for two walks this morning and had a good breakfast and lunch. shell and I have watched talk shows all day and started making funny faces with the camera :-P

Day Plus 3

Today is sister day. Chris's sister Carol came down on the train from Ogden to be with Chris today. She waited in the cold for the next bus to the hospital because she just missed one. Call us Carol, we will come and get you! Carol is always very sweet and brought some See's suckers for Chris to suck on when nothing else may taste good.

Chris had a good night and morning. She was able to eat breakfast and get herself ready for the day. The medications that they are giving her are keeping the nausea away.

SISTERS!

Day Plus 2

Robyn came and stayed with mom last night and enjoyed the wonderful ;-) couch bed they provide. She was up several times with her as Chis is feeling more of the side effects of chemo.

On the bright side, she was able to eat some breakfast and is feeling pretty good right now. Also, the DMSO breath (look it up) is gone. 

Resting with a favorite blanket and pillow

A BIG shout out to all of our kids for their help!

There is a bag lady wandering the halls of the hospital!

Day Plus 1

Today has started out not feeling too well. Chris had a headache, was nauseated, and was not able to keep her medications down. However, the nursing staff is great and is taking good care of her. I'm sure that what they are giving her to help will do the job.

Day 0

They Tell Me It's My Birthday

 

I even got balloons!

Today Chris gets her stem cells back that will give rebirth to her bone marrow. This will happen about 11:30 am or later depending on how many are in line for getting transplants today.

She will get 4 bags of her cells back. That is about 5 million cells.

Chris slept well and is not as nauseated as yesterday. Yeah!!!

Here they go!

Day Minus 1

Today is a day of rest. Not only is it the Sabbath but also a day after two days of chemo treatments.

Chris woke to a beautiful sunrise that she could see from her room's window.

Other than a bit of nausea, she is doing real well. She ate some breakfast this morning, took a shower, and went for a walk. She is now perusing a catalog of hats and wigs.  

Should she come back as a blond? ;-)

Day Minus 2

Out for a morning jog ... she is smiling behind the mask

Chris slept well last night. They said some of the side affects such as mouth sores may not happen for a couple of days. 

Second session of chemo will happen later today. Meanwhile: 

Planing a trip to Hawaii