Six Weeks After Transplant

We saw the Transplant Doctor today and he decided to decrease the steroids and we will watch closely for Graft vs Host Disease (GVHD).  The blood sugars are better, still adjusting the insulin.  Hopefully, Michael will have a 3 day weekend off from the hospital, he is to get his magnesium infusions at home during this time.   Going into the hospital makes for a long day, so we are looking forward to some relaxing and just a little cleaning.
Back in 1979, I went to the former Soviet Union on a Nursing Study Tour and it was quite an interesting and eye opening trip in so many ways.  So what does that have to do with Michael?  It just occurred to me that we have more supplies in the apartment, then there were in entire hospitals we visited.  Back then the equipment they used was not disposable, it was all sterilized and reused, what very little we saw--even the needles.
Michael has a central line to give his meds and it requires a lot of special care and this is where numerous supplies are needed to flush with saline and heparin.  And then all of the supplies for the dressing changes--I won't even go there.  Plus all the meds and that is just for starters.  I will be grateful to have some time this weekend to organize and get a good system to make sure we don't run out of anything.  And I am grateful we have this apartment that has room for all of the supplies.  And grateful that we have these supplies to get Mike better!!
Our prayer requests are for the GVHD to continue to resolve so the steroids can be continued to be weaned off, no infections or complications and for Michael to remain in remission.
Thank you for following Michael's journey and thank you for every prayer!!

Day 39 After Transplant

Rash and nausea holding.  And finally, Michael has better blood sugar control.  He had to start insulin, but it should work better and he should feel better and now we think he can gain some weight.  We will  see if we can wean the steroids a little more later in the week.
Cousin Nancy and her daughter Hannah were in town today and took us out to dinner at The Olive Garden, it was great to see them and nice to get out!!  Thank you!!
We have a sad note, our sweet little dog Mae passed on today.  We adopted her from a Brittany Rescue Group 10 years ago.  It's been a joy to have her--she was my shadow and my sunshine.  Bye bye Mae Mae.  Thanks to Mark and Melissa for taking such good care of her!!
Our prayer requests for Michael are for his blood sugars to stabilize, for the GVHD to resolve so the steroids can be decreased, to remain free of infections and complications and to remain in remission.
Thanks so much to everyone for your prayers!!

Day 35 After Transplant

Better??  The bladder infection is quite a bit better and the nausea (after changing meds around) is better. We're waiting to see how the new med works for his blood sugars.
The doctors are watching closely for Graft vs Host Disease (GVHD), but while the pace has slowed, they did drop the dosage of the steroids a little this week.  If the rash and nausea continue to resolve and no other issues, they will drop the steroids a little next week.
Once he is off steroids his blood sugars should normalize faster and his immune system will be stronger.
So how is Michael doing with all of this.  Well he is strong and takes this all pretty much in pace.  This last week, Michael has talked with his advisor at Iowa State about taking a few hours in the fall.  We don't have the doctors okay yet, but he is going to be prepared to resume classes as soon as he can.
Our requests for prayers are for the GVHD to resolve, to be free of infection and complications and now that his PET scan is clear to stay in remission.
This is all so much easier with your concern and prayers.  Thank you!!
Happy Easter to all.

Day 31 After Transplant

It was nice to have a break this last weekend from going in every day and Michael had the magnesium infusions at the apartment.  But his blood sugar levels have been bouncing around a lot.  The elevated levels were due to the steroids when he had the rash (Graft Vs Host Disease--GVHD), but even though weaning down the steroids because he had high doses, it will take a while for the blood sugars to settle down.
Then to further complicate this, another way for GVHD to show up is in the GI tract, so a symptom of this is nausea.  And Michael has some nausea off and on (but he is also on a drug to help stabilize his blood sugars which can cause nausea and we have been increasing the dose of this drug over the last 10 days).  So, as the steroids can help decrease the GVHD, they have stopped weaning the steroids for a few days.  But the longer he is on steroids, the more it interferes with the blood sugars.  
The viral bladder infection is still there, but it is a little better and he's getting a little more sleep.
Our prayer requests for Michael are for any GVHD to resolve and for the steroids to be able to continue to be weaned, for the bladder infection to continue to resolve and to be remain free of other infections and complications.
Thank you for your prayers!!

PET Scan Good!!

Day 28 after transplant.  Michael's blood sugars are trying to come down, but were a little elevated yesterday so the PET scan was put off until this a.m. when it was better.  And the good news the PET looked very good.  He also had the Bone Marrow Biopsy, which will come back next week.  But his blood counts are holding steady.
So far his rash (GVHD) is holding steady as the steroids are being weaned.  And the viral bladder infection is better.  And Michael's energy is starting to come back.
This weekend his daily magnesium infusions will be at home-yeah-a little more rest.
Our prayer requests are for the rash (GVHD) to continue to resolve, the bladder infection to resolve and to remain free of other infections and complications.
Thanks for your prayers, they really help!!

Day 26 After Transplant

The steroids are being weaned and watching to see how the rash, Graft vs Host Disease (GVHD) does.  If the rash continues to resolve, the steroids will continue to be weaned.  As they are weaned, Michael's immune system will be stronger.  One of the problems with his weakened immune system has been a viral bladder infection.  There is no treatment, but once he is off the steroids it will resolve faster.  Usually there are no complications, just uncomfortable and not much sleep for him.  His blood sugar should also normalize when the steroids are weaned.
He is due for a PET scan tomorrow and a Bone Marrow Aspiration Friday and then he is to have those repeated at 90 days.
Our prayer requests are for the rash (GVHD) to resolve and for the steroids to continue being weaned, for his bladder infection to resolve and to be free of other infections and complications.  Thanks again for your prayers.  

Day 23 After Transplant

Today was a nice break from the daily outpatient magnesium infusions, Michael got to have it here at home.  They sent him home yesterday with the bag of fluids, the pump and all the instructions.  So it was a nice break, Michael spent a lot of the day catching up on sleep.  The doctors are trying to wean the steroids slowly, so if the rash, which has improved considerably, does not get worse, then he can get off not just the steroids, but a few other meds.  And hopefully, his blood sugars will also normalize.
The prayer request for now is for the Graft vs Host Disease (the rash) to resolve as the steroids are continued to be weaned and for Michael to remain free of infections and complications.
As always, we thank you for for your concern and all of your prayers.

Day 20 After Transplant

It is really nice to be out of the hospital and back to the apartment.  So far, Michael has to go back daily for about 6 hours a day for labs and infusions of magnesium.  The magnesium is needed as a drug he takes to prevent Graft vs Host Disease (GVHD) depletes his body of magnesium.  The good news is he tolerates well and basically sleeps through a lot of it.
Michael's counts for white cells and platelets are doing well right now and the red cells are improving.  The issue right now is GVHD, he had developed a rash, so they put him on steroids.  But due to the steroids his blood sugars are higher (all of this is expected), so now there is something else to monitor.  The rash is much better and the doctors will try to wean down the steroids.  Hopefully, as the steroids are decreased the rash (GVHD) will continue to resolve and then with the decrease in steroids, the blood sugars will normalize.
Our prayer requests are: for the rash to resolve as the steroids are weaned off, for his blood sugar to normalize and for Mike to be free of infection and complications.
Thank you so much for all of your concern.  And thank you so much for all of your prayers for our numerous special prayer requests.  

Home!!

Okay, it's the apartment, but it is great for Michael to be out of the hospital.  It will be daily labs and check ups and quite a few meds at home, but he is out!!  They do feel that the rash he has is Graft vs Host Disease (GVHD) and he is on steroids (which can weaken the immune system), but this is pretty typical.  So far it is considered mild.
While Michael has a way to go before he really can go home, this is such a large hurdle that he has come through.  And we thank everyone on our prayer team.  It truly helped us get to this day!!
Our prayer requests at this time:  for Michael to remain free of infections and complications and for the GVHD to be mild and to resolve when appropriate.
Thank you, Thank you!!
PS--a big thanks to Uncle John Kent who flew down yesterday and donated platelets today and then flew back.  Michael's platelets have actually stabilized for now, although the doctor said he is not out of the woods for needing platelets.  This donation and Kris's last week gives Michael credit to get single donor transfusions in the future if he requires them.

Two Weeks Ago Today

Two weeks ago was the transplant.  Michael is on target to go to the apartment on Sunday or Monday.  When he gets discharged he will have to go back for checkups every day for at least two weeks.  But, it will be great to get out of the hospital.
Michael received a scheduled dose of med to help with Graft vs Host Disease (GVHD) today in addition to one he is already receiving.  It has made him more tired today.  No change in the possible GVHD Michael may have, which is mild at this time if he has it (which is not a bad thing to have a little mild GVHD).  They may give a little steroids tomorrow.
Michael's blood counts are steady right now. 
Our prayer requests are for: his blood counts to remain steady, no infection or complications and for any GVHD if it happens to be only minor and to resolve at the right time.
Melissa is on her way home this evening after a nice visit--thank you Lissa!
And thanks to everyone for your continued prayers!!