Whew, it’s been a long couple weeks! Since my last update I got admitted to the hospital for dangerously low platelets. But on the bright side received some good news about the cord blood that I have been so worried about! Whenever I get chemotherapy the main concern is getting fevers and infections because of my compromised immune system and getting admitted to the hospital because of it. But never did I think I would get admitted for low platelets since they can usually be taken care of in clinic with transfusions. Platelets are what help our blood clot and when they are low you are at risk for bleeding. But some people develop HLA antibodies against them that cause them to be killed off after a transfusion. My levels were already really low from the chemotherapy, and the few transfusions I did receive didn’t raise them enough, so into the hospital I went so it could be managed. I actually felt safer being in there because they were so low that I was at risk of bleeding just sitting doing absolutely nothing. The worst part was going to the clinic expecting to go home, but instead having to go to the hospital. I didn’t get to see Londynn those days either. The doctor who was on the floor wasn’t as lenient as when I was previously in the hospital. It was terrible, but glad it only lasted a few days. Now I am back home and waiting for my counts to come back up!

I am 25 days post chemo and my counts are still low requiring me to get transfusions (which keep me in the clinic for hours), but it seems like they are slowing and will hopefully start going up soon. It always takes longer to recover the more rounds of chemo you have. As I patiently wait, I am also getting ready for my transplant. It’s great because at least there is somewhat of an end in sight, but it’s really just the beginning. And it’s also scary. I will be receiving a double cord transplant and I found out that they have 2 cords already reserved for me and 2 as a backup. That was great news because I was concerned they weren’t going to find me a match and I would have no other options. The tentative transplant date is set for January 20^th. Between now and then is a lot of testing and education sessions and more chemotherapy and radiation. Fortunately I will be able to spend Christmas at home with my family, but everything starts the day after. I have a full day of testing on the 26^th which will include several labs, a full body CT scan, pulmonary function test, bone marrow biopsy, EKG, and lumbar puncture. In January there will be a full day where they will educate me and my caretakers on everything to do with the transplant. I will also have a physical therapy evaluation and a catheter placed in my chest. Then I will get 5 days of chemotherapy (more intense than these past 2 rounds) and a couple sessions of radiation. Then I will get my transplant on the 20^th (hopefully). It’s tentative because certain things can push it back….if any of my tests need further evaluation or if they have a delay in getting the cords.

The recovery will be a long long road. It’s not like I get the transplant and yay, I’m done! If only it were that simple. It’s a long process with any transplant, but with cord blood transplants it’s even longer. It takes more time for your body to engraft the new cells than it would if my sister or anyone else was my donor. And even once I do start making my own cells they are very immature just like a baby’s. On top of that I will be on autoimmune suppressants to help control GVHD, so during the first 6 months to a year I will be at extreme risk for infection. Studies I have read on cord blood transplants show a higher transplant related mortality rate than if receiving it from an adult donor because the immune system is immature for such a long time. But it also shows lower risk of GVHD and a lower relapse rate. It’s a little scary, but I know I have the Lord on my side to protect me and to help me get through it all. Going out in public is going to be non-existent for me post transplant for quite some time. I just keep telling myself it’s only temporary and there will be a lot of celebrating once I am fully recovered and life is back to normal.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and enjoys time with their families. I’ll keep you all updated on things associated with the transplant as they come! Merry Christmas!