This morning they took him to have the 'old' port removed. Now he 'only' has the central line.
The pain from the central line eased up and he didn't have to take pain medication. The one that made him vomit is called Dilaudid. The nurse has put it in his chart - reaction to it, so he won't get it again.
He is tired and feels pretty beat up from the chemo. They said it will keep on pumping until Saturday/Sunday.
The good news are, he might be able to come home Wednesday-Sunday this week. He will find out within the next few days. It feels like he has been gone a long time already, even if it has only been a few days. Even if I can't do a whole lot to help him through the chemo, I like to be there anyway.
The plan for him now is:
Chemo at MD Anderson, then released and he will move to the Rotary House - hotel/suites next to MD A. It is connected via Skywalk. He will have a suite there with a little kitchen and bedroom there. Easy access to go to appointments and so on. Plus they they have a couple of restaurants, coffee shop, quiet rooms and places where you can sit in and outside. As good as it is going to get in a hospital environment.
After chemo Aj will get neupogen shots to boost the cells to grow. - A lot of it. This is the Mobilizing part of transplant.
Around day 21 after chemo, they will harvest/collect the stem cells and freeze them in IV bags. The reason he has to stay in Houston up until this day is because they have to check him daily to see what his counts are. There is a small window when the counts are really high and collection will be best.
Then he can go home for 2-6 days before the transplant. This is probably mid December some time. After that, Adrian will be readmitted to MD Anderson - this time to get the high dose chemo, which will make room for new stem cells and bring his immune system down to 0.
I think they said this chemo will be about 5-7 days - not sure in what shape or form it comes or what drugs.
THEN - it's time for D-DAY! Transplant - Day 0!! The rebirth/reboot of Adrian's immune system/body. Celebrating Christmas from now on will be a very special celebration!!!
This is very exciting as much as it makes my stomach turn. I can't wait for him to start up with new healthy cells and be able to concentrate on full recovery and not have to face more chemo - EVER!
Aj will stay in the hospital roughly 2 weeks after the transplant, again it has to do with counts. The counts have to be at a certain level before they can release him and be sure he doesn't have any infections. That is one of the risks, infections. Have to make sure that nobody around him has even as little as sniffles.
After 2 weeks/when counts are up - he can move back in to the Rotary house and stay there for roughly 2 weeks as an out patient. Hopefully after that he can return to Austin!!
That is the plan as I know it right now. I will keep you updated as we go along and give you more details. Now it's time for me to go to bed!!!
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