Skip to main content

Super Duper Stem Cell Producer

Super Duper Stem Cell Producer        12-28-22

Apheresis Day 2      




2.46 + 6.2 = 8.66 mil


Fantabulous!


Today got off to a fabulous start!!  Early morning labs looked good. Their focus is on the number of stem cells circulating in Leila's blood stream.  That's what leads to a good collection.  Last night they gave Leila a different growth factor shot to push the stem cells out of her bone marrow and send them running through her blood stream.  Kinda like squeezing a sponge I suppose.   And wowee!!  Those stem cells ran rampant today. Could it be from the ice cream?


The minimum circulation goal for today was 20, just like yesterday. Yesterday morning’s calculation was 29. Today it’s 83!!!!!  Yippee!!  She got hooked up to the machine and everything flowed smoothly.  Michelle, the nurse who's been sitting with us every moment the past two days, was encouraging about it being a good day.


The total goal for collection was 6 million stem cells. Yesterday they retrieved 2.46 million. Today 6.2 million!  That’s a total of 8.66 million stem cells!!!  Wowee!!!  More than enough for what they need for two stem cell transplants.  They can keep them frozen for up to twenty years and they’ll still be viable when they are thawed. We had set aside three and a half days for this process and finished in just two. We’re very thankful for that. 


End of the day labs looked good.  Self-care recommendations were to exercise, eat kale, bananas and more ice cream!!!


No more medical appointments for 5 days. We get a few days to relax, reflect, and enjoy the end of 2022. What a year it’s been.  2023 begins with a bang on the 3rd. More on that later. 

Comments

  1. HabibaDecember 29, 2022 at 4:46 AM

    WOOHOO!!! No surprise that you're breaking all the records! :) Enjoy your days off! Wishing you a happy, healthy 2023 (once you move through the next bit, of course ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ClaudiaDecember 29, 2022 at 8:54 AM

      My thoughts exactly!! Love to you both. Enjoy your days off and being together at home!

      Delete
  2. AnonymousDecember 29, 2022 at 6:18 AM

    Got to love being told to eat ice cream! Way to rock it in two days, leila. Glad you all get a few extra days to rest and recharge. Sending love and doing a happy dance at your great news.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousDecember 29, 2022 at 10:54 AM

    So happy, happy, happy to hear all of this. You look great, babe. Hugs, Mary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousDecember 29, 2022 at 6:07 PM

      Yay, Leila!! You keep the good chi flowing and I’ll send up more positive, healing thoughts! Enjoy the ice cream! Love you❤️

      Delete
  4. AnonymousDecember 30, 2022 at 11:26 AM

    Yay! So glad to hear! Enjoy your time relaxing and enjoying one another! Love you both!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Hey, this is the Comment Form Message, whatever that means.

Popular posts from this blog

Round and Round We Go

Day 5           January 10, 2023 For days now we've been walking in circles.  I feel a bit like a zoo animal.  You know how they walk the same path over and over and over, wearing away the grass, breaking the tree twigs, leaving their mark on the earth.  We are certainly doing that here walking around and around the nurses station.  Since Leila can't leave this tiny unit there is nowhere else for her to  get the needed exercise to maintain her muscle strength. Although at this point I don't think she wants to wander too far from her bed.  The fatigue and weakness is increasing exponentially.  I did get outside for a walk midday to get some fresh air - it was a gorgeous day!   Hard to believe its January out there, until I see all the bare, brown trees and gray grass.    It's been kinda boring the past few days. Although, I love hanging out with Leila, no matter the circumstances.  Nothing new to re...
6 comments
Read more

Intention for chemo day 01.03.2023

​ Day -2 Come out, come out, wherever you are.  May the cancer cells in Leila's blood and bone marrow welcome the chemo and receive an invitation to exit this human.
5 comments
Read more