September 30, 2001: Transplant Stage Two

Vol. 12.3

Hi Friends: a very quick note to ask you to pray this week.

The first part of the stem cell transplant went as they hoped--which is to say it was a less than pleasant 12 days. The chemo they gave me last week was designed to knock my blood levels to zero, which it did. Basically, it creates a blank canvas on which the doctors can work, against the backdrop of which I did daily double injections of a special drug designed to make my white cells/plasma grow very, very fast--hopefully full of cancer-free stem cells. The side-effects are interesting--truly. I have "growing pains" in my muscles and bones that are annoying at best and, as described by my oncologist, like a heart attack at its worst. I'm glad they prep'd me, 'cause that's an accurate description--like someone is leaning on your breast bone with all their weight. That combined with the nausea from the chemo and the antibiotics for 10 of the 12 days and the forced home isoloation (immune system worries) and it's been less than pretty. But, hey, all in the name of making me better, right? So we go on.

This week I go in for harvesting. I can do this because the first phase worked--i.e.: my counts seem to be up again. I'll go in early tomorrow for an evaluation and a catheter insertion (in the neck, thank you Jesus) for the harvesting, and then start harvesting on Tuesday, for a couple of days--perhaps as many as four. This phase shouldn't be too bad.

Then, next Monday (10/8) I begin the transplant itself, including the "big guns" of more chemo. I'm a bit nervous about that one (as I'm quite the sucky sick person), so please pray for ease and grace. In fact, i'm going to ask our church's pastoral team to send someone to "lay hands" on me for this one specifically (those of you who know me understand how nervous I'm admitting to being wanting that...)

Sheri continues to be a rock for me--despite a stressful work environment and the added pressure of a husband who pukes and whines and groans too, too much. pray for her.

My time of "isolation" due to my suppressed immune system continues to remind me of those who suffer with HIV/AIDS. Please pray for them as well.

Thanks for your prayers, your notes, your encouragement. You are loved... greatly.

Dwight

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