Mon. April 14 - ZZZZZZZZZs

Troy got out of the hospital today. The sores in his throat got progressively worse throughout last week, but he started to turn around this past weekend. These sores, as well as massive fatigue, are all "par for the course" the doctors say - so no need to be alarmed.

The good news is that he is home now, feeling much better, and can swallow liquids again.

The great news is that his white count is jumping by leaps and bounds. For instance, it was .8 yesterday and 2.6 today! The doctors say this is a good sign and officially declared that Troy has "grafted!" That means the stem cells have taken root in his bone marrow and that things are on the up and up!

He will be in isolation for about another week (which means those pesky trips to the doctor's office everyday at 7:00 AM!) - so please send emails, cards, and love to support him during this difficult time.

I'm not vein enough

So I had this plan about telling how easy the platelet donation process is, and how you can just walk in and after a movie, you walk out, but my veins aren't big enough. You have to have big enough veins for the needle so that when the machine collects the platelets, it can put the blood back. But what I did see was awesome. The chairs are really comfy, and they have a long list of DVDs that you can watch while the apheresis machine whirs softly in the background. (They even had The Goonies. "I can't tell... if it's an "A sharp" or if it's a "B flat"! ) There's a blanket warmer, so when you get a blanket, it's like it just came out of the dryer (one of my favorite things.) And if you want to ride MARTA, you can get off at the Northside station, and it's right across the street. If you are like everyone else in Atlanta and will drive, Atlanta Blood Services validates your parking.

I was able to give blood, and I got a t-shirt, a bottle of Gatorade, and peanut butter crackers. Cassandra, my nurse, was wonderful. I have been told that I am a hard stick, and she did a wonderful job of finding a vein, and in about five minutes, I had a unit of blood going towards Troy. If you have done the platelet donation, leave a comment about how easy it was and how everyone who can do it should. (I'm jealous of you and your big, easy-to-find veins.)

On the news from Troy front, he is at the stage of his chemotherapy when mouth sores are appearing. They have progressed down his GI tract, so he has been admitted to Northside for IV medications and fluids to help get them under control. It is transplant day 7, and this is a common occurrence. He's understandably a little bit down about being back in the hospital, but his doctor has told him that the next two to three days should be much better.

New immune system anyone?

Well, it's finally happened! The transplant has landed. Troy received his cleaned stem cells on Wednesday, and is feeling good. So far, he has no medical side effects, but one of the side effects is that the solution that the stem cells are delivered in smells like garlic and that smell seeps through the patient's pores. I don't think that Troy will have to worry about vampires anytime soon. Don't worry; the odour de garlique will go away.

In other good news, the doctors have found a perfect match for the next transplant. 10 of 10 markers. That will be in three to four months, so keep sending those warm and fuzzy thoughts his way.

All I can say is, "Whoo-hoo!"