I apologize for not entering to the blog for so very long. I am still waiting for the stem cells to start working. I am still receiving platelets each week and blood about every other week. I had the bone marrow biopsy done Tuesday, July 19th and am waiting for the results. One of the tests they do takes a pretty long time for the results to be sent back. Dr. Anderlini and Dr. Page felt this was the best way to find what is going on with my stem cells, the lazy rascals.

My platelets and hemoglobin were both down and I received ten units of platelets and one unit of blood on Monday before the procedure. This helped insure that the bleeding would be controllable and I would not have to experience the same thing I did with the last one in Houston. One thing I was thankful for was I was able to have it done at my local hospital (Campbell Memorial). Dr. Anderlini in Houston, the head of my transplant team, and Dr. Page, my local oncologist, are friends and went through training at M. D. Anderson together. They are very good about discussing my situation and work together with my best interest in mind. Dr. Anderlini said it would be o.k. for me to have it done here since Dr. Page would make the arrangements and would see that everything he wanted was done. Dr. David Brigati did the procedure and all went well. They kept me in recovery for an hour to make sure I would be able to go home without any complications.

Of course, I could not take a bath or remove the bandage for 48 hours. The bandage was a pressure one and was really quite large. I felt like I was wearing a huge wad of material and tape and was sure glad when the 48 hours was up and I could get rid of it. Actually I cheated and removed it and bathed after 46 hours but who’s counting?

I go tomorrow for blood tests and will see how the numbers are doing. I will be glad when the results are back from the biopsy and hopefully they will direct the doctors to what is needed to get the stem cells working. It would be such a relief not having to go in each week and spend a day at the hospital receiving the transfusions. It does get to be trying going to dialysis three days a week and at the doctors and hospital for one or two.

The dialysis is going well and I am now down to three hours on the machine on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I have asked for two days on the machine each week but they have said that is not a possibility but at least I am down from four hours to three. That is probably as low as they will go with the time. I am home by about 9:20 AM and I told them that is earlier than some people get up. It does give me the rest of the day. I still have to rest after I get home because I am pretty well drained of strength but my recovery time is getting better and that is good.

I will post when I have the results of the biopsy. Thank you for your interest and concern. I have received so many inquiries about what is going on since I have not posted for so long.