The stem cells still have not started working and I must say I am very discouraged. No one seems to know the answer or what to do to get them going. My nephrologist at the dialysis center has upped the Epogen I am receiving each dialysis session to 45,000 so I am receiving 135,000 each week. This may be the max but he wanted to try this to see if it would help jump-start the stem cells.

When I was in to have my blood tested, my oncologist (Dr. Ray Page) wanted to see me and we visited about my situation. He is at a loss as what to do, just like all the doctors. One thing he told me that is a little disturbing is that over an extended period of time of receiving transfusions your body begins to build a resistance to them. It is like receiving many things for too long, you build an immunity to it. Then each time I receive the blood and platelets, there will be less and less reaction for my system. But there is no other answer so I will continue to receive them.

My fingernails have finally gotten back to normal. When I returned from Houston, they were long and lovely but as they continued to grow there was a “ridge” and this was caused from the trauma I had been through. They now look normal but it has taken this long for the “ridge” to grow out and be cut off. This is normal for anyone who experiences major trauma but they will get back to normal over a period of time. A minor thing but kind of interesting.