We Have a Match

It's a strange feeling...feeling like my brothers and sisters were all contestants on a game show, and I wanted all of them to win.  In the end, I'm so grateful all of them were willing, and grateful that one of them is indeed my match: My oldest brother Andy (with my younger brother Scott being the runner-up :).  So, here we go to embark on this journey together.

We all made it to Utah, and Cory and I met with the transplant doctor (Dr. Hildebrandt) at the Huntsman Center.  Things are really rolling now.  Now that we have my match, there are several things that need to happen in the next couple of weeks. First, Andy has to be cleared (labs, physical, etc.), and I have to have several things done.  I get to do another PET CT and MRI, as well as a bone marrow biopsy (looking forward to that pleasant experience again) and a spinal tap (3rd time's a charm), all to make sure the cancer is still in complete remission.  I also need dental clearance and a few other doctors to clear me, all to make sure I'm as healthy as possible.  Assuming everything checks out (of course it will), we're looking at being admitted to the hospital in the next 2-3 weeks.

As far as we understand so far, here is what we're looking at for the next several months.  The first step of a bone marrow transplant is called the "conditioning regimen", which involves either chemo alone, or a combination of chemo and radiation (depending on what the doctor thinks is necessary).  Often this is looked at as killing off your bone marrow and immune system.  However, I truly believe there is a lot of power in positive energy, and it has worked for me this far.  I didn't look at chemo as poison; rather, it was the medicine I needed to get better.  When I first heard the term "conditioning" for loading me up with chemo and radiation (my treatment will most likely involve both), I thought that was the world's worst euphemism. But, as I've thought about it, that is exactly what it is: A conditioning.  When someone is conditioning for a major athletic event, they are preparing their body for the task ahead.  That is exactly what the week(ish) of chemo and radiation will do for me.  It prepares my bone marrow to receive the new.  That first week of conditioning will be done in the hospital.  The day they do the transplant will be Day 0.  It is not invasive.  It is given to me like a blood transfusion.

As for Andy's role as my donor, he will receive a course of shots (I think for 4 or 5 days) that spur his bone marrow production. As his marrow produces an excess of stem cells, they then spill over into his blood.  He will be hooked up for several hours while blood is drawn from one arm, the stem cells are filtered out, and the blood is returned to his other arm.  This is known as a Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant.  While it is not invasive for him, either, he can experience bone aches as his bone marrow production kicks into high gear. Having experienced this on a small level in April, I've told him he really ought to take the pain meds they will offer from the beginning.

After all that, things really get exciting, but I'll save that for another day.  For now, I am looking forward to a night away with Cory tomorrow (a big thank you to my parents who offered it to us, and provided the hotel and babysitting) where we will enjoy being together in a setting other than a hospital or doctor's office.