12 out of 12...

Paul and I made it down to Boston today to meet with different members of the transplant team. We first met with Pat who was very nice and put both of us at ease. Her job was to take us step by step from the radiation to the transplant and beyond. She really did her best to not dwell on any negatives but still convey that this will be a difficult year to go through. But then we will be over it and can look back on it. We were able to ask her any questions we had about anything. She also gave us a very large 3 inch notebook with information for us to go through, mostly aftercare. She also let us know that Paul's donor is a 27 year old male and is a perfect match. There are 12 things they look for and Paul and his donor are 12 for 12. There still may be some GvHD (Graft versus Host Disease) but she said that some is actually good. It shows them the new marrow is trying to settle in and also kill any microscopic Leukemic cells that could still be there.

Paul will go to the hospital on September 4th and start the first of 2 days of cranial radiation. Then full body irradiation will follow. The first day of the rest of his life with his new bone marrow is on September 11th. It will be a simple infusion that will enter through his Hickman line. They will be inserting that during his first day there. He is expected to stay in the hospital for 4-5 weeks. We hope he can can home for Alayna's 2nd birthday on October 10th.

Thank you to everyone for continued prayers - we need every one we can get.

Our new neighbors?

Today ended a very nice visit from Uncle Ted and Aunt Bea. They drove up from Long Island to the country and we didn't want them to leave. We enjoyed some nice days of shopping and eating good food. Aunt Bea even made a shirt from Alayna's Closet! They talked about moving up here - but I think they were teasing us.

This picture was taken yesterday morning after breakfast. We really loved spending time with them and hated to see them go.

Tomorrow I will be leaving Alayna with my very nice friend Anita. Paul and I have 3 appointments in Boston with members of the transplant team, the Dana Farber counselor, and another doctor. I will report back in afterwards.

Have a terrific week!

2 more weeks...

Paul starts his radiation on September 4th as an out patient. He will receive another dose on the 5th and then be admitted into the hospital on the 6th. We still don't know the exact date of the transplant but it will be shortly after his radiation therapy.

Today he had multiple scans and had to give 21 vials of blood. His lumbar puncture went well but he said it was slightly more painful than the last time. Next Friday he will get his last lumbar puncture and a bone marrow biopsy.

We are sad that his time at home will be over here very shortly. I think we are scared of what will be happening. For me - it is almost easy to "forget" the reality of his situation. It seems I only break down and cry about it when I am alone, driving somewhere or in the shower. The rest of the time I just carry on. But I think next week the tears will start flowing again.

Another fun filled day...

We were given very short notice that Paul had a couple of consultations for his radiation in Boston today so all three of us piled in my car and headed down. The doctor came in and started talking with Paul about his medical history and his diagnosis. I wasn't able to sit in there long - about 15 minutes worth - before Alayna decided she had enough of being a quiet girl. So we walked around the hospital a bit and found this big fish. Then we headed back to my car to watch a movie. Today's selection was Curious George. Then when she fell asleep I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding. On our way home we stopped and ate a late lunch at The Cheesecake Factory.

While we drove home Paul filled me in a little about everything. Paul will be having full body radiation to try an eradicate any cancer cells before the bone marrow transplant. Again, there is a possibility of numerous side effects from the radiation. He will be rendered sterile, there is a 50% chance of getting cataracts, and he may develop another type of cancer with tumors. Those are the big things.

Some days things seem almost "normal" here, like Paul isn't really that sick. And then a day like today when you hear all of this that will be happening in the not so distant future. :(