Stem Cell Transplant

After about a week in the hospital the doctors started talking Stem Cell Transplant. I had no idea exactly what it was, but if it could help me, I'm all for it. It took awhile to get my numbers down to give the transplant a fighting chance also, a Pulmonary Test & a MUGA Test ( checks how heart is pumping), it was time to set a date.

I had to have a catheter installed for Stem Cell Collection, which was done at Robert Wood Johnson in New Brunswick and to be used for transplant. The collection process was relatively uneventful. Started with shots of Granix to stimulate the cells about a week before, then it was collection day. Back to New Brunswick for roughly a day & a half of collecting. Unfortunately, there's a lot I don't remember about what was going on, perhaps because it's been about 5 years or perhaps I was just oblivious to what was going on, it was a whirlwind.

Wednesday Oct. 16, 2019 - I checked into Robert Wood Johnson. We had a late start due to them cleaning the room. Later that afternoon was given a high dose chemo. Thursday was an off day. Friday Oct. 18, 2019 - I was given my stem cells, which were harvested a week prior & frozen, back. I don’t remember much of what happened or when, as this happened almost 5 years prior to this writing. I know I lost my hair, meals were not that great, but all in all, things went pretty well. I was released from hospital on or about Oct. 30, 2019.

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