Day 37 - First Day of Driving and First Trip to Store October 20 2011

My car needed to be serviced, so I drove it to the Honda place this morning - a trip of only 3 miles, but I drove for the first time since my stem cell transplant on September 13 2011. Jani followed in her truck and picked me up.

Then, we decided to go to the grocery store since we figured no one would be shopping that early in the morning. This was my first trip to a store since the transplant too. I have no idea what my white count is right now, but it was 2.6 eight days ago, so I wore my mask.  A little unnerving to realize that I now have no immunity to any childhood diseases like measles, mumps, diptheria, polio, etc. At some point, I will have to be re-immunized against these diseases.

 At the grocery store decorated for Halloween, October 20 2011

Day 13 Afternoon Update September 26 2011

My white blood cell count continues the climb upward with 1.9 at 4 PM September 26 2011.

They can finally calculate my absolute neutrophil count (ANC) and it is 1.7 right now. This is all good. So, good - that I will be discharged from the University of Colorado Hospital tomorrow, September 27 2011 - Day 14 since my stem cell transplant.

Jani and I will remain here in Aurora, Colorado at a hotel named The Timbers which is approximately 2.8 miles from the University of Colorado Hospital. This will allow us to be close enough to the hospital for the next 2 weeks to return for frequent blood draws and transfusions as needed.

And most importantly, I will be able to go outside in fresh air for the first time since September 12th. I will have to wear a mask when I'm going in and out of the hospital, but not necessary if I'm walking outside where no people are gathered.

My immune system today is IDENTICAL to that of 13-day-old newborn infant. The stem cell transplant drug melphalan completely destroyed my previous immune system. I now have no immunity to anything including polio, chickenpox, measles, mumps, etc. So, just as you would not take a 13 day old infant into crowds, I must avoid this also. It will take at least 100 days for my immune system to get back to full duty. At some point, I will have to have all of the childhood immunizations again. I will be able to return to Mackay, Idaho just before Christmas 2010 when Day 100 falls.

However, a possiblity exists that I will need a second or also called a tandem stem cell transplant. That decision will be made around Day 66 based on a bone marrow biopsy and blood work to be done on Day 59 or so since Day 60 falls on a Saturday. If I need the tandem stem cell transplant, I would have it immediately after the decision and all of my 100 day counting would begin again on November 21 2011. That would mean I could NOT return to Mackay, Idaho for 100 days or until the end of February 2012.

Let's hope one transplant is all I need - but, if not - I can do it~

Jani leaving with a bunch of my stuff, so we won't have so much to take to The Timbers tomorrow.