2nd ASCT Day Minus 2 Blood Transfusion - May 16 2012

My counts dropped as expected and I required 2 units of blood last night.

Thanks again for all the volunteer blood donors that make my continuing life possible!

Blood running through my PICC Line which was placed March 17 2012 and still going strong!

 Goofy us saying goodnight as my blood transfusion is running.

My second unit of blood came up as Type A NEGATIVE and I am Type A POSITIVE. But, a quick call to the blood bank said all was good with either.

RN Erika on nights kept things rolling along.

2nd ASCT Day Minus 2 BONUS WALK OUTSIDE - May 16 2012

NP Shannon came and told me that I could have a brief walk outside before my lab values drop this evening from the melphalan. I had to wear a duck bill mask and gloves, but it was a fabulous outing to the outside AIR. We walked and sat for 0.98 miles. I'm talking to John Powers in Mackay, Idaho in the photo below!

2nd ASCT Day Minus 2 - Melphalan IV May 16 2012

Faye Hummel arrived early to help me keep pace with eating ice chips prior, during, and after my intravenous mephalan chemotherapy. Melphalan destroys all the cells in the bone marrow - the cancer cells and all or you good cells too. As a side effect, it is extremely hard on the gastrointestinal tract and can cause severe mucositis. Keeping the mouth and GI tract cooled with ice chips for about 15 minutes before the melphalan,  during the intravenous injection of melphalan, and for about 15 minutes after helps to decrease the severity of the mucositis. I did the ice chip treatment with Faye's help during my 1st autologous stem cell transplant and did not develop any mouth ulcers, however, my guts weren't so lucky.

I was ready this time with gloves to hold the cups of ice, my polartec hat, hoodie sweatshirt, and blankets. We came prepared this time. Faye even found me a heated bed blanket! Faye is an awesome coach!!!!

I was given a reduced dose of melphalan during this 2nd ACST compared to my 1st ASCt on 13 Sept 2011. Today, I received 220 mg.

RN Kate hanging the melphalan.

I got colder as the ice chips continued and looked more and more like nan-nuck-of -the-north.

2nd ASCT Day Minus 2 - May 16 2012

Night RN Sherry makes me feel tall!

 I'm looking a tad swollen from steroids.

Night Aide Cheri taking my temperature.