sjgcbm's Cancer Blog
August 27, 2008
i SPENT MOST OF THE PAST MONTH PREPARING TO BE OUT OF THE OFFICE FOR TWO MONTHS OF MEDICAL LEAVE. Aside from weekends, spent visiting my Mom in her mursing home on Saturdays, and Sunday spent trying to maintain the house (you know, laundry and shopping and cooking), My weekdays were spent either sleeping or at the office. There simply wasn’t that much to say.
That all change this past Saturday (August 23, when I started my transplant procedures. On both Sat and Sun I was at my doctor’s office getting neupogen injections. On Monday, Aug 25 I was in INOVA Fairfax hospital for surgery -getting two catheters implanted. On Tuesday, (yesterday) Aug 26, I was aat the apheresis senter of INOVA Fairfax Hospital for the collection of stem cells from my blood. That went exceedingly well. They collected more than enough cells for the transplant all on one day which means I do no have to go to the hospital for any more collection procedures. Other good news – the cells collected have a 93% viability rate. That is a good indicator that the tranplant should go well.
I do have to see my transplant doctor this morning, but unless he says somethng unexpected, I believe I will have the next few days off unti I go in to the hospital on Sept 2. Then I stay in the hospital until the transplant is done – sometime around Sept 23.
The hospital feed me breakfast and lunch yeasterday,and while it was clearly institutinal food it wasn’t the worst I had ever been served.
I will be able to take a computer to the hospital with me, but I can’t say how much energy I will bahe for blogging while I am an inpatient; I will do my best to keep you all up to date.
For those of you who live near me – feel free to come to visit – although you might want to call first to see how that day is going.
Hope all of you are well; I send my best.
Sarajane
Update after a month of silence (and an apology for the silence), 
9 comments)
Thanks for your support - 
It’s good to see you’re blogging again!
The news about your step cells viability sounds fantastic. Since I’m a bit of a medicine geek (I love watching “the surgery channel”), I’m just amazed how sophisticated your transplant process has become in the past few years.
Like many others, I’ll be praying for you to come thru the transplant and recovery process as comfortably as possible. Personally, I’d be both fascinated and terrified that doctors can tell you – to the day – when all your hair is going to fall out!
xoxoxoox
Alex
Dear Sarajane; My god you are typing after all you have gone through? You are a wizard and a testament to all of us just how much a girl can take. You rock and I mean that. I believe you are the only one on the site that has given us a pretty clear picture of what a bone marrow transplant entails and it is not a pretty site. You must have skin of steel. I absolutely hate needles that don’t go in properly. Sounds like everything is moving along according to your Dr.s’ plans and that with some more good luck you will be out pretty soon after Sept. 2nd. I hope your friends and family bring you some real food. I hate hospital food. I would rather have home made jello and a Tim Horton’s tea than what they offer so be brave get those orders in. Thanks for keeping us aprised even though it is hard on you to do so. We appreciate your updates. Take care and get some needed sleep. Weezie
3 weeks of breakfast in bed and leisure. Some folks get all the breaks.
Glad to hear from you and with such positive news. I am praying for your speedy recovery and that everyone involved with your care is wonderful.
Be blessed and well
Mac
Sarajane, It was so good to hear from you. Everything sounds like it is going well.
Just remember that my love, thoughts and prayers will be with you all the way.
Hugs,
Joyce
Hi!
I’m so glad to hear from you! I’m glad you’re doing well. So, they’ve got you all geared up to go in next week. Do you have big plans for the weekend? I hope all goes well.
XOXOThat the best news. Just think you are healing thy self. What a concept.
Hug Sherri
I hope things go well take advantage of all the rest and attention you deserve it…... I know it will be hard but make the best of it….. remember the out come :-)
Cheryl
Since nobody else has posted an update, here’s the latest. Contrary to what They Said, Sarajane doesn’t have an internet connection in the hospital. She is doing very well after having had her stem cells reinfused last Friday. The calendar of what will happen on which day has been right so far. There’s a little unclarity about which day the anemia is supposed to abate, but it’s still a few days off, and others will know the milestones better than I do.
Thank you Stephen. I have been wondering about how she is. Thank you for the post of September 11.
My thoughts and prayers are with her each and every day.
Hugs, Joyce In NC