October 22, 2014

Wow, what a crazy emotional day yesterday was for all of us.  It sure had its ups and downs emotionally.  

Tim did great.  Though he did not sleep at all the night before, he stayed awake the entire night and needless to say because he was awake so was I.  Yesterday I was running on pure adrenaline.  Tim and I arrived at the hospital just after 5 am and Terry met us in the surgery center. Tim handled everything like a champ.  He has never had any type of medical procedure done before so this was all new to him.  The doctors were able to get 700 CCs of bone marrow which is what they needed.  He went into surgery about 7:30 and was in recovery by 10. He had quite a bit of pain but once the pain meds kicked in he felt much better.  Terry and I stayed with him till about 11:30 and then I went up to be with Meghan.

At 12 the nurse began doing the prep work, administering special meds, for Meghan's transplant of Tim's bone marrow. It arrived about 12:30.  Once what they took from Tim was cleaned up and processed there was 400 CCs that would be transplanted into Meghan through her Hickman line.  It was all very exciting, until ..... Meghan being Meghan, began having a reaction to the transplant. (Nothing new for her from when she would receive platelet transfusions). She started having burning in her throat, throwing up and then developed severe chills.  So they had to slow the infusion down a couple times and eventually went with a slow infusion till it was complete (about 2 hours).  They were able to get the chills under control with meds, but the meds put Meghan to sleep.  So Meghan was pretty much out of it for most of the transplant. But she got it done!

Tim was finally released and made it up to Meghan's room about 1:30 so was able to see her get her transplant and to see what his bone marrow looked like.

This morning Tim is struggling with pain but he isn't letting it keep him down.  Tim and I stayed in a hotel last night  (Terry stayed with Meghan) as he has to be back at the hospital at 11 today for a bandage check later this morning.  He was up at 5:30 (feel asleep at 7 pm last night) and by 6 asking when we can go down for breakfast :)

It has been a rough last week for Meghan.  She still has not eaten due to the nauseousness and has been having diarreah. They began giving her nutrition last night through her Hickman line, but today will be putting in a tube through her nose to feed her the nutrition as they will need her Hickman line starting tomorrow through Saturday to giving her her final doses of chemo. She will have chemo again on Friday and Saturday but will require super hydration before and after due to the affects this specific chemo can have on the bladder. This is the same chemo drug that required Meghan to be inpatient for all her chemo rounds at Hopkins. The positive side is that Meghan has today and tomorrow to rest with nothing else going on but to monitor her and make sure she has no additional side affects from the transplant.  

Happy New Birthday Meghan you are amazing and so strong to handle all that you have gone through so far in your life.  I can't wait till this all a distant memory and watch you enjoy life to its fullest.

Thank You Tim for being so strong and willing to give a part of your self to your sister.  When you become adult you will both have a much better understanding what a true gift you have given your sister.

Thank You to all our friends and family for all your support in helping us get through these last two years.  We couldn't have done it without you.  Please keep all the prayers coming as Meghan's battle isn't quite over yet and that Tim's bone marrow does it's job it kills the last of the cancer, but we are getting closer.

Additionally I would like to ask for everyones prayers for a special family who lost a special Loved one, Tori Selimis, last week from breast cancer. Please keep her husband Nick and their two adorable children, Lex and Olive, in your prayers. Tori began her battle right after Meghan started her's two years ago and was re-diagnosed about the same time Meghan was. I have added a picture of their beautiful family that was taken this past summer in the photo section of this web page along with one that was taken after the Dirty Girl Mud Run that Tori did after her first round of chemo a few moths ago.

Now it's time to take Tim down to breakfast :)  Have a blessed day.

Michele