Thursday 3/12

Good evening!

Jim and I spent most of today at the Beth Israel Clinic.  I've been home 3 weeks now averaging about 3 visits a week.  I've noticed a consistent disconnect with how long I think I will be there (1 hour) with how long we are actually there (2 - 4 hours).  But this is time well spent as I've been getting outstanding treatment including loads of diagnostic tests.

The most recent procedure today was a spinal tap - also called a lumbar puncture - either name screams 'ouch'.  I mean, really, putting puncture in the name of a procedure??

Anyway, it was not that bad...they numb the area below the spine and extract fluid.  The whole thing took 10 minutes.  They want to ensure there are no miscreant leukemia cells lurking in that fluid - if they are there we need to zap them with a directed chemo.  All indicators are there is nothing there but we are better off knowing for certain.

Today I also received confirmation of my return date to the hospital - I am going back to Beth Israel Deaconess on Thursday 3/19 to begin the process for the stem cell transplant (I've been calling it a bone marrow transplant but I am actually getting stem cells from my donor via an IV).  The donor is in Europe (Germany I think) and they are working through a donor center there.  That center will ship the stem cells to my team for transplant to me with the transplant happening on or about Thursday 3/26.

I anticipate being in the hospital for 4 weeks from this date and will be discharged to an apartment close to Beth Israel for daily clinic visits.  We won't know how long I'll be in the apartments until we see how I am doing at that time.

So all good news - many blessings on my donor, the team working overseas to get the stem cells to me, and my team here.

Thanks for checking in

Love Maureen