The Journey Continues: A birthday, six months out from transplant!!

This is a day to rejoice and say thanks!! Six months ago today Richard received his new immune system.  That was an exciting day or night to be exact.  It was around eleven p.m. when the transplant started.  The nurses were in and out of the room and there was an air of excitement.  That was the day that his prognosis changed from no hope to hope for more days on this earth.  Richard knew that his hope was in the Lord and that no matter what happened he would be ok.

This last six months have not been without a few bumps and bruises along the way.  The fact that he landed in ICU less than a month after the transplant makes this day even more special.  The first night in ICU the Dr. thought he would not make it out of ICU.   He was having some graft/vs/host disease problems with his lungs and a medicine that he was on had caused his kidneys to quit functioning. They told me that he had went septic and it might be a good idea to call the family in.

Richard's blood type has went from b- to a+ and the new immune system has been in place for a while.  This new immune system still doesn't seem to like it's new host and has been on attack.  Richard was back in OU Medical again with this problem the end of September and beginning of October.  He is on steroids and they are trying to wean him down off of them.  Hopefully that immune system will behave and figure out that Richard's body is it's new home.

This last week has been an interesting week also.  Last Friday we spent most of the day at the hospital because Richard was dizzy and thought the room was dark when the light was on.  He was low on potassium and his blood pressure was low.  Then Monday he got his feet tangled up in the ottoman and fell hitting the fireplace so back to the hospital where he endured getting eight stitches above his right eye.  I am ready for some boring days!!

Richard will have a pet scan on Monday and the results on the 30th of November.  My hope and prayer is that the cancer is gone.No matter what happens I am still thankful to the bone marrow donor and the gift she was willing to make.

God is still in control and He is good all the time.

Philippians 2:13

New International Version (NIV)

¹³ for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.