Day +105 Cutting Another Cord

Jo got out of the hospital on Monday and yesterday we went back to see Dr. Anderlini in his office. Some very good things came out of her hospital stay.

When you have an infection, it's very common to see your WBC count drop extremely low, even if you haven't had a transplant. Jo's WBC count got down between 1 and 2. In the hospital she was given Nupogen shots to get her body to boost her WBCs and her counts shot up into double digits. Dr. Anderlini said this is a very good sign. Her new bone marrow displayed plenty of "reserve" horsepower by responding so strongly to the shots.

Secondly, it was just a good test. We would prefer not to test her new marrow, but a test is a test and Jo responded well to all treatment. By Monday she was feeling great!

Dr. Anderlini said it was okay to schedule her next appointment in THREE weeks! That sounds like great news, right? When he said it, I could see Jo's face get just a little pale. She had to ask a couple of times if he really thought that was okay. I've seen similar reactions from some of our other transplant friends. There is a great sense of comfort when you're just minutes from MD Anderson and never more than a few days away from your next office visit.

Jo's reaction reminded me of when I was a kid. I had to hold back the tears every year as I waited for the school bus on the first day of school. "Over there" often seems scarier than "right here". I always survived that first day of school and every day it got a little easier to be away from the safety of home. Jo too will do just fine being away from her doctors for 3 weeks, then 3 months and eventually 3 years. It's all part of the process.

Day +100 Yeah!

Today is Jo's 100th day post transplant and congratulations have been coming from all directions. Even the doctor poked his head back into Jo's room this morning to ask her if she knew the significance of today.

To celebrate this occasion, Jo and her friend Carol are kicking off a world-wide online bone marrow donor drive with a goal or registering 100 donors in 100 days! To take part or to just learn more, please visit:

www.teamjoandfriends.blogspot.com

By the way...Jo's fever is coming down and she will hopefully head back to our apartment Monday morning.

Day +99 A Little Speed Bump

Jo had a minor fever and chills last night. Because she is on Tacro to suppress her immune system, her fever required a trip to MD Anderson where we found out Jo would be admitted to the hospital for a few days. Dr. Anderlini came by and saw her this morning and he said not to worry, this is just a minor speed bump. However, Jo does have to stay in the hospital until her fever is gone for 48 hours.

Big news coming tomorrow!!!

(No, I am not going to be on the cover of the next GQ magazine. I am not going to be a contestant on the next SURVIVOR. And I have not been contacted [yet] by the Obama administration to straighten out our country's financial woes...but go ahead and keep guessing!)

Day +93 Goodbye Meema

Today we said "goodbye" to Meema for about the 12th time in the past 6 years. Meema has been by Jo's side for almost 3 months and this just might be her LAST extended stay as a caregiver. Do a quick Google Search on "the perfect mom" and you'll see a bunch of pictures of Meema.

For almost 3 months, Jo and Meema have been "stuck like glue". Her leaving does, of course, signify that Jo no longer needs a 24/7 caregiver and that's great news! Not only that, Meema and Boppa will be reunited in Las Vegas this afternoon which they are both very excited about. As hard as I try to see otherwise, my world still seems to revolve around me and I'm sad to see her go...so I'm going to be sad and grumpy for a while...at least until lunch.

Thank you Meema. You really are the best mom ever!