Hi All,
I'm very happy to report that Ernie had no reaction to the "shake and bake" meds he received last night. I hope it continues to be that way. He did eat some breakfast this morning, but he still has no appetite. I was relieved when the nurse told me they were going to give him nutrition in his IV tonight. For now it will just be at night, but if he doesn't get his appetite back soon they will give it to him continueously. Dana got here this morning, and Brian will be here Saturday. We are always happy whenever our kids come home and even though Ernie is pretty sick, it's no different this time. We treasure our time with our family, it's one of God's greatest gifts. City of Hope is having a 31 year reunion celebration for it's cancer survivors tomorrow. They say some transplant patients who received bone marrow or stem cells from an unrelated donor will meet them for the first time. It should be a pretty special day for all. Next year we will be able to attend. Thanks again for your prayers and may God bless you all.
Ernie and Debby
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
April 25 Day 0
Hi everyone,
Well, the day we've been waiting for has finally come. Ernie had his stem cell transplant this afternoon at 1:30. It took just over an hour and everything went well. Today is day 0 and he will be monitored very closely for the next 100 days. That is how the days will be refered to in the hospital. The benedryl didn't bother him at all this time, sometimes it makes him drowsy and other times wired. He is still nauseous but it seems to be getting better each day. He did not sleep much at all during the day. His sister Carol was with us most of the day offering much needed love and support for both of us. This evening his nurse told us he would be receiving an anti-fungal drug tonight (purely a precaution) through his IV that can have some pretty yucky side effects. She's affectionately nicknamed it "shake and bake" as it can cause chills with extreme shaking and or a fever. He received tylenol at 9 p.m , benedryl at 9:30 and they would start the drug around 10. It will take about 3 hours and she says during the last hour if he gets up it seems to be what causes the chills. If that happens they give him demarol to stop the drug and after that takes affect they would start the IV again. He will have this medication everynight until his counts start to go up. It was very hard for me to leave knowing what could happen during the night, but he and the nurse both assured me they could take care of him. There's a good possibility if his appetite doesn't increase tomorrow they will start giving him nourishment in his IV. He really hasn't eaten much since Sunday. As you can see from the photo we posted today he looks good, his hair is even growing back. We thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers. We have a long road ahead of us, but your love and support will help us get through.
In His Hands,
Ernie and Debby
Well, the day we've been waiting for has finally come. Ernie had his stem cell transplant this afternoon at 1:30. It took just over an hour and everything went well. Today is day 0 and he will be monitored very closely for the next 100 days. That is how the days will be refered to in the hospital. The benedryl didn't bother him at all this time, sometimes it makes him drowsy and other times wired. He is still nauseous but it seems to be getting better each day. He did not sleep much at all during the day. His sister Carol was with us most of the day offering much needed love and support for both of us. This evening his nurse told us he would be receiving an anti-fungal drug tonight (purely a precaution) through his IV that can have some pretty yucky side effects. She's affectionately nicknamed it "shake and bake" as it can cause chills with extreme shaking and or a fever. He received tylenol at 9 p.m , benedryl at 9:30 and they would start the drug around 10. It will take about 3 hours and she says during the last hour if he gets up it seems to be what causes the chills. If that happens they give him demarol to stop the drug and after that takes affect they would start the IV again. He will have this medication everynight until his counts start to go up. It was very hard for me to leave knowing what could happen during the night, but he and the nurse both assured me they could take care of him. There's a good possibility if his appetite doesn't increase tomorrow they will start giving him nourishment in his IV. He really hasn't eaten much since Sunday. As you can see from the photo we posted today he looks good, his hair is even growing back. We thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers. We have a long road ahead of us, but your love and support will help us get through.
In His Hands,
Ernie and Debby
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
April 24
Hi everyone,
I'm happy to report that they were able to collect all the stem cells they needed from Dan today. They said based on Ernie's height and weight they needed 5,000,000 stem cells and they collected 10,000,000!! (That's right thats million) Ernie still does not feel good, but is much better than the last couple of days. He managed to eat some breakfast and lunch and keep it down. The nurse said they will start meds in the morning about 1/2 hr. before he gets the stem cells. She also said there's a good chance he will sleep most of the day due to all the pre-meds. We won't know if Dan's cells are working in Ernie for about 12 days or so. Brian sent us a picture today of his bald head, which he says will stay that way until his Dad's hair grows back. I plan on showing my support in a different way, sorry Ernie. Please continue to pray for us.
In His Hands,
Ernie and Debby
I'm happy to report that they were able to collect all the stem cells they needed from Dan today. They said based on Ernie's height and weight they needed 5,000,000 stem cells and they collected 10,000,000!! (That's right thats million) Ernie still does not feel good, but is much better than the last couple of days. He managed to eat some breakfast and lunch and keep it down. The nurse said they will start meds in the morning about 1/2 hr. before he gets the stem cells. She also said there's a good chance he will sleep most of the day due to all the pre-meds. We won't know if Dan's cells are working in Ernie for about 12 days or so. Brian sent us a picture today of his bald head, which he says will stay that way until his Dad's hair grows back. I plan on showing my support in a different way, sorry Ernie. Please continue to pray for us.
In His Hands,
Ernie and Debby
Monday, April 23, 2007
Monday April 23
Hi everyone!!
The internet is working in my room as of today, but I'm not feeling very well so Debby will be writing for me until I feel up to it. I got my last dose of chemo Saturday night and unfortunately ever since then I have been nausious. Today I can't seem to keep anything down. My doctor said this particular medication is pretty harsh and getting sick from it was to be expected. They gave me anti-nausia medication, but that makes me drowsy and I don't like that either, but I guess that's better than being sick to my stomach. The nurse told me if I continue to get sick ,rather than throw it up, don't eat and let them give me nourishment through my IV. If I don't feel better soon I will let them to that. The dietition came by to talk to us about the low bacteria diet I'm on and I had to ask them to step into the hall to talk. Just hearing about food bothers me. Tomorrow my brother Dan gets here at 7 a.m. to start the stem cell collection process and Wednesday they will give them to me. THANK YOU DAN!! He had to give himself two shots a day for the 4 days prior to his procedure and he says he doesn't feel great but it's manageable and it got him a couple of day off work. Debby's sister Sue is here for a few days and on Thursday Dana gets here. Please pray for Dan tomorrow and that my body accepts his cells.
God Bless you All
Ernie (Debby)
The internet is working in my room as of today, but I'm not feeling very well so Debby will be writing for me until I feel up to it. I got my last dose of chemo Saturday night and unfortunately ever since then I have been nausious. Today I can't seem to keep anything down. My doctor said this particular medication is pretty harsh and getting sick from it was to be expected. They gave me anti-nausia medication, but that makes me drowsy and I don't like that either, but I guess that's better than being sick to my stomach. The nurse told me if I continue to get sick ,rather than throw it up, don't eat and let them give me nourishment through my IV. If I don't feel better soon I will let them to that. The dietition came by to talk to us about the low bacteria diet I'm on and I had to ask them to step into the hall to talk. Just hearing about food bothers me. Tomorrow my brother Dan gets here at 7 a.m. to start the stem cell collection process and Wednesday they will give them to me. THANK YOU DAN!! He had to give himself two shots a day for the 4 days prior to his procedure and he says he doesn't feel great but it's manageable and it got him a couple of day off work. Debby's sister Sue is here for a few days and on Thursday Dana gets here. Please pray for Dan tomorrow and that my body accepts his cells.
God Bless you All
Ernie (Debby)
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Saturday April 21
Hi everyone
Well the day is finally here, I had to check back into the hospital today. The internet won't be working in my room until Monday so Debby is writing this for me from my sister Carol's house. My sister lives about 10 minutes from here, so Debby will be staying there most nights. Thank you Carol. We checked in about 1 this afternoon, the nurse gave us a brief tour of the 6th floor. The air in the whole ward is filtered so even when my counts are low I can walk around outside my room as long as I wear a mask. Anybody visiting has to wear a mask. We found out today I can't have fast food or restaurant food for 100 days after my transplant. Debby can cook food and bring it in as long as I eat it within 1 hour of it being prepared. My doctor said I needed to be hydrated for 8 hours before I get my last dose of chemo, so I won't be having it til 10:30 or 11:00 tonight. Hopefully I'll sleep right through it. Tomorrow they'll start me on my anti-rejection medication. Now that I'm back in the hospital and things will be happening I'll write again on a regular basis. As always thanks so much for your prayers. Please keep it up we can use them!
In His Hands,
Ernie (Debby)
Well the day is finally here, I had to check back into the hospital today. The internet won't be working in my room until Monday so Debby is writing this for me from my sister Carol's house. My sister lives about 10 minutes from here, so Debby will be staying there most nights. Thank you Carol. We checked in about 1 this afternoon, the nurse gave us a brief tour of the 6th floor. The air in the whole ward is filtered so even when my counts are low I can walk around outside my room as long as I wear a mask. Anybody visiting has to wear a mask. We found out today I can't have fast food or restaurant food for 100 days after my transplant. Debby can cook food and bring it in as long as I eat it within 1 hour of it being prepared. My doctor said I needed to be hydrated for 8 hours before I get my last dose of chemo, so I won't be having it til 10:30 or 11:00 tonight. Hopefully I'll sleep right through it. Tomorrow they'll start me on my anti-rejection medication. Now that I'm back in the hospital and things will be happening I'll write again on a regular basis. As always thanks so much for your prayers. Please keep it up we can use them!
In His Hands,
Ernie (Debby)
Thursday, April 19, 2007
April 19
Hi Everyone,
I have had chemo 4 times this week and will have it on Friday as well. Then on Saturday I will be admitted to the hospital and get another kind of chemo that day and then will be done with the chemo. I haven't had any side effects so far. The blood cultures that they took on Monday haven't shown any growth so that was great news! This means they won't have to replace my Hickman catheter or put me in the hospital earlier than expected. Thank you all very much for praying for me!! Hi "Ernie's Angels"!!!! I hope you are all studying hard!!! God bless you all,
Ernie
I have had chemo 4 times this week and will have it on Friday as well. Then on Saturday I will be admitted to the hospital and get another kind of chemo that day and then will be done with the chemo. I haven't had any side effects so far. The blood cultures that they took on Monday haven't shown any growth so that was great news! This means they won't have to replace my Hickman catheter or put me in the hospital earlier than expected. Thank you all very much for praying for me!! Hi "Ernie's Angels"!!!! I hope you are all studying hard!!! God bless you all,
Ernie
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
April 17
Hi All!!!
We checked into City of Hope yesterday and had blood drawn, then saw my doctor, and then had my chemo treatment. We are staying at what they call the Villages, which are like motel rooms with kitchenettes. They are very nice and are on the campus of the hospital, but close enough to walk to the clinic or to the hospital. We are supposed to stay there until Saturday when I am scheduled to go into the hospital. My doctor was a little concerned that I had a fever last week, so he is giving me more antibiotics. He also had them take more blood cultures, which will show if anything is growing in my blood that shouldn't be. This will take about 2 days for the results. He says if I still have something there, I will have to go into the hospital and will also have to have my Hickman catheter removed until they get rid of whatever's in the blood with antibiotics. He said that putting the new catheter in when they weren't sure that my blood was clean can cause the infection to come back. He says that some of the infection might have gotten into the new catheter and still be there (he calls it seeding), so they might be able to clean my blood but the infected catheter will re-infect me if they don't take it out. I'm sure not looking forward to that because of all the soreness I still have from the surgery on Friday. Please pray that my blood is clean of this infection. I would like to stay in the Villages and not have to go thru another surgery!!! I've gotten two doses of chemo so far (one Monday, one Tuesday) and all is well, I haven't had any side effects which is good news. They charge for any internet time in the Villages if you use your own computer, but they have a computer room with computers for us to use and that is what I am on right now. I will still try to blog everyday. God bless you all.
Ernie
We checked into City of Hope yesterday and had blood drawn, then saw my doctor, and then had my chemo treatment. We are staying at what they call the Villages, which are like motel rooms with kitchenettes. They are very nice and are on the campus of the hospital, but close enough to walk to the clinic or to the hospital. We are supposed to stay there until Saturday when I am scheduled to go into the hospital. My doctor was a little concerned that I had a fever last week, so he is giving me more antibiotics. He also had them take more blood cultures, which will show if anything is growing in my blood that shouldn't be. This will take about 2 days for the results. He says if I still have something there, I will have to go into the hospital and will also have to have my Hickman catheter removed until they get rid of whatever's in the blood with antibiotics. He said that putting the new catheter in when they weren't sure that my blood was clean can cause the infection to come back. He says that some of the infection might have gotten into the new catheter and still be there (he calls it seeding), so they might be able to clean my blood but the infected catheter will re-infect me if they don't take it out. I'm sure not looking forward to that because of all the soreness I still have from the surgery on Friday. Please pray that my blood is clean of this infection. I would like to stay in the Villages and not have to go thru another surgery!!! I've gotten two doses of chemo so far (one Monday, one Tuesday) and all is well, I haven't had any side effects which is good news. They charge for any internet time in the Villages if you use your own computer, but they have a computer room with computers for us to use and that is what I am on right now. I will still try to blog everyday. God bless you all.
Ernie
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