Day 4

Here I am, 4 days after receiving my stem cells. Someone asked me what my day is like… so here goes.

I’ll start with a 24 hour timespan. Around midnight,  I get woke up for bloodwork.  At least it’s taken though the central line, it’s easier.

Around 6-7, I wake up. This means blood pressure and temp checks aren’t far away. Then breakfast. I’ve about settled for cereal until I’m sure the nasueau will not visit, just to be safe. The last few morning have had me tied to IV bags, replacing what levels are falling. Then meds, mostly pills, but one injection. 

I spend some time walking each day, as they want me to stay as active as possible.  The goal is a mile a day. Broken over several times, it isn’t too bad. By mid afternoon,  I usually pile up in bed or on the couch and rest, unless I have visitors. 
Over the day, nurses come and go. Questions are asked of me about walking, eating,  pain levels, etc. The room is cleaned and bed made up.

A doctor comes by- still telling me the same stuff the nurses tell me I should be doing. He also tells me I’ll get through the basement period and be feeling better soon. 

Dinnertime comes and goes. More TV, watching my family hang out with me and realizing that I’m blessed they’re here. I also know they’re bored too! Jo and Kelly read, Alana sleeps. In an instant, any of them will go walk with me to help me pass my time. So blessed to have them here!

At some point, I have these antiseptic wipes to wipe down with before bedtime. More blood pressure and o2 checks. Before I know it, they’ll wake me up around midnight for more bloodwork. 

That’s my day! It isn’t too bad and could be a lot worse. I’ve been able to leave the floor, leave the hospital, eat what I want…. The mask stinks because it’s required,  but it protects.

Many times, what protects is what we hate. We get as close to sin as possible. We hate the commands, the Bible or laws while all the while, they’re what affords us safety. They’re this large bubble of safety and we stand at the edge poking it and then complaining when it pops.

Don’t forsake what keeps you safe!

A New Birthday

I got my stem cells back and a lot of meds this morning to make the re-entry go smoothly. Everything went smooth and the 30 minute re-entry took all of 7 minutes. The meds had be a little loopy and I was tired afterwards for awhile. A brief nap cured that….
I walked outside for awhile and spent time with Alana while Jordan and Kelly went looking for a restaurant a little further than I dared to try walking. The mask gets claustrophobic and hard to breathe through in long walks.
The nurses came by and sang “Happy Birthday” to me and placed balloons on my door. The birthday is because my immune system being like a new born baby’s immune system. I’ve had some great nurses here! 
Over the next couple of days, I begin the decent into the “basement ” which is the low-point and the worst feeling part of chemo. It’ll last appx. 4-6 days and then the stem cells should be rebuilding things. Everything is one step closer to a healthier me, so it’s worth it. 
Btw, I didn’t smile…..

Day “-2”

They call the chemo day, day “-2” because day “0” is the day (2 days later) when you get your stem cells back. Around 9pm tonight, I’ll get a dose of chemo to reset and kill everything.

That dose kills without discretion, without purpose, the good and bad cells alike. It’s like sin. Within it is no life. No hope. No purpose. The sole purpose of sin is to kill the soul.

If I just got the chemo and left it at that, I’d most likely die. With no immunity, no white and red blood cells, I’d receive a death sentence by itself. Coupled with my frozen stem cells, I have a chance at life.

With sin, left alone is a death sentence of hell. No hope, no life and no purpose. With Jesus, we have life. We have purpose and we have hope.

So begins the next 2 – 2.5 weeks of recovery. Another step in being as healthy as possible. Thanks to everyone who has helped me in some way to get me here and see me through it.