Day 0 - Transplant Day!!!

(click photo to see it larger)

This morning Dianna was given more medication to help prevent problems with the transplant.
She had a reaction to one of the medications it caused a fever and her blood pressure went up.
She was given more medication for the fever and blood pressure medication.

Nicolaus had to be at the surgery area at 6:00am.
He was taken back for the stem cell harvest around 7:30am.
The doctors said everything went very well with the procedure. :-)
We finally got to see Nicolaus aroung 10:30am.
He was in pain, so he received medication for the pain.

Nicolaus finally felt well enough to visit Dianna around 5:30pm.
They brought him up in a wheelchair.

Poor Nicolaus got sick leaving the hospital. :-(

*The hospital sent Dianna a Birthday Cake tonight.*

**Now Dianna will get to have TWO Birthdays.**

Day -2

This morning at 4:00am, Dianna started "Cyclosporine".
It is used to decrease the immune system's response to a transplant.
Today, NO Cytoxan. Yea!
Dianna received Fludarbine & ATG.
She is still having bad haedaches. :-(
Tonight around 9:30pm Dianna was sick at her stomach again. :-(

Tuesday, Day -1
For Dianna- Rest day & IVIG
For Nicolaus- Pre-OP appointment

Day -3

Labs from 9/27/08
white blood count: 0.4, red blood count: 3.45, HGB: 11.4, Platelets: 55, Neut #: 0.400

*Dianna did receive a blood transfusion on Friday and platelet transfusion today.

Saturday- Dianna did ok, she continues to have bad headaches off and on during the day/night.

Sunday- Today is the last day of Cytoxan!
Dianna is about the same as yesterday.

Tomorrow, Monday- will be only the Fludarabine & ATG.

Day -5

Dianna had a much better day today!
She was feeling more like herself. (She was picking on Mom this afternoon.)
Dr. Lenarsky was pleased with how well she did yesterday with the chemo.
She did just have a very bad headache; but the nurse quickly gave her some pain medication and she is now asleep.
I am praying that she feels better tomorrow.

Thanks to everyone that signed Dianna's guestbook, she enjoys reading the messages.

Day -6

Today, Thursday is Day -6
Dianna begins Fludarabine & Cytoxan

Yesterday, after the Central Line placement Dianna was not able to keep any food or drink down.
Everything that she tried came back up.
The extra pain medication did not agree with her stomach.

This morning was the same...
I was hoping that she would be feeling better and able to eat, but no such luck.

She has slept most of the morning and is still sleeping now. (just wakes to go to bathroom then right back to bed)

September 2008

Wednesday, September 24, 2008 11:52 AM CDT

We are in the hospital!
Dianna had a platelet transfusion yesterday- Tuesday.
This morning, she had her surgery to insert her Central Line.
This will allow the doctors/nurses to draw blood and give her IV's or medication with out having to poke her each time.
It took much longer to complete the surgery than the surgeon first thought. He told us he should be out in 45 minutes to an hour, but it was two hours before Dr. Hermon came out to talk with us.
(I was getting worried!)
He said Dianna's vein on the side he wanted to use was the size of a ball point pen tip.
So now she has two extra holes with stiches. :-(
At this time she is still sleeping, because they gave her extra medication for the pain.

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Wednesday, September 17, 2008 9:11 AM CDT

Just a short update...

Dianna had a check up on Monday, Sept. 15th.
She was able to tour the Transplant Floor.
During the tour she got to meet the nurses that will be taking caring of her starting next Tuesday.

I can not believe that it is less than a week till we check in to the hospital (Medical City Dallas).

Please keep us in your prayers.
Thanks!

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Monday, September 8, 2008 4:10 PM CDT

Dianna and Nicolaus had appointments on Thursday, September 4th.

Dianna's labs are- white blood count: 5.1, red blood count: 2.70, HGB: 9.70, platelets: 37, NE#: .90, NE: 17.3

Dr. Goldman gave me a copy of th HLA Results for Dianna & Nicolaus- (Nicolaus is a 11 out of 12 match for Dianna.) :-)

Dianna:
HLA-A: 1,2
HLA-B: 8,15
HLA-Cw: 3,7
HLA-DRB1: 0301/28,0401
HLA-DRB3: 0101/11
HLA-DRB4: 0103
HLA-DRB5:
HLA-DQB1: 0201,030201

Nicolaus:
HLA-A: 02,
HLA-B: 08,15
HLA-Cw: 03,07
HLA-DRB1: 0301/28,0401
HLA-DRB3: 0101/11
HLA-DRB4: 0103
HLA-DRB5:
HLA-DQB1: 0201,030201

We are still on target to go into the hospital on September 23rd and have the Central Line placement on the 24th.

July 2008

Monday, July 28, 2008 7:22 AM CDT

Dianna had an appointment with her Hemotoligist/Oncologist on Thursday, July 24th.
Her labs are- white blood count: 4.7, red blood count: 3.03, HGB: 10.60, platelets: 40.

We now have a date for transplant! October 1st...

She will begin having doctor's appointments the week of September 15th.
Then on September 24th, she is to have a Central line placement.
And on September 25th, she begins the Fludarabine/ Cytoxan for four days.
On September 29th, she will have only Fludarabine.
On September 30th, a day of Rest.

Finally on October 1st- Transplant Day: Day 0.

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Tuesday, July 22, 2008 7:46 AM CDT

Dianna had another hearing test on Monday.
The results show that her hearing is getting worse.
The doctor feels we should look into surgery and/or hearing aids.
This will have to wait till after her bone marrow transplant.
I hate that she has something else not in her favor and looking at another possible surgery.
Please keep Dianna in your prayers!