I’m still on the path we’ve discussed.
As predicted, I entered Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist on Thursday, June 9 to begin my bone marrow transplant journey. I’ll admit to having some misgivings about the procedure. It seems strange to think of changing my DNA and blood type. Maybe even more than strange, but if that’s what it takes, so be it.
Here’s a rough estimate of my calendar over the next 4-weeks. You’ll notice we’re counting down to Day “0”. That’s when I get the new stem cells from my donor. Then we start building back up.
I don’t recall for sure, but I think I told you that my donor was scheduled to come from somewhere in the US. But that didn’t work out. Who knows why? I’m impressed they were willing to be tested. I have to assume something came up that they couldn’t fulfill the promise and I pray they and their family are all well. No hard feelings here.
Meanwhile, my team had selected another donor as a good possibility. This person happens to be a young lady, 29-years old from somewhere in Europe. I had to ask my nurse coordinator if that meant I might come out of this process speaking German, French or Italian. She didn’t seem to think that was possible. (For the record, I was kidding, but I did ask…😊) The most amazing thing to me was the schedule only fell behind by one day. Impressive.
I bless the donor and her family. She’s offering life to me. That’s HUGE. In a couple of years, we can make contact with each other and even meet if we’re inclined to.
My reaction to the process.
I had a bit of a negative reaction to one of the many drugs I’m taking. It could have been a reaction to Busulfan, a chemotherapy drug that’s been in use since 1959. Or it could have been a reaction to ATG, an immunosuppressant drug. My negative reaction was in the form of a high temperature (102.3°F) and cold chills. Because of some of the drugs I’m taking, I am not allowed Tylenol, so they tackled the problem with Benadryl and Morphine. The dosage of ATG was doubled today but my reaction to the drugs has been very mild, nothing like yesterday. Although my temperature did spike to 102.6°F but with less harsh symptoms.
So here I am, midway through killing off my existing bone marrow with one more day of ATG to go on the 14th. Then a day of rest and then rebirth of my bone marrow with transplanted cells.
And BTW, don’t feel too sorry for me. I’m doing well. I’m probably having less reaction than 90% of patients who make it to this point. I have zero complaints.
Someone was willing to give, that I might live.
It really is that simple. Someone saw an opportunity to give stem cells, that I need to push the rest of this disease from my body, so I can continue to live.
Do you recognize this story? It’s not that different than a story most of us have probably known for years. Paul talked about it in Galatians 6:2.
A King chose to come redeem people from a life in which they could not win. He was the only one who could guarantee a plan for the redemption of mankind. He was willing to die, so that His shed blood would forever pay the price for all of us. That freedom, that salvation, was the gift Jesus gave all of us. It wasn’t limited to one person, or one race, creed, or color. The only limit was the limit of His love, which is boundless. It knows NO restriction. It is limitless.
John, the apostle, explains it much better than me, in the first chapter of the book of John 1:14-18.
Read John Chapter 1 from The Message
We’ve been given life in this world for a reason. Find your reason, find your peace.
Yes, it really is that simple.
In His Love,
Wayne
