Wednesday, November 23, 2005

John's upcoming transplant

Hi everyone!  Happy almost Thanksgiving!

John now has a date for his transplant.  Well not really an exact date.  We know it will be sometime in January.  John had his appointment on Nov. 17 at his Transplant Center (Hershey Medical Center) and was told his bone marrow transplant (BMT) would be in Jan.  We were told to come back on Dec. 22nd and we would find out the exact date in January that the BMT would be. 

You probably read in my Sometimes I Think journal that John's MDS is turning into AML.  AML is like MDS leukemia.  It is very serious and often deadly.  He was told that if he did not get the BMT, there was a 100 % chance he would get the AML during his lifetime, and a 50 % chance he would get it within a year.  That is why he has to get the BMT in Jan.

Now on to other things I wanted to explain to you.  Some of this will be the same as the other journal and some of this will be a little different, as I have come to new understandings.  

John was told that he will get a non-ablative transplant instead of an ablative transplant.  It is also called a "Reduced Intensity Transplant".  As I stated in my Sometimes I Think journal, this means that he will be having less chemo.  That should be a lot easier on him. 

He will also have a greater chance for survival.  One of the reasons his transplant oncologist didn't want to do the regular transplant is because there was only a 60 to 80% chance of survial he told us on Thursday.  We didn't like the odds.  Well, I was just found out with the RIT (the kind he is having) the chance of survival can be as low as 73%.  Yikes.  No, I did not tell John.  I don't want to.  I want him to think positively.  I am not going to panic.  At least not today anyway, lol.  I have a good feeling that he is going to live.  

Anyway, what I am trying to say is this.  The odds of living through the transplant with the non-ablative transplant that he is having are better.  But there is a down side also.  Let me see if I can explain it simply.  Do you remember when I said in another entry that during a BMT, if you did not engraft (except the donor's marrow within 45 days), that you would simply die?  Well this does not hold true for John's new transplant!  Because he will still have some of his own bone marrow in his body, and some of the donor's marrow.  The chemo will not have killed off all his own.  So the positive side is that he can't die from lack of engraftment!  This is great!  The down side is very bad.  It is this.  If he fails to engraft, and the marrow is not killed off, neither is the cancer.  He retains the MDS, and possibly goes into the AML.  Drat, he may be fighting this cancer for years to come.

And there is still the possibility he will get Graft Verses Host Disease (rejection of the donor's bone marrow), and a white blood cell infection (both of which you can die from).

Ok, now that I have gotten the yucky medical stuff out of the way, I will try not to mention them all the time.  

I still do not think he will die. 

The next time I write an entry I will try to put some more positive and interesting things in here.

Oh, we will probably have to be staying in Hershey for more like two months than one month, like I initially thought.  We will have to wait for John to engraft.  First we will be staying with John in the hospital, but it won't be more than a week (unless something goes wrong).  Then we will be staying in something called the Hope House which is across from the hospital.  John will go to outpatient during the day, and then get to come back and stay at night with me at the Hope House.  Yay!!!  The Hope House is nice.  You get your own room, and share the rest of the house with the other residents.  I am pretty sure they have computers there, in which case I will keep up a journal so you all will be able to know how John is doing.

Well, thanks for letting me share, I hope I didn't bum anyone out, lol.  Have a great Thanksgiving, rest up, and eat a lot. Oh, and for my UK friends, and international friends, sorry if I said Happy Thanksgiving.  I keep forgetting you don't celebrate, lol.  Just have a great day!

Love, Krissy :)        

26 comments:

  1. It's good that you are there with John, all your positive thoughts and prayers are exactly what he needs right now. I just wish this could be done and over with so you can get on with your life together. I so hope it goes well for you both. It goes without saying that I'm keeping you and John in my prayers. Jeannette.

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  2. Keep positive Krissy - you and John are always in my thoughts.....Ally

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  3. Will keep thinking those good, positive thoughts for his transplant in Jan.  Also, that is great when he is up to it, he can stay with you where you will be.  Hugs and prayers, have a great Thanksgiving!!
    Joyce

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  4. And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee. Exodus 23:25 (KJV)

    Krissy,
    This passage from Our Lord's word reminds me of you.  Your service and faith will be rewarded.  God's promises are true.  That is the one thing in our lives that we can trust.  God's word.

    I will be praying for John's healing.  As well, as your peace of mind.

    Bunches of love and hugs, LuAnne

    http://journals.aol.com/thebaabee/LUANNESLIFELIVINGWITHLUPUS
     

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  5. Keeping positive thoughts for you guys. Happy Thanksgiving.!!

    Ellen

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  6. So glad that it is definitely going to be January.  Keep thinking positive thoughts. Praying for you both.

    http://journals.aol.co.uk/jeanno43/JeannettesJottings/

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  7. I am glad to hear the BMT will be very soon.  My prayers are with you and John as you travel down this road.  If I were there I would give you a big hug.  Instead I send you a big cyber-hug, my friend.

    Enjoy Thanksgiving and give John a hug for me.

    Deb

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  8. Good news in all of this I think................. big hug!

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  9. Happy Thanksgiving :)

    Deb

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  10. Hi Krissy.  What do you say to a friend who is writing about their husbands survival rates? With tear stung eyes, I write that I am truly sorry that you both are going thru all this.  But with a smile and I can say that believing in God, has to be what gets you thru.  You are a wonderful person, Krissy, to be strong by your husband's side.  I know you are a ray of sunshine to John and a pillar of strength as well.  I am sending you ((((((big hugs)))))) and prayers that God will continue to send peace and hope your way.  He is with you guys.
    Sonya

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  11. Lots of news here.  Information is good, Krissy.  Happy Thanksgiving and big hugs to you, John, and Michael the cat.
    Judith

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  12. clarification...  "Lots of news here." <~~~meaning in your entry, that is.
    Giving you an extra squeeze with that hug!
    Judith

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  13. Keeping positive thoughts for John (and you). Hope you both have a great Thanksgiving!
    http://journals.aol.com/astaryth/AdventuresofanEclecticMind
    http://adventuresofaneclecticmind.blogspot.com/

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  14. Oh, Krissy, I will continue to be praying for John.  I too, have a very good feeling about this transplant and his success :)  I hope you two have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
    Hugs,
    Heather

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  15. (((((((( Big big hugs Chrissy and John )))) in all you're going through you know you've the very best thoughts from here.  Keep positive.  I don't cellebrate Thanksgiving as a day, but am thankful they're are lovely people like yourselves around......so Happy Thanksgiving to you xxxxx Rache

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  16. Your Thanksgiving wishes are very welcome Krissy, it doesn`t matter that we don`t celebrate it.  Now, you both have a very Happy Thanksgiving and take care of yourselves. :o)

    (((((((Krissy and John)))))))

    Sandra xxxxx

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  17. Krissy...I will kep prayinh for you both..hve a great day tomorrow.....Kasey

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  18. Keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers!  Hope you have a nice Thanksgiving!

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  19. Praying for John and you. Happy Thanksgiving!

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  20. Well Jeannette confused me because she was telling us all happy thanksgiving so I went over and told them happy thanksgiving in England...silly me...
    A wonderful Thanksgiving to you and John!! You both are always in my thoughts...
    Linda :)

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  21. Happy Thanksgiving to you and John my dear :o)
    I'm SO glad that Hope House has computers, and that you will be able to keep us updated from there, hopefully.  Thinking of the both of you, as always.
    Sara   x

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  22. I will be thinking of you all the way through the transplant Krissy.The time is nearly upon you to go in to hospital,I will be glad when its all done.Everythings looking good.

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  23. I keep praying everyday for you and John.  I'm so glad you'll  be able to keep in touch at Hope House!  -Kellen

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  24. Krissy,  I am truly honored to be added as a reader here!!  Thank you.  

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  25. Wow Krissy--you really have your hands full.
    I will definitely keep you in my prayers.
    Thanks for sharing this journal with me.
    hugs,
    J

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  26. Hi Krissy,
    Thanks for allowing me along on this journey.  This is the time of year for joy, peace, love, hope & most importantly miracles.  And I believe that besides great doctors, good meds & treatments, & prayers--Postitive thinking is equally important. John is squared away!  I'll keep reading, praying & sending good thoughts from here.  
    Barb (diary of a mad woman) :)

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