11AM Hallelujah! We started stem cell collection this morning. And they brought the mountain to Mohammed; that is, they brought that big piece of equipment to our hospital room, and they're doing the procedure there. We were a little surprised when they started today, but it's a huge relief to get this show on the road.
It's really fascinating. There are all of these tubes coming out of the port in Jimmy's chest, connected to this machine that looks like it came out of a space ship. The blood comes out one tube and into the machine where centrifugal force separates it into different components. The stem cells are the lightest and are siphoned off and collected in a bag, and the rest goes out another tube and back into Jimmy. This goes on for 4-5 hours. Tonight they tell us how many cells we collected, and whether we will have to do it all over again, which we most certainly will have to do. It's unusual to get enough in just one try. They can do this process for up to four days, and the goal is to collect ten million stem cells.
The nurse stays with Jimmy the whole time, and Jimmy was napping when I took a break, but I'm anxious to get back. I don't want to miss anything.
It's really fascinating. There are all of these tubes coming out of the port in Jimmy's chest, connected to this machine that looks like it came out of a space ship. The blood comes out one tube and into the machine where centrifugal force separates it into different components. The stem cells are the lightest and are siphoned off and collected in a bag, and the rest goes out another tube and back into Jimmy. This goes on for 4-5 hours. Tonight they tell us how many cells we collected, and whether we will have to do it all over again, which we most certainly will have to do. It's unusual to get enough in just one try. They can do this process for up to four days, and the goal is to collect ten million stem cells.
The nurse stays with Jimmy the whole time, and Jimmy was napping when I took a break, but I'm anxious to get back. I don't want to miss anything.
5 comments:
Once again we must tell you how wonderfully informative are your descriptions of your daily lives. I hope it helps you as much as it helps us to hear form you. Cheers for the stem cell progress! We will be thinking of ya'll when the dawgs kick off on Sat. Lots of love..Wade and Geri
Thank you so much for the updates! Stay strong and focused on the recovery and all will be well. You are in our thoughts and prayers daily! We love you - Jeff and Cathy Hanson
We are so delighted to hear that you are in the process of stem cell collection. Isn't medical technology amazing? Please know that you have so many friends and relatives pulling for you and supporting you every day. We hope that you find some strength and comfort knowing this. We pray that you will have a peace through all of this that only a higher power can give. Know that you are loved!
God bless! We love you.
Emily and Fred Anderson
We are glad you got started on the stem cells collection. Our thoughts and prayers are with both of you.
Wendell and Ann
I hope both of you have regained enough energy to continue with the stem cell collection. I know you must be running on fumes by now.
As you said earlier, snickers are the best food the hospital has, keep eating them.
Thank you for all the info to help all of us pulling for y'all feel more connected.
Love,
anne
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