JUST WHAT IS A STEM CELL TRANSPLANT??
Here, have a ROCKET!! (You'll read what that's all about in a minute.)
We said goodbye to our huge rental van that got us and our stuff here.
So, just what is a Stem Cell Transplant?
A Stem Cell Transplant (SCT) has seven different phases.
Phase 1: Make sure Hanna is healthy enough to endure an SCT.
I liken this phase to a rocket launch. (See cool picture above) Every system must be tested and every system must be a go before Dr Gertz will approve the SCT.
"Heart?"
"Heart’s a go!"
"Liver?"
"Liver’s a go!"
"Kidneys?"
"Kidneys are a go!"
"Hanna, all systems are a go. You are cleared for takeoff."
(See cool picture above again.)
This phase will take almost all day every day for a week as tests are performed and results analyzed.
Phase 2: Medical machinery and miracles. Take 6 million healthy stem cells from Hanna’s bone marrow.
This is done by first injecting her with Growth Hormone for four days straight. The Growth Hormone magically causes the stem cells to travel from the bone marrow to the blood stream. After the stem cells are in place, a port near her shoulder will allow the stem cell rich blood to be taken from her body and run through a plasmapheresis machine. (Google it. It’s educational and entertaining.) The magical machine, through centrifugal force, separates the healthy stem cells from the nasty cancer cells and all the other cells in the blood. The healthy stem cells are placed and frozen in Zip Lock bags (at least that’s what they look like) while the bad stem cells are circulated back into Hanna’s body (the nasty buggers have no idea what’s about to hit them!). It will take three full days to get 6 million stem cells.
The clinic has mentioned to us several times that aborted fetuses were never used in the research to develop this procedure.
Phase 3: DEATH TO MULTIPLE MYELOMA!
Melphalan, one of the strongest Chemotherapy drugs ever invented, and one of the oldest, is injected into Hanna’s bloodstream. It poisons the entire bone marrow. DEATH TO CANCER!
Phase 4: Transplant.
After a needed day of rest to recover from the Melphalan, the healthy stem cells that were frozen the previous week are now thawed out and injected into Hanna’s bloodstream. They immediately go back home to the bone marrow where they originated and they begin to produce all new blood cells (white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets).
Phase 5: Transition.
About a week after the Melphalan and the transplant, the new blood cells will start to take over while the last of the nasty cancer cells are dying at the same time. This is usually a tough week for the patient and has been dubbed “The Basement”. During this week Hanna will likely lose all her hair, be totally fatigued and tired, and will not want to eat. My job as caretaker through that week will be to watch her closely to make sure she eats and stays strong both physically and emotionally.
Hanna, being a good scout, is total prepared for this as you can see from this collection of hats she brought. She's gonna be stylin’!
Phase 6: Approval to go home.
This entire process is conducted via Outpatient care. We have rented a comfortable home for the three of us to live in. And starting the day after the transplant we will go to the Mayo Clinic for a check up daily. If she’s struggling or ill they may admit her to the hospital, but 60% of their SCT patients don’t need hospitalization.
Once Dr Gertz feels she’s stable we will be given the go-ahead to travel back home. Since the Melphalan kills all the white blood cells that create her immune system, she will be very immunocompromised and later will even need to have all her childhood immunizations administered again.
Phase 7: Live happily ever after.
The actual transplant of the happy and healthy stem cells is tentatively scheduled for September 29th. In the spirit of a count down, the doctors call that "day 0". The day before is day -1 and the day after is day 1. The entire process begins tomorrow (Tuesday the 13th) and will be day -16. Let the countdown to blast off begin!
Answers to the tough questions—Those questions you want to ask but don’t dare:
- What is the mortality rate of a Stem Cell Transplant?
95% of patients survive SCT with no problem. I have researched and the 5% that don’t come home from SCT are almost all elderly and/or are experiencing the degeneration of their heart, kidneys and/or liver before the transplant. Hanna is young and as strong as can be. She will be just fine.
- How successful is the SCT?
Every person responds differently and it can’t be predicted. We know of some who unfortunately didn’t respond at all. But we’ve met many more who have experienced long-term remission, even up to 20 years, even though the technology 20 years ago was nothing compared to what it is today. Hanna has responded incredibly to the treatment so far and we are confident she will respond to the SCT perfectly.
Watch the miracle and see for yourself.
Miracles we want to share:
- Hanna has responded so well to treatment and is even getting back on her feet.
- The side-effects of the initial Chemotherapy were minimal for the most part. Dr Gay said "you have fewer side effects from this treatment than any other of my patients."
- We flew to Rochester in June for an important evaluation and meeting with Dr. Gertz. At that time, hundreds of flights were being cancelled. Ours was not.
Hanna’s Two-Bits:
As I look forward to the next two months, I must admit I get a bit scared at the risks.
I have found this to be a great antidote to my worry: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.”
God is with us—he comforts and protects us.
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