Day 70 - Testing for Stem Cell Transplant

I am finally back! I have had so much go on. I recently did all of my initial tests at MD Anderson. I did all of the tests I had done in November and December along with additional tests on my heart and lungs completed to send to Blue Cross Blue Shield to get approval for the stem cell transplant. I received a phone call from my assigned RN from Blue Cross Blue Shield, she indicated that they assign her to the patient once they are approved for the transplant, so I guess I am approved for the transplant. I will feel better once I get the letter from BCBS officially. The RN said she is there to help in getting me everything i need through the process in working with Blue Cross Blue Shield. My tentative start date is May 6th, but I will find out for sure April 15. I think I am going to call my physicians assistant tomorrow and find out if possible. I have to have a place to stay within 10 minutes of the hospital since some of this will be out patient. I called some apartments for a short term lease and each month before furniture, electric, water and other necessities was $2,555.00 per month. I looked into the hotel that is connected to MD Anderson called Rotary House owned by Marriot which only allows MDA patients and their family members to stay. The cost for a room with 2 queen beds a kitchenette and a small table and chairs is $134.00 a night which really isn't bad at all except I need to rent for 56 days. It's all going to work out...I just know it! I will feel more comfortable being that close to the hospital not to mention I will not have to worry about driving to and from anywhere.
I receive a mini manual and a CD manual in everything I need to know about the transplant. My wonderful girls at my office Nancy and Brenda printed the CD manual out for me and put it in a binder so I can refer back to it all during the day. It is overwhelming how much I have to know. We took a class with an instructor last week on Transplantation. Roland, Linda (my Mom) Louetta (my sister in-law), Roxi and Johnny Bernardo took the caregivers class which had an instructor / psychiatrist that only took the caregivers and the patient cannot attend. No one that attended could have ever had cancer either. I will have to have a caregiver with me 24/7 during out patient times and when I leave to go back home. I also will be back to " newborn status" where I will have every single immunization that I have ever had in my entire life since birth.
I will be shaving my head right before i am admitted to the hospital or the week of collection of my stem cells to avoid the depression of seeing it fall out in hand dulls. The manual even recommends it as well. I will give my hair to Locks of love.
Yesterday I started my fourth round of chemo back at Dr. Abramowitz's office at Hermann Memorial. They are going to keep me on chemo and all of the iother medicines until my transplant. I am so excited that I went from 80 percent Multiple Myeloma cells in my bone marrow to only 10 percent in it since starting treatment January 15th, 2013. I am looking forward to the day I am completely clear. God has had his hand in this entire wild event. I am just curious why, but I know I will serve Him and praise Him through it all because He does have a plan for me and someone He wants me to run into or help from this journey. .

Lord, I love you! I can't thank you enough for everything that has taken place. You have plans and a future for me and I am excited to wake up each day and be apart of this wonderful glorious world that you put me in. Continue to guide me and direct me in the way you want me to go. Please lift up all my friends who are still battling this terrible disease and comfort the families and friends that need comforting. Give me the wisdom and knowledge that I need to go through each day fighting the battle and still working full time right now. Lord, you are so awesome! I ask this in Your precious son's name, Jesus name, Amen.

Here's a pic from yesterday getting my meds at Dr. A's office.