Day 131

Since I last posted I have still been collecting stem cells each day. The first day of collection I collected 1.6 million stem cells which was good, but the second day I only collected .74 so Dr Korbling called in for a medication (shot) of a drug called Mozobil. He first had to get BCBS approval since each shot is approximately an arm and a leg per shot. $16,000-$18,000 per shot. The nurses and the doctor told me what they have seen in Multiple Myeloma patients is that when they go from a high stem cell collection to a much lower collection like what had happened to me is that it only goes lower each day being that it already hit it's peak and only declines more. My body needed something to push the cells out of the marrow and the drug Mozobil was going to be the answer. It was approved and I got the first shot Friday night. The shot made me very sick and I was up all night miserable.
I have to check blood counts every morning to determine whether or not they will give me Neupogen shot or shots 45 minutes before collection, this is determined by my white blood count. The next thing I do is I get hooked up and am on the stem cell collection machine for @ 4 hours. I had my second shot last night and it was even worse! I was and am so miserable all last night and right now it's hard to bare. My stomach is cramping and twisting so much I will be so glad when this cell collection is over and I can just get some real rest.
I have known that I would not feel good a lot of the time while going through this healing process, it's just now so real!
I have met so many people here going the same thing I am going through and will be praying for them and their families all along the way and on in the future. Definitely I am blessed to live even as close as I do to MD Anderson because some people are here from all over America and have to sacrifice so much just to even get to be here, besides having to fight the fight if their lives to get to live. This hospital is one of the best in the world and I feel so fortunate to be able to be treated here. Thank you Lord for your favor in allowing me to be here and be with the best doctors and nurses in the world. When I feel a little better and am off this machine I would like to tell you more about some of the people I have met here and their stories of how they found out their diagnosis and found their way to MD Anderson. It is amazing how God works! He is truly Awesome!
Thank you for your continued prayers, I so appreciate them and your love. I thank You Lord for my Mom and my Sister in law, without them I could not make it each day! They are so wonderful, caring and loving and have so much patience. I just thank You for them!
I ask this in Your Sons precious name .
Amen

Day-127 Collection of Stem Cells

Well hello! I have been so busy here at MD Anderson doing tests from 7:30 am til around 5:30pm each day that I am so worn out by the time I finish, all I do is eat and go to sleep. Today I started the collection of my stem cells. I am in the Aphresis department at MD Anderson hooked up to this machine that circulates my blood then separates out my stem cells. I will be connected here for four hours each day of collection. I am not sure how many days will collect for, but probably four or five days. After this I will get a rest week for my body to recover.
I feel pretty good so far. It is cold or I am cold with my body circulating my blood out and through a machine and back into my body.
I am going to rest while this Maxine does its work. Thank you for continued prayers.

Day 116

I have been doing tests and re-tests all this week at MD Anderson. I met with my doctor, Dr Nina Shah and she said that she may change up the program and start giving me chemo as soon as next week😂 Needless to say I am not a fan of that idea. I had a bone marrow biopsy done last week, Thursday and the results from that will determine whether she gives me chemo before I do my stem cell collection or not.

I am praying that I have gotten almost or all of the Myeloma out of my marrow and follow the original plan of action and time frame. My next meeting with Dr Shah is this Wednesday. I have more tests all week again and I get my port implanted on Friday morning. I will start getting Nupagen shots on Friday as well. Going forward my journey becomes more challenging. I have had my wonderful sister in law, Louetta with me the whole week and I so thankful for her! She is definitely a blessing!

I will update more during the week as I get the news. I had trouble with the post last week. It didn't publish until Tuesday when I had posted on Friday. I will double check to make sure it publishes right after I post.

Thank you for your continued prayers.
Lord-
Thank You for Your love and understanding. Please continue to guide me in the direction in which You want me to go. I pray for continued knowledge and wisdom for the doctors and nurses who are working with me and other patients at MD Anderson. Thank You for my complete healing in advance and everyone who has helped me during this challenging time. I pray You would bless them. You are truly an amazing God! I pray all of this in your precious son's name, Jesus Christ.
Amen

Day 108

Wow! Today was a wonderful day! I was so touched by everyone that attended the benefit. I am so grateful for such caring and loving friends. It was awesome! I can't thank everyone enough for the kindness.
I finished up my fifth round of chemo and am ready to begin my journey/the stem cell transplant. Monday I will begin this process at MD Anderson. I will be staying in apartment very close to the hospital since they said I need to be within 10 to 15 minutes to it. The whole stem cell transplant process will take about 8 weeks with a lot of tests at first then collecting the stem cells, freezing them, getting the high dose chemo, transplanting the stem cells back into my body and then waiting for my immune system and cells to start working again. I will be staying in the hospital during the time from when they give me the high dose chemo and will stay until my body and immune system are working. Even after I get out I have to stay at the apartment close by for approximately another two or three weeks. When I go home I have to stay away from the public for about 90 days. All of this time I have to have a caregiver with me 24/7. So that about sums up the stem cell process. I am going to lose my hair and will not feel good some of the time. I am so looking forward to the final outcome of being completely healed and being able to get back to somewhat if a normal life. This has been trying and I couldn't have made it this far without my friends, my family and The Lord! I have a ways to go and will update regularly since I will not be able to work during this part of the journey.
Lord,
Thank you for giving me such wonderful and loving friends. Thank you for the sun shining today. It was beautiful! Thank you for the healing. Thank you for this journey through this wonderful life.
In Your precious sons name, Amen.