Day +10

Steven received AB designated donor platelets this morning!  Thank you!  We know they are donor directed when they have the manilla tag on them.

Our AB friend is the universal recipient versus O who is the universal donor.  The AB blood type comprises less than 4% of the population.  We have some very rare friends!  Platelets are not type specific meaning you can receive anyone's platelets no matter their blood type.

Since the new stem cells haven't kicked in yet, Steven's blood type is still B.  When the donor stem cells start setting up shop, he will most likely be AB somewhere in the transition to becoming A.  Basically he is a blood bank nightmare and they are only giving him O blood.

Three of our good friends donated platelets this morning and he had two visitors.  Thank you!
I am in awe at the people who have driven to Duarte to donate for Steven.  You have to love the 210.  I haven't made a trip here yet and not seen an accident or an accident waiting to happen.  I'm starting to see the same cars during the week, we wave at each other...the Jersey kind of wave.  You really have to be on your "A" game driving here.  At any point, the traffic comes to a screeching halt, for no reason.  I don't know if I want to watch the move LA Story with Steve Martin or if I want to see if there are flights to Duarte.

One of the programs they have at COH is called Change of Scenery.  They understand that it's hard to be sequestered in one room waiting for cells to engraft.  There is a picture in each room that they change for you every two weeks.  They peel the picture off the white board and put up a new one of your choosing.  This is the excitement we have been reduced to...

Can't wait for his WBC's to climb to 1000, then we get to leave the room and walk the hall!  Any day now.