Day +59 - Day + 76

Every week has been the same, two blood draws and 15" clinic visits.  The nurses that draw from Steven's Hickman line have been really great.  They usually have an interesting fact or words of wisdom.  The nurse today said it is actually a good sign when you have signs of GVHD.  It indicates the donors cells are strong and will have a good chance of a successful transplant.  Steven has a few mild signs of GVHD so I guess it's all good.

We are hoping we don't have to come to COH on Christmas, not that it isn't fun or anything:)  Since our usual clinic day is Friday, they will decide today if we can get by with one clinic day.

The labs are back and Steven will definitely be getting a unit of blood today...hopefully from the blood drive!  Everything is down again, including WBCs, which we now know is a normal cycle.  The first time that happened we were slightly freaked out...in a respectful, professional way :)
Getting a unit today should keep us from having to come back to COH on Friday.  It will be the same drill next week, clinic on Tuesday, possible unit of RBCs, no clinic on New Years Day...hopefully.

We left the house at 7am and made super time, got here at 8am.  I am reminded of the movie Papillon where Steve McQueen says to the guards, "I'm still here you bastards!".  Yep, it is 1:15pm and we are still here.  Steven's RBC unit is ready but there are no chairs available for the transfusion.  Apparently everyone and their second uncle twice removed is here today to avoid the holiday.  We were just asked to go to the HEM Infusion Center.  All of you wonderful, gracious people who donated here at COH know exactly where we are at.  This is where Steven received his major league chemo the week before he was admitted for his transplant and where the donor center is.  We were thrilled to come back over here because they are private rooms versus the clinic area where it is one big room with 6 chairs.  It's actually fun to be back here.  There was so much ahead of us when we were here last, it's a lot more relaxing to be here again and updating the nurses on how everything went.

The unit has been hung and guess what.....it's a Directed Donor Unit from the blood drive!!!

So awesome!!!!    Thank you :)

Hopefully we will leave before rush hour but we are happy to not come back on Christmas Day so no complaints!  

Leaving at 3:45pm.....ish :)