Happy Birthday Dad!

 Today is the day of the stem cell transplant.  Here is Dad awaiting the procedure.  He has been a little nervous for this whole process, but I think he has done really well.  Before the transplant took place, he was given tylenol and benadryl in case of a reaction.  The IV benadryl seemed to calm him down quite a bit and he was just really cute and talkative right before the transplant.  There were a couple of possible side effects that he would get a funny taste in his mouth and that the room might smell funny.  This is apparently because of the chemical that the stem cells were frozen in.  Therefore they gave him some dum dums to suck on.  He only had to have one bag, which seemed to be a big deal since he donated a record amount of stem cells (like 43,000,000 or something close to that).  It sounds like most people have to have more than one bag.  We were also informed that it would only take 20 minutes to infuse.  So ready set go!

 This wasn't the best picture of what I wanted, but on the top right of all the bags hanging are my Dad's stem cells.  They are a pinkish tint and infused in 20 minutes.  He did have a funny taste in his mouth and could smell something funny, but altogether did very well.  I must admit that I thought that this was amazing and awesome in more than one way.  Being a nurse I was very intrigued with the whole process from start to finish and it was so cool that Mom and I were able to be in the room while he was getting his transplant.  Being his daughter it was emotional for me.  I have had an emotional ride through all of this.  Knowing that he was going to have to go through chemo...again...and then radiation...and knowing what I know of this stuff, my heart went out to him.  But hearing the staff say that they are always excited to give someone back their stem cells made this day seem pretty exciting.  Now that the stem cells have been infused it can take 10-14 days for the cells to "connect" with his body and figure out what they are supposed to be doing.  In the meantime he will have labs drawn and he needs to have an absolute neutrophil count of 500 for 3 days in a row.  At this point the cells will have figured out what they need to be doing and he will most likely be able to leave the hospital.  So right now my prayers are that this connecting happens soon.  I know that he is getting tired of being in the hospital and know that his goal is to get out as soon as possible.  One of the first days I went to see him he asked if I had seen the picture on the wall of the guy who was out of there in 19 days.  I hadn't when he asked, but found it later.  He told me that was the goal...19 days.  He is up walking the hallways and doing what he needs to to stay on top of his strength and basically he needs to avoid any type of infections.  So I guess at this point it is a hurry up and wait sort of thing.

 Here his nurse is giving him a little birthday present.  It was a quilt of sports material and was nice.  Attached to it was a Happy Birthday balloon.  It was very emotional for my Mom and I as we watched the care and concern given. 

And here the staff is singing Happy Birthday.  I think that each of us said a different name because there was some confusion that his first name was Dean.  So I think altogether we said Bruce, Dean, Dad, and Bruskie!  But it was a special moment and I am grateful to have been a part of this with my parents!