Monday,

It appears as though Bonnie will be discharged tomorrow and we will be entering the next phase of her bone marrow transplant. The discharge is predicated on Bonnie’s ability to swallow a couple of different pills that are a little larger as a replacement to the current IV for of the same medicine. Up until today, Bonnie’s throat has been so severe she has been able to swallow any solid food and it was difficult making sure liquids were going down the right pipe without choking.

The sores in Bonnie’s mouth have healed up well and the remnant left in her throat must be doing the same as she was able to take the medicines this afternoon orally. Assuming her blood numbers continue as they are, there is no reason for her to stay beyond tomorrow, so we will transition to outpatient housing.

We will initially stay in the same facility I (Steve) am staying at right here at the Detroit Medical Center, although we will move into a one-bedroom suite for a little more room. By the end of the week or the first part of next week, we will move to a fully furnished two bedroom apartment in Sterling Heights, which is approximately 20 minutes from the Karmanos Cancer Center.

At the onset of being in outpatient status, Bonnie will most likely be required to go to the clinic three times each week and sometimes it will entail an entire day. A lot of it will depend on how well Bonnie is doing as she gets further out from the transplant day.

Now that the white blood cell count seems to have stabilized and her numbers look good, the WBC are starting to do what they are suppose to do, thus the healing of the mucositis (mouth and throat sores). As Bonnie’s cells continue to die off and the donor’s stem cells continue to produce new cells, Bonnie’s blood type will eventually change to match the donor’s blood type.

Please continue to pray that the Graft Versus Host Disease, which will most likely surface sometime during the first 100 days or so, is minimal. As mentioned previously, the doctors want to see some limited GVHD as this is important in eliminating the genes that are responsible for the leukemia returning. Also pray for Bonnie’s anxiousness as she anticipates leaving the safe confines of the hospital. We have heard and seen many stories of transplant patients who left only to be readmitted a few days later through the ER and ending up back here in the Transplant Unit. It’s very easy to see small changes, like oozing from the eye and small patchy rashes forming on Bonnie’s face combined with the element of the unknown of “what’s next” that creates a level of fear and anxiety.

Our faith and trust continue in the Lord as He is all we need for our security which is the hope we hold onto. It is comforting and reassuring to know that the Psalmist in Psalm 119:71 said “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statues.” We are grateful to God for this trial as He has revealed more of Himself to us and has drawn us nearer to Him, as we traverse through the daily challenges.

Steve & Bonnie