Wednesday,

Discharge day! After a one day delay, Bonnie was given the green light for discharge this afternoon. At the time of this post, Bonnie is receiving an IV supplement of Magnesium. This is a supplement that she receives every day and will continue for months to come. One of the ongoing medications she is taking depletes the Magnesium level in her body and thus the need for IV. This will be administered at “home” on a daily basis over a three hour period.

The rash is stabilized and one of the chief doctors today thought it could be some Graft Versus Host Disease, but a mild case, and said she could be discharged. For now the nausea Bonnie was experience this past weekend is gone. Her feet and hands are starting to get a little sore like they did with her first rounds of chemo, so a potent cream has been subscribed that will penetrate the thick skin on the balls of her hands and feet.

As we transition to the next phase away from the friendly confines of Bone Marrow Transplant unit here on Ten Webber North, please pray that Bonnie will experience God’s incredible peace instead of an overwhelming undercurrent. On the surface it appears there is a lot to grasp in self administering meds and IVs combined with spending time every other day in the clinic as an outpatient, but in reality it is very manageable. Discharge involves meeting with: (a) the Discharge Planner who explains what is going to happen with the in-home IV and the third party company that will provide the supplies and meds; (b) the Social Worker; (c) the Pharmacist who explains all of the oral meds Bonnie will be taking, what they are for and the frequency she will be taking them; (d) the Nurse Practitioner who has been overseeing her care since day one ; and (e) the Nurse assigned to Bonnie today that has all of the discharge papers and instructions to sign, all of the “if you feel this or get that” call immediately or go to the ER.

With all this said, the doctors are very pleased with Bonnie’s progress and said she is doing very well compared to many patients. They attribute much of this to her diligence in walking everyday. The total distance Bonnie walked since being admitted was 52 miles.

Tonight through Friday we will be staying in guest housing right here on the Detroit Medical Center campus and then moving on Saturday to our temporary apartment in Sterling Heights. Our new address beginning Saturday will be:

Bonnie Opper
2968 Parkway Circle
Sterling Heights, MI 48310

We will continue to update the blog as needed and appreciate your faithfulness in checking it for updates. Once again thank you for your prayers, notes/cards, and other ways you have shown our family love and encouragement throughout this trial.

Steve & Bonnie