08/24/09 Fifth Week of Treatment

08/24/09 I can't believe we are starting our fifth week. I did forget to mention one thing on yesterdays blog, the doctors wanted Joe to get up and start walking a little. So on Saturday morning when I left to go take a shower I told him when I get back he had to walk he wasn't actually thrilled about this so, I brought back his Yankees pj pants. Well the night before the Yankees beat the Red Sox 20 to 11 and sure enough that got him out of the bed, we strolled up to the nurses station Joe in his Yankees pj's and boy was everyone surprised to see him out of bed and walking until they seen Joes pj's then the teasing started, so Joe says to the nurses in the lowest of voices because he is still so sick "don't worry I am wearing my Red Sox boxers" of course this got a big laugh. Well today we had to be back at the Stem Cell Treatment Clinic at 8:30, we did not sleep great last night up and down a lot due to the C-Dif. When we got back from the hospital on Sunday, I helped Joe take a bath and he wanted to shave because he hadn't all week. Well he decided to shave his mustache and beard off so he is all clean shaved now. He has started to lose his hair so he figured his facial hear was next. He is not upset about losing his hair he said it was the least of his worries. I am going to miss it because I rub his hair at night when I am reading in bed, I will have to rub his head instead while we are waiting for it to grow back. So great news today, it is day +11 this is how many days has passed since the transplant and Joe's white blood cell count is up to 2300, normal is 4,000 to 10,000 his red blood count is still low so he had another blood transfusion today. The doctors told us today if Joe keeps on progressing the way he is with no other complications we will be able to leave for home in 7 to 10 days. It will still be several months before his immune system is strong enough to be out in public without a mask and has all his energy back but we will be home. I am slowly getting Joe to eat today he had toast, rice and two carnation instant breakfast made with lactose free milk. I have to try and get 32 oz of fluid along with small meals in him so he does not dehydrated again from the diarrhea, which has gotten a little better but will be awhile before it is gone. The docs were really happy to see Joe doing so much better today from when they last seen him at the hospital on Friday. They said once the white count comes back it starts fighting off any infections so that is why he is doing so good his count almost tripled from Sunday. I want to take a minute to thank everyone for all their prayers, best wishes and support this would of been so much harder without all of you. We love you and see you soon, and don't stop praying.