Stem Cell Donation – Day 7

8-28-11

I had a bit of a surprise while attending church this morning.  The pastor mentioned to the congregation that my brother was going into the hospital and stated that I was present and was going to serve as the donor for a liver (!) transplant.  I don’t think I’m prepared to do that, so we corrected the good reverend.

On the subject of churches, I received an email from my son, Michael, who is currently traveling through Eastern Europe.  He said that he has visited several Orthodox churches, all of which have an elderly lady selling candles at the door.  In each, he has purchased a candle and lit it with the intention that Paul’s transplant will be a complete success.

This is the third day of the Neupogen injections and it was an up and down day.  Late last night the pain level changed from mild to moderate and I couldn’t find any way to lie in bed without hurting.  I got up and paced and read for awhile and then tried to sleep in a recliner chair in the living room. By morning I had slept for perhaps three hours.  Throughout the day I sometimes felt pretty normal and sometimes not so normal.

We drove back to Houston this afternoon.  Needless to say (but I’ll say it anyway), I took a Tylenol before this road trip.  I was much more comfortable than on Friday’s drive from Houston to Austin.

Tomorrow morning I find out if enough stem cells have broken loose into my blood stream.  If so, they will “harvest” the cells needed for the transplant. We have an interesting day ahead.