It is fascinating to hear about the process from the
donor side, in real time. (Nicole has
told us a lot about her experience but, of course, we didn’t meet her until a
year and a half after Jeff’s transplant.)
After Amy Lyn completed an online health questionnaire, answered questions
about Zika exposure, and completed screening blood work, she was told she would
be notified within 60 days if she was selected.
A week later she learned she is The Golden One! The donation is scheduled for December. She will have a pint of her blood drawn in a
couple of weeks to have on hand – in case she needs replenishing after her
donation later in the month. Amy Lyn is
a nurse who is, oddly, squeamish about needles.
Uncle Jeff assures her, “You can get over that.” Stay tuned for more on Amy Lyn’s adventures
in marrow donation.
Jeff’s doctor visits have all been pretty good. At hematology/oncology, his hemoglobin was
14.5. This is well within the normal
range and about as high as his gets. Dr.
Porter persistently tries to get Jeff off of the immunosuppressant. I call it The Great Experiment That Always
Fails. Blood work within a month will tell
whether he can safely stay off of Mycophenolate or if he will have to go back
on it (at a higher dosage than he’d been taking).
The vein specialist prescribed compression stockings for
both of his legs - instead of just one - to be worn “always”. So we’ll buy a few more. (Do they come in pairs?) January will be another “doctor month” or
more accurately, “lab and doctor month”.
