News Flash: Mystery Woman is Sick!

Today, while waiting for Dr. Porter in the examination room, Jeff noticed a treatment tray in the room which was a big clue that he would be having another bone marrow biopsy.  He had hoped he wouldn’t need another one before his transplant.  The transplant coordinator, Jackie, and two other nurses came into the room (one was a student nurse) and began Jeff’s preliminary exam.  Heather wanted to confirm that he was not taking any medication and we reminded her that on Sunday he began taking Bactrim in preparation for the transplant.  She said, “You’ll need to stop that.”  Our hearts sank.  

We found out that Jeff’s donor has developed pneumonia or bronchitis.  Even Dr. Porter isn’t allowed to know too much about the donor so we will not get an update on her condition until close to the new transplant date.  Jackie gave us a new calendar of events and told us that a second donor will be lined up for the same dates so that if Mystery Woman #1 isn’t cleared for donation, the second donor will be used.  The new, tentative admission date is Saturday, May 21^st, with transplant on Thursday, May 26^th (the day before Kim’s birthday). 

Dr. Porter did not want to wait another two weeks without finding out what Jeff’s marrow is doing.  That was the reason for the biopsy.  His gut feeling is that everything is fine and we will be able to proceed with the new plan.  However, if the biopsy shows too high a percentage of blasts, another course of traditional chemo would have to be done instead of proceeding with the transplant.  He doesn’t think that is the case but it would be “poor form” not to check it.

Jeff has been grilling like crazy to savor as much summer flavor as he can before his post-transplant hibernation.  The delay will give him more time for grilling and restaurant meals.  We’ll have to have a picnic, I think.  Perhaps our traditional Memorial Day picnic will occur a little early this year.