Coming Home -- Need Bananas

That really was the voice mail message I received this morning from my hubby....

When we last left Our Hero, he was at 1.5 units of stem cells. Happy to report that he produced 0.2 more yesterday, so has reached his mandatory minimum of 1.7 (tho we still hope for a few more!) So, they've hooked him up again today, trying for more. But, we have reached the magic number for the transplant. Considering where he was a week ago, this is VERY good news. 2.5 would've been ideal, as its safer, but we'll take what we have. (We'll ask the doctor when we see him the 17th for the specifics about the risks associated with using less than 2.5 units). Still hoping to squeeze out 0.3 more, though. They're going to keep him a little longer today, but his blood counts (reds, whites, plateletes) have started dropping, indicating that he's probably "tapped out." At least for this go-round. Depending on what they collect today, they may just give him 2 weeks of rest before the transplant, or they may rest him a week, then try to collect again. Hard to say at this point.

All week long, as they've been collecting stem cells, they've had to fill him full of IV fluids, to keep him from getting dehyrated. Naturally, now he has too many fluids on board, so they have to give him Lassix (a diuretic, not the eye surgery) to take the fluids off. Hence, the bananas. (They replace the potassium lost through the Lassix). Imagine, Barnes Hospital, one of the top 10 hospitals in the country, is sending him home with a prescription for. . . bananas. Isn't modern medicine fascinating? I'm just so jazzed he gets to come home, I'm planning banana pizza, banana pot roast, banana pancakes, banana fritters, banana's on a stick, banana daquiris, banana gumbo, banana sandwiches, you name it. Send Banana recipes. (Debbie, didn't you write the book on banana recipes?) Actually, the whole banana episode should be over in a day or two, and he probably only needs to eat two or three. Then, he should be normal (whatever that is).

So, here's the new timetable as of 11:30 this a.m.:

We are definitely tentative for admission on June 23. How's that for certainty? I assume they'll call him to let him know what he collects today, but you know what they say when you assume....

In the meantime, I would be remiss if I didn't address some of yesterday's comments.

Ginger, most of what Judy said about the Potato Salad Legend is correct, except, its not a Legend (its true), there was no Empress, she wasn't beautiful, the potato salad did not taste good, the family wasn't mean and ungrateful, and the whining and complaining was certainly justified. Actually, I think the only true thing she said was that the potato salad was unattractive (to say the least). I'll leave it at that -- your imagination can fill in the rest. Needless to say, I'm beginning(?) to think that both of my sisters are delusional (I'm really the only sane one in the family.)

Dave: I certainly thought of you and all the other parents of every goalie on the planet when I watched that replay.

Shelly G: Thanks for the thoughts & good wishes. But, if you take Judy's kids, you have to take my crazy sisters, too. Better yet, just send them, and you bring the cheesecake here.

Obviously, everyone is in a MUCH better mood today than we've been in at least a week. Thanks to all for the prayers, the good wishes, the comments & the laughs. We need a little comic relief now & then. Your love & support means the world to us all.

Love,
Us

P.S. Ian, I'm posting this now, so you'd better get your comment in before Judy. I may not post again for a few days, so this may be your last big chance to tick her off for a while.

P.P.S. The Mister Potato Head was a "mercy trophy." I don't recall eating any potato OR pasta salad last summer.