Feb 4: A New Season of SBMT

 SBMT - Stem Cell Bone Marrow Transplant

Thursday the 1st was my BMT Class that filled in a LOT of detail, and I mean a LOT. The 2 hr class lasted three and a half hours. I am having an allogenic Matched Unrelated Donor (MUD) transplant. 

In a nutshell, the timeline is:

1. Feb 9. Bone Marrow clearing chemo for 5 days (T minus 5 days)
2. A rest day for me when the donor's stem cells will be collected from his donation of blood. It's not quite that simple, as the donor will be doing things prior to that day to maximize the stem cells. 
3. Feb 16. Transfusion day when I receive the donor's blood stem cells as a transfusion. (Day 0). The donor's stem cells migrate to the new vacancy in my bone marrow and setup shop.
4. A short stint of chemo designed to suppress the initial bone marrow transplant reaction to my body, as the donor's stem cells now bone marrow see my body as the "graft" in Graft vs Host Disease (GVHD). 
5. High level monitoring for donor rejection/management. (Day 1- 30)
6. Tapering off monitoring for GVHD (Day 31-100)
7. Long term monitoring and maintenance. 

It's been a load of info to take in and learn, understand and process.

I am asking God for His mercy and grace in this next season, that it might go well, that I would get to complete remission. Most of all, I pray that He would give me the strength to endure the tough days and show grace and mercy to those around me. 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Blessings to you in your journey and challenges of life this week.