Wascal Wabbit!!

You would not believe some of the stuff researchers come up with to put into your body. The past two days, Carla has been pumped with ATG, Anti-Thymocyte Globulin - Rabbit variety and Cytoxin chemotherapy. And let's just say, unlike real rabbits, this ATG stuff does not give a comfortable cozy feeling. Some of the side effects on Carla have been nausea, dizziness, fever, low blood pressure, high heart rate, fatigue, etc. This ATG is to help her body and new blood system work better together and hopefully reduce the affects of GVHD, Graft vs Host Disease (in basic terms, a type of anti-rejection effect). Her nose has been twitching the past hour or so, and has asked for some carrots, so maybe its working well. :)

Today she only had to deal with the ATG, no chemotherapy, and it was a better day than yesterday, but still no picnic.

Tomorrow is the big day. Carla will receive her donor stem cells starting in the morning around 11 and infuse over a few hours. Should be an uneventful process, but a long road getting there. She is excited to get to this point....and then we wait.

We did find some basic information about the donor. 49 year old and Male. Also, a very interesting piece of information, his blood type is A+. Carla's blood type is 0-. Once the new stem cells begin to form, she will change blood type to A+.

Please wish her good luck tomorrow and a new birthday. It is considered Day 0 for transplant patients.

Thank you Grandma Pam and Grandpa Dennis for doing things with the kids like making pies. Patti, thank you for having the kids over for dinner and entertaining them with games and puzzles. Having the time to be with Carla these past two days meant so much to me.