Transplant

A few weeks ago my dad went to the emergency room with a 102.9-degree fever.  Given the nature of his health, this was scary.  After being admitted and having some blood drawn and an X-ray, pneumonia was discovered in his lower right lung.  His blood levels were significantly low and he was given a blood transfusion almost immediately.  I was nervous that things were going to turn into something very dire, very fast. 

Within a couple days of being in the hospital a few things had been kicked around as to how to treat his condition and fix him.  He was in bad shape.  The doctors were contemplating sending him to a larger hospital in order to better facilitate his needs.  The opinion was that he would be in the hospital for a while.

He doesn’t remember, but he Face Timed me.  I saw him up close and personal on my phone and my heart stopped.  His skin was gray and he just looked terrible.  I had to keep my face from indicating the emotional distress his image put me into.  I told him that I was on my and I booked a flight that night.

I spoke with his doctor and he said he didn’t believe this was the end for dad.  He thought he would be able to heal the pneumonia and he’d go home soon.  There was a lot of word “hope” being used in relation to his recovery.  I have turned into quite the cynic these days and having optimism in most things is a challenge for me to acquire. 

The next day, the entire situation shifted.  He was going to be sent home.  His blood work was still lousy and they had continued to treat him with his chemotherapy.  In addition to his lab work still looking rough, he had developed high levels of ammonia in his blood.  The doctor didn’t know why his ammonia levels were high because the rest of his labs indicated a functional liver.  But they gave him medications to combat all they could help him fight.

I got back to La Grande on November 22^nd.  When I came into the house, I immediately saw that he looked much better than he had three days earlier.  I told him how much he terrified me and let him know I would be here for a month to make sure he stayed better.  Not only has he improved and felt better; he is now scheduled for his elusive stem-cell transplant!  The chemo he’s been taking for the past three months finally showed progress and brought his M-spike down to .95, which is the lowest his M-spike has been since November of 2012. 

On December 19^th he will begin the preliminary stage of the harvesting process.  A team of doctors and nurses in Seattle will harvest stem cells daily for about two weeks.  The doctors will evaluate the collections they’re able to get from his blood and hopefully get the highest quality of stem cells to put back into his system.  If this goes as well as the doctors intend, he should be cancer free for a minimum of 9 months.  If he recovers well, there is a potential he’ll be able to be cancer free for up to 4 years.  There is no cure for his cancer.  It will come back.  The transplant is going to give him time to have some quality back in his life before he’ll have to go back to chemotherapy.

This is both terrifying and exciting.  The recovery process for him is going to be grueling and long.  But with the real possibility of being cancer free for any length of time, this will be worth it!

I have to give some serious kudos to the community here in La Grande.  I have been profoundly impressed with the support they have shown my family here.  My dad has been loved and cared for beyond the typical by his nurses and doctors.  Nurses have come to the house and brought treats and concern.  They have also been available 24/7 for emergency questions and responded promptly no matter the time.  The school has been a tremendous force of support for Joel and Rachel and I am so grateful for that.  They have felt the love and concern of those around them and have made a huge difference in the levels of stress they have.  I almost feel like my presence here is unnecessary. 

While my dad is in Seattle getting his blood sucked and pushed, I’ll be in La Grande with the kids.  Jake will be with dad along with Sam and Sarah.  There are a few things we have to establish over the next couple of weeks and we’re making great strides in getting those things accomplished.  So far, this feels very manageable and that is a great relief considering the situation.  The minimal amounts of obstacle right now, the better.

If our family and my dad have been in your prayers, please continue to keep us there.  We have a long road ahead, but for the first time in a year this is a road with a very real possibility of ending well.