We have decided to start this blog to keep you (family and friends) updated on Andrew's progress over the next few months. This way we can post an update once and you can access the blog if/when you want to. Other friends have used this format for similar purposes and it seemed to work well.
Andrew has signed off at work, will go in to Stanford to have his Central Venous Catheter placed tomorrow (6am), have a dry run for the TLI (total lymphoid irradiation) on Friday and then admitted to E1 (Bone Marrow Transplant Unit) at Stanford on Sunday. So it seems like a good time to start.
Andrew is undergoing a Non-Myeloablative Allogeneic Transplant.- a bone marrow transplant using his older brother Grant as his donor. The preparative regimen involves radiation to weaken Andrew's immune system. Then Andrew's immune system will be replaced with Grant's which will hopefully recognise and destroy cancer cells.
It is expected that Andrew will be in hospital for a week receiving TLI and ATG (Antithymocyte Globulin). He will continue TLI as an outpatient the second week and receive the transplant on the 17th. He will then continue as an outpatient for 90-100 days.
He hopes to be back to work within 6 months.
We will try to update this blog regularly.
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Grant Donating!!
Grant Donating his Stem Cells
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Andrew. Lizzie, Alice, Penny, Angus
Lizzie b'day (Sept 28)
Happy Birthday to Lizzie
I'm glad to see a blog...not so glad to know that Andrew is going through another transplant. We'll pray that things go uneventfully. You always have such a great attitude and it's infectious. Hopefully that's all the infectious stuff you'll deal with. Love, Alison
ReplyDeleteI appreciate being kept in the loop and will follow Andrew's progress with great interest. I hope this round is not too hard on him (and the rest of the family). Please let us know how we can support you.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Fran
Andrew, we will keep you in our prayers. Wishing you a short and speedy recovery.
ReplyDeleteMark and Supriya
Andrew, I want to wish you the best for the challenge ahead of you. We will be keeping you in our thoughts. Please let us know if there is any way we can help. Keep your spirits up. All the best.
ReplyDeleteTim Meadows
The Linehans are thinking of you Andrew and wish you a good recovery. Love to Penny and the kids.
ReplyDeleteHi AJ and Pen and all of your wonderful kids !
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea to set this Blog up and we will be following it with love and interest. Please also know that your Support Team at Mount Martha will be right behind you all the way and wishing you a speedy recovery. we also hope to catch up with you again in the near future and spend some quality time.....who knows, maybe even in the US !!!
Love & Best Wishes
Pete, Suze, Stu, Tom, Nick, Lach & Georgie
Our thoughts are with you. I know that with enough donuts Andrew can accomplish anything!
ReplyDeleteGeoff & Lisa
Andrew / Johno / Gonna:
ReplyDelete(Didn't think I knew of the 2nd nickname did you :))
The Wong Family is here to help and support in any way necessary!
You're gonna come back stronger (just like Penny and Maritza's coffee:) real soon!
Keep the updates coming.
Best,
Wongo and the Family
What a great idea to keep us informed with this blog. We are close by and can help; please let me know what would benefit you - in addition to all the prayers and positive healing energy sent to Andrew.
ReplyDeletehi Johnno and Penny,
ReplyDeleteThanks for including us in your blog distribution. Sorry to hear that the illness has relapsed. We are thinking of you and watch the updates with great interest.
Lots of love James, LIz, Matt Andrew and Kate.
Hi Pen & AJ,
ReplyDeleteHope things are still going fantastically well. When should we expect the next update ?
Love Pete, Suze, Stu, Tom, Nick, Lach & Georgie