HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year to all. After a few very long days at Stanford, Andrew did finally get his line pulled and is so happy to be rid of it. With a few pints (rbc's) for Xmas, the removal of the line, restrictions lifted (no longer has to have 24/7 care, doesn't have to wear the mask all the time, can reintroduce fresh food produce, can open doors and windows in the house, Stanford visits down to weekly ...etc) it was a very good Xmas and we are all looking for forward to a great new year. We hope it is a great new year to all of you too .... that you can leave behind/move on from the not so great things that happened in 2010 and/or you have plenty more of the really good things of 2010 continue and overflow into 2011.
Pre-xmas Stanford visit included a BMB (bone marrow biopsy). Results of cytogenetic test (look at the chromosomes) and degree of chimera ism (% of genetically distinct cells -Andrew's and Grant's DNA) will take a couple of weeks. Dr Negrin thinks that the recent decline in cell count (in blood) and ongoing anemia is due to Andrew's remaining  cells fighting or rejecting the new ones produced by the Grant's stem cells and that this will most likely resolved itself over time.

all I want for Xmas ...

Out at Stanford and Andrew is waiting for a bone marrow biopsy. What he is hoping for is that they will agree to pull his line today too. Both are early because his 100 days post transplant comes up in January and his main doctors are on holidays. He has done so well he's hoping they will opt for early rather than late. Will depend on his counts today he thinks. He would rather go with pulling the line and putting up with a poke when he has the blood draws and needs transfusions. That will hopefully reduce to once or twice a week. Lots of restrictions are lifted after day 100. Andrew can drive, start reintroducing some fresh produce into his diet, open the windows (fresh air), etc. I hope Andrew gets his line pulled for Xmas. He would love that. Think it might be a long day here today .... how many days til Xmas???? .... this elf has just not been very industrious!

Changing Meds

We come into Stanford three times a week. They take labs, do x-rays, check skin etc. For the last few visits Andrew's labs have shown a decline in blood cell counts (red, white and platelets) which is not what you want to see. He received a couple of pints of red cells last Friday which made him feel a bit better. This week the medical team met to review and decided that Andrew had engrafted so well that it was not likely to be due to a failure of his graft so decided it was due to drug toxicity. His meds have been changed but because the immune system has taken such a hit it will be a few weeks before they expect to see the upward swing again. Andrew has also had some GI issues and thinks that is related to same meds so hopefully that will resolve itself with the change too. Even with this hiccup Andrew continues to do very well considering. A new doctor on rounds this week and he was astonished to hear that this is Andrew's second transplant. He thought he just looked too good for that to be the case. This guy is about our age and was a pretty keen tennis player before deciding he wasn't going to make it beyond the satellite circuit and went into medicine. He and Andrew had plenty to chat about. Girls have had exams all week so the candle has been burning in our house day and night. We are all looking forward to Friday (2 weeks vacation time). Very frosty here this morning when I decided to go for an early morning bike ride .... brrrrrr my toes are still cold. Early moring (5am) swimming just finished for the year and doesn't resume until January 3rd.  Thought I would mention the cold to our Aussie family and friends because I think they might be sweltering at the moment. Looks like free "morning tea" here at the Stanford Cancer Center for Xmas. Will have to go and check it out! 

Early Xmas pressie

So at day 90 the transplant team would like to over 90% engraftment. That means they would like to see in a sample of Andrew's blood that over 90% of the cells being from Grant Johnson stock. Day 90 is around Xmas for Andrew. Well the good news is that the last test results have Andrew at just over 90% already and that is great. As a result they are starting to slowing wean Andrew off some of the immunosuppressant drugs. So far a some minor GI issues and we are out here today checking that out. His red blood cells are still being difficult. All his counts are hovering at the moment (that is the amount of each in a sample). White blood cells and platelets a bit low but red blood cells very low. This means Andrew is very tired and can't do much but we have managed two days to peek outside and go for a walk up to the park and back. Also means Andrew will probably need another transfusion either today or Monday. They do that when his hemaglobin dips below 8 and it has been just over 8 the last couple of visits. Can't believe it is almost the end of the year. Better get moving on the Xmas letters.  At the rate I manage to update this blog ..... don't hold your breath waiting for our card in the post. At least here in the US it is "politically correct" to wish folks "happy holidays" ... so therefore I guess I have more time :)  We have to attend a class today for what to do etc. after day 100. Bit early but with Xmas and New Year coming up, they have put us in an early class so we are covered. Wishing everyone "happy holidays"!!!