The giving of life back to yourself. The stem cell transplant was such a simple procedure, and I took photos each step of the way, but the blog isn't cooperating. I have given it the old college try, and it's not to be, so I'll use words where photos should be!
Kathyrn, one of our favorite nurses, and another nurse entered the room around noon with a liquid nitrogen cylinder. Kathryn removed the top and one of the two small bags of frozen stem cells. She and the other nurse verified that the cells were indeed Bob's. The other nurse was then able to leave.
Kathyrn placed the stem cell container into a bath of water to raise its temperature to between 37- and 40-degrees. Once defrosted, the nurse called Bob's physician so he could be present for the procedure, and she hung the bag of cells on the IV pole and connected it to Bob's catheter. The cells die quickly, so the timing is very important. Once he arrived, the transplant began. First Bob reported that his head and neck felt hot, and a bit later he had some nausea, but all that passed once the procedure was over. (He also received the second bag of stem cells.) It didn't even take an hour!
DMSO is used as a preservative for the stem cells and while Bob was receiving the cells, there was a scent of garlic or creamed corn. Bob's breath would smell like this for the next day as it is expelled through the respiratory system.
And, finally, our special thanks go to Kathryn, a Smith graduate, who wore a Williams crew t-shirt under her scrubs in honor of Bob's alma mater.
Praise be to God for this miracle of life and for those who help bring the whole thing about. And, just a little reminder that great things can come in small packages!:-)
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