We have made the journey to Nashville, and moved into the Viillage at Vanderbilt apartments right across 21st Ave. S from the Vanderbilt Medical Center.
Mary Jo had blood labs first thing this morning. Then, a Respiratory Virus Panel (RVP) Test which is used to see if the patient has any of the twenty human respiratory viruses. A saline solution is squirted into each nostril. Then, the solution is captured for analysis as it exits the other nostril. After that, we met another one of the transplant doctors named Dr. Madan Jagasia.
Dr. Jagasia told us that since the transplant was going to be made with less than 2 million stem cells the grafting could take a little longer than normal, and that Mary Jo's platelet levels may take longer to get back to normal. Platelet infusions after the transplant will most likely be necessary.
He also said that a search would be made of the nationwide donor inventory to try to find a stem cell match for Mary Jo. In case, a future allogeneic transplant would be needed. After the meeting with Dr. Jagasia, Mary Jo had a PET Scan to establish a baseline for comparison with a post-transplant scan that will be done 100 days after the transplant.
The day did not go without it's share of difficulties besides the things that Dr. Jagasia told us. But, the hospital staff may have had an excuse today. Someone told us that they were jumping through hoops because of a Medicare/Medicaid audit was being performed by someone, maybe the state.
Evidently, no one had ordered the RVP Test. So, it was delayed, and we didn't get the results today. Our social worker said that it was OK to sign the lease for the apartment without the results since Mary Jo was asymptomatic.
The PET Scan took longer than normal because the hospital sent two patients to Radiology to be worked into an already crowded schedule. I felt sorry for one of the patients. Evidently, he had brain cancer, or something else. He had several incisions in his head, and a tube coming out the top of his head. Mary Jo didn't have any problem letting him go ahead of her. He deserved to be given preferential treatment.
There was a little problem with the apartment when we checked in, too. Evidently, in the confusion a couple of weeks ago when we thought that we were going to be sent home for two weeks to rest, and then return for additional stem cell collection sessions. Our name was removed from the apartment waiting list and not reinstated, as it should have been. After some discussion and checking, to his credit, Carter at the apartment rental office was able to get us into the apartment that we were actually scheduled to move into anyway.
The apartment is pretty nice, and one of the larger one bedroom apartments. We are on the first level. The parking garage is on the ground level. Our building has an elevator. But, it was still a pretty good hike to get all of the stuff that we brought moved from the car into the apartment. At least, Mary Jo was feeling well enough now to help move the stuff in. She probably won't be able to help when it's time to move out.
Nearly all of the people who live in these apartments are Vanderbilt students, except for old people like us, who are here for medical reasons. I think they are celebrating the end of finals. It's not your place to come for a quiet retreat. Graduation festivities begin next Wednesday, May 8th with commencement on Friday, May 10th. That ought to be fun.
We haven't heard any dogs, trains or fire engines. We have beentreated to a new sound of Nashville. Vanderbilt's STAT Flight helicopter has taken off and landed about three times this evening. It sounded like it was landing on the apartment building roof, but it was actually landing at the hospital helipad on the roof of the parking garage right across the street. Maybe, they are practicing touchdowns.
Nashville's AAA baseball team is named the Nashville Sounds which is appropriate in more ways than one. They play in the Pacific Coast League. I looked it up. Nashville is 2,021.1 miles from Santa Monica Beach.
For dinner tonight, we went back to Jim 'n Nick's BBQ out Charlotte Pike a piece. We had went there a couple of weeks ago when we were here. It's about the best BBQ this side of Mark's, Smokehouse, or Bootleg on Bardstown Road. Since Mary Jo will have her first chemo treatment from 8:30am until 4:30pm tomorrow, she called tonight's meal her "Last Supper". At least, the last decent one for awhile. She will be starting her frozen dinner bacteria free diet tomorrow.
We hope that everyone has a great Derby Week. We will miss being home for the Derby this year. Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers.
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