Mary Jo Update #36 - Back In The Clinic...It's A Beautiful Thing

Mary Jo and I went back to the outpatient clinic today after she was discharged from the hospital yesterday. Going to the clinic is a relief after her 11 days in the hospital. Mary Jo's WBC and Neutrophil readings continued their upward movement towards the normal ranges (in parentheses). Her WBC reading was 2.5 (3.9-10.7), up from yesterday's .6 reading; and the Neutrophil reading was 1.37 (1.60-8.10), up from yesterday's .16 reading.

Mary Jo's nurse practitioner said that the level of these readings are great for Day +10 indicating that Mary Jo's stem cells have grafted. Since that has happened, her body should start producing stem cells on it's own. So, the Neupogen shot that she received today will be her last one on a routine basis. All of this was very good news, but that was not all. Since she is doing so well, we won't have to come to the clinic every day. A small first step to getting our lives back to normal.

Mary Jo is taking a Cardizem tablet every day for her heart. The nurse practitioner said that they want her to continue taking it, even after her recovery period is over. They will re-evaluate the need for her heart medication in about a year.

They are giving Mary Jo potassium, magnesium, antibiotics, platelets and some other stuff today. So, we will have a pretty full day at the clinic. The nurse practitioner said that they are trying to keep Mary Jo's potassium and magnesium levels high because of the A fib condition that she experienced with the BCNU on the 5th day of chemo conditioning.

They actually gave Mary Jo potassium in two forms today, one a tablet and the other a potassium elixir. The elixir evidently has a terrible taste. So, the nurse asked her what she wanted to mix with the elixir. Mary Jo asked me for suggestions. I suggested, "Makers Mark or Woodford Reserve". But they weren't on the list. So, she chose orange juice. It must really have been bad. She also sucked on a mints, and ate crackers after drinking it.

Dr. Chin, the transplant doctor replacing Dr. Engelhardt this week, came into visit with us a little while ago. Chin is actually short for Chinratanalab, He is from Thailand. Dr. Chin was very upbeat about how Mary Jo was doing. He said that they would remove the trifusion catheter when she no longer needed platelets and the other infusions. Mary Jo will have to go back to the operating room in the hospital to have it removed.

Mary Jo's progress since Mother's Day has been a beautiful thing.



But, the nurse practitioner and Dr. Chin said that the patient's blood levels usually fall back a little after the routine Neupogen shots are stopped. They said, not to worry, they would give her more of the shots, if her stem cells needed more encouragement. They will also continue the potassium and magnesium supplements, and platelets, as needed.

Mary Jo received the card below from our pastor, Father Dale, Laura, Diane, Carl, Nancy, Lisa, Helen, Darlene, Monique, and Jerry from the staffs of our Churches' back in Taylorsville and Mount Washington, Kentucky. Mary Jo and I thank God and all of you prayer warriors for rushing into the battle to fight and pray for us.



Gotta go. The folks from Duck Dynasty and Swamp People on Katie today.