Day +4, Saturday

It’s 8:57 pm as I’m starting this post, and the thing that I’m happiest about is that my alarm won’t go off in T-3 minutes for me to void my bladder. Again. All day yesterday, last night and today consisted of walking to the bathroom with Bart, my IV pole. Yes, I named my pole Bart – Bartholomue – but that’s another story. At some point early this afternoon, I would sit in my bed, cheesy Lifetime (no Hallmark in the hospital, sadly) movies, my head nodding on my chest. I’d wake up 18 minutes later, looking at the clock and then checking my movie. Thankfully they are so terrible that you know the ending within the first 5 minutes. My saving grace.

But today wasn’t terrible, in fact, it was actually nice. Patricia, my nurse warmed up my tea for me and surprised me with a cat mask, as she knows how much I love my House Monsters.

Then it was pre-chemo prep medication regiment and then my FINAL ROUND OF CHEMO! Pre-transplant it was 4 days of chemo, and post was only 2. The Cytoxan acts as an immune suppressant, so hopefully what’s left of my blood cells don’t attack my donor’s new stem cells, that “minor mismatch” where he’s Type O and I’m Type A. If it happens, it typically occurs between Day +4 through Day +14. Cytoxan also kills very fast growing cells, so methinks by mid-next week, my hair will be gone. I’m surprised it’s staying as long as it had.

Between chemo and another Red Blood Cell transfusion, I went out for a quick walk. Bart was helpful in holding my phone so I could listen to music. He glides very smoothly and circling the 7th floor Atrium is akin to holding hands in a roller rink while zooming around.

Yes, I just said that. Clearly, I need a solid amount of sleep.

One blood transfusion later and I hopped into bed, starting my weird dance of nodding off/watching Lifetime/going to the bathroom/eating random Halloween Candy. There was a lot of in & out of my room; privacy is tough to come by. So I’m doing my best to be as pleasant as I can. I’ve got another mini fever – a trend that seems to occur every afternoon; there are so many things that can cause this, but as I understand it, it’s normal in Stem Cell Transplant patients. But I trust my Team, the staff here, and the wonderful nurses on 3NE. I’m so grateful to them, and to my friends and family for all of the kind love and support.

Oh – and I didn’t get a picture of it, because I was SO EXCITED to have a Zoom date with them, but tonight I got to hang out with Andy and his sister’s family. I love and miss them – they bring so much life and love into my life and, rude noises aside (which I sorta miss at this point), they are some of the best people I know.

T-36 minutes until my 10pm alarm “Walk to the WC” goes of. Yeah.