Harvesting.

Hooray!!!
We get to fly back tomorrow and we can't wait. Why so happy? Well the last 3 weeks have seemed like an endless journey of tests and investigations with a few bumps thrown in to make it not quite the smooth journey we had hoped for, but we are halfway there to better health!!

Following the mobilisation and neupogen shots I had to go to my favorite department Interventional Radiology to have a line placed so my stem cells could be collected or harvested. No combine involved!! The Dr's remember me because of my interesting challenging vascular system and I remember them for the endless poking and prodding. This procedure is now placed towards my top ten of least favorite things to participate in willingly. I knew it was going to be a difficult day when the fluoro machine went down just as I was lying with trepidation on the table waiting for the fun and games to begin. I had to return to the holding area to extend the torture further and wait another hour or so, it reminded me of times in Endo when we have been ready and just before we start the computer crashes, how frustrating!! Anyway 2hrs later after being choked, stuck and prodded the line which feels like a hose pipe is safely sutured into my neck, I know its a slight exaggeration but that's what it felt like and off we trot relieved but forlorn to the blood center .

We have thought so hard to get to this special day but I really wanted to have enough stem cells harvested in one go so the hose could come out without clotting like the picc line had and save a return visit for the next day and a second collection. With my history of clotting we really didn't want the line left in longer than necessary and the docs were in agreement with this. We arrived at he blood center the nurse eventually took some blood moaned about the time of day and sent us off to the cafeteria to await the results.

On returning she seemed doubtful about being able to do the procedure in a timely manner argued with biochemistry about a lost specimen for another half an hour then realised the results were in the computer she just couldn`t see them and the results would probably be inadequate so wouldn`t be priming her machine until she discussed it with the Docs. Eventually she got my consent spoke with high command got the go ahead much to her dismay she primed her machine. We tried to explain the clotting issue with her and she dismissed us as paranoid nurses but at least she put some heparin in my line after we insisted and started to wash her hands which she hadn`t done before. So I spent the afternoon getting hooked up with the apherisis machine and over 4hours my stem cells were collected. Under the watchful eye of Craig and of course the blood center nurse.

It's hard as nurses when your the patient to switch off that role as you want things to be done to your standard not slap dash, the nurse did not instill confidence in us which put us on our guard. You get good and bad in all jobs but when your life's on the line you expect a standard of professionalism with the knowledge skills and experience to go with it. Everyone so far up to this point at the northwestern had been exemplary. Craig put his Nursing Sisters hat on told her a few times what was what especially when she left the blood clotting in the access port for ten minutes on rinseback. Injecting it without aspirating wasn`t going to happen. Lines draped on the floor was another beauty and whispering about us in hearing range to other nursing staff made for a stressful afternoon. The other staff seemed to dislike her as much as we did.

Harvesting went well as I survived and the stress was worth it as fortunately they got 5 million stem cells and apparently they only needed 2million, so we returned to the blood center to have the hose pipe removed . Nurse cratchet had bailed on us and talked the Drs into pulling it much to all are relief. The line was as unpleasant going in as coming out there was a lot of resistance, I had visions of the doc putting his feet on my shoulders to pull it out but he didn't need to.

We are so glad that we are now past the worst part so we have been told. We return to the hospital November 20th when I will be admitted for about 2 weeks for the stem cell transplant. We fly out tomorrow and are going to relish the time with the boys and mom and enjoy the break from hospital trips.

Thank you to everyone for all your help with mom and the boys and for all your well wishes. Thanks for taking the time to read the blog of Sharon and Craig's adventures and the quest for better health.
Love Sharon and Craig