T Days plus 8, 9 and 10 (18th to 20th January)

Sue wrote:

John & I learnt from the Transplant Consultant, and from reading the literature, that there was a 50% chance of a complete cure of his MDS, with a stem cell transplant. And so John entered into his treatment with both enthusiasm and hope.
But we also knew there was a 1 in 6 chance that this treatment would end with his death.

On Saturday 18^th, John’s  heart stopped at 18:00. I was just about to go into his room when the nurse who was with him pushed the Crash Button. He had an overwhelming neutropenic sepsis attack. He was unconscious and was taken to intensive care, but his blood pressure could not be raised, and all his major organs were overwhelmed by the attack.

John never regained consciousness.
It was so hard at first, I could hardly believe what was happening.
But through the support of family, friends and the excellent medical staff of Heartland IC Unit, I was given the time and strength to hold his hand, give him many kisses, tell him how much I loved him, and thank him for the more than 41 years of our happy marriage.
At 11:30 on the morning of 20^th January, the doctors turned off the life support equipment and John died peacefully.

T Day plus 7 (17th January)

John wrote:

Today is the day they are expecting things to start happening. So it’s rock bottom day today and from now on the blood counts should start going up.
I am starting to feel a bit better in myself. Another cyclosporine drip and platelets are on the menu this afternoon.

Sue wrote:

John seems in better spirits today, and is certainly looking better to me, and has more colour in his face than he has had for many months.

T Day plus 6 (16th January)

John wrote:

The consultant visited and says all going according to plan. He gives me something to look forwards to 7 to 10 days after the transplant there should be an indication that the transplant has started to get to work.  I need to trust that the Germans will be scoring lots of goals in the World Transplant Cup (aka Mike Winterbottom). So over the next 3 or 4 days  they expect my blood counts to start rising. And for me the first external evidence of this will be when they stop the cyclosporine drip and can give me the drug in tablet form. Once that step is taken they will let me go home.

So today for me is a psychological watershed. I should be able to go home between 21 and 28 days after admission. I am over half way there.

Some more platelets transfused – this is what they look like

 And they have my new blood group.

 

T Day plus 5 (15th January)

John wrote:

This morning, the doctor tells me everything is going as expected, but I get extra blood tests at lunch time. Perhaps I will be spared another transfusion this evening when they see the results.  But I am quite used, by now, to trailing the drip stand behind me.

I can eat a bit now (my nurse recommends nibbling a ginger biscuit!) and have not been sick again.

The hospital chaplain called and cheered me up, Margaret Maclachlan, who is a mutual acquaintance of Rachel Christophers a member of our congregation at Temple Balsall.  Just space enough for a plug - have a look at  St Mary the Virgin Temple Balsall  

It is good to feel connected in this way.