RED LIPSTICK

Well, I am writing to you from home, where we - like everyone else - have been hanging out full-time. Aside from twice daily (at least) FaceTime chats I haven't seen Scott in 11 days. Safe to say we miss him A LOT! Though the hospital being on lockdown, and the demand that we social-distance… Continue reading Happy news in a time of COVID.

We saw it coming, sure, but it still sucks. Scott's ward (Haematology) has been officially locked down until further notice to protect the very vulnerable patients currently undergoing treatment. This means he can not have any visitors - even me 😦 and that his only interactions will be with his medical team. This makes total… Continue reading Locked down.

Not sure if you’ve heard, but there is this virus going around? Though there is never an ideal time for pandemic and mass hysteria, it feels like the universe is really piling it on at the moment.... For those wondering, the case that was confirmed at Juravinski was in the Cancer Centre not the hospital… Continue reading Uggh….COVID-19.

Thank you for all the messages/emails/calls over the last couple days to check in on transplant status. I am happy to report that yesterday was Scott's new "birthday" as he received Jeff's stem cells which will soon become his new immune system. Essentially starting again like a newborn baby. Many people think the transplant involves… Continue reading Happy Birthday Scott! Transplant complete.

Along with the chemotherapy cocktail, and the many other drugs involved in this process Scott also receives an anti rejection drug 'ATG' that is derived from the cells of a rabbit. Boiled down it is supposed to help minimize the risk of GVHD after engraftment. For those interested here is the more clinical description: Antithymocyte… Continue reading Day -2

Scott was admitted to hospital yesterday (back in room #9) to begin preparing for transplant. He had his PICC line removed from his right bicep, and his Hickman Catheter surgically inserted into his chest. This was followed by a long day of waiting/recovery in ODS. We were happy to see that one of our fave… Continue reading Day -6…let the counting begin!

Because I won't bury the lead, SCOTT IS IN REMISSION!!! --- So as you may know, today was our appointment with Dr. K, to follow up on Thursday's bone marrow biopsy. The results would determine if the transplant would proceed, and on what timeline. Even though we were feeling good after the last appointment, we… Continue reading This was a day.

We celebrated Valentine's Day with a hot date at the hospital clinic and an appointment with Dr. K. We haven't seen her since Scott was initially admitted, as she hasn't been assigned to the C4 ward (where Scott receives treatment). During re-induction Scott saw a few of the other hemotologists when they were on the… Continue reading Bring it.

Scott was released from the hospital!! Though his counts weren't up all the way, his Doctor decided that given their rising pattern they would continue to increase over the weekend, and without a fever or any signs of an infection, he was good to go home! I can't really describe the feeling of Scott getting… Continue reading Friday was a good day.

This whole process is fraught with unknowns and surprises.... but this one we really didn't see coming. Tuesday night after enjoying a handful of peanuts as an apres dinner snack, Scott felt his lips start to swell, and his throat begin to itch. Within minutes he was looking like Kylie and finding it hard to… Continue reading Orange to the thigh. Blue to the sky.