Transplant booked!

Scott is now home and fever free. Shakey and still neutropenic, but back in the comforts of home to continue recovering from consolidation. It was lovely to walk to and from OT to visit Scott over the last while but we missed the familiarity of the Juravinski nursing squad.

We were relieved to learn that a transplant date has been booked. April 14 is the big day – referred to by staff as his “new birthday”.

Scott will be admitted a week before to start intense chemotherapy and radiation, which will essentially empty him of all bone marrow, preparing his body to be injected with Jeff’s stem cells. After the procedure (which is the dramatic equivalent of receiving a bag of blood) he will be isolated in a special contained area of C4 until he recovers enough to be in the general area – a few weeks ideally. He will remain in hospital for an additional few weeks after that until he rebounds more.

It feels good to have the date set, a plan in place and a vague idea of timeline. Immediately after hearing the date Scott went to his calendar and counted out the expected recovery period to ensure that he would be ready to hit the links on his annual golf trip. Though, there has never been a doubt in his mind that he’ll be back in Oscoda with the boys in August. How’s that for positive thinking?

We’re looking forward to hopefully heading to the cottage for a few days of March Break and enjoying the calm before the journey ahead. Yesterday I saw a patient being transferred to the hospital and it took me back to the day Scott was moved to Juravinski from Oakville. That was over three months ago and look how far he’s come. It feels like a distant memory – all that new, uncertain fear. Three months from now will feel even better, and that’s what we’re most excited for. The transplant is intimidating and overwhelming right now, but when he’s through it we will be happy to add it to our list of things we can “check” off.