Day -2

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 Globulin (ATG) is a concentrated anti-human T-lymphocyte immunoglobulin preparation derived from rabbits after immunization with a T-lympoblast cell line. ATG is an immunosuppressive product for the prevention and treatment of acute rejection following organ transplantation. ATG reduces the host immune response against tissue transplants or organ allografts.

https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB00098

A heavy precautionary hit of Benedryl accompanies this treatment in case one of them causes a reaction i.e. if his body didn’t quite appreciate bunny cells coming to the party, and decided to put up a fight. The “bunnydryl coma” kept him resting for most of the day, with him waking only to listen to my rant on the parking situation here (it’s brutal!); to have vitals taken and to get some food down. We are relieved that all went as planned and that he will continue getting that drug.

Yesterday I kept Harrison out of school and brought him to spend the day at the hospital. He has been having a really hard time with Scott being away. I brought them all to visit on Saturday and he cried (hard) the entire way home because we was so sad to leave his Dad. It was unusual. I knew they needed some quality time together, and in our house that trumps school. Cuddled together (and smiling) in Scott’s bed they watched the Sandlot and talked sports stats gibberish. I’m thankful that they had this day before Scott starts to be more unwell/uncomfortable, and doesn’t feel as up for visitors (even from his little man).