Dad will be getting a stem cell transplant of his own stem cells the beginning of January. He is scheduled to be admitted to the hospital on the 5th. We are told that this procedure has a 90% success rate...we'll take it!! Dads new "day one", or birthday as they call it will be January 11th. The aftermath will be the tricky part with the concern of infections. Dad will be in lock down for 6 months until he gets a thumbs up from the doctors. This 6 months will be spent 1 month in the hospital, 2 weeks staying nearby the hospital in a hotel and finally back to Santa Cruz for the duration. The time spent outside of the hospital comes with a binder full of do's and don'ts which would make your head spin. We may just want to get a little Darth Vadar action going just to be on the safe side! I think it would suit dad just fine.
The preparations for the transplant will be starting the middle of November with the Oncologist performing restaging tests. We are hoping for a free Thanksgiving week so the family can go up to the cabin for one last hurrah. The entire month of December starting on the 6th is devoted to getting those stem cells ready for harvesting. He will be in the hospital on the 10th, but out in time to celebrate his 65th birthday on the 12th. Every day of December until those babies are out of there is scheduled with one thing or another. Its going to be a busy month. Looks like the stem cell collection will be a few days before Christmas. Hopefully the collection will only be a couple days which will offer Dad a relaxing Christmas, New Years and welcoming the newest grandchild due on the 23rd (Analicia & Dexter's #2) :-)As we all know a schedule is a guideline that will most likely need revisions along the way. Especially when there are two months of scheduling! Regardless, it feels good to have a plan to wrap our minds around and get mentally prepared for the challenges ahead.
I hope you all enjoy the upcoming holiday season and count your blessings daily.
Aloha,
Heather
To the rest of the fan base:
ReplyDeleteLast week, I visited THE MAN. Gotta tell ya: he looks FANTASTIC. The wit, the spark, the twinkle in the eyes are all there.
In short: he is still the same old Dad/Colonel/Boss/Friend we all know and love, minus the hair. :-)
Also: he´s looking the dragon right in the eye, never missing a beat. Guess who´ll blink first…
x-x-x
To Heather,
Thanks for the update and for welcoming me in your lovely home. Your kids are great, a reflection of the awesome parents they have!
Stay cool and watch out for those Brazilian photo-op expressions.
It only means chalk… :-)
Luciano
So glad to have the update and know the plan of attack! I like the 90% success rate! Will keep praying. Hugs, :-) E
ReplyDeleteI've been wondering how he was doing, glad to hear there is some good percentage rate for what he will be coming up against. The next months I'm sure for your family will be tough but the blessing of you & Dexter's little one coming so close to Christmas will bring some smiles to him I'm sure. We love & think of you all often. Take Care & God Bless your family. XOXOXOXO.
ReplyDeleteWe love it. Great news! Sounds like the holidays are going to be action packed. We'll keep up the praying. : ) Lots of love to you guys, Chris & Bender
ReplyDeleteOH ED!!!!!!!!! It was so!! Good to see you, see the twinkle in your eye, and as said...looking the Dragon eight in the eye. IT was wonderful to meet Mary....Mary God Bless You! You looked great Ed , baldness suits you, only you Ed could get away with it, after all you are a Col. AND a Marine...I never told you I have an Uncle who was a Colonol in the Marines in WW2. THANK YOU for stopping by to say hello. I did pretty good holding back my tears of joy at your good news, albeit, the tough busy road ahead and nothing is ever for sure....But you will get thru it. SO many people on the sidelines rooting for you with a whole lotta love....It also felt good to give you a bear hug, thank u....I will be back.....My love to you and your very special family. Kathleen
ReplyDeleteLove to hear this kind of news! It's sounds like a long journey, but I know your family is up to it! Love to all of you!
ReplyDeleteGlad to see the update. 90% odds, that's great! He can do this! Go Colonel!
ReplyDeleteToni and Frankie
Thanks so much for the update, Heather!!!
ReplyDeleteUncle Ed, You are soooo funny! I would have loved to have been one of your KIMO neighbors and I would have said Yes to the chips!!! Just cuz I haven't been on here, certainly does NOT mean you have not been in my thoughts and prayers. Yer there for sure!!! Keep up the fight. Love the cowboy hat, but would love to see some of the other hats. Love ya, Madalena
Ed and Family: Keep the faith brother, I know you will win the good fight, after all, the streets of heaven are doing just fine until you report for duty a long time from now. Analicia please let me know the dates when The Colonel is at Stanford hospital. I have an office in Menlo Park so I can visit and bring pogeybait to the Jarhead and his room-mate as alliterated in a previous post. That is, if he is allowed to have anybody in the room with him referencing contamination hazards.
ReplyDeleteSemper Fi, OohRah, Gunny D.V. Murawsky, Santa Cruz. gunny110@gmail.com