C Remains (the cancer chronicals): REACTIONS

It wasn’t too long after the transplant that the effects of everything started to set in. The reactions of fatigue and pain, nausea, and mucositis began to set in. chads insatiable appetite subsided and his ability to eat, disappeared. His mouth began to get sore and then his tongue began to swell, sores formed and the inside of his GI tract was experiencing the same things. The only visible portion we had was the tongue , but the pain ran through and so chad was placed on a morphine pump so he would receive a certain amount each hour, along with the freedom to use a certain amount every ten minutes. This amount was increased each day as the pain increased. He spent most of his time in a transitory state of being in pain, and drugged and tired, but unable because of all the meds he was on, I felt so bad for him. He constantly suctioned saliva from his mouth because of the pain of swallowing, he was placed on iv food and told to just take as much morphine as he needed to be comfortable. Some days that was possible, but nights that was especially hard because he would wake in pain, so he experienced many sleepless nights , that in the last three days has started to make up. Because his counts were so low he had blood transfusions to increase his hematocrrit levels and platelet transfusions to increase his platelet counts. Anyone that knows anything about chads medical history knows that that means lots of Benadryl to avoid platelet reactions, lots of steroids to do the same things which in turn equals a more drugged chad, but one that can breath. He had a couple of minor reactions, but the nurses did a great job of keeping them under control and watching closely so nothing got out of hand. When he had trouble breathing after they gave his breathing treatments which cleared things up. Because it is hard to get out of bed, chad has been meeting with physical therapy to keep him moving and mobile. He has had a few fevers, but were able to be kept under control. In the last couple of days chads counts have began to come up on their own, everything is increasing which means healing. His mucositis is subsiding, his body is healing, morphine is decreasing and sleep is increasing. In the midst of all the platelets and Benadryl and morphine chad was unable to sleep at all for a good four days or so, so I think his body is experiencing withdrawal from less opiates and has realized that he has just been hit by a few trucks and should probably heal from it. And the great miracle is that it is. He is engrafting, erins cells are reproducing and beginning to heal chads body. It is such a miracle to watch this happen. It is the beginning of a very long road, but we are on the right one. Chad has done great, he is strong, and positive and the thing I love the most is his ability to share happiness with those around him that are going through the same thing. We had many visits this past week from fellow patients that are young adults as well and to see how they impact each others lives is amazing. As sucky as all of this is, it brings people together, makes people throw themselves on their knees, and lets you see aside of people a side you would never see otherwise. It makes you appreciate life, and love moments, it makes you slow down and see the importance of a single touch, the power of a hug, and the huge change simple words can mean. And for me it makes me realize how un nurturing I am, but is teaching me rather quickly what it really means to love and nurture. It makes me laugh some days to see how well god knows me and others and He gives us different experiences that teach us how to become more like Him. I will try harder to keep you more posted and up to date…sorry. Chad is sleeping, like he has been for the last 3 days and off IV food, but still not in taking very much a cup of jello or two, so that is the next step, he needs to be able to eat, move, drink, and take pills by mouth before we get out of the hospital, but it is all just the beginning, but we are grateful that it has gone so well. That is easy for me to say not being the one that has gone through the excruciating pain, and discomfort of all of this, but our gratitude comes from the huge reality of how bad it could have been. We are keeping our fingers crossed that the blessings keep coming and the next year of this continues to go better than it can be. Thanks for your prayers and love, we love you all. Happy Fourth, we slept through it!