Pretreatment
Starting in the next few days I will have “profound fatigue” from radiation which will leave me in bed fighting for the energy to move. Quickly following will be the day of chemo, one of my last ones I pray. It is enough that it requies several large doses of fluids and both 100 mg iv of benedryl and a few doses of hydrocortozone, just to keep my body from the many side effects. Then two days later I will have the transplant which should be the easiest procedure of all a wonderful transfusion from Erins healthy bone marrow. From there I will enter a few week period that will be undoubtedly the most difficult my body will ever experience. The pretreatment of that particular chemo dose (around 1 week or 2 in one session) and the radiation it creates a regimen that will be the most aggressive thing I will ever go through. For a couple of weeks will most likely find myself on IV food as well as a morphine or higher, drug pump. The cell death and sloughing of all GI and Mouth cells along with the other side effects will leave me in a very vulnerable place to say the least. After a few more weeks of dealing with the major organ meshing issues with all of the treatment I will be sent home to be on house arrest and in critical care under the 24 hour care of a nurse and team that I will check in a couple to several days a week. This will last for a year or more. The severity of reactions depends on the Graft Vs Host GVH, the radiation related issues, and the response to that much chemo. The odds and numbers have all been discussed and while we all wish for a golden cure at this point I am grateful that though the survival is a steep climb with not much Intel for ease or success, I have gratitude in my heart for the faith I have and the faith of a loving support system. I am also grateful that instead of another guaranteed expiration date without treatment, I am headed for the possibility of some good years, managing whatever may come. It has also given me just that much more understanding of a purity in love. While Anna has always known the odds, and the fight that could be, taking on this battle with me is really one of the greatest signs of love I have ever experienced. I am so grateful for and to her for her diligence and courage. And to all of you who are here for the fight I give you my gratitude and love. There is nothing easy about the path we are continuing. The fact that you are here even reading is a sign of not only my reasons for fighting but a sign that Love exists and is powerful. Thank you always, please pray with me in this next bit as it surely will be the most dangerous time of my life. And always have heart C is still for Chad, - love
