Things went well yesterday. His CVL line got put in without any difficulty. In fact, he had a good time talking to the man working with him. He was from Lake Village, AR and knew our friends from there very well! It's a small world. While he was doing that, I had run into one of the couples we'd seen so much over the past year. They were heading home to NC and it was so good to see them and how they were. I had asked about them so much this visit and it relieved my worries.

When we got back to the unit for his fluids and shots, scheduling called to set up the vertebraeplasty. She said the doctor saw the MRI and said he needed one, but when we got a copy of MRI, we had questions. There is small fracture in the cervical spine, and some compresson at T5. We want some clarification from the doctor, but it'll be Monday before we can talk to someone.

His PET scan was at 7pm. With the new line on one side and his port-a-cath accessed on the other, he said he felt like the back of a PC with wires everywhere. He was good and hungry after the test. I like watching him think about what he wants to eat. He really does ponder over what sounds good. He decided on KFC chicken, esp craving the slaw. So, we flipped channels and licked our fingers until time for bed. He slept on the couch so he wouldn't bother the line or his shoulder.

We got to the Aphereis unit at 7. They checked his counts. I have no idea what they're looking at, but whatever it is - a Procount - it's a predictor of how many cells they think they'll get from him that day. His count was 800,000 today, so the nurse said getting a million today would be a reasonable goal. Once you've had a transplant, the marrow is not the same, so it won't be like the first time we collected. We both slept through most it. Frank was kind enough to make room for me. The nap was nice for us both and the time passed quickly.

Being able to collect again brings hope to me. It keeps options open for him and I am so thankful for the opportunity to get more precious cells for him to use. Let's pray for the shots to keep working and the collection process to go quickly!

Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

We got out of there at 11:50 and shuffled to the MRI room for his noon appointment. They're going to do the other parts of the body scan since they only did spine and pelvis yesterday.

After this we are headed to the hospital unit to finish out the day. His white count is high because of the shots for collection, but his other levels are low today.

WBC 13.55
Hct 25.3
Hgb 8.4

He's getting some whole blood today, some platelets and Potassium and Magnesium infusers to go home with.

It's a long and busy day, and he's still taking pain meds around the clock. I know he's tired, and sore, and ready to go home. I look for ways to comfort him and try and keep his spirits high, but no doubt, it's the other way around. I just saw him pull out his Hope card and give it to someone.......

2 Cor 1:3-5
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.