The Walk Beside

Stem cell transplant

Posted on April 17th, 2008 by Cam.
Categories: Let's talk.

Today was my stem cell transplant. We arrived about 8:30 this morning. The whole process took until about 4:30 this afternoon.

First I was hydrated solidly for about 4 hours via drip. Then a concoction of premeds was loaded into me. I basically just lay down for the whole day solidly. Thankfully I was given some sedatives to take away the restlessness. I did not sleep at all well last night. My body ached with an insatiable yearning to move around and get out of this body with the tubes sticking out of it.

All night I just lay awake thinking of people who have it worse than I. I had these graphic images in my semi-slumber of people who are sick that don’t have access to medical facilities. Images also of people being tortured came to mind. I have tubes hanging out of my body in order to prolong my life, while some people in the world have procedures done on them to reduce their life or make it more painful. It was a very uneasy feeling, but one that made me so grateful I am going through what I am going through for a positive outcome.

Now I am back home, the folks have just left after visiting, and Libs is cooking up some soup. The other major thing that hits us hard is how people go through this process alone. I could not imagine it, but on the occasion I come close, it feels like the loneliest feeling in the world. I can’t imagine being this sick and having to make it without Libs, my folks, sisters & BILs, and friends to get me through. I am certainly one lucky bunny.

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Videos of High Dose Day

Posted on April 17th, 2008 by Cam.
Categories: All The Videos, Let's talk.

1. Driving to the hospital yesterday morning for high-dose chemo.

2. Just before I head down to ‘recovery’ for the central line to be put in. I think they should call it ‘discovery’ because they took an awful long time to find the way to my heart.

3. The tubes are in and I am just about to start the chemo, starting by sucking the ice for a while.

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