First Week

Day +7, Craig has impressed the doctors with how well he is doing.  His heart has made it through the last chemo treatment, and his chest pain has subsided.  Craig gets pretty sick when he smells food or hears someone talking about food, but that is no surprise with all the poison running through his body.  His blood counts are still on their way down to nothing. We will be waiting patiently for them to begin regenerating, because that will mean Rick’s stem cells have set up shop in Craig’s body.  That should happen in the next couple of weeks.

Judy and Brad flew home yesterday. It was wonderful to have them here during the transplant and after.  They will be back up at the end of the month.  In the meantime, we have been moved to a room on the other side of the unit.  It is the largest room on the floor, with a 20ft window that looks out onto the riverfront and downtown Portland.  We can see Mt. Hood with its fresh layer of snow, and when the haze burns away, we can see Mt. St. Helens and even Mt. Rainier.  We have Craig’s amazing nurses to thank for getting him this incredible room, and also for giving Craig the best possible care.  The nurses of the transplant unit have been the smartest, fastest and most compassionate team imaginable.  We are grateful for them all!