Today' the Day!

Well they are letting him come home today. He has done extremely well. The bone marrow started producing new cells on about day 10- day 12. Normally it doesn't start until day 14-day 21. We are so excited that this is all behind us. Now we just have to keep checking to see if his body starts rejecting the new marrow. That can happen up to a few months. Hopefully everything is going to be okay. We have also been told that most people experience some infections or complications, requiring them to be admitted back to the hospital, even though we will not be happy about this, they can take care of him, and hopefully it won't be too long. It has been an amazing process and we have experienced so many emotions, but now we can say that a small miracle has happened, and we are so grateful to the person who donated his marrow, it is truly a sacrifice that we are so appreciative for. The doctors and nurses up at LDS hospital are so caring and knowlegable. We have made many new friends because of this trial. We are so grateful for the blessings that we have received this year. Please keep praying for Kurt, I know that this road will still be a little longer and we will just keep our faith and hope alive for a complete recovery. Thank you again for everything!

Still Here, but hopefully not for long!

It's been a little up and down this past week. Kurt has been through a lot. Last week he started to get sores in his mouth from the radiation, and they got pretty bad. He was put on pain medication and along with all of the other meds, his counts being nothing, and the transplant, he was really out of it, in pain, and a little loopy, he was also given food supplement through his IV. He doesn't remember and he doesn't believe us. But then he became a little clearer, and started doing better, but got pnemonia, a gut infection, and an infection in his line. This week his counts started to come back up, and they actually told us that the new bone marrow was producing new cells. They said that is pretty early to start, espcially with a unrelated marrow and not just the blood cells. It usually takes about 14-21 days to see that, but his started in about 9-10 days. They say he is doing really well. They even said that he may get to come home Friday this week, or next Monday or Tuesday. We can't believe it,last night he had another bad night, because the gut infection makes him go to the bathroom a lot, and he was just getting very discouraged from being sick, so I came up all day to help him today he slept most of the morning. He woke up around 2:00, showered, ate lunch, and wanted to go for a walk, I think he's bound and determined to get out of here. It would be nice to have him come home, but I was not expecting this. So today, Kelli, Cher, Ryan, my sister Kristy, and my mom came and cleaned the whole house, so now I think it's ready for him to come home.
I know that this has been a small miracle and that Heavenly Father has been with us all the way, and has blessed us so many ways and so many times. I'm so grateful for Preisthood blessings, and wonderful doctors and nurses, they have taken such good care of him. I just want to thank everyone at this time for everything. We could not have done it without your concern, help and prayers. Thank you so much!
Kurt and Cindee

Here we go again!

Kurt has done well the past two weeks, but a couple of days ago, he started to feel the effects of the radiation. He started with a sore throat, and then they found a sore on the thing that hangs down your throat (I'm not going to try to spell it). It has gotten worse every day, so bad that they are giving him lots of pain meds, and today he has slept most of the day. Maybe that's a good thing, so he doesn't feel it so much. He is having a hard time eating, drinking, and now getting up because of the meds. It's hard to watch, I thought maybe this time around, he would sail through it. They told us that it would take a week, or week and a half for the counts to start coming back up. So I don't think he is going to feel better for awhile. Hopefully this doesn't last too long, and he can get back to walking and eating. Thanks again for your prayers and help. I know we will get through this just like we did at first. Oh, and his hair was starting to fall out, so we buzzed him yesterday. I will take a picture and post it, I think he looks good.
I will keep you updated.
Cindee

It finally happened!

Yesterday the 12th, We were told at 5:00 pm that the marrow was on it's way, and would arrive in a couple of hours. We were a little anxious, but very excited. Once it got there, they send it to the U of U lab and they have to do some things to it. Today the 13th, was the big day or in other words his "2nd Birthday". I got to the hospital around 1:30, and they were to do the transplant at 2:00, but they said they were behind. The lab brought them into his room around 2:50 and we waited until 3:20 for the nurse to come in and get started. Finally everything was hooked up and they started. It was bright red and just ran into him through his central line in his chest. They kept checking his vitals and he did well. By the time I left tonight he was a little nauseated. This next few weeks might be the difficult time. He could get flu like symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea, fevers and tired. So we will just take one day at a time. We are so grateful for his donor. We wrote him a card today to thank him, we have to give it to our coordinator, she will get it to the registry, and they will get it to the donor. He did it the hard way, so I'm sure he is sore today, and will be for a few days, but we appreciate his kindness. It is amazing that a 21 year old would do this for a complete stranger. I know now that I would do this for someone also. Thanks again to everyone for your concern, we really appreciate your friendship and all that has been done for us.
I don't know how to edit the pictures, so you get to see big pictures!

We've started the process!

Last Tuesday, Kurt was admitted into the hospital. He also started total body radiation that day. He has one more to go tomorrow, and then 2 days of chemo. Wednesday they will harvest the marrow from a 21 year old male from Europe. Then they will fly it from Europe that same day and they will transfuse it into Kurt on Thursday the 13th.
He has done very well so far. Just a little nausea and a little tired. I'm sure the chemo will knock him down some more, and also his blood counts will soon start going down. We are just taking one day at a time and dealing with whatever comes along. I will update next week after the marrow has been put into him.
Not too much more to report, he doesn't know how he is going to stay there that long, but I think it will go faster as we get more into it. Thanks again for your concern and prayers. We know we are being blessed.
Look at all my hair! It won't be around very long.