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Acute Myeloid Leukemia with Aberrant CD7
Blood Cancers & Disorders | Last Active: Dec 22, 2021 | Replies (41)Comment receiving replies
Hello Lori..
Yes! His blast count was very low!!! So thankful. So 6 a.m. Friday, the line goes in followed by chemo.
How sweet of you to remember us. We have many concerns outside of the actual process but we are here now and he is very strong, which helps me mask my fear.
One problem is that the staff is only 50% vaccinated!
The rest of the story is one I'm not comfortable sharing on a forum, but we will graciously fight our way through this and think good thoughts.
I have been granted permission to sleep there again. I am very afraid of him getting COVID in such an unsafe envirionment as the hospital is overflowing with cases. ICU of 300 is full. Also afraid of getting it myself, at 73 and worse, passing it along to him.
I likely will have the option of getting the 3rd shot, but afraid that could be dangerous. We got it in mid January, so protection may be waning.
I was told by a pulmonologist we can put a sign on our door saying only vaccinated staff permitted access. But I can only imagine what new problems that may cause.
We know the donor is 23 and female. Do not know if they are fresh or frozen.
Again, thank you kindly for your thoughts. Unfortunately noone can take the fear out of the diagnosis and process, but very much appreciate your concern. Happy for you that you have passed the 2 year mark!
Warm regards,
Lorraine
Replies to "Hello Lori.. Yes! His blast count was very low!!! So thankful. So 6 a.m. Friday, the..."
Hi Lorraine, I just wanted to send best wishes to your husband as he starts his transplant journey in the morning. The road is long and difficult but he’s gone through all the cancer treatments and came out ahead of that rascal. This is the next leg of that cancer journey to eradicate it once and for all!
He’s entering this strong and positive…and he has you by his side. Please let me know how things are going with updates when you get a chance. Remember, I’m here for you both. Sending a virtual hug to you and your husband. 🤗
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Hi Lorraine. Well, the clock is now ticking, huh. I’m glad to hear your husband is entering this next period strong and in a good spot health-wise. Having a low blast count is excellent. It’s so important to go into a transplant with as few cancer cells as possible. It will take some time before the new immune system gets that chance to fight against the cancer as it takes a while just for it to find a home in the empty marrow and set up housekeeping. It’s pretty amazing really how the new cells know how to find their way to their new residence. ☺️
I’m getting the feeling your husband is in a much better mental state than you are right now. It has to be the curse of the caregiver! I’ve thought this before…we patients pretty much have to go with the flow and trust our doctors at this point to make the right decisions. We have to rely on their expertise with the stem cell transplant and all the peripheral issues they’ll deal with as we go along. The caregivers are stuck worrying about all of it!! You’re so wise to ask questions and don’t be afraid to keep pushing for answers!
I’m with you though, Lorraine, I’d be so nervous with the lack of compliance with unvaccinated healthcare workers at that clinic! That’s inexcusable. Especially with the vulnerability of transplant patients! Do they have a dedicated floor for transplant patients? That will help keep any risk of infection down. Because I’ll just say it right out, by the end of that first week when your husband finishes Conditioning, he will no longer have immunity…from anything. By the end of about 10 days he will be at an all time record low with his blood products, called nadir with no white blood cells and no platelets. So it will be paramount that he is protected from any infection. That’s why I mentioned all the meds in our last visit.
From my experience from day one of Chemo onward there was no hugging or close personal contact for several months, masks had to be worn by all parties all the time and frequent hand washing, sanitizer was essential. No fresh plants or flowers and all my mail had to be sanitized with Lysol spray.
Even if the staff haven’t been vaccinated, if they are permitted to work on that transplant floor they really should be in full preventative garb to be around your husband and other transplant patients. I had my transplant pre-covid and it was mandatory then.
Are you immunocompromised yourself? If not, then maybe hold off on the 3rd vaccination unless your doctor says otherwise. There is no viral shedding from the vaccine but you also want to be feeling your healthiest during these next few months.
I agree, putting a sign on the door for only vaccinated people, while it is a GREAT idea could really create some staffing issues. But oy…I feel your pain. Pre-covid when I was in the local hospital for all the AML chemo and recovery, I did have a sign on the door “masks only”, even though it was as negative airflow room.
Oh that’s a good question! Do you know if the rooms on the transplant floor are negative airflow rooms. They should be. This will help keep the pathogens from migrating into the room.
Aw, don’t you love when these young people step up to donate cells! 23…she’s young and healthy and unaffected by time! My husband jokes that I now have the energy of a 22 year old. My male donor was 20 at the time. LOL. I have to admit I do feel really young inside but the only magazines under my bed are quilting mags. LOL.
Lorraine, this is a subject near and dear to my heart and I will do my best to help you both through this. Please keep in touch and let me know how your husband is doing, won’t you?
Sending a huge to both of you!