Day -3, First Massive Chemotherapy

Hi Everyone, This is Sibyl,

Stephi sailed through the first day at the hospital.
We got there very early only to find out she had
to repeat tests like her echo cardiogram and had
to re-sign releases so she could take experimental
anti nausea drugs. The actual chemo did not
occur until 5;30 PM. She did not react to it during
or even later in the evening. So the anti nausea drugs
seem to be doing their stuff.

The medical team has re-evaluated and re-thought
the second Bone marrow transplant. Because Stephi
gave up only the minimum and because her stemcells
are not strong, the team decided to give it all on the
first shot. So, on Day "0", Friday, she will have 4.12 million
stemcells reintroduced to her body. (Hey guys,
412 was the house number we grew up in and 412
was our area code...our parents played the numbers.
They would have liked this. Heck, I am going to buy a
lottery ticket for her.)

Now, she is going to be sick with this..There is no denying
that. But just for today, it was a much easier time than
we anticipated. Thank you for your prayers and please
keep them coming.

As promised, here is Stephi's address:
Please do not send food or flowers as they are
not permitted in the BMT sterile unit
Stephanie Masquelier
University of Kansas Hospital
KUMed
Bone Marrow Transplant Unit
Room 4104
3901 Rainbow Blvd.
Kansas City, KS 66160

Stephi has a very comfortable room. She may have
two visitors at a time as long as the visitors wear
surgical masks and gloves and follow all BMT protocol.
Please consult with me before you plan to come so
I can make sure Stephi is well enough for visitors.
(Starting Friday of this week, Day 0, we expect
she will be extremely sick for about 7 days.) No
cell phones are allowed in the unit. She
brought her computer to the unit and will be reading
and sending email whenever she feels well enough.
And, especially she reads the blog and looks at the
pictures. Steph has a room phone but because of
the nature of her illness, she will be drugged a lot
of the time and asleep. Please allow especially
this first 10 days for her to rest.
She will be in the hospital 3-4 or more weeks.
I will relay all messages left on her home phone,
point out emails, and bring in any mail that has
come to the house. Today we are hanging the
banner in her room that her co-workers from
Longview College made for her. Thank you for
delivering that, Mary.

We love you all for the support and love you have shown.

Love,
Sib