Its getting closer!!!

Lately we have been doing the same old things, behaviour intervention, and staying at home playing games and watching TV. But its been a good couple of weeks having the freedom and rest from hospital life.

Today i had another meeting with the transplant team, it was to confirm things and learn a bit more. We found out the chemo and drugs Brody will be taking and their effects-

Thiotepa -this is the drug that will need the showers 4 times a day. nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, fever, confusion, drowsiness, skin rash, mouth sores, liver defeats, darken skin, infertility.

Cyclophamide-nausea, vomiting, metallic taste, bladder irritation, fluid retention and confusion, skin reactions, heart damage, lung damage, secondary cancer, infertility.

Cyclosporine- nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, burning feeling in hands and feet, impairment to kidney and liver, high blood pressure, excessive facial and body hair, tremor, weight gain, swelling eyes, hands, feet, depression, tired, headache, seizures, skin reactions, ringing in ears, muscle cramps, swollen and bleeding gums, clotting and blocking of blood flow, increased risk of skin cancer and lymphoma.

Methotrexate-nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, mouth sores, skin rash, liver damage, drowsiness, fatigue, dizziness and blurred vision, and inflammation of the lungs.

Same of these chemo's Brody has had before on the standard risk and high risk stages, but now these dosages are lethal doses as they need to kill all the cells in his bone marrow as he is in the very high risk stage. This stage is quite rare as most children are on the standard risk stage and they said that 10% of children do not make it through transplant.

There will be other drugs also on top of the chemo's to help prevent or help grow new cells.
We also found out some of the rules we have to comply with, such as no jewellery, especially rings as they keep germs under them. No bags, toys need to be wash before coming in and after use. No stuff toys, nothing to be on the floor. We have to keep dust out of the room. Also we have to wash hands before going in and before touching Brody. My hands will be prune from all the washing LOL.

Luke is coming down on the 13th JUly for more tests and hopefully we can some how talk him into staying down here, as his father has thrown him out. One minute he is talking about taking his life and now he wants to set up house with another 18 year old and 16 year old. Grrrrr...... just more to worry about. Cant believe his father still cant be a father to him, as all every Luke wanted was to have his fathers love, but just got emotionally abused.

Wednesday, we have a kidney test and Brody's cord to be flushed clean. Then Friday we have a meeting with Transplant team again to confirm all tests and double check again it all ok to go ahead. Busy, Busy, Busy......

I have to start packing and keep organising all our stuff to get ready for the 13th July when we are admitted into hospital.