Stem Cell Transplant 1

As most (I assume) of you readers know, my dad was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in September of 2017. It’s been quite the process since then and an emotional rollercoaster for sure. We have been overwhelmed by the love and support of so many people, which has been such a comfort and support during this process.

The next step in the process is going to be a stem cell transplant, with the first part in the process, the harvest, begins this upcoming week. Through this whole ordeal, I’ve tried, at least to some extent, to keep informed as to what’s going on and what to expect, etc. I feel like it helps to prepare, or at least attempt to prepare, for the next step in the journey.

In the vain of trying to stay informed, I recently perused through (because some of the reading is quite medical and a bit over my head) a pamphlet mom and dad have regarding the transplant.

Some things I learned

1. Stem cells and the cancerous myeloma cells “live” together in the same space.
2. In the past (and still today) stem cells had to be harvested through a painful process involving the pelvis. Now they can also be harvested right through the blood stream.
3. The chemo associated with the transplant is much stronger than the chemo dad has been through up to this point, so strong that it actually wipes out your bone marrow.

There was more to the list of information than that, but those were some points that kind of stuck out to me. I found that it helped by becoming better educated on the process, which takes away some of the mystery and the “unknown” of what’s going on.

If you want to get more information on Multiple Myeloma, you can visit International Myeloma Foundation website.

Your continued prayers and support as we move into this next phase of our journey are so greatly appreciated!