Days 23 - Stem Cell Transplant
The good news is that Jimmy did see some Zebra on the slopes of Devil's Peak after I left the hospital yesterday. I hope they come to visit him each afternoon.
They picked up bacteria in his bloods today and don't know if it is in his blood or from one of the Hickman tubes. So what they have done is drawn some bloods from his arm and sent this off to be tested. They really battled to get the bloods as his veins have hardened from the chemo and the nurse says when this happens it is difficult to tell the difference between a vein and a tendon. In the end though, they did manage. In the meantime they have put him on antibiotics as a precaution. If these bloods come back clear then he will go into theatre tomorrow morning to have the Hickman removed and another one put in on the opposite side of his chest. If these bloods come back positive, they will put Jimmy on a stronger antibiotic but at this stage, no matter the outcome, they will still do the transplant tomorrow. They have been taking his temperature allot during the day and it has not spiked so hopefully this is a sign that it is in the Hickman. Not that Jimmy wants to go back into theatre but at least it means that he doesn't have an infection.
The only other change today is that his appetite has already lessened. He had jungle oats for breakfast and with the blood procedures going on they only brought him his lunch at 14h00 instead of 12h00. His comment was "lunch already?...I'm still full from breakfast". And he really did just pick at his food.
He is not getting much sleep at all and the sister explained to me today that it is a side effect of the chemo and not them bothering him at night to take his vitals. I also thought this was strange because he has complained about not being able to sleep for 2 nights but didn't fall asleep at all today while I was there. I really hope that they give him a sleeping tablet tonight.
Thanks again for all your lovely comments. I have read through them very quickly now but it is almost 10pm so will read them properly tomorrow evening once I am home and reply. It's a long day sitting at the hospital, showering Jimmy etc and I am definitely not used to driving to and from the hospital each day. I can't believe that I used to work around the corner from UCTPAH and drive this route every day in the peak hour traffic!
Please keep Jimmy in your prayers tomorrow xx
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