Day 47

Well, I am almost half way through the 100 day wait period.

I got more information back Monday from the bone marrow aspiration. Apparently the new cells generated from donor cells comprise 92% of the blood cells. That's probably pretty good. But since that sample was taken just 2 1/2 weeks after the new cells began to engraft, it's still preliminary. But still 92% at that point sounds good to me.

The 92% is an average. The white cells were 67% new cells. And the red blood cells were 95% new cells. An average by volume gives 92% overall.

The red count continues to climb steadily although slowly. The white count continues to bounce. I had another Neupogen shot Monday, so the white count was still above minimum levels today. One of these days they will hold above the minimum level for 5 or more days, and then I'll have that behind me. Maybe that will be this Friday.

At this point I am just waiting for the counts to stabilize and climb into the normal range. Also continuing to watch for signs of GvHD, graft versus host disease. That, I guess, is why they keep you around here on average for 100 days post transplant. It just takes a while for all that to take place.

I am feeling good and working out about 5 days a week in the fitness center in the hotel. I am able to get some work done between infusions and blood work and generally running back and forth.

Should be a great football weekend. After reading John's comment, though, I'm not sure Tech should even show up Saturday. LOL That will be a tough game. Georgia should handle Mississippi State easily. After missing my call on the Florida/Auburn game I better stop at that.