BMT -10

So here I am at Westmead hospital ready to start the BMT process tomorrow.

The last few weeks have been busy trying to get ready and wrapping up any little thing I had left for work, getting ready for Christmas (on a much smaller scale than normal), Zoe's birthday (next weekend that I'll miss) and generally trying to get the house ready as we will be out of it for up to 3 months!

We arrived in Westmead yesterday afternoon and got into our apartment - just across from the Children's hospital so an easy walk to the hospital and train station. We checked out the local shops, got some groceries but then decided to go out and get some dinner. Westfield Parramatta is a 5 min drive away - so appealing for the kids to come and visit and go shopping once all the post Christmas sales begin!

Today I had been told to arrive at the hospital for 1pm - but around 11.00am was contacted and told not to turn up then but to wait for the phone call before I headed over. So, back to Westfield for some lunch and some more groceries as we keep thinking of things needed in the apartment.

So 4.00pm was arrival time, and we arrived and met with the BMT co-ordinator and we went through the entire process. I have left the details at the apartment but will post tomorrow once I have the sheet of paper back. What I do remember is that they have told me I will be feeling pretty lousy in about a week, the bone marrow will be harvested from the donor in Germany on the 19th Dec and here on the 21 Dec ready to give me! The next 9 days will be all about chemo to wipe out my own bone marrow and my immune system so my body will hopefully accept the donors marrow! I am currently O+ and he is B+, so ultimately my blood group will change!

Around the 24th Dec they will put in a feeding tube - down my nose and out of everything, that to me is the worst! So, Christmas lunch will be through a tube this year!

If all goes perfectly according to plan and I am well, sometime in the week after the 20 Jan could be the earliest I could leave hospital, but to stay in Westmead for ongoing appointments for about another month.

So, a lot of information to take in today, and then up to the ward. For information about visiting - see the separate post I have put up re the 'rules' they have explained to us today.

(And I would like to draw your attention to the 1st photo and the shirt I am wearing. A very cool bunch of beautiful ladies gave me this shirt to wear, and had their own team shirts made up. As I wore my shirt into the hospital , I issue them all the challenge to wear theirs in if they get down this way!!)

I had the Hickman line dressing changed, which was put in

Monday of last week and I was very happy that this was done as I have hated it for the last week - sore, itchy, uncomfortable. Now it is obviously healing, but the new dressing has made it much more comfortable.

The kids helped decorate the room for me - I'm thinking maybe I should get a few more photos to put up!

So, after all that, we got to head out to dinner - but they wanted me to wear a mask! Yes, I understand it's their protocol but I have been out all day and for the last 5-6 weeks not needing a mask or anything, so not wanting to be a pain in the neck on Day 1, I wore the mask out of the hospital, then took it off as soon as I walked out.

After dinner, back and settled in room, and now in bed.

I won't even get started on the TV! I'll save that for tomorrow when I have found out a bit more information ...