Transplant is completed. Now we wait for engraftment.

Craig received 11 bags of his own stem cells in about an hour. I watched as the nurses triple checked the name on the bags. One bag was thawed in a water bath similar to a double boiled, transferred to a syringe, and the contents were slowly pushed into his central line catheter. This was easy compared to the weeks of tests and collection.

Now he's feeling good and napping. He was given anti-nausea medicine, including Benedryl. That made him sleepy, but it has worn off now.

We will be able to leave about 4:30 pm when his IV bag is empty. He needs lots of fluids to help eliminate the preservative from his system. It is exhaled and there is a smell of creamed corn. This might last a couple days. He also needs lots of calories and to walk as much as he can to prevent pneumonia.

I'm ready for a walk in the clinic and a cup of coffee. Gail