10/15 - MILS DAY

8:00 a.m. – arrived in IPOP – Kathy was our nurse again which we liked.  It’s rare to get the same nurse and to have her 3 times this week was great!

Took Don’s weight, temp – asked how he was feeling – the normal questions they must ask every day.  Kathy said the MILS cells were scheduled to arrive at 10.  The MILS is part of the trial he is participating in with Dr. Borrello, the Myeloma Specialist. Don was hydrated for 1 hour prior to them arriving.  Nurse Practitioner Kelly came to visit to see how Don was doing.  Again the normal routine questions.  Don’s vitals were monitored but he didn’t have to stay hooked up – Kathy wheeled the machine in and checked them about every half hour.

10:15 a.m. – MILS arrived.  They are stored in the same manner the stem cells were in this huge tank and are frozen.  There were 6 packets to infuse.  Each one is taken out, thawed and hooked up to infuse intravenously.   After the infusion they gave him a Saline solution – at approximately 11:15 they were all done.  This was followed by another 2 hours of hydration. 

Don really got through this process with little problems.  His stomach was a little queasy but he never got sick which was really good.   This actually was a very good day for him.  He ate at different times – nothing really big at any one time but I’m happy with several times a day just a little at a time.

1:30 – we were leaving to go back to the apartment.

Don rested when we got home but not too long -  we headed for 7-11 for my coffee.  Came back and he rested some more.  Kristi and Charlie came to visit  and we ordered dinner from BOP – the great pizza place in Fells Point – about 10 mins down the road.  They left close to 9:30 p.m.  They bought over some things we needed which is always appreciated.  Gram had gotten together some hats, scarf and jacket for Don.  With the cool morning walks over to JH he was happy to get them.

Heading to bed soon – we have a LATE appointment tomorrow at 2:00 pm.  If we decide we don’t like the later one we will change back to early.

There is a marathon scheduled tomorrow in Baltimore so if we can find the route Don wants to go somewhere and just watch – hopefully we can – even if it’s for a short while.

Keep the prayers coming – we appreciate them all!

Until tomorrow……

Love you all!

Don & Muffin