Day +98 Received results of bone marrow exam and 2nd chimerism test
Day
+95 Clinic day/ port flush / bone marrow exam / 2nd chimerism test / phlebotomy
Recap on clinic visit
- WBC: 2.80
- HGB: 10.1
- Platelet: 168
- Decrease MagOx (magnesium) to 200mg(1/2 tab) by mouth twice daily
Viki was scheduled for multi-procedures on Monday at the clinic. Multi procedures include bone marrow aspiration/biopsy, 2nd chimerism test and phlebotomy. It could have been a hectic day but, everything went very well of course, Viki did great. The clinic will give me a call with the results by this Thurday which is today. I've been anxiously waiting for this phone call since I got up this morning and finally at 1:16 pm, my phone rang. I took a deep breath before answering the phone and my husband and Viki quietly stared at me. It was Ms. Lize at the clinic and she delivered the happiest news and said, "everything looks good, the 2nd chimerism test confirmed again that Victoria still has a 100% of donor cells. Have a good weekend and we will see you guys in 2 weeks". We, three of us, jumped and huged and screamed for joy.
Thank you everyone for your prayers and encouraging comments. Again and always, a
HUGE HUGE thanks to our dearest donor. There is no other words than "thank you". He will be forever in our heart and prayers. Of course, big hugs and many kisses go to my sweetest daughter, Viki. She made me a proud mom by staying so strong in & out and lifting up her spirit the entire time. She's been doing an awesome job enduring chemo/radiation, following BMT diets and taking medicines etc. She is such a trooper. Lastly but not the least, thank our wonderful God. Couldn't have been possible without him. It is amazing to see how God maneuvered all the pieces in the right places. Dear God, I might have not understood why all these things were happening to us but, I just wanted to say that I trust you and I love you. Amen!
Now I can tell everybody with CONFIDENCE that Viki's bmt is a successful one. All of a sudden, I'm having so many things/plans to do lined up in my mind and getting stressed out. But this time, it's a good kind of stress. I will take my time since we are now at once every 2 weeks for clinic. We still have a long way to go but feel blessed that everything is on the right track. Just can't wait to resume "normal" life and rejoice the beauty of this world again with Viki. One day at a time, one day at a time....
이 병은 죽을 병이 아니라 하나님의 영광을 위함이요 하나님의 아들이 이로 말미암마 영광을 받게 하려 함이라. (John 11:4)
거의 2년전 승리가 처음 "재생불량성 빈혈"이란 병을 진단 받았을때, 주위에 모든 사람들이 나에게 위로해준 말이 있었다. 영지씨, 하나님이 승리를 너무 사랑하셔서 더 큰 축복을 내려 주실려고 이런 시련을 주신다고 다들 말했다. 그 때 나는 교회를 막 나가기 시작한 초신자였을때고, 그 말이 도대체 위로로 들리지도 않았을뿐더러, 본인이 안 당해봐서 저리 쉽게 말한다고 생각했고, 심지어 나중에는 하도 많이 들어서 화가 나기까지도 했었다. 하지만 2년이 지난 지금 돌이켜보면, 정말 요한복음 성경 말씀처럼 하나님은 우리 승리를 통해서 영광을 드러내셨고, 우리 승리를 통해서 나와 신랑을 철들게 하셨고, 우리 승리를 통하여 온 가족과 교회가 하나되게 하셨고, 우리 승리를 통해서 세상 수많은 사람들을 정말 열심으로 기도하게 하셨고, 우리 승리를 통해서 진정한 승리를 이루셨다. 주님, 감사합니다!
2번째 골수검사에서도 100% 도너셀을 확인받고 나니, 새삼 왜 이렇게 이 성경 말씀이 가슴에 와 닿는지. 너무 기쁘고, 너무 좋고, 너무 감사하고, 너무 고맙고, 온 세상에 또 하나의 큰 빚을 더 진듯한 이 벅찬 감격, 말로는 다 표현조차도 할 수 없을만큼. 사실 그동안은 내가 너무 앞서갈까봐, 또 나의 호들갑에 혹시 부정이라도 탈까봐, 너무 조심스러워서 우리 승리 잘하고 있다고 자신있게 말할수 없었었는데 이제서야 속시원하고 자신있게 말할수 있을것 같다. 오늘의 감격과 감동을 다시한번 가슴에 아로새기면서, 평생 감사하는 마음으로 겸손하고 겸허하게 승리엄마로 살아갈것을 다시 한번 다짐한다.
Viki packed her bag this morning for a long day: lunch, snacks, toys and ipad
Getting ready for bone marrow exam at a procedure room
Dr. Wettkamp giving Viki Fentanyl(pain reliver med) and Propofol (sleep med)
The sleep medicine really worked, Viki knocked down in few seconds.
They called me in 10 minutes. All was done. How fast!! Viki was still asleep.
This is where the needle was inserted on her hip
And this is what bone marrow biopsy looks like: a little solid piece of bone marrow.
Dr. Elyse mentioned Viki's biopsy looks beautifully red which means high hemoglobin. Pre-bmt, Viki's biopsy must have been pink or much lighter due to a low hemoglobin. Thanks to Dr. Elyse for giving me a medical lecture and letting me take a pic of bone marrow biopsy.
After bone marrow is done, we moved back to bmt room for phlebotomy. "Phlebotomy" means taking out a good amount of blood from Viki in order to get rid of overloaded iron in Viki's body. Before bmt, Viki needed blood transfusion every 2 weeks, imagine how much iron had been over-loaded in her tiny body for 1.5 years. I am so grateful that she's now at a stage where she's taking blood out instead of receiving them. What progress and improvement! It's too bad we can't donate her blood to Red Cross though.
Nurse Lize done a first bottle and showing Viki how to draw. Then Viki did the rest of bottles by herself. What a helper, I was so proud.
Took out a total of 90cc of blood. (5cc per kg of her weight)
Getting IV fluid after phlebotomy.
Daddy was so proud too that Viki did great.
