Chemo & Transplant Here We Come!

Today, we had a "Data Review" appointment with Jared's transplant team doctor. He went over all of the results of all the tests Jared has had over the past month: a pulmonary function, an EKG, blood, a bone marrow biopsy, etc.... (Tons of other ones they have to do!) Jared passed them all with flying colors. He has great lungs, healthy bones, a good heart and everything else they tested! This is great news, because it means he is ready to start his conditioning Chemotherapy and then his Stem Cell Transplant!!!

The doctor was able to give us an outline of what the next few weeks will look like! It's overwhelming and scary, but we are so thrilled that it is finally started, Jared is very excited to just have this all be in the past! Because Jared is so young and very healthy (besides the Hodgkin’s Lymphoma) they have decided to give him the most aggressive chemo treatment option to try to get the best results from the transplant. This chemo part of the transplant is called the "Conditioning" portion because the chemo Jared will be given is not just to try to get rid of cancer cells, but it is also used to kill any white blood cells and marrow that is in Jared's body. This is how they can just start Jared’s body all over kind of. The chemotherapy drugs that Jared is having are Busulfan, Melphalan, and Thiotepa. Jared will start with Busulfan and this will be given in pill doses four times a day at home. This will be very different for us, so far he has only had infusion chemotherapy at the hospital. The other two drugs Melphalan and Thiotepa will be given the more "normal way" by IV infusion at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, but still outpatient. 

Jared Waiting for his Appointment today! 

So, here is a brief description of what will be happening and when:
This Sunday 11-4: Jared has an appointment to have lessons from the nurse on how to give him the chemo at home.
Monday 11-5: Jared starts his Chemotherapy!!!!! We start the Bulsulfan at home and continue it for three days.
Thursday 11-8: Jared goes into the doctor to start the next drug Melphalan. For this drug Jared will sit and get it through IV for several hours each day for 2 days. 
Saturday 11-10: Jared has the last drug Thiotepa by IV infusion for two days. 
Monday 11-12: This is Jared’s one day of "rest" where he only has a normal check up appointment
Tuesday 11-13: Ready or Not? It’s TRANSPLANT DAY!!!!!!!!!! This is also considered outpatient, but just a very long day. 

This next stretch is going to be very very tough for Jared. Even though the chemo is outpatient it is very grueling and will be very exhausting. The side effects the doctors told us about are very scary sounding, but Jared has a very positive outlook on everything! We don’t know what will happen because everything is so case-by-case, so we are hoping for the best! It is very common for these transplant patients to go into the hospital for part of the recovery because they are so susceptible to infection because he will have NO immune system. Continue to keep Jared in your prayers, as he is about to start this next step in his recovery! Jared is truly amazing! I have no idea how he finds the strength and the positivity to be so strong while he fights this battle! I am a very lucky girl to have found such an amazing guy! 

                                                      At least the waiting room has AMAZING views!