Transplant Day

*(Day 0) May 11, 2010 will forever be considered the most important day of my life. After five years of struggling and fighting and pushing, I finally made it to the day that every sick patient waits for. Transplant Day. This day was by far the scariest and most anticipated day I've ever experienced.

I woke up in the morning and was starting to get really anxious because I knew what was about to happen. I tried to stay calm by laying around and relaxing. My family came around 11 and visited for awhile while I tried to just relax. The transplant was scheduled for 1 pm and I could feel myself getting more and more anxious by the second. Finally they brought in two bags of reddish fluid. Both bags were donated cord blood but each was from a different donor. The hope is that one of the two will be the one to work.

Before the transplant started, a chaplain came by to say a little prayer and bless me. My family members took turns making a cross out of oil on my forehead. Then everybody settled down and got quiet to help me relax.

The actual transplant happened really fast. I just laid in bed and they pumped it right into me through my IV. I was having a lot of anxiety at first and then my blood pressure started to get a little crazy, which they say is typical. I also got really nauseous and light headed and hot. It was very uncomfortable and a little scary but the nurses had everything under control. I got a few hives but they went away pretty fast.

Afterwards I passed out for a bit because I was exhausted. After a nap, we had cake and made a toast and I got to open up some presents and cards from friends and family.

I don't really remember much of the rest of the day because they gave me a ton of meds to help me relax and feel comfortable. My siblings painted my windows and drew some pictures to hang on my hospital room door and then left for the night.

My doctor says it sounds like a had a bit of a mild reaction but that he's cautiously optimistic.

Unfortunately, things still have to get worse before they can get better. It's bittersweet to know that I've made it this far...but I'm nowhere near being done yet. The next few weeks will be a true test to my strength as I battle pains, hair loss and the emotional toll this is taking on me. We're all just keeping our fingers crossed that cells will start to grow.

**Reason of the Day: May 11th is my new birthday! Birthdays are always a reason to smile (RTS).

Here are a few pictures:

My siblings with their "Team Elizabeth" shirts

My mom getting ready to start my transplant

Transplant cake and treats

Jackie hooking me up for transplant

My Mom, Brother and I

Jackie, holding my two units of cord blood Me hooked up to my pole. Don't those bags look nasty?