IMPORTANT UPDATE-LOTS OF INFO

First, in case anyone does not understand, all of my chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant work will be done on the 8th floor, East wing of LDS hospital, and I will keep you updated on room and location changes as they occur, but the following is my current schedule as well as what we can possibly expect throughout the  process.

Presently, on the 13th I will go in for my final induction treatment, completing the first small steps that have pushed me into remission, which will include chemotherapy, a lumbar puncture containing chemo, and a bone marrow test to double check my results with my potential donors.  On the 17th I will go in and have my teeth   cleaned and examined so that I can have any cavities taken care of and my orthodontic bar removed on another visit I will have before the month is up.  On the 18th I will start the next month long treatment set which will make sure that my luekemia remains dormant.  During this month, things will remain the same as in the induction stage where I will be hospitalized for any problems, or fevers, and will go in for transfusions and be monitored for any other needs that may occur (worse side effects etc).  On the 19th I will go have a thorough gynecological exam to make sure I'm not carrying any diseases that would case worse immunodeficiency than expected.

Once that month is up I will be re-admitted into the hospital for a longer duration, receiving six days of full body irradiation to eradicate any left overs, nausea can be big problem during this time, but otherwise should do well.

I will spend 4-6 weeks in the hospital and receive my transplant.  The first few weeks should hopefully be the easiest, but since I have an unrelated donor, it is likely that I will develop at least a small case of graft versus host disease, which will be a struggle to balance out medications and symptoms caused by medications, which could last a few days to several years depending on how my body adjusts to the transplant.  This is the part I expect will be hardest.

Now, I'm sure there are other questions out there about what could cause what and such, but here's the answers to the questions that I've already been asked and can remember, feel free to ask any others you want to, regardless of any fear of offending me or upsetting me-you won't, and I believe in open communication to healing.

Will I lose your hair?  YES
Will you be able to have any more children? VERY UNLIKELY
When will you be done?  POSSIBLY 2 YEARS TO NORMAL
How will my donor donate?  I WILL USE STEM CELL-THEREFORE BLOOD PLATELET AND WHITE CELLS ARE DRAWN-IN THE CASE OF LARGE VEINS, THE DONOR WILL HAVE TO HAVE A LINE PUT IN AS WELL.
Can I contact my donor?  AFTER ONE OR TWO YEARS IF THE WANT IS MUTUAL.

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