Today marks six weeks since Jen’s transplant and seven weeks since she was admitted to the hospital and just under eight weeks since she left Ottoville  (and watched the Lady Green play in the state tournament.)  Back in Ottoville there has been celebrations for the girls ‘ basketball team, prom, first communion, the start of baseball, soft ball and track seasons, Easter, and community garage sales. Cold weather has been replaced with warmer temperatures and furnaces turned off (most days).

The doctors were hoping Jen would be attempting to leave again today however a nonstop nose bleed has halted that plan. Jen was receiving Lovenox (a blood thinner) to help prevent future blood clots, however with the low platelets there has been way too many nose bleeds, often the blood draining to the back of her throat causing her to vomit. So they have decided to stop the Lovenox until her platelet count can sustain itself. 

The platelets have been needing a constant boost and so today she once again with get yet another transfusion.  Blood supplies are low so she is having to wait on some to arrive from The Red Cross (please please donate blood as having to wait isn’t good). She also is receiving red blood cells (hemoglobin ) and some fresh froze  plasma  (FFP) that will help stop the nose bleeds. 

If the bleeding stops, the attempt to leave will be tomorrow.  Here is to hoping that will happen. 

(Image of cupcakes I baked for the nurses)

The last time I saw Jen was on Friday.  She has much improved since then. She moves far better and is more alert. She however is having a persistent nose bleed since I’ve gotten here. Because she has platelets only around 50, this is expected with the blood thinners. She is receiving a transfusion tonight so the nose bleeds should slow down.

Her Nurse Practioner  Rosalyn also came in with some awesome news. Jennifer is 100% donor cells.  This means she has fully engrafted. So when we do blood counts,  this is completely from her donor at this point. This is big! 

Also the talk is tomorrow she will be leaving the hospital.  It sounds like she will be too strong to go to the rehabilitation center so it will be back to Hotel Home on Olentangy (Staybridge ). 

And finally  (this is a repeat but I’m determined ), 
I am  working on a small project and need your help. Jen is getting stronger each day, and I really believe your prayers have helped. I want her to know who you all are and how following her story has impacted you.

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I’m working on a small project and need your help. Jen is getting stronger each day, and I really believe your prayers have helped. I want her to know who you all are and how following her story has impacted you.

 If you could make a Facebook  or Instagram post with the hashtag ( # ) #BecauseOfJen and then finish the statement.  

Example – #BecauseOfJen I have been noticing my blessings each day. 

I’m going to get all of these saved in a book. Feel free to include a picture in your post that I can incorporate.  Thanks! 

Ask and you shall receive, right? Here is the current list of where we need some assistance. 

1.  We are still searching for 3 bands who would like to compete in a battle at Jen’s Welcome Home Party on July 22. 

2. Anyone who would maybe like to sell Disney Raffle tickets  (especially around Ottoville and Kalida). We just aren’t around here enough to really tackle this. We have prizes for those who sell the most.

3. Addresses  or email address of people interested in attending Jen’s Welcome Home Party on July 22. 

You can reach me via fb messenger or email me at rallytogetherwithjen@gmail.com 

Thanks in advance!

I’m sitting here with Jen waiting on doctors to come in. I had went to hotel to sleep last night and did some laundry before coming up. Jen texted me at 2am, telling me they did a chest ct a little after 9pm. 

Unfortunately,  the scan shows a tiny clot in her lung. This is reason why her vitals have been all over the place and why she has been short of breath.  

I am not sure what the plan is as her platelets are low so blood thinners are not an option. So we sit and wait to see. More later. 
Update 10:31 a.m.

The plan is tricky.

Her platelets are under 50 so blood thinners aren’t possible. So they can give her platelets to keep it there however…the more u get …the less effective but also a lot of fluid.

She is on a drug for a virus that brings her platelet counts down….so consider taking her off it.  

They also are going to scan her legs to see if the clots came from there and if there are more…they will need to put in a filter to keep more from traveling. 

Someone 

Tell me when

Life will be normal 

Again.
Someone 

Show me please

Life without this

Disease.
Someday

Is it is even possible 

Because right now it seems so

Incomprehensible.
Somehow

We can’t let cancer win

But I’m not sure where to 

Begin.
I’m tired

And ready for 

Life to get back to the way it was

Before.

As many of you saw yesterday,  we had a live facebook event in which Jennifer was able to leave the hospital after  five weeks and four days of being here. As we drove away, she told me it was a bit surreal. She was happy but frightened at the same time.

I would like to tell you our first evening away from the James was awesome.  It wasnt. I am so thankful however to have had Jen’s sister Jess at my side through those 24 hours. Jen of course was exhausted by the time we got to our new but temporary home at the Staybridge Hotel on Olentangy.  But she wasn’t able to get comfortable no matter where she tried to lay down or sit. 

We finally laid down about midnight. Jen immediately started her whimpering she does now when falling alseep. The distressed sounds continued for a couple hours. Soon after, she woke with nausea and diarrhea.  It was 530 before she was back to sleep and quiet. At 9am, she ate a little. And all seemed ok for an hour or so. But by 11am, she was again uncomfortable and complaining of being short of breath. We tried a breathing treatment but no improvement.  Then she complained of more nausea.  We decided to call the BMT. The nurse had us give her a pulse, BP, an respirations.  All were a bit high and so the decision was to bring Jen back to the hospital.

And so, day + 33 is not quite the day we hoped. We wait and see what the doctors want to try from here. 

I thought the good news that came back from Jen’s stomach scope would make her shine her big smile. But she has set her sites on getting released from hospital,  the news there is no sign of GVHD in her stomach didn’t get the reaction I thought it would.  

Although the docs believe she has improved greatly,  one test came back today with some elevaded numbers again. Once again concerns for something called CMV (which I am not all that knowledgeable about) lurk. Because of this, Jen will need to go to outpatient on a drug that is quite pricy and needs insurance approval. And it being the weekend, that approval may not come until Monday. 

Big crocodile tears streamed as she shared her disapointment in having to stay possibly the weekend. Although Monday isn’t that far away, her release has been pushed back too many times at this point. Her doctors are working hard with her insurance to get the approval tomorrow but no promises can be made. 

So I armed myself with two consolation  prizes. First I found a wheel chair and for the next hour, we strolled outside the hospital campus. She tired so quickly however and I had to bring her back. Secondly, I have requested her to get a pass tomorrow to leave the hospital.  Although she may only have the ability to hang out at the hotel, anything is better than being in this hospital room. Hopefully if she won’t be leaving this weekend, they agree to let her take a few hours away from here.

I end with an image of her white count score. Now no longer low and high enough to fight off infections. 

Because Jennifer had gotten sick several times on day 28 and once day 29, they scoped her stomach this morning and took some biopsies.  They are looking to see if she is developing GVHD  (Graft vs host disease ). They said she had some area that looked red but nothing acute.

The strange thing is, she requested pizza last night. Pizza, of all things. And the ate 2 1/2 pieces and kept it down. Tonight, chicken tenders from Cains. I’m waiting for the shoe to drop. Hoping it doesn’t but it seems to be the pattern.

Her cough has improved greatly these last couple days. It is still present but not keeping her awake like it was. She continues to get breathing treatments and is on 2 liters of O2. This has been reduced from four liters this morning. 

I close this asking for you to pray for another patient here at the James. Ralph is on the BMT floor and is a week behind Jen in transplant.  He has been struggling and his wife, Karen has been so worried about him.  They have a young son and I know she worries about raising Ray without his dad. Please keep Ralph, Karen, and Ray in your prayers tonight.