Day 68: T+68

Our conference with the Dr. Petersen was just what we needed. I feel so much better now knowing what we are doing, where we are headed and what Dr. Petersen thinks of Eric's progress. 

Dr. Petersen said he's happy with where Eric is how he's progressing. That he's done better than any of us could've thought. He told us he's very optimistic about Eric continuing this trend forward as we continue through this first year. 

He gave us the chimerism for Eric:

The chimerism is how much is Eric's bone marrow and how much is the donors (Jordan's). It was first tested on day 28 after transplant and it was 49% it was again tested on day 56 after transplant and he was 81% of donor cells and 20% his old cells. 

This is all so exciting!! So exciting and yet scary too. Keep praying that Eric's body may accept the new cells, that they may heal his lungs and gut and Eric can be free of GVHD. Both of those organs were affected by his common variable immune deficiency (CVID). 

I am so grateful for modern medicine and all the good it can do. I'm hopeful that this long and difficult journey for Eric will be worth it and be something positive. I am prepared for the time it will take to get him to where we hope to be. I hope and pray that I can be the supporter he needs. It's so, so, SoOo hard to watch someone you love go through something so hard (especially when I've been in a similar place myself). I remember feeling frustrated that I couldn't find the words to explain to anyone how I felt. And even if I could, there was nothing they could do to change any of it. We really have to learn to rely on Heavenly Father. As we have prayed together, I feel that peace and comfort I always long for. I know that our Heavenly Father understands. That's what makes the atonement so beautiful. Through the atonement we know that we are understood and can be comforted through sincere prayers. 

From here the GI doctor is the one heading up the show. Eric's on two 24 hour drips: a protonic drip (controls his stomach acid which helps his biopsy sites continue to heal and not bleed) and octreotide (helps with bleeding and diarrhea). Today the GI doctor said we have to get Eric at a stable place with his platelets so he doesn't need daily infusions. So in coming days we are looking for platelets to stay above 50 on their own. We also have to discuss where to go with the drips as well as Eric's eating.

We are closer than ever to the H word, HOME!!

Jamie