Fickle Stem Cells..

First let me start by saying how freaking amazing my dad is, he seriously is the best dad and friend a girl could ever ask for.  I have been procrastinating for months on getting a flu shot (which I need for after he has his chemo and has no immune system) because I am scared of needles and here my dad is with a picc line and has been giving himself shots for the last 6 months!  He's my hero,  and not just for that obviously but the way he handles pain and needles makes me love and admire him even more. 

Secondly, stem cells are a fickle thing.  The way it was explained to us is my dad would take some medicine and it would boost his stem cells and then we would do a collection for a few days and would get 10-15 million cells.  BUT My dad's cells are being stingy....it could be because of the 8 months of treatment, it could be because his body is just tired.  They just don't know and said this happens to some people.  So after this week is over he will probably have collected around 5-6 million,  we need at least 10 to be able to save some for a 2nd transplant if needed.  They can't just keep giving him the shots and doing collections for 2 weeks straight so what the new plan probably will be is he will stop collection this weekend,  then he will have to take 2-3 weeks off to let his body rest (luckily he will be on no meds that whole time) and then go back to SLC and do a 2nd harvest to collect the remaining 5-6 million he needs.  So looks like our schedule will be pushed back a few weeks.  but as I keep reminding my parents SLOW and STEADY wins the race.  It doesn't matter if we have to do 2 collections,  all that matters is we get the 10-15 million cells that will save my dad's life!!   

I know Heavenly Father has a plan for my dad and for my family and if we need these additional weeks there must be a reason.  I am confident that these extra few weeks will give my dad more time to gain strength and to get ready to DEFEAT this annoying disease. 

 I know my dad is going to get better, I know he will be healthy,  of this I have no doubt!

So these annoying hurdles that keep happening that are meant to frustrate us and maybe make us doubt ourselves,  they are not working Satan,  our eye is on the prize and nothing is going to stop us!

On another note I went to the orthodontist yesterday and got my "final" wires put in and my teeth hurt so bad about the only thing I can eat is yogurt. Maybe I will loose a few pounds :) Officially 30 months with braces.  I am so ready to get them off!! 

Until next time...keep praying people :)