Going in on Sunday, but Hair Today

We were told that actually Zoe won't be checking in to the hospital until 4pm on Sunday. Turns out they need extra time preparing the stem cells before they are infused into Zoe. The donor will keep to the same schedule.

The next day, Thursday, after Zoe's line placement and ER visit we went back to SCCA for a data review, dressing change, lab draw and infusion.

At the data review we met yet another doctor (lord if I can't remember his name) who ran us through things to expect throughout the process. Salient points: one day of Dilantin, 8 days of chemo, 1 day of rest, stem cell infusion. While stem cells generally take about 14 days to engraft, they expect osteopetrotic babies to take up to 21 days. After engraftment then it's a waiting game for the WBC levels to come back up to acceptable levels.

The Doc said that complications are an expected part of the process. It will involve many, many fires--big and little--to put out. The good news is that babies tend to do a lot better than adults with transplant. Bad news includes things like the chemo making Zoe sterile, as well as heightening her risk of contracting leukemia, lymphoma or some other cancer down the line--in about 15 years.

Well, there's a lot more bad news than that, but I just don't really want to think about it right now.

The lab draw and infusion were heavenly, compared to what they were like prior to the Hickman being put in. She actually slept through them.
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So, about the hair. It's gone. Mine, that is--and Jeff's too.

I felt like doing something drastic, so I shaved it off (well, Jeff actually did) and I am sending it to "Locks of Love" to be made into a wig for a child cancer patient.

Our friend Tyler donated his hair as well, and we had quite the fun shaving party--click here to see some pics. Also, check the YouTube link--I'll post a video there.

Extreme times call for extreme measures--within reason!