First stem cell injection received (9/11/08)
Hi loved ones!
Okay…….Jillian has received her first stem cell injection! This injection was by IV, not spinal. She will receive the first spinal injection next week. With the IV, of course, it goes through the veins, but it still goes to the brain from the outside through the white matter, according to the doctor. When she receives the spinal injection, it will go directly into the cerebral spinal fluid and will travel directly to the ventricles in the brain, which is where the damaged tissue is.
The amount of the stem cells received was 20,025,000 (over 20 million). In an umbilical cord stem cell injection there is between 10 to 15 million. I guess I was mistaken about there being 6 to 7 times the amount of stem cells when it’s derived from bone marrow instead of umbilical cord. There is even someone that works here that I asked if that was true and they said they have always heard that was the case as well. But I guess I misunderstood. The lab counted the cells produced thus far and there are 100 million cells for injection. I’m pretty sure that she will still receive 4 injections total (the one IV from today and 3 spinals). But there will be more cells per injection. So this is GREAT that her little bone marrow produced so many stem cells!!!!!!!!!! She’s a strong little booger, ya know!
Jillian did have a slight allergic reaction though. While the stem cells were flowing through the IV, they also put in some medication which was anti-allergenic. But still, right after we got back in the room, we noticed a red rash around her throat area, also on her tummy around her belly button, and the outside of her thighs on her legs. She acted okay though. They gave her some more anti-allergy medication through the IV that was left inserted, but unconnected, in her hand. Within 10 minutes the rash was gone. She is acting just fine. She wouldn’t take a nap though so she’s a little tired.
She is running a little fever. But I have no idea if it’s from a cold that half of the staff has in the hospital or whether it’s from the stem cell injection. It’s driving me crazy not knowing too. I’ve asked other families, and they said they their child, or significant other, didn’t get a temperature after the IV injection, just after the spinal. BUT…..she did have a little low-grade fever this morning BEFORE the injection, then it went away on its own. So I just chalked it up to maybe the room was too warm or something. Then a few hours later, after the injection, I asked the nurses to check it again, and, yes, it was about 99.8……which is high for her. We’ve given her some Motrin, and it has brought it down. But it hasn’t brought it down to her normal….which she normally runs around 97.4, around there. It’s just that you don’t want a fever after receiving stem cells……the fever can kill off some of the stem cells.
The nurse just came in and checked while i am writing this and it is down to 97.4, and she is sweaty. Hmmmmmmm.
Jillian has sneezed a few times tonight. Man, I have been pretty anal about using Clorox wipes and wiping everything down when the first sign of a cold appeared here. Every time I come in the room after being in a common area, say around the microwave for instance, I sanitize my hands. I make sure the helper (we call her LaLa, by the way) keeps her hands clean too. Murphy’s Law isn’t supposed to be in China! How can it be that on the day of her first stem cell injection she starts getting a cold???!!!!! At least I’m leaning toward it being a little cold. I’d rather it be a cold than a reaction to the IV injection.
So everyone……… her first dose of magic mixture is circulating around in her little body, working miracles as we speak (or type and read)! Thanks, God, for this opportunity for our little girl!
Here are some pictures of the event so you can feel a little more connected……. (I look absolutely horrible…….yes, I do, and I know it. If it weren’t such a big event, I’d never be publishing myself on a public blog in the “condition” I’m in……but, hey, it’s all part of putting the kiddo first……!!!!!) Remember that you can click on a picture to enlarge it if you want to.
In this first row of pictures, Jillian has her IV in and they’re just running fluids through it. She is fascinated with this toy duck. It made her quite happy and you would never have known she had an IV in her arm.
This is Luca…..he is the patient coordinator. He’s been invaluable. Such a nice and caring guy. He was there for the whole process, from before the IV stick to going back to our room.
This is Dr. Mike. I’ve told you how wonderful he is. He’s the head doctor. Normally he isn’t present for IV injections, but he was with us for the whole process too, from before the IV stick, to going back to the room. Jillian received the VIP treatment with having Dr. Mike present.
I am actually holding the bag of stem cells in my hand before it is attached to the med pole.
Watching the miracle mixture drip, drip, drip into the IV.
Even the technician from the laboratory came up to see that everything was going good.
This is the rash that appeared on Jillian’s neck. It got redder after I took the picture. Had me worried.
So Jillian won’t allow even me to just TOUCH her right hand/arm with the IV in it. It’s still in, even as she’s sleeping. They’ve got it covered up pretty good so she can’t get to it in the middle of the night. But I think I’ll sleep a little lighter tonight just the same, in extra alert mode. Also because of her temperature issues, and to make sure she’s not too hot or too cold.
With that being said, I better hit the hay! I’m sorry it took so long to get this update out to all of you. Especially since I know many want to know as soon as possible how the injection went. I tried to get it out by morning because I know there are some of you that are actually checking the blog in the morning before you go to work. I’ve been working on this all day off and on, but things kept coming up.
I’ll post again tomorrow to let you know how she’s feeling.
I love you all! So does Jillian! PLEASE keep those prayers coming! Please!
Love,
Tami and Jillian
15 comments September 11th, 2008
