Day 0 Transplant Day

Cole and Clays friends shaved their heads to support my boys.

The most amazing team around. Brenda, Dr Blood Guy, Dr Boyer, Jen the Nurse

The Bone Marrow being hung.

There are over 200 million stem cells in there.

Cole's battle wounds. 50 pokes on each side.

Got 700 cc of marrow

Bood Brothers and best friends

So I am posting this a day late but I was really tired and emotional last night.

Transplant day was a long one. It started at 6am with Cole being admitted to surgery. He was so funny, we are sitting in the waiting room at the crack of dawn and you could see the wheels moving in his head. So I asked him what he was thinking. His response was priceless. "Why am I the biggest kid here?" There were a ton of toddlers there. They are not used to kids that are 5 10. His feet hung off the edge of the bed and they didn't have socks to fit a size 10 shoe. hahaha.

Cole did really well and said he would do it again if he needed. Ya know, I knew I was trying my darndest to raise all my kids right and some times you look and say to yourself I am failing miserably or where did I go wrong. Today I can honestly say I am raising the most amazing young man I know. He actually thought it was going to be worse than it was. I can't believe he thought it was going to be really bad and still there was no question in his mind what he was going to do. All I can say is Wow what a kid. He has also decided this is what he wants to do for his Eagle project. He wants to hold a Bone Marrow Drive. Cole said he wants to make sure that anyone out there needs Marrow it is available. He and Tad and Lily are leaving Sunday for home and it makes all of us sad. No one really wants to go but they all know it has to happen. Clay and I will miss them and think about them all the time.

Anyway, back to transplant cuz I know you are all dying to know more. After Cole was done and the Marrow was removed, they got 700 cc and it took about 45 minutes. The Doc said his marrow was flowing and at one point they had to slow down the flow so the nurse could catch up with bags. He gets that from his Moms side. Afterwards Cole hung out in recovery and then came up to Clays room to recover and play video games. It was nice to have both boys in the room together. Lily could not come in because she is not old enough. She hung out with Grandma Nicki all day and then went to lunch with Dad. Cole requested Groves Market for lunch. Yum Yum Yum. The Bone Marrow arrived by a blood specialist in a cooler and everything. It was so official, he was wearing a white coat and everything. There was a celebration with both sets of Grandmas and Grandpas and Lily and Cole. There was also a bunch of the staff who came and they sung Happy BMT Birthday to You. It was alot of fun. The docs each gave Cole and Clay a gift and a tshirt. Cole's says donor and Clay's says recipient. I wanna got one for Lil that says my brother is the donor and the recipient. Anyway back to transplant, sorry I keep wandering, the bag was hung on his pole and the blood started to flow. It is anti climactic with out all the pomp and circumstance. So we made it a big deal. The marrow ran for about 2 hours and then a second bag ran for another 2 hours and that started at about 11 pm.

Well that was it. That was The Day of Transplant. It was an awesome day where everyone was happy and healthy and we were able to enjoy each other. It is amazing how a bag of blood can bring a Mom to tears. Not me, my Mom, she cries at the drop of a hat. How ever I did get teary eyed.

I am grateful for the calls, texts, emails, and prayers. You are what keep us strong and happy. Clay has a long road ahead now. He is going to get really sick for a couple of weeks but should perk up. We are hoping he starts to feel better with in about 20 days or so. Hopefully less but realistically that is the average. The docs have said we should be home to Grandmas by Easter. So that is the goal we are shooting for.

Oh by the way, I have to give 2 shout outs tonight.

One- Trevor and Jill, congrats and we will miss ya. Good Luck!!!!!!!!
Two-Cole and Clays good friends in Vegas are brothers and both boys shaved their heads. Ikika and Kalani, thank you. You guys are what true friends are made of and I hope that one day my boys can return the love. Dorisanne and Stan, you have 2 outstanding boys on your hands and we love them very much!!!