"It's a dangerous business going out your front door."

October 19th: The final battle begins

Chelsa is a quick study in recovering from major health trauma, so she has had no trouble bouncing back after the stem cell extraction. The final count was 10.5 million (which are now frozen, -90°). We are told this is enough for the transplant and a second try if necessary --hopefully not necessary, autologous transplants are not quite as effective as allogeneic transplants (using cells from a donor), but are much lower risk and still have very good success rates. She has also completed an Echocardiogram (heart check) and Pulmonary Function Test (lungs check) -- both good as far as we know. She is scheduled to begin Part 2 on Monday, October 19th. 

Here's what we know so far about Part 2...

• First she will be checked into the hospital to receive some hardcore high-dose chemo drugs to kill any remaining cancer cells (also called conditioning chemotherapy) which will be administered over a one- to six-day period. (This will include Melphalan and we're not sure what else).  
  
• After the high-dose chemo, she will get a day or two to rest and allow the drugs to clear from her system (still in the hospital). The chemo will have severely disabled her immune system, so any visitors will need to be extremely careful about germs.
  
• The lab will then bring the still-frozen bags of stem cells to her room to be thawed one at a time in warm water, then transfused in through the port in her chest. Each bag takes approximately five minutes to transfuse. (The DMSO mixed with her Stem Cells to help preserve them causes some patients to taste and smell garlic during the transfusion and for a day or two afterward.)
  
• The high-dose chemo will have completely wiped out Chelsa's immune system, so now her harvested (unfrozen) stem cells, which were not damaged by chemo, will help her immune system grow back. It takes these undamaged stem cells approximately ten to fourteen days to graft to the bone marrow and begin producing new red, white and platelet blood cells.
  
• During this time, she will be extremely susceptible to infections (because of the lack of white blood cells), bleeding (because of lack of platelets) and fatigue (because of lack of red blood cells)... so will stay in the hospital where she can be monitored (and receive any antibiotic, antiviral or antifungal medicines necessary).
  
• After the engraftment is complete, Chelsa can gradually return to normal activities -- coming home, but still being VERY careful to avoid exposure to any germs or activities that could lead to an infection. (No Roller Derby or America Ninja Warrior training during this time).

She will likely be able to return home somewhere around Nov. 19 (mostly a guess).

How you can help us...

#1) Prayer. We believe that there is a God, who is good, who is in control, who loves us dearly, and who hears our prayers. Specifically, please pray for:

• Chelsa to be strong and at peace through this process, kept safe from anything that could go wrong, and uplifted through a miraculous sense of thankfulness, joy, and encouragement even during the hard parts.
  
• For hair loss -- not the worst thing, but Chelsa really doesn't want to lose her hair from the chemo treatment.
  
• Infertility -- there is a good chance of this, but also a possibility that her reproductive system will bounce back. We absolutely love kids and would really enjoy having our own, so this would be a huge gift.
  
• Wisdom -- for her doctors and nurses to know what's best during this time, when to go by the book and when to trust their instincts or a Holy prompting (or a mouthy husband).
  
• Freedom -- from multiple myeloma (the cancer in Chel's blood), from headaches, body aches, eye infections, restless nights, loads of doctor visits, yucky shots and drugs, and from all of the associated fears and worries. 

#2) Caution. Chelsa LOVES her friends (and especially friend's kids!). This makes it really hard to avoid contact with anyone who even has the possibility of being sick... but for the next few months, both Chelsa and I (Matt) will need to be especially cautious of being exposed to any sicknesses.

#3) Notes. The power that little 2-minute notes have... to encourage, to remind or reminisce, to provide a short update or a quick chuckle... well, it's huge. Many of you already do this regularly, so I guess this one is mostly a note just to say thanks! and that she will probably (hopefully) just be kind of bored throughout this whole process... so little notes (email, text, cards, whatever) are great. ...at least until we can hang out with you in person. 

That's the news for now. Thanks everyone! We will do our best to post regular updates as the battle continues. 

~Matt & Chelsa