Jim's Journey - Day 21 post transplant March 21

We get to the SCCA clinc about 8:00am. Our actual clinic isn't until 9:30, but Jim's blood draw was scheduled early. He actually likes more time between the blood draw and the clinic so his numbers are all back when we talk with the doctors. The waiting room on the 6th floor overlooks the Sound. It is beautiful and the view is nice. Today we are unable to get chairs near the windows. Jim sits toward the back of the room. This area has several "games". Jim starts the Wii. Neither of us has played before, but we decide to go "bowling". We are enjoying ourselves when they call his name. I have already bowled my 10th frame, and Jim is starting his 10th, but has to leave. I finish for him - 3 strikes in a row! What luck - for him. My score - 124, his 122!

He is doing well, he feels great. His numbers are going up, but we don't have his neutrophil numbers today. By numbers we mean is white blood count, red blood count and platelets. Neutrophils are a portion of his white blood count. These are the numbers that tell the doctors that his stem cells are starting to populate. Jim's neutrophils have to be over 500,000 in order to not be neutropenic.

Today is low tide at -1.35 so we decide to go out to Carkeep Park to look at the pools. It is a little chilly, windy, but Jim is bundled well. He walks along the beach for awhile. Phaedra is not allowed on the beach so she is in the car.

We find a couple crabs and sea stars (starfish). I take lots of pictures. Jim finds a big conch-type shell while I find a few smaller ones. It is nice to be outdoors. Jim tires quickly and returns to the car, I spend another half hour on the rocks. It has been a great outing.

We return to the motel about 2:00pm, exhausted. We eat a little, then take a nap. Me longer than Jim. No laundry gets done today. There is not a lot to do in the motel so we find a show on television. Jim is wanting to watch "Dancing With The Stars" tonight. He mentions that he is beginning to feel a little "off".

Late night and Jim is sweating profusely. He doesn't not feel cold, he has not fever. Just night sweats, but enough that it makes me worry. I don't sleep well the rest of the night, checking his forehead off and on. He is up a few times raiding the shelves for food. A good sign.

Deb