Day +03

One thing is for certain, there is no template for days after transplant...

One blessing: I (we) slept well last night, getting up only twice. A double dose of lorazsepam (for nausea) works well as a nightcap. I woke, both rested and already fatigued. Apparently, despite my snoozing, my body had a busy night.

There are similarities between days, of course. My eyes open and I smile, because I have been granted another one. I thank God for the gift and then try to remember both who I am and what I am supposed to do with the day. So far, the routine includes an early morning trip to Rochester Methodist Hospital, where I am measured and generally found wanting. Today, my magnesium was low, so after we made it back to our room, they called and advised us to trek back up to the hospital pharmacy and pick up another supplement. It complicates matters, of course, because at least one of the other prescriptions cannot be taken in proximity to magnesium. Some must be taken on an empty stomach, some must be taken with food, some cannot be taken with calcium products (milk), and others must be taken with lots of fluids. Some are extremely tiny, others are huge, and one (cyclosporin) is both huge and smells like a skunk’s hiney — I have to take five of those, two times a day to prevent rejection.

In all of these complaints, please note an honest sense of relief. So far, for whatever this transplantation process has thrown at me; the doctors, nurse practitioners, and nurses have some solution or workaround. They really know what they are doing here.

This afternoon, I had a second Reiki relaxation session, donated by a local practitioner. The warmth, the aroma therapy, the rich oriental music, and the healing touch helped calm the skitterry little demons traversing my nervous system. So much tension flowed out, I was certain I would be shoveling it from the Reflection Room here at Gift of Life.

[See attached photo.] Did you see The Santa Claus(e) (the movie with Tim Allen)? In that movie, he wakes up, shaves, and in seconds has a full, white beard! Well, I shaved two days ago, and have a full white beard. Not as dramatic as in the movie, but I swear I can see it grow. From no hair (even eye brows) to beard, mustache, eye brows, and itchy white fuzz on my head in less than three days is pretty astounding. I would send a better picture, but my camera decided to malfunction. From what I have been told, in about a week’s time, it will all fall out again and I will be demoted from budding Santa to yet another Humpty Dumpty twin again.

Well, the day ends as I take my final medications, those that keep the acid reflux from burning my chest from the inside out, those that defend against creepy viruses, and those that both keep the food quiescent and my mind at ease so sleep is possible.

My prayer list (especially this list of thank you blessing) has grown so long, that I must write it down. So many have written, so many have prayed and sent blessings, so many care, it humbles me to dream of it all.

Bless you all and good night.

Mick

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Elwin N. "Mick" McKellar

- Phone #s: (home) 906-337-5596

- E-mail: mick@mmnetwork.info / mick@pasty.net

- Web: www.mmnetwork.info, www.mickmckellar.com, mickmckellar.blogspot.com