Thank You, Pat Metheny

The stem cell harvest we hope is never needed is underway. Harper is resting relatively comfortably, considering she has a stiff straw sticking out of her neck, listening to music on Melissa's phone.

The machine is whirring in the corner. We explained it like a big paint shaker (it has a centrifuge inside it) and she was okay with it. There are lines of blood and fluid everywhere. It looks pretty medieval if you think about it.





We're about 2 hours in. She can stay on the machine no longer than 6 hours at a time. So, whatever they can harvest in 6 hours is all we can get today.

After the harvest is done, she'll get platelets. Her platelets, even after getting some yesterday prior to the insertion surgery, are still low. Plus, the platelets and stem cells are about the same density, so they sit within the same "layer" in the centrifuge. Ends up they get pulled off with the stem cells. So, part way through the harvest they will start platelets to replace them.

The nurse we have today is one of only a few that can do the harvest, and she's been doing harvests for more than 20 years. She's very capable, and has a nursing student observing with her today. Only downside is she's pretty comfortable talking about all the kids that have died (and the fact that when she started 30 years ago in pediatric oncology - they all died). A little unsettling for us, of course, but we know the odds.

She can't get up and do anything while on the machine - she has to lay pretty still. She can't even get up to go to the bathroom. So far she hasn't needed to - hoping she can hold it until we're done, to avoid a bedpan.

If all goes well, and we get the "results" of the collection in time, and they have enough today, we'll stay to have the catheter removed. The way it's been described, they'll un-suture it (its sutured into her skin in several places) and they'll pull it right out at the bedside here in the OMO. The surgeon talked about someone needing to hold pressure on the site for 15 minutes after, to help ensure the vein clots. He said he's never had to go in and suture the vein. That statement was partly comforting, and party concerning - because it means it does happen... And her platelets are so low (even after getting some) I worry. But we'll see.

We're preparing too to go home with the catheter and come back tomorrow. It's possible they won't get enough, and we'll have to do another round. Or, we might not get the count back in time, and even if they have enough, might need to come back to get the catheter out.

If we have enough, we can stop the Nuepogen shots for now. I not, then likely she'll need another shot at home.

But, for now, she just sits and lets the machine suck blood out and then put it back. All the while, listening to Pat Metheny. How many kids her age listen to Pat Metheny? Probably not as many as should.