A message from our mom

Our mom has asked me to post this on the blog!

I have been with Jayne here in Vancouver since she got out of the hospital on June 19th. She is doing great and she's the best patient I've ever had. Yes, I am her total care giver, but I sleep in the motor home they have parked next to their bedroom and we have a baby monitor she can call on if anything happens at night when Danny is sleeping with her. We haven't had to really use the monitor, cuz Jayne has been doing so well. So far, she has not had any fever so that is a good sign.

We go to Clinic every Tuesday and Friday at OHSU (Portland) almost all day, and they do blood work. give her IV's as needed, etc. I have been giving her extra hydration at home (IV Normal Saline) because she hasn't been drinking her full 72 oz of water a day. With encouragement she takes sips frequently, but complains of nausea when she drinks too much. I've been IV'ing her for about 10 days once a day, and will continue according to her blood work. Also, today she started on another IV, two times a day, because she is getting CMV (cytomegalovirus) which is usually present in everyone's body but without having a good immunity after the transplant, these people are usually more prone to getting pneumonia's, lung disease, inflammation of the retina, or death...so the IV's will prevent her from a full blown infection. Her blood work yesterday showed suspicious cells so we are starting the IV's (like an antibiotic, but some chemo in it to kill the virus). We will do this IV until the blood tests come back normal (a couple weeks or more). Otherwise, Jayne is tired off and on, but has UP days too, so I am glad I can be here. We have to keep everything STERILE and have been doing really good with GLOVES, SIGNS and a lot of hand washing, soap and antibacterial soaps, etc.

Hydi will be over August 17th to relieve me for 10 days. Bill will come pick me up and we will go up to Vancouver Island, Kelona, and make the loop to come back to Vancouver, Wa on 8/25 to release Hydi to go back home and then I will stay again until Sept. 18th, then I fly home (to Meridian) and Hydi comes over here, until the 25th of September. I'll come back the 25th (Hydi will go home) until Jayne's 100th day on October 7th when she can be more free to do her own thing, and does not need a 24/7 caregiver. If Jayne still needs me, I will stay, but Bill is flying over here October 6th to take me home....on the 7th!! He is really lonesome and ready for me to come home. I keep telling him, ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW STRONGER....Ha! Ha!