October 23rd Update from Wayne

Hi Everybody:



Well, everything is going as well as can be expected. Caitlin has come through the first phase of the treatment, the mobilization. Recall this is where they stimulate new blood cell production then pull out the stem cells to replace after chemo. It wasn’t fun, but no major mishaps. She had her stem cells removed on Monday. About 6 hours hooked up to the machine that circulates the blood and removes the stem cells (not painful at all, in fact she was quite bored.)



She will be going into the hospital on the 29th. This is when they will start the aggressive chemo, 5 times stronger than “normal”. She will be sequestered in a private room as she is extremely vulnerable. She can have visitors, but they have to be germ free! I can’t remember exactly, but it will be at least 3 weeks in the hospital. Cindy & I will take turns staying with her. This is when I will be taking Mondays & Fridays off…needless to say this will be the most stressful time for our family.



Our Miranda is doing very well considering she is stuck with Dad. Poor thing had to undergo oral surgery yesterday and ended up needing a bone graft (donated bone, not her own). So she is quite sore and needs to be real careful with her eye tooth for a month.



The good news: Caitlin is “free” until she goes to the hospital. She was able to move farther away from the hospital – went shopping, visited Cindy’s Grandma & Grandpa.