Will Nostvick Will's 100 Day Journey

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.





Will and Kathy Nostvick’s 100 Day Journey


Will’s body is not producing healthy stem cells (which produce the body’s red and white blood cells and platelets).  He needs a stem cell transplant.  The good news is that Will’s brother is a match.


On March 20th, Will will enter Loyola Medical Center to prepare his body for the stem cell transplant.  He will receive high dose chemotherapy to destroy his own poor bone marrow (where most of the stem cells live).  On March 28th, he will receive an infusion of stem cells from his brother.  This starts day 1 of the 100 day Journey.  The remaining time Will is in the hospital, 1-3 weeks after the transplant, is a critical time.  The new stem cells will migrate to the cavities of the bones, engraft and hopefully begin producing new healthy blood cells.  At this time, Will will be very susceptible to infections and excessive bleeding, plus will be feeling the side effects of the high dose chemotherapy.  He will be given whatever medications and treatments he needs to get him through this time.


Hopefully around April 10th (about day 14 of 100), Will will be discharged from Loyola.  He and Kathy will move into Kathie Nash’s condo at 1700 Riverwoods Drive #815, Melrose Park, Il 60160.  This setting will have some restrictions for the remainder of Will’s 100 days, but being a newer building, and smaller size will make it easier for Kathy to care for, and Will to receive the care he needs and heal completely.  We expect they will  


While in the hospital and at the Riverwoods condo, Will will need someone with him 24/7.  Kathy Nostvick will be the primary caregiver, with help from their kids Elizabeth and Chris and some community members and friends to fill in.


Visiting in the Hospital:  Will can have visitors in the hospital.  He will be in the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit in the main hospital, 6th floor.  Visiting Hours 9am-9pm.  Only 2 visitors at a time are allowed in Will’s room, but there is a large visitor’s lounge on the unit.  The staff will tell you what isolation precautions you need to take. Do not visit if you feel sick or even have the sniffles.


Visiting the Riverwoods condo: Come into the lobby and you will see a scroll keypad.  Scroll to the name Nash  and put the number in the keypad.  Come up to 815, put your shoes in the hallway, (wear clean socks) come in, put on the mask that will be provided and wash your hands in the bathroom by the front door.  Keep visits short, depending on how Will is feeling.  Will will be on a strict diet for the 100 days, no fresh fruit or vegetables, no homemade food, snacks or dinners prepared outside the condo.  No plants or flowers.