Today is JJ's 50th birthday. We certainly hope that this year is easier than her 49th year.

Last week, I took JJ to have a Hickman Catheter installed at the hospital. Google images will show pictures of the device with 2 lines coming out, but hers had 3. They installed it just above her heart and it would be threaded up through her Jugular vein. She was told that it would be very important not to let it get wet and she would need to make sure it didn't get infected. It was uncomfortable, but this device would aid in the collection of her stem cells.

A couple of days later, she would need to start giving herself shots. Every morning, each morning a little earlier than the previous day. These shots would help produce white blood cells and begin preparing her for the stem cell collection. On top of that, she needed to go on a zero fat diet. There has been very little complaining throughout this entire process, but JJ says this was the worst part, tougher than any of the previous treatments.

On Tuesday, I took JJ to Levine Cancer Institute for them to draw some blood and to make sure that we were prepared for stem cell collection on the following day. She was on track, but she would need to come later that afternoon and get a larger shot that would begin preparing her stem cells. She would give herself another shot that evening and then one more early on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, I took her back to Levine at 6:00 AM. They hooked her up to the machine that would filter the stem cells from her blood and return the filtered blood to her body at 6:45 AM. (picture of the entire set up below) It would be a long day, but by 2:45 PM, she was ready to come home. They will harvest these stem cells and they will be ready to use, if she ever needs a stem cell transplant. On the way home, she told me that a transplant takes about 3,000,000 stem cells. They hoped to get 12,000,000 stem cells with this process. Shortly after arriving home, we learned that she had produced 15,500,000 stem cells (pictured below)! JJ said, "I hope I never see those things again." 

Today, on JJ's birthday, I took her to the hospital to have the Hickman Catheter removed. This phase of her journey is over. Our prayer is that the maintenance medicine she begins next week will do it's job and keep the Myeloma at bay. 

JJ handled all of this extremely well. Her positive attitude and work ethic played a large role. Each of you did too. We appreciate all of the calls, texts, prayers, and positive thoughts. Please continue. It means the world to us that so many people always checked in and asked about her.

2021 has been tough, but we have a lot to be thankful for.  Merry Christmas!

Robert