Hi Keep Pounding Rob team!

Today was a tough day nausea wise, but our awesome nurse found the right medicine to pound it!

Even with all that, Rob found the strength to get some walking in, and picked up his 10th footprint sticker, earning him a 2nd ribbon tomorrow morning (10 footprints =1 ribbon).

It is with your strength, encouragement and prayers, Keep Pounding Rob team, that he is able to Keep Pounding, even on the bad days. Thank you!!!

Tomorrow, Rob gets a second ribbon to add it his first. Each ribbon signifies one step closer to discharge!

Rob’s new birthday is February 27th, the date of his stem cell transplant!

In celebration, we added some birthday balloons and Batman to the room decor. When his appetite returns, it’ll be birthday cake galore! 🙂

Rob had a great report from the doctor this morning! She said to keep up the great work! He has been working hard on walking, and gets a foot sticker each time he does. It’s a BIG accomplishment, and I’m so proud of how far he has come since being here, and I know ya’ll are too!!

According to Transplant Unit’s Motivated and Moving information sheet:

“Exercise has been proven to help patients maintain or improve their quality of life. It can help reduce pain, nausea, and diarrhea as well as anxiety and depression.

For our transplant patients, walking can reduce hospital stays with faster engraftment times as well as reduce the number of transfusions patients need by improving hemoglobin levels.”

Thank you for being here, Keep Pounding Rob team!!

This is a sign in Rob’s room, the before and after pictures. It reads: “Be Kind! Brave! Fierce!”

He did indeed “keep pounding” on the sign, which wasn’t very kind, but it was all by accident!

The sign was propped up in the chair, as we hadn’t yet got permission to hang signs on the wall. He sat down in the recliner and the sign went smoosh! But, much like Rob, the sign bounced back and is standing strong in his hospital room.

Sometimes you just have to laugh, and be kind, brave and fierce! Just watch where ya sit…:)

Before:

After:

Hi Keep Pounding Rob team!

Rob is doing great, and we both thank you so much for your love and support today!! We were all very nervous, but the stem cell team and the transplant unit were (and continue to be) absolutely incredible!

This time next week, the harsh side effects from the high dose chemotherapy will begin to appear. The nurse assured us that we will get through this together. We are ready to tackle the next hurdle and celebrate another victory with our amazing Keep Pounding Rob support group!

Below are some pictures of the equipment used in the stem cell transplant.

The transplant storage machine that stored and transported 3 million of Rob’s stem cells. The machine kept the stem cells at -300 degrees Fahrenheit.   

The machine on the left side thawed out the stem cells to the appropriate temperature.

Have a great evening, Keep Pounding team!! Ya’ll are the best!!!

UPDATE 2, 3 pm: Last update for this post, and then I’ll start a new post later, with some pictures of the transplant machine and details of the transplant: Rob is resting comfortably, and the team is helping with the side effects. Thank you again for the calls, texts, prayers, and thoughts!!

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UPDATE: The stem cell transplant is complete!! All went well! Thank you so much for being there!! More details to come.

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Hi Keep Pounding Rob team!

Rob is in his stem cell transplant now! Thank you a million for your thoughts, prayers and comments!!!

He is in incredible hands and care! More updates to come!

Hi Keep Pounding Rob Team!

We wanted to post some brief information about the stem cell transplant and the high dose chemo, which Rob will begin Monday. We’ve used two sites to help explain the information, Cancercompass.com and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (links below).

Below is a chart from the website Cancercompass.com, and it describes the stem cell transplant in an easy to understand way. Steps 1 and 2 are complete. On Monday, Rob will begin step 3, followed by step 4 on Wednesday. A brief description of step 3 follows.

STEM CELLS TO THE RESCUE CHART: (Cancercompass.com)

Source: https://www.cancercompass.com/cancer-guide/conventional-treatment/stem-cell-transplant.html

More information on high dose chemotherapy (step 3, which happens Monday):

High-dose chemotherapy kills more myeloma cells than would be possible with lower doses of chemotherapy.  The high dose chemotherapy also kills good cells which results in Rob having little to no immune system.  Rob will be in hospital until his doctors determine that his immune system is strong enough for him to come home. I’ll post more details on the high dose chemo including the process, side effects, etc., next week. Everyone experiences it differently, so it’s hard to know what to expect.

From the Memorial Sloan Kettering Center:

“People who have autologous or allogeneic transplants first receive high-dose chemotherapy to kill the cancer cells. Two days later, the stem cells are infused into the bloodstream. This procedure is similar to a blood transfusion. Over the following days, the transplanted stem cells travel to the bone marrow, where they grow and develop into new mature blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

It usually takes several weeks before all of the mature blood cells are replenished. During this time, special measures are taken to protect a patient from infections and bleeding. Stem cell transplantation may require up to three weeks in a hospital. Full recovery takes several months.” 

Source: https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/types/multiple-myeloma/multiple-myeloma-treatment/stem-cell-transplantation

Thank you so much, Keep Pounding Rob Team! We have a long road ahead, but we are ready to keep pounding this cancer called multiple myeloma!!

We could not keep pounding without all of you! Thank you for your love and support!!

Hi Keep Pounding Rob team!

Yesterday we met with the oncologist, and she said everything looks good for the stem cell transplant!

Rob will be admitted to the hospital Monday, February 25^th, and receive high dose chemotherapy. 

On Wednesday, February 27^th, Rob will have his stem cell transplant. The healthy stem cells that are frozen will be thawed, and transplanted back to Rob. 

His entire immune system will be re-built from this transplant. As such, the doctor and hospital have a strict no visitors policy while he is in the hospital, and for some time after he is home.

Rest assured, the no visitors policy will allow him to get stronger each day, and his immune system to become strong, like yours and mine.  I’ll be posting many updates on his progress for friends, family and our new friends on the same journey.

Prayer Request:

Thank you, Keep Pounding Rob team, for all of your prayers thus far!! We are fortunate beyond words to have such loving friends and family!!

Please pray for Rob as the reality of a stem cell transplant is here, including the process, recovery, and future.

Please pray for our new friends and their families we have met on this same cancer journey.

Thank you everyone, for helping us Keep Pounding Cancer!

  “It’s hard to believe I’m older than Bojangles’!”

Rob’s quote from a recent Bojangles’ trip. 😉

Hi Keep Pounding Rob Team!

We hope everyone has had a great weekend! Our local Bojangles’ has a new sign on the outside, and Rob’s first thought was the above quote. It’s the little things that bring laughter!

Tomorrow is a pre-op appointment for his stem cell transplant, oncologist appointment, labs, and dressing change. He continues to do well with his port.

It’s hard to believe that a week from tomorrow, he will be admitted to Atrium and begin high dose chemotherapy prior to the stem cell transplant. I’ll post more information and timelines after tomorrow.

In the meantime, thank you all so much for helping us get this far! You’ve helped keep the faith, and we appreciate everyone more than any words or blog can even begin to express!!!

Hi Keep Pounding Rob Team!

Thank you so much for your prayers and support!!

The stem cell harvest is complete! We just got home and are so thankful it was a success. We couldn’t have asked for a better team at the Apheresis Unit!  They are amazing!

Rob is experiencing some tough side effects, but not nearly as bad as yesterday.

I’ll post more information about what is happening over the next few weeks soon. Thank you again for everything!!!