Dean P. Demos

It’s over. On Wednesday, I served a 4 hour term in the donor seat beside an apheresis machine that separated another 5+ million stem cells from my blood. I now have 10,500,000 stem cells frozen and ready should I need a transplant. I’m glad I did it, and I’m glad it’s over.

I appreciate quality members of the medical community who do their job with skill and pleasantness. They are to be commended.

I talked to Bob, my myeloma friend from NJ, who happened to be in the hospital for a blood clot from Revlimid. We both shared our current status, and had good questions for each other. I said a prayer for Bob at the end of our conversation.

Speaking of prayer, I am going to lift my hands to the Lord every morning in prayer, and thank Him in advance for healing me. That’s the faith position that is expressed in the Hebrew word, Towdah. Thank you, Lord. It’s impossible to lead a life that pleases the Lord without faith. (Heb. 11:6) So, let’s see those hands up in the air, please!!!

I have a port.  No ships … just blood goes in and out.  That starts tomorrow morning.

The hospital people call it a catheter.  It was inserted in a semi-surgical procedure.  No joke.  Anesthesia and all.  Anyway, I now am ready for tomorrow morning when they will hook me up to an apheresis machine that will take blood out one side of the port, separate the healthy stem cells, and then pump the left overs back into my intake port.

When they have enough of them, I’m done.  They will remove the catheter and freeze my stem cells.  An amazing process.

The neupogen I’ve been taking all weekend has quite a reputation.  One of my nurses today said, “You really look neupogenic.”  Believe me, I felt neupogenic ALL WEEKEND.  I found out it’s common … flu-like achy-ness … “My Achy, Breaky Bones.”  (I feel a song comin’ on)

I’ll be glad when this is over.

Life has its struggles.  The other day I was reading the Book of Ruth.  Naomi told her friends to call her “Mara” for the Lord had been very rough on her.  She didn’t realize that her sorrow would be rewarded when her daughter-in-law’s descendants would be King David and Jesus.

Hold on.  I will if you will.

Fun.!? …  I have a whole new respect for diabetics who live with the self-injection process. 

The biggest down-side of this weekend is the side effects.  Neupogen leaves you with flu-like symptoms and, for me, a pulsing, throbbing nerve-type pain in my lower back, especially when I lay down to sleep.   I spent much of last night on the recliner upstairs in our bonus room to get relief from this annoying side effect.

I keep telling myself, “The neupogen is stimulating more white blood cells in my bone marrow, a process important to the stem cell harvest process.”  That gets me through.

My lovely little care-giver, my wife of 43+ years, has been the best in this process.  Normally a “suck it up, buddy” type of person, she has flowered with a very comforting, merciful, nurse-type disposition.  She’s the BEST.

Jesus, thank You for my wonderful wife, who helps me locate plump body areas to inject myself without hitting a vein.  Lord, thank You for EVERYTHING … everywhere I look, I see Your hand of blessing.  You are Great.  You are Good.

Yesterday, Patty and I drove up to Northside Hospital where I did my blood check with the triage nurse and a neupogen injection training session.

In the course of the blood being drawn, my triage nurse, Tim, a man in his 40s who has the fit and trim appearance of an Army drill sergeant, made a comment about my blood not carrying enough oxygen to my body.  Thus, my fatigue.  It really hit me.  Patty thought I was not myself for about an hour, as I wrestled with the fact that it’s really true.  And, there’s little more I can do about it. 

It’s no fun to lack for energy.  Hitting the wall in the afternoon occurs regularly.  As my Mom and Dad often say, “Getting old is for the birds.”  I know what they’re talking about.

The Apostle Paul said, “I labor according to that which He works in me.” 

Jesus, I need You to work in me, both to will and to do of YOUR GOOD PLEASURE.   Your grace is my answer.  What else do I need.  Apart from YOU, I can do nothing.

I thank you in advance for giving me what I need.  I can do all things thru You … You strengthen me.

Today at 1:30 p.m., Patty and I will again visit the Transplant Dr.’s office to learn how to give myself neupogen.  Neupogen is a synthetic drug that stimulates white blood cell growth.  I give it to myself this weekend, and then on Monday, I have my port put in.  On Tuesday, I begin the collection process.

We drive to Northside Hospital for these procedures.  It’s near Ashley and little Boston.  Hopefully, we can integrate some grandparent time with the process.

Thanks for your prayer.  The process is bothersome when compared to my prior life.  But, I am committed to maintaining my health for the sake of those who love me and depend upon me.

Jesus, I need YOU.  I depend upon YOU.  I trust YOU.  I love YOU.  YOU are my life and hope.  Come quickly, Lord Jesus.