Next: Apheresis. This involved lying still in a hospital bed for several hours with a needle in one arm (sending blood into the machine) and a needle in the other (allowing the blood to return) minus the collected stem cells. I needed two days of collection. By God's grace, we got just enough.
The cells were carefully "cleaned," removing cancer cells, cryogenically frozen and stored.....
After a "day of rest," I received my stem cells back. Intravenously, I was given eight bags of stem cells on the 23rd and 4.5 more bags on the 24th (my big 5-0 birthday!). Due to some serious volume, my transplant came in two phases instead of one.
The process of receiving the cells back is simple. A cart holding what looks like a small garbage can and a hot dog cooker is wheeled in. The "can" holds the bags of frozen stem cells, while the "cooker" thaws them to the right temperature for re-entry into your body. Some patients (become nauseated), but I felt fine.
FULL STORY
To learn more about adult stem cell research and life-affirming stem cell treatments, visit www.stemcellresearchcures.com.
