Day 20: Highway to the Danger Zone – In a Pink Nightie

Day zero leukocytes has arrived and with it all the stepped up protocol.  I was greeted this morning by my sweet nurse who pulled blood from my hickman line, followed by another who cleaned and replaced all the bandages.

I had one last visit with Eric, where we were informed that even visits with me through the glass partition would be forbidden.  This gave me a moment’s sadness, but I know this is not forever and I am thankful that his younger brother is (PERFECT TIMING) on a plane right now to spend a week in Russia.  The Peterson brothers will have a great time, of this I am sure.

After my bandage cleaning, another sweet nurse tech entered to give me the rundown of how I am to clean myself properly.  She initially began all her instructions in Russian, but saw my confused face and began playing charades.  I grabbed a pen to mark each bottle (future tip: tape would have been handy.)  There is a special wash and cloth for under my arms, and another for (this is where my nurse got giggly) my lady areas.  I marked the bottle “girl parts” and we both got pretty tickled, because I think she understood the words.  There is another bottle I am to use for gargling to maintain clear mucus in my throat.

After my most proper shower I think I’ve had in weeks, I entered my room to put on my new, sterile, pink floral nightie.  It suits me well in my new stage.  Most patients are given blue paper booties to wear as shoes, but I providentially brought along my Crocs, which they love here because they can be sterilized along with the rest of my room.

The techs who serve me use only the tools which are in my room.  No mop, no bucket, no gown, no spoon, no fork, literally no item leaves this room unless it is being taken to be sterilized.  My food is brought into the initial room by the food tech, and then my nurse tech enters to microwave it once more and then places it on the table for me.

I cannot speak enough of the care they are taking to keep me healthy during what is a very dangerous time for my immune system.  I spent the past 18 years with immunity which was so far ramped above the average man that I never worried about colds, or even the slightest skin infection.  This will be a good time for me to learn how to ease back into what all you normal people keep going on about.  🙂

Loving you all in my new pink nightie.  Mean it.

Editing to add that I have started to once more receive stem cell mobilizing injections.  This should speed up the process, I hope.