Five weeks out

It is now five weeks since the transplant, which is roughly one-third of the way through the expected recovery period. This week the doctors estimated that Jill's new bone marrow is about 85% engrafted. They haven't tested to see how much of her new marrow is from Sylvia, and how much, if any, remains of the marrow she received from her brother Harley. Once the marrow is more fully engrafted the doctors will do a biopsy to determine how complete the switch has been.

Jill continues to go into the clinic everyday between 8:00 and about 3:30 to receive IV fluids. As expected she is now experiencing GVHD (graft versus host disease) and is being treated for that. So far she has avoided all infections and each day that goes by allows her immunity levels to rise making infections less of a hazard. The GVHD causes discomfort but she is starting to feel a little better.

tom