Monthly Archives: November 2014

One Week at Home

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Robert I Baxter

I was forewarned the first 100 days at home would be spent wondering if I’m human (my paraphrase). I have been sharing with others I feel half human when resting, which is 99.9% of the time. Once I am up … Continue reading →

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Home again home again

Posted on November 25, 2014 by Robert I Baxter

I came home Sunday. It feels so good to be home. I have rested a lot, slept a lot, and eaten a meal or two. I had an appointment today with my transplant doctor and everything is going well. My … Continue reading →

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Going home: day +12

Posted on November 23, 2014 by Robert I Baxter

Today is Sunday, November 23, 2014. After spending 20 days in the hospital for a stem cell transplant where I received my own stem cells, I am finally going to go home. It has been a battle that has included … Continue reading →

Posted in burkitts, cancer, cell, chemotherapy, Home, hope, lymphoma, transplant, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Day +5

Posted on November 15, 2014 by Robert I Baxter

The next few days should prove to be interesting. I was told day +6 through day +12 are some of the hardest due to engraftment. Engraftment is where the stem cells take up residence where they belong (bone marrow) and start populating and regrowing (it has been dead now for a few days). Continue reading →

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Weak and Transfused

Posted on November 14, 2014 by Robert I Baxter

Today is day +2. I found myself able to move to the restroom, then to the couch. That was about it. No more strength. Profoundly weak and short of breath. My hemoglobin was 7.8, neutrophils are gone completely, white blood cell count was something like 0.1, platelets were around 50 or above. Continue reading →

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My New Birthday: Day Zero

Posted on November 11, 2014 by Robert I Baxter

I am told there will be 7 bags of approximately 50 mls of stem cells. The color will be red, but that is from pieces of red blood cells. They will arrive in a freezer, packed in DMSO (preservative), and extremely frozen (their words).
Continue reading →

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Day -1 (so far)

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Robert I Baxter

Tomorrow will be day zero, stem cell infusion. Yesterday completed my chemo. Day -1 is a designated “rest day.” What have I done so far with my day? Woke up with a headache. Took Tylenol. Ate breakfast. Took a shower. … Continue reading →

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Chewing Ice

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Robert I Baxter

Today is day -2. I will receive my final dose of chemotherapy, it is called melphalan. I am on a seven day countdown, with day zero being the day I receive my stem cells back into my body. Melphalan usually … Continue reading →

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Feeling Human

Posted on November 7, 2014 by Robert I Baxter

I slept last night the entire night. That felt really good. I feel almost human again. That is all!

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Brothers in the Battle

Posted on November 6, 2014 by Robert I Baxter

You don’t have to have met someone to feel a connection. Pen pals in the past, using the time tested snail mail, were able to sense a camaraderie and feel connected. Men who never knew each other one day, could … Continue reading →

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