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Day 2
Things are still going great. Today was a relaxing day in the hospital. In between watching movies, playing on her phone, and sleeping, staff worked to keep Ashtyn comfortable and manage any side effects she experienced. After Chandler donated his marrow, it was tested for any infections before it was given to Ashtyn. Whether it…
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Post Transplant DAY 1: All paths are crossed for a purpose.
Ashtyn woke up feeling decent and had a rather uneventful day. Uneventful is wonderful. Even though she doesn’t feel as well as she would like, she looks good. Today she spent most of the morning and afternoon sleeping. During the evening she watched movies while her dad rubbed her feet. Twice a day she receives…
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Happy Bone Marrow Transplant Birthday!
At 6:30 a.m. Chandler arrived at the hospital with Jason. I met them in pre-op while he was getting ready for surgery. Chandler was calm and completely fearless. I became a little nervous when I found out that Chandler had woken up feeling sick. He had a sore throat, body aches, and a slight fever…
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She Is Ready For The Transplant
Ashtyn has finished her second day in the hospital finishing up her preparation for her bone morrow transplant that will occur tomorrow. She is experiencing the effects of her eight previous radiation treatments and does not feel well. Nausea comes and goes. Sometimes it’s a mild, lingering feeling. Other times the nausea comes as an…
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What Is a Bone Marrow Transplant?
Bone marrow is a spongy tissue found inside of bones where all of the blood cells are produced. Every type of blood cell in the marrow begins its life as a stem cell. A stem cell can be called a “parent cell” because it divides and forms the different cells that make up the blood…
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Radiation Week
Monday followed a pattern that Ashtyn and I have become very used to. It was unpleasant and tough, then enjoyable and fabulous. It started out at noon when we went to Primary Children’s Hospital for a check up, final transplant teaching, and paperwork. By 1 pm we had not been seen by the transplant team.…
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As Social As She Can Be
Things are ever changing. Three days ago (Thursday) Ashtyn had surgery. She was so brave. On the way to the hospital we discussed whether or not she should get a new NG tube. Knowing that in the near future she would have days of radiation, chemotherapy, and the transplant, she wondered if she would be…
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Ashtyn Invites The Army To A Party
Since I will be back in the hospital shortly, I would like to have a BBQ to celebrate the beginning of my bone marrow transplant. I would like to invite anyone who would like to join. I would love to see my army there. Use the contact link and email my mom if you need…
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From Ashtyn
I was really in a funk. I was sad and depressed. I was wasted. I was empty. Totally drained. The past few months took all my fight in me. I didn’t have the urge to keep fighting anymore. I was tired of fighting. Tired of spending time at the hospital. Tired of being sick. Tired…
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Mind Over Matter
I had a short lecture with Ashtyn in the hospital when she woke up Monday. “When Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling and sculpted David, he had a vision of what he wanted it to look like. He knew what it was going to look like before he even started. Ashtyn, you need to have…
