Transplant Update

It's been a waiting game for quite a while now but now things are moving and moving quickly! During this waiting period Landen had a bone marrow test to test the function of his bone marrow and the possible donors had further testing to confirm they were a match. The bone marrow test results were what the doctor expected and confirmed that Landen's bone marrow is not functioning as it should. Thankfully though, the doctor did not find anything urgent or unexpected. The doctor spoke to a team of expert doctors and they all agreed with Dr. Roehrs that Landen is a candidate for transplant and they all agreed with his plan for the conditioning phase. This is definitely reassuring! We waited for a couple of more weeks and then got the news we'd been waiting on! On April 27th we found out a donor had been confirmed and had agreed to the date Dr. Roehrs suggested. Landen will be admitted to the hospital on May 24th. However, there are a lot of appointments and procedures that have to be done before then. Today Landen got a PICC line put in. While we are not looking forward to dealing with it we are thankful Landen will get a much needed break from needles! And he is so excited too....he has really been struggling with the infusion and blood draws and you can't blame him! After the PICC line procedure he had labs done, an appointment with Dr. Roehrs and then a pulmonary function test. We will have to go back tomorrow for an EKG/ECHO and a dental exam. We will also go back on Monday, May 15th for a kidney test, CT scan and more labs. Then on Wednesday, May 24th, he will be admitted to the hospital and he will have a Hickman line placed. The next day he will begin getting medicine to officially begin the transplant process. The PICC line has to be flushed every day. One of the nurses showed me how to do it today but a home health nurse will come to our home and either train me how to do it or to do it for us each day. I'm not sure yet exactly how that will work. We have gradually found out that the donor is a young male from somewhere in Western Europe! The donor will go to the nearest clinic to have their procedure done and then their cells will be shipped to America! Both possible donors were from overseas! That amazes me!

Just before going back for the PICC line!

Pulmonary Function Test

He got a certificate for completing the test!

Having a date for the transplant has brought some relief just to know a time frame but it has also brought more fear as reality hits more and more. We have so many questions, fears, and uncertainties. It is very scary and we know it is going to be very difficult. We also know that God has a plan and it's a perfect plan. He makes no mistakes and He will carry us through this. I'm praying that my faith will be bigger than my fear and that I will trust God every step of the way. He sees the big picture and I have to remind myself of that because this little part of the journey doesn't make sense and it's really hard to understand. But we have hope in God and His Word! The verse He gave us says "God goes before you, He will be with you, He will not leave or forsake you, do not be afraid, or discouraged.

-Deuteronomy 31:8 God is faithful!! I'm so thankful we are in His Hands and we can trust Him! Thank you for praying for us! We can tell people are praying for us and we are so grateful!!