Day 0-Transplant Day

July 19, 2017 was my bone marrow transplant day. This is what Stanford calls for BMT patients, their 2nd birthday. You've been given a 2nd chance at life by the introduction of new bone marrow into your body. If they use your own blood, it's called autologous. If they use another person's blood, it called allogenic. My youngest sister, Emmeline Reyes, born on November 22, 1982 was my donor, who is also O+ like me. She spent the prior 5 days getting daily shots to boost stem-cell production, and on the day before my transplant they harvested her blood in order to separate the marrow via centrifuge. Getting those shots made my sister get sick, nauseous, and achey. I recall my sister saying when she first got her blood tested before she was my match, that she knew she would be my match because we both liked using Excel. It was the engineer in both of us.

The transplant itself took place during noon and lasted only for an hour. Marrow, unlike blood, looks more watered-down. I received the marrow via IV, just like you would with a blood transfusion. I guess there are receptors in our hip where the marrow normally resides that draw in the marrow, just like a homing signal. I was actually very tired most of the day, and spent it sleeping. After my transplant was complete, a group of the nurses came in and sung happy birthday to me and left me with a cake. My parents and sister Eileen came to visit later that afternoon too, leaving me with a few birthday presents as well (Curry shirt, Star Wars Activity Book, and a few other books). Did you know my dad's birthday was that same day as well?