Sorry for taking so long to get the update to yesterday’s version, but I was without the photos until now.  The transplant went smoothly and so far Cutler is showing zero side effects.  We were told we could expect to experience some chills and/or fever, but so far it is looking good.  He is having some pain issues with the sores in his mouth, but this is from the chemo that he had to endure leading up to the transplant. 

Also, as he had to have a new central line put in, we are experiencing some excessive bleeding from the site and have had to change the dressings twice today.  When I came in this evening it looked like it was still bleeding, but they nurses assured me that what I was seeing is the clotting in action.  Apparently they applied a type of wrap that helps create a fiber sheethe to encourage the clotting and effectively create an artificial scab.  Because his platelets are so low, he received a transfusion today, he needs help getting the bleeding to stop.  I am praying that tomorrow morning when we wake it will be all clotted up and we can focus on the other major tasks at hand, like avoiding an infection.

The transplant itself, was rather anticlimatic.  It was pretty much a blood transfusion as you can see from the pictures below.  Not even a doctor to be seen for the process.  It was just mom, dad, Cutler, and the amazing nurse Cari.  It lasted maybe a bit more than an hour and Cutler slept through the majority of it.

Now everything is in the hands of God as we tread across some pretty thin ice in waiting to see if the stem cells are accepted and begin to work.  In the interim Cutler has zero ability to fight off infections as well as experiencing graft verse host disease (gvhd).  He is taking medicine to help his lack of immune system as well as to deter the gvhd.  We should hopefully see some productivity from the new cells within three weeks time.  Would make for an incredible Christmas present to know that they are indeed working and to see some progress with his white cells.

Below are just some random pictures from the transfusion, including Cari modeling the latest in cord blood.  Thank you again for everyone’s continued thoughts and prayers.  Cutler is strong and God is great!  With the two of them combined and everyone’s continued support we will beat this for good!