57 Vials Of Blood

This morning we all got up bright and early and drove to Tripler to drop off a certain 24 hour collection jug to the lab there.  From there, we drove to Kapiolani hospital so Caleb and Brooklin could have their first set of labs drawn for the transplant.  When the lady behind the desk handed the kids their lab stickers printout...they both looked a little concerned!  Brooklin had to have 27 vials of blood drawn and Caleb had to have 30 vials of blood drawn!  

Poor Brooklin got a little woozy and had to drink two boxes of juice.  Caleb on the other hand is so used to walking around on empty that it didn't even phase him.

This is just Brooklin's pile of blood samples!  Caleb's had three more than this!

   

After the blood draws, we went back up to the PAU (Pediatric Ambulatory Unit) and had a meeting with the director of the transplant unit and one of the nurses.  They didn't really tell us anything new, but we did get a printed schedule of events for the transplant.  We have several more meetings and appointments to make in the next three weeks before Caleb goes in for his catheter surgery/chemotherapy/transplant.

One of the things we did find out is that Brooklin will NOT have to have the shots to make her body over-produce stem cells!  Yeah for less pokes!  The shots were only if we were doing the stem cell collection (the one that had to be done in Seattle and was like donating platelets), because she will be having an actual bone marrow harvest...which involves two big needles being poked into her hips and being completely knocked out for a few hours.  They have promised her plenty of medication so she won't be in too much pain.

After visiting with the doctors, Darwin took Brooklin home so she could go to the high school and pick up her schedule (school starts in 12 days!) and get her school pictures taken, and the rest of us (minus London who was babysitting for one of our neighbors all morning) went back to Tripler for a dental appointment for Caleb.  They really are checking him out good!

Tomorrow, we have to take Brooklin to Tripler to have another blood test done so she can donate blood to herself next week (poor girl has to be poked again!) and Friday, Caleb has to go in to have another blood count done.  We are fully expecting that he will need another red blood cell transfusion because today they told us that his hemoglobin was getting low.  Also on Friday, Brooklin will be going on an all day excursion with the Aloha Ambassador program from her school.  She was accepted into this leadership program at the end of last year.  From the Aloha Ambassador website:  

LHS Aloha Ambassadors are current students at LHS who exemplify strong leadership skills, open minds and friendly, positive attitudes.  Our Ambassadors greet new students as they enter LHS, conduct campus tours and serve as a friendly face amongst our student body.  Most of our Ambassadors have had first-hand experiece at being the "new kid on the block" and are dedicated to helping new students feel welcomed.  LHS is very sensitive to the particular needs of a transient student population.  In response to these needs, the LHS Transition Center was established in 2005 to better meet the challenges faced by transitioning students. Each year, the Transition Center welcomes approximately 250 new students, over half from military families.

The Aloha Transition Center mission is to:·     Provide a personal, friendly welcome to each new student.
·    Offer new students the opportunity to connect with peers.
·    Inform students and parents of the school's quality educational services and of opportunities to become involved.
·    Provide on-going support to new students and communication with parents.
·    Alert faculty and administration to the sensitivities and vulnerabilities faced by transitioning students and families.·    Offer new students the opportunity to connect with peers.·    Inform students and parents of the school's quality educational services and of opportunities to become involved.·    Provide on-going support to new students and communication with parents.·    Alert faculty and administration to the sensitivities and vulnerabilities faced by transitioning students and families.

I think that is enough of an update for now. =)  There is more, but I will save it for later... other duties need to be met. =)