It's Official: Bonnie is coming home! (from Mike)
We've had unofficial word for several days now that Bonnie has met all the criteria for release from Univ. of Minnesota and transfer back to the care of UCSF. And further that her anticipated Dec. 15 release would be moved up to early the week of Nov,. 28, just after Thanksgiving. However, the powers that be wanted to go through the formality of developing a plan/protocol for Bonnie's treatment going forward.
We got that formal approval (and future plan) at mid-day today, Tuesday, moments after Isabel, Devon and I landed in Minneapolis. She is literally free to go home whenever she is ready at this point. She'll wrap up with some previously scheduled clinic appointments this week and will likely come home on Monday or Tuesday next week, depending on what we can come up with for private flights on this short notice.
Needless to say, the folks on staff at U of MN are still scratching their heads with respect to their miracle patient. World's record for number of days from transplant to engraftment, and one of the longest stays for their transplant program. However, she leaves with very strong numbers, including strong (and accelerating) cellularity -- a concept that Gib and Kristen have just clarified for us in the preceding Blog entry, zero signs of any Leukemia, white blood cell counts at a level consistent with those of a healthy adult, and increasing production of red blood cells and platelets.
All evidence at present, knock on wood, is that this thing has really worked.
Long road ahead, lots more work, lots more milestones, but we have just passed perhaps the most significant couple of hurdles of all -- engraftment, and discharge from U of MN.
Bonnie looks great. Her hair is coming in much more now. And, while she is still somewhat weak physically, she is very much trending upward on that front, and is on an emotional high with the great news. We all are.
It is a Happy Thanksgiving, indeed. And we have a lot to be grateful for.
Hope that this note finds family and friends well, and that you all enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families.
...More to follow.
Mike
We got that formal approval (and future plan) at mid-day today, Tuesday, moments after Isabel, Devon and I landed in Minneapolis. She is literally free to go home whenever she is ready at this point. She'll wrap up with some previously scheduled clinic appointments this week and will likely come home on Monday or Tuesday next week, depending on what we can come up with for private flights on this short notice.
Needless to say, the folks on staff at U of MN are still scratching their heads with respect to their miracle patient. World's record for number of days from transplant to engraftment, and one of the longest stays for their transplant program. However, she leaves with very strong numbers, including strong (and accelerating) cellularity -- a concept that Gib and Kristen have just clarified for us in the preceding Blog entry, zero signs of any Leukemia, white blood cell counts at a level consistent with those of a healthy adult, and increasing production of red blood cells and platelets.
All evidence at present, knock on wood, is that this thing has really worked.
Long road ahead, lots more work, lots more milestones, but we have just passed perhaps the most significant couple of hurdles of all -- engraftment, and discharge from U of MN.
Bonnie looks great. Her hair is coming in much more now. And, while she is still somewhat weak physically, she is very much trending upward on that front, and is on an emotional high with the great news. We all are.
It is a Happy Thanksgiving, indeed. And we have a lot to be grateful for.
Hope that this note finds family and friends well, and that you all enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families.
...More to follow.
Mike
posted by gbiddle616 at Tuesday, November 22, 2005
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