Saying Goodbye Is Hard To Do

BMT Day 84: Ethan flew to Seattle and stayed with us in the hospital for 10 days straight without leaving one time. Sunday, as they hugged goodbye before he flew home, she cried, “I don’t want him to leave without me.” Ashtyn has cried everyday for the past two weeks. She wants to go home. This breaks my heart as my entire soul feels for her and wants to go home too. At the same time I’m grateful for the fact that she is healthy enough to feel appropriate emotions. What humanbeing wouldn’t cry feeling homesick after being away for eight months fighting the biggest battle anyone could ever imagine? Her tears show health. Her tears show strength. Yesterday, for the first time since being in Seattle, plans to go home to Salt Lake City were discussed. It is a bone marrow transplant standard of practice to stay within 30 minutes of the BMT hospital for at least 100 days after the transplant. Ashtyn is in a very unique situation. She will likely be discharged from the hospital close to her 100th day compared to many BMT patients who leave the hospital near Day 30. Our dream come true would be to leave the hospital and instead of staying in Seattle for close observation, drive directly to the airport and fly home to be closely watched by the BMT team at Primary Children’s Hospital. Has that ever before been done? Probably not. But this is Ashtyn we’re talking about and she never does anything typical. What would allow her to go home? 1. Her central line needs to be taken out of her chest. She can’t be more than one hour away from a hospital, let alone on an airplane with a central line. We are hoping she won’t need the central line once IV potassium is not needed, which is being decreased everyday. 2. Under control graft verses host disease. She has mild GVHD in the intestines which currently is being managed and not causing a problem. Let’s keep it that way. 3. Good marrow cellularity, decreasing the platelet transfusions needed to less than twice per week instead of daily. She didn’t need a platelet transfusion on Sunday with a value of 33 instead of less than 20, and her ANC was 3158! She’s on the right path! There are a few other details that need to be in order before going home but let’s focus on the three mentioned. I’ve said it before, it will take a miracle to get Ashtyn home by November 14th but I’m a total believer.