BMT Day +9

2/24/11

Teri is doing terrific without complications! 

In the garden analogy, all the weeds (leukemic cells), weed seeds (abnormal stem cells), and the flowers (healthy bone marrow cells) have been destroyed by ‘fire’ to allow the new annual seedlings (Ben’s stem cells) and the perennial seedlings (umbilical cord stem cells) to restart the garden (marrow) as early as March 1^st .

From the 17^th to 20^th, Teri developed intense nausea and abdominal pain akin to that in November.  Seeking help, she asked Phyllis her niece to come again from Iowa to do more Reike and healing touch.  She came without hesitation and performed treatments on the 19^th and 20^th and Teri experienced intense warmth in her abdominal and the pain and nausea began to subside.  She has improved symptomatically to the point that she can now interact, watch some TV, walk around the ward, eat a few bites of food. 

Why did Teri improve? 

The medical view would be that she began TPN (total parenteral = IV nutrition) to rest her gut, broad spectrum antibiotics, and PCA (patient controlled analgesia) with a continuous infusion of narcotics.  Teri’s view is that it was the added effect of Phyllis’ hands on Reike and healing touch that realigned Teri’s energy centers. 

Teri:  I feel that there are many other hands at work here as well.  I believe that God works in all ways to heal the sick and dying.

Teri has also tried acupuncture, Chinese herbs (cousin’s wife), an Indian-Asian healer (grand uncle of Ben’s former school mate) which she believes in.  Each ‘alternative’ therapy has given her insight, hope, and hands on relief.  These seem to center her.

As a Western-trained physician, these treatment approaches raise an important coda about the nature of healing.  We are instructed to keep an objective distance, touching is primarily used for diagnostic purposes, and treatment consists primarily of drugs.  As I observe, ‘alternative’ practitioners are constantly engaging the patient’s will and hope, touching and transmitting positive energy, and soothing and calming the individual.  Striking differences!

What is Teri’s hospital life like now?

·  She is in isolation (gown and glove) because she is still colonized with the superbug

·  We watch her daily WBC counts like a recession-depressed investor scrutinizing the market – a rise signals engraftment, WBCs, discharge …  

·  Four IV pumps push fluids and electrolytes (salts), TPN (amino acids, sugar), antibiotics/antifungals, anti-rejection drugs, and continuous narcotics. 

·  She receives multiple injections of insulin and WBC stimulants per day

·  She is walkings laps around the ward – 0 a few days ago, now up to 10.

BUT, as Teri grudgingly adapts to this hospitalization, she is hopeful, and has overcome one post-chemotherapy hurdle and is able to smile and share her wry sense of humor with the medical and nursing staff. 

“I only walk when you round so it’s all for show.”  [We are easily fooled.] 

[You have the Oscars marked down on the BMT calendar.]  Yes, but I don’t have a  gown to wear, only the hospital one.  [I’m sure they’ll make allowances for you.]

Thank you all for your support and prayers.  Thanks especially to Sandy, Tony & Martha, Elena, Kok Peng & Anna, Phyillis, Grace, Cindy …