Day 27: Engraftment and Discharge!

Today, we have much to celebrate.  Idan has officially engrafted.  His ANC has been above 500 for four days now, and it has jumped to 1,030 this morning!  Since Idan is eating well and is on no pain meds, after over a month in the hospital, we can be discharged — today!

The last few days have been incredible.  The first step towards discharge was the ANC staying stable over 500.  Once that happened, we were able to switch Idan’s last remaining continuous IV med to oral, so he only has to be hooked up at night.  Finally, Idan is no longer tethered to Johnny Five!  He has much more freedom of movement (limited as it is in the hospital).  In addition, since his meds are all in the morning, late afternoon, and evening, we have several hours that Idan isn’t being bothered for anything.  We have our first taste of freedom.  They even gave us a “therapeutic pass” to leave the hospital for a few hours on

We still have a long road ahead of us.  In order for the transplant to be a cure, Idan needs to accept the donor cells.  We tested the percentage of his cells that are the donor’s this morning.  Those results should be back next week.  Even if it is 100% donor, there is a chance that Idan’s own immune system can come back.  So we wait and see.  Until then, we have another 75 days or so when Idan is at the highest risk for infections, viruses, etc., and when GvHD usually presents itself.  So even though we can leave the hospital, we must keep him very isolated for now.  His immune system will start to kick in around Day 180, and it will be an entire year before it is fully functioning.Sunday and Monday.  We visited IdaniWonderland (a.k.a. Idan’s playroom in our apartment a mile from the hospital), and Idan took a nap in his own bed.  These short excursions back to the house have been a much needed mental break for Akiva and I, and have given Idan a chance to slowly adjust to our new apartment here in Seattle.  Despite being in a hospital, this room has been home for him for over a month.

Nonetheless, we have a lot to be thankful for today.  Above all, Idan is leaving the hospital in much the same spirits he entered.  He still wakes up with a smile and shows us all of his funny faces.  He still manages to throw a ball across the room with the force of a much older child.  He still dances and still sings.  We owe a lot of that to all of you.  Idan went into this battle with an army behind him, and it has made all the difference.