Jennie's MS Journey

I am home from mobilization, my stem cells are frozen and waiting for me to return for transplant and I am scheduled to leave Tuesday morning.

I was enjoying the time home with the family after 2 weeks away but unfortunately Chloe has tested positive for the H1N1 flu virus. She is home with a fever and unfortunately contagious. Wouldn’t generally be a huge deal but after the first dose of chemo my immune system is way down and any virus delays the transplant (and the flu is no good for MS patients even without the HCST process underway). So…I am sequestered in my bedroom and bathroom, she is sequestered in her room and the entire family other than me started Tamiflu to try and prevent any additional exposure. The good thing is everyone has been vaccinated so it will likely be mild, bad news is I cannot get vaccinated so I am not protected.

As long as I do not display symptoms by Sunday night, everything will move forward as planned.

Everyone is freaking out but I am being extra cautious, staying in the room and doing everything I can despite obviously wanting to take care of my daughter and visit with the kids. Maybe I should have thought twice about that hug and kiss on the way out to school yesterday, yikes. I have no choice but to look at the long term plan and follow the doctors orders here and at Northwestern, but kind of a bummer since I’m already leaving for three weeks.

I am passing notes to Chloe under my door so at least she will know I’m not totally out of the picture.

Anyway, that’s just how it goes. Nothing like the ugly swine flu to ruin all the fun. Dirty piggies;).