Final Preparations: Bone Marrow Harvest and a Central Line

Steven began the day at 6 am with a second betadine bath, then off to the hospital to arrive at 6:30 am for his 7:30 am procedure to harvest his bone marrow and install his central line, the Y-shaped catheter through his chemotherapy drugs will be infused.

The procedure took two hours. Afterward in the recovery room, Steven awoke to tell us that he wasn't as uncomfortable as he had expected he might be. The bone marrow harvest involves sticking long large diameter needles into Steven's hip bones and he is definitely sore, but copes with it well, turning down the narcotic pain medicine they prescribed for him.

We get the word that we can move from the Marriott to what will be our home for the rest of our stay, Target House. We move our stuff out of the Marriott, make a store trip, and move into what is basically a small apartment with 2 bedrooms, a bathroom, living room, and kitchen.

- Kathleen