Day 0

Yesterday whizzed by in a blur!
Its been strange so far, you might think time would drag but up to now and I know I may be tempting fate here, time really hasnt gone slow at all. I fear that may change because as stupid as it sounds I have actually been quite busy. Yesterday morning started with my usual trip to radiotherapy and then back to my room for some sleep. This was followed by a repeat of Wednesdays morning chemo session and all the accompanying other bits n bobs. One of the two main docs came round to review me and see how I was getting on. I gave her my list of problem areas, covered most of my body lol. She was very thorough and seemed to have potential aids for pretty much everything. Sadly they may help a bit but I know its going to be a real hard couple of weeks ahead. One of the things she requested was a CT scan. For this I needed a cannula put in, yet another thing into my body, how many needles and entry points do I want! This would allow them to put some dye into my body though last time they had one put in me and then never put the dye in. Was meant to be before my evening dose of radiotherapy but there were some delays so I had the radio first, even more uncomfy than usual now I had a bloomin cannula in my hand. Then off to the CT scan and that just about concluded my business for Thursday.

Friday, the big day! Started off with my final trip down to radiotherapy. I was frozen! So then back to my room where I tried to get some shut eye before the cells were delivered. I was given yet more things through my hickman line that were to help prepare for the stem cells that I would be getting later in the day. Penny was here just after lunchtime to do some more filming for Look North. And then it was all systems go as the stem cells arrived on the ward. They were readied for me and then brought into my room. I could feel my nerves building up as the time approached for them to be given to me. And at the same time I was obviously excited, all that time I had been waiting and now the moment had come. The actual process was very simple, it basically looked like a bag of blood that was brought in and this was attached to the hickman line. I immediately felt ill, my heart seemed to be beating at a billion miles an hour and it made me feel like my head was going to explode. My solution was to try and sleep again which sorta worked. And before I knew it the stem cells had all been transferred into me and it was done! The thing that had been bothering me the most about the whole thing was that I had been told that it would give off a really really strong smell of sweetcorn. And guess what it didnt! Although that does happen in certain instances, mine wasnt that type of stem cell donation. So all that worry for nothing. I know you may think I am weird that my greatest worry at a time like this was the smell but welcome to the world of Lauren Hards!
Thanks to anyone who watched me on Look North tonight and special thanks to Penny for all her hard work.