Surgery Week + Stem Cell Collection

This week brought a big set of milestones. On Monday, she underwent three procedures: ovary preservation, central line/Broviac catheter placement, and reinternalization of her shunt. We’re relieved to share that all of them went smoothly. The next day was a little tough emotionally, as it usually is after anesthesia and a long day of interventions, but she recovered well.

We also moved out of the ICU and back down to the acute pediatric floor. It’s a welcome change — she no longer has to be connected to constant monitoring, and we were even able to take a walk around the 8th floor. She loved visiting the playroom, which is bigger and much more interesting than the one in the ICU :) And it’s a huge relief not to have the EVD in place anymore.

Over the past week, Bea has also been receiving nightly Neupogen injections to mobilize her stem cells in preparation for apheresis yesterday (stem cell collection). The team did need to place a temporary femoral catheter for the procedure, which they were able to insert while she was already sedated for surgery. That line bothered her the most, and the removal afterward was understandably upsetting, but the collection itself went very well. The goal was to collect 8 million stem cells, and we ended up with 24 million. This gives us more than enough for the three consolidation rounds ahead, with backup if needed.

Tomorrow she’ll begin Cycle 2, which is identical to Cycle 1. If her counts recover well afterward, there’s a chance we might be discharged for a bit and have a little time at home before starting Cycle 3. We’re trying not to get our hopes up, but it’s something to look forward to!