Quick update on phase two. It is over. 8.4 Million of my stem cells have been extracted and put on ice. More importantly to, at least to me, I no longer have pex piping in my neck!

I got that puppy out today. You go back to the radiology department and they give you some happy drugs. Then when you are nice and relaxed they come in with some smooth jazz and slowly and carefully remove the plumbing. That sounds nice doesn’t it? Of course it does all fairy tales sound great.

In the real world you go in they have you lay back on a bed a doctor comes down and before I can ask if he is the guy with the happy drugs he is cutting stitching and tugging tubing. Bam! it’s out and then he jams a big wad of gauze and puts pressure. I got to say these guy take that pressure thing seriously cause I thought he was trying to apply pressure to my spine by going straight through my neck. He see’s the “I am going to punch you in the throat” look on my face and say “it hurts cause there is some bruising around the site”. Thanks buddy appreciate the update. Anyway alls well that ends well and I am no longer plumbed in. I feel lighter already. I got to switch out my dressings and good to go.

The wife and I also go to see the transplant shrink today. Oh yeah remember that, I got to have a shirk screening before we get into phase three. We go in and the guy looks exactly like John Michael Higgins from couples retreat.

First question? How are you doing? “Well Doc I got a two headed hose in my neck and spent most of the week next to a fancy paint mixer that sucks my stem cells out. How is your day” He didn’t seem to find that funny and grabbed his notebook. Oh boy here we go. So we spent about a half hour where he basically explained that I am going to be man down for three days after the chemo after that it’s going to be a slow recovery. Good talk doc way to bring the joy.

We got through the chat without him pulling any alarms so I am taking it as a win. Headed home with a stop to grab the boys. Phase 3 all wrapped up, the 23rd I go in to get another line this one under my collar bone and the 24th the fun starts!