The Process

Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia would be ground zero for my fight against a serial killer. This is where I would undergo stem cell transplant. The transplant was a rather easy process that occurred in 4 steps. First, I had a surgical procedure where an implanted port was placed under my skin, just above my heart which allowed for intravenous (IV) therapy and other treatments. The second was the cell collection process. This is when I was connected to an infusion machine that collected over 9 million cells. These cells were cleaned and stored. In the third step, I received an extremely high dose of chemotherapy which literally caused every strain of hair on my body to shed like a dog with mange. The final step was to re-insert those cells that had been collected back into my body.

Then it was time for the wait. I would remain in the hospital for two weeks to allow time for those cells to reattach themselves to my interior walls. I actually felt well other than my neuropathy pain which seemed to have increased tenfold. The high-dose chemo did a number on my taste buds. Everything I tasted was horrible. That being said, my appetite was at an all-time low. The hospital food tasted awful and even some of my favorite foods such as pizza and ice cream tasted like chemicals.

My recovery process went as well as could be expected. The doctors and nurses would constantly do blood draws to monitor levels such as white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. After two weeks, I would be released from inpatient to outpatient care.

I am thankful for all those organizations that support cancer patients such as the American Cancer Society. I was afforded a room at the Hope Lodge for a no-cost two-week stay. Hope Lodge is located close to Emory where I would continue to have daily outpatient appointments.

My major complaint continued to be my neuropathy nerve pain in both my feet and legs which only appeared to be getting worse. My right leg and foot pain was excruciating. My pain was so bad that no pain pill would suffice including some of the heavy hitters like Codeine, Norco, and Tylenol 3.

As I continued to complain of pain, the medical staff began to unfairly judge me to be drug seeking. This part was tough for me, especially as the Lord knows my heart. I would never request any of this stuff if I didn't need to take it. Finally, I was provided morphine. Even still, the morphine didn’t take the pain away completely, however, it provided some relief as I began to rely heavily on the assistance of a walking cane to move about.

After a week of outpatient care, I would return home to Fort Mitchell, Alabama. I was still in the process of recovery when an old ghost returned. My passing-out episodes were back with fiery. This time it was more frequent and way more unpredictable. So unpredictable that - truth be told - I was afraid to be alone.

All of this led to an unforgettable moment when I took my RV down to Jacksonville, Florida...

Sincerely,

Rick

Glad to see you come, Glad to see you go!