Gary Bonjour 1951 – 2008

The days are starting to move faster.  Only nine days until Gary starts the transplant!  We have been waiting almost five months.  Now that the time is here, our nerves are getting shaky.

Last week Gary was in Chicago getting his stem cells collected.  Everyday he sat at a machine for about four and a half hours.  Six days later 15.3 million stem cells were collected.  The stem cells are now frozen and waiting to be used when needed.

Thursday, Sept. 6, Gary will be given a chemo drug that will destroy his bone marrow.  The next day, five million thawed stem cells will be given back to Gary intravenously.  The stem cells will travel through the pores of his bones and start to make new bone marrow.  (I have given a very simplified version of the procedure.  This procedure is high risk.)

Pray that the chemo does destroy all of his bone marrow.  Medically speaking, this is a very difficult.  The chemo will make Gary ill for several days.  He is supposed to experience the worse symptoms on Thursday, Sept. 13.  Gary will be in the hospital for at least two weeks.  Cheery notes will be most welcome.  His address will be:

Northwestern Memorial Hospital
251 E. Huron St
15 East Feinberg Pavilion
Chicago, IL   60611-3053

Thank you to all who donated time, prizes, funds and musical talent for Dad’s benefit on Friday!  Dad had a great time and really enjoyed seeing everyone and listening to the music.  Thank you especially to Laura Smith and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans who helped make it all possible. 

Dad is in Chicago this week for his stem cell collection.  They need to filter millions and millions of stem cells from his blood before he can leave!  He will return during the first week of September for the transplant.   Please pray for wisdom for the doctors and Dad’s continued progress and recovery.  He loves getting messages on his website, so please don’t be shy, say hello!

-Alicia

Click on the poster to download a printable version.
Post wherever you have permission!
(Prints two posters per page)

Click below to see the transformation:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8038761@N02/sets/72157601192607180/detail/

Treatment Timeline (all done in Chicago)

8/7 – Phase 1: “Growth factor chemo” to stimulate the production of stem cells.
8/20 – Phase 2: Stem cell collection (from Gary’s bloodstream)
9/5 – Phase 3: “The Big Chemo” to destroy remaining cancer cells (bringing down the immune system as well)
9/6 – The Transplant: Stem cells collected in Phase 2 are re-introduced into the blood stream to jump start Gary’s immune system.
(This entire process will be repeated in about four months)

It seems hard to believe that a week has passed.  It has been a good week.  Each day Gary gets a bit stronger.  His steroid induced diabetes has cleared up along with all the other draw backs of the steroids.  Yesterday, we went fishing for most of the day.  It was a lovely hot,humid Illinois summer day.  We cooked, but caught 26 bluegills that we could keep.  Fresh sweet corn from the garden and fresh fried bluegills.  Mmmm.