Day 0 – Stem cell transplant

Today Nadia got stem cells. These cells came from cord blood. This means that some thoughtful mother donated her (or ‘their’ if you include the baby) placenta and umbilical cord to a cord blood registry, similar to one finally starting in Canada, so that they might one day save a life. We will never know this donor, and we will be forever grateful. Sometimes the kindness of strangers is astonishing!

Like Tara says: “Push once give life twice!”.

The actual transfusion was interesting. It took just over 10 minutes. The doctor held the bag and let the cells fall into Nadia’s body through gravity. They even flushed the bag with saline to try and get every last cell!

The cord blood came onto the ward in a simple cooler. The type you would use to carry your lunch around in. The bag itself contained only 50 mL of cord blood (containing stem cells). That’s it. 50 mL. It is absolutely amazing that this small volume of fluid has the ability to save Nadia’s life.

50 mL

50 mL with HUGE impact.

When the new stem cells move into the bone marrow and start producing blood, they will be the same blood as the donor. This means that Nadia’s blood type will change from O+ to A+. This means that Nadia’s blood will contain the DNA of a stranger (although all her other cells, like skin cells, etc, will have Nadia’s original DNA). It is such an amazing thing to consider! Simply miraculous that this procedure can work at all! And only using 50 mL.

Nadia was watched closely the remainder of the day for any adverse reactions. Right after the transplant she was kind of groggy. Later on a bit of juice seemed to fill her full of energy.

The cord blood came with an interesting odour. Kind of a cross between blood and oysters. And the smell stayed around a long time after the transplant. This is because the blood product is being dismantled by Nadia’s system, even through her lungs. This means her breath and diapers smell like oysters! Ewwwww. 😉

Thank you everyone at Children’s hospital for bringing us this far. For figuring out Nadia’s diagnosis, for carefully following her health progression, for finding a stem cell match, for tolerating all of Thor’s never-ending questions, for getting us ready for transplant these past 2 weeks, and for performing the transplant today. Our job together is far from finished, and we still have much time together. Regardless, thank you to all the doctors, nurses, cleaning staff, lunch room, etc for everything so far! THANK YOU.

Really, all things considered, it was a good day.

Nadia, with the help of Daniel Tiger and friends, is ready for transplant