Day 11

5 am is when I started writing this post.
The day has started with a row.

Brett has had diarrhoea which perfectly normal and to be expected.
Not to a 17 year old it ain't, according to a very vocal Brett.
He refused to catch it in a bed pan much to the nurses annoyance.
She very calmly explained that she has been a nurse for 27 years and has seen more poo than Brett's had hot dinners. (apologises if your eating whilst reading this)
She went in to say: The hospital can see a great deal from his poo and is a vital part of the diagnostic process - Hello we know that - he's 17 for Gods sake and it's Poo....... Gross!
The nurse handled the situation well .... Unlike me !

I hate waking up and being shouted at, it really gets a rise out of me.
Am I in the fricking army? No.
Are you really trying to blame ME for your bum situation ? (excuse the pun)
Did I sign up for abuse ? No
Mind you, I didn't sign up for any of this and neither did Brett.

So, he's in the throws of 'oh the shame people want to look at my poo'
I'm reciting the cancer mummy mantra of 'oh you've gotta be kidding me? After all you've been through, THIS bothers you?'

Before I know it we're merrily dancing the gritted teeth dance of standard teenage/ mum woes
I hate my life -
- so do I !
You don't understand
- yes I do !
You hate me
- (should say, I could never hate you because I love you so much )
Instead say - stop with the hissy fit already, you're being a right plonker!

Anyway
He's back fast asleep now, after the nurse assuring him any poo given will be treated in the utmost confidence.
I'm drinking a cup of coffee which will no doubt be the first of many today.

Whilst all this was going on Brett mentioned he has sore feet and hands which the nurse explained could be the start of Graft verses Host disease.
This disease is when the donor cells (graft) start fighting Brett (the host)
I'm nervous now - I want gvhd but I don't - let me explain.

The doctors like graft verses host disease (Gvhd) as it signifies the huge battle thats happening on a cellular level.

Basically, the donor cells know they're somewhere new which isn't right and the host knows foreign cells have invaded his body.

A huge fight kicks off - a bit like an action movie - and the cells fight to the death for supremacy.
There can only be one winner and in this case your cheering for the new cells.

The good part of this is that the donor cells, whilst attacking, are known to kill any residue cancer cells that the conditioning regimen has missed.

No graft verses host disease and the transplant hasn't worked.

The bad part is too much Graft verses Host disease and you die !

I need more coffee.........