Feb 25, 2011

BLOOD: THE RIVER OF LIFE INSIDE OUR BODY

DAY +6: Bone Marrow should grafting soon.

Producing & Reproducing

BLOOD: WHAT'S YOUR TYPE?


MAHADMA GANDHI

Do you ever wonder what makes up blood? Unless you need to have blood drawn, donate it or have to stop its flow after an injury, you probably don't think much about it. But blood is the most commonly tested part of the body, and it is truly the river of life. Every cell in the body gets its nutrients from blood.

Before this new stage in my life, I used to be disgusted by blood and the fact of dealing with it. I was even scared about it, about the tests done, knowing it has a lot of information that I could or not like. Now, I understand how blood is flowing and nourishing my body, my cells, my organs. Today I understand the importance of it and appreciate it and its components so much.

Blood is a mixture of two components: cells and plasma. The heart pumps blood through the arteries, capillaries and veins to provide oxygen and nutrients to every cell of the body. The blood also carries away waste products.

The adult human body contains approximately 5 liters (5.3 quarts) of blood; it makes up 7 to 8 percent of a person's body weight. Approximately 2.75 to 3 liters of blood is plasma and the rest is the cellular portion.

Plasma is the liquid portion of the blood. Blood cells like red blood cells float in the plasma. Also dissolved in plasma are electrolytes, nutrients and vitamins (absorbed from the intestines or produced by the body), hormones, clotting factors, and proteins such as albumin and immunoglobulins. Plasma distributes the substances it contains as it circulates throughout the body.

The cellular portion of blood contains red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs) and platelets.

All blood cells are produced in the bone marrow.

The process by which the body produces blood is called hematopoiesis. All blood cells (RBCs, WBCs and platelets) come from the same type of cell, called the pluripotential hematopoietic stem cell.

MY TRANSPLANT WAS OF THIS KIND OF CELLS!

This group of cells has the potential to form any of the different types of blood cells and also to reproduce itself. This cell then forms COMMITTED STEM CELLS that will form specific types of blood cells.

Red Blood Cells: Riding on the Red Road

Red blood cells perform the most important blood duty. A single drop of blood contains millions of red blood cells which are constantly traveling through your body delivering oxygen and removing waste. If they weren't, your body would slowly die.

red blood cells

Red blood cells are red only because they contain a protein chemical called hemoglobin which is bright red in color. Hemoglobin contains the element Iron, making it an excellent vehicle for transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide. As blood passes through the lungs, oxygen molecules attach to the hemoglobin. As the blood passes through the body's tissue, the hemoglobin releases the oxygen to the cells. The empty hemoglobin molecules then bond with the tissue's carbon dioxide or other waste gases, transporting it away.

I HAD 2 TRANSFUSIONS OF BLOOD OR RED CELLS RIGHT AFTER THEY TOOK OUT THE 2 LITERS OF BLOOD CONTAINING MY STEM CELLS THE 8TH OF FEBRUARY. I WILL HAVE 2 MORE SOON, WHENEVER IT IS NEEDED. HEMOGLOBIN IS SUPER IMPORTANT FOR THE HUMAN BODY...5 STEPS MAKE YOU TIRED...TODAY I KNOW ABOUT IT. OXIGEN IS LIFE.

BREATHE: WHILE DOING IT WE ARE LETTING IN SPIRITUAL FORCE AND THE STRENGTH OF UNIVERSAL LIFE; OUT ALL WHAT WE DON'T NEED OR WANT ANYMORE TO BE RELEASED AND TRANSFORMED.

White Blood Cells: Battling Blood Cells

Whenever a germ or infection enters the body, the white blood cells snap to attention and race toward the scene of the crime. The white blood cells are continually on the lookout for signs of disease. When a germ does appear, the white blood cells have a variety of ways by which they can attack. Some will produce protective antibodies that will overpower the germ. Others will surround and devour the bacteria.

white-cells-213890.jpg

In a normal adult body there are 4,000 to 10,000 (average 7,000) WBCs per microliter of blood. When the number of WBCs in your blood increases, this is a sign of an infection somewhere in your body.

Here are the six main types of WBCs and the average percentage of each type in the blood:

Neutrophils - 58 percent

Eosinophils - 2 percent

Basophils - 1 percent

Bands - 3 percent

Monocytes - 4 percent

Lymphocytes - 4 percenT

Most WBCs (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils and monocytes) are formed in the bone marrow.

Neutrophils are major players in the body's defense against bacterial infections. NNeutrophils move out of the blood vessels into the infected tissue to attack the bacteria.

WE ARE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE WBCs DURING THESE DAYS, THE NEUTROPHILS WILL BE OUR MAIN PLAYER IN THE TEAM, THEY WILL LET US KNOW WHEN THE BONE MARROW IS BACK TO WORK-ALIVE AND PRODUCING.

I WILL HAVE (OR HAVE RIGHT NOW ACTUALLY) ZERO NEUTROPHILS=NO IMMUNE SYSTEM=ISOLATION

SOON IT WILL BE BACK TO NORMAL

IT MIGHT SOUND CRAZY BUT I DO TALK TO MY BONE MARROW EVERY NIGHT TO START PRODUCING, I AM SURE IT HELPS

Platelets: Sticky Situations

The human body does not handle excessive blood loss well. Therefore, the body has ways of protecting itself. When, for some unexpected reason, sudden blood loss occurs, the blood platelets kick into action.

Platelets are irregularly-shaped, colorless bodies that are present in blood. Their sticky surface lets them, along with other substances, form clots to stop bleeding.

When bleeding from a wound suddenly occurs, the platelets gather at the wound and attempt to block the blood flow. The mineral calcium, vitamin K, and a protein called fibrinogen help the platelets form a clot.

platelets

A clot begins to form when the blood is exposed to air. The platelets sense the presence of air and begin to break apart. They react with the fibrinogen to begin forming fibrin, which resembles tiny threads. The fibrin threads then begin to form a web-like mesh that traps the blood cells within it. This mesh of blood cells hardens as it dries, forming a clot, or "scab."

Calcium and vitamin K must be present in blood to support the formation of clots. If your blood is lacking these nutrients, it will take longer than normal for your blood to clot. If these nutrients are missing, you could bleed to death. A healthy diet provides most people with enough vitamins and minerals, but vitamin supplements are sometimes needed.

A scab is an external blood clot that we can easily see, but there are also internal blood clots. Both scabs and bruises are clots that lead to healing. Some clots can be extremely dangerous. A blood clot that forms inside of a blood vessel can be deadly because it blocks the flow of blood, cutting off the supply of oxygen. A stroke is the result of a clot in an artery of the brain. Without a steady supply of oxygen, the brain cannot function normally. If the oxygen flow is broken, paralysis, brain damage, loss of sensory perceptions, or even death may occur.

PLATELETS HAVE BECOME ALSO IMPORTANT IN MY LIFE. SO FAR I HAD A COUPLE OF TRANSFUSIONS AND I WILL HAVE MORE. MANY OF THE THINGS I NEED TO DO EVERYDAY ARE RELATED TO PLATELETS, I CAN'T GIVE MYSELF THE CHANCE OF LOOSING THEM IN ANY KIND OF BLOODY SITUATION...

Here's a picture of one of my donors bag of platelets while the transfusion.

ALL 4 ONE AND 1 FOR ALL



And In The End, The Love You Take Is Equal To The Love You Make

-THE BEATLES-


these days i have been surrounded by so much good vibes, light, energy from so many people. It is amazing! I am really happy this energy is flowing, I am blessed and aware this is a gift.
I wish I could hug each and every person that has been walking this path with me, I could thank each of you in an special way. I am, from the bottom of my heart sending my love and thankfulness to the universe; I am sure it is flowing and coming back in the very special way to each of you and hopefully multiplying so everyone that needs some life comfort, some love or/and strength can have it; everyone that don't need it can feel the light too and help us to reproduce it. lets create a dynamic interchange of light and love!

Day +4 two persons came to donate platelets and day +5 one.
Day +5 I had my first platelets transfusion.

I was watching the platelets while the transfusion. Never thought they were yellow but I loved the idea. yellow as the sun, sun as energy & light, energy & light from the supreme star, as what warms hearts and our days and makes tons of people smile.

Platelets are cool they are representing all the people I have been talking about, these persons that came to donate, and the the ones that came for tests and all the ones that are just here, being part of the team and getting in me...flowing through my body.


Now we are all in me, all for one, and one for all.





I AM THE PATIENT & NEED PATIENCE





“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time"
Leo Nikolaevich

What a morning!!
Is day +3 and I am happy.

Normally mornings in the hospital are busy. Say we start at 6.00 am with blood tests, sleep for a couple of more hours and gooood morning sunshine!! Buenos dias Alegria!
Today it was different the blood bank called at 7 am for the first of many times because my family was here to donate platelets but supposedly there was no request from my doctor, so, they decided my donors couldn't donate.

What!! I need platelets!! My body is working hard and needs them to keep on working and without those ladies it is harder.

Ade did a great job while my aunt and uncle were super patient. (were in the hospital from 7am to 12pm +/-) It took around 20 phone calls to the blood bank, doctors, blood bank, doctors when they finally accepted to do the test for platelets and donation.

Patience is so important in here not only to cope with the fact I am isoleted until my body starts producing white cells, red cells and platelets but towards the outside world too.
I have never been a patient person, and this is one of my lessons in here. There is no choice either I am patient either I get crazy.
I really want to cultivate this and keep it to my life when I am out of here. I have been thinking about it and nowadays not so many people is patient. As the world runs so fast, communication is practically instantly and everything seems available all the time. We the humans are not used anymore to wait...we want it all and now! It is hard not to walk or drive fast to work fast and even to do our hobbies fast when the life motto for many persons is "time is money" or "money is time" ... life is not time or money. Life is to be lived and enjoyed.

I have learnt in here patience is a virtue.
I have learnt that some of the best things in life require hard work and waiting.
Today I am waiting and my body is working really hard so we keep on living.
So, my life ... is depending on patience, fortunately, I am cultivating it and nourishing it with the ideas of being out of here soon, of being complete healthy...of being ALIVE.





Feb 24, 2011

My new mates

...day +2 went good, no much news to tell...My stem Cells should all home by now....




Time to get to know 3 important elements in the spaceship

Na2CO3

Who would say? the very humble and cheap sodium carbonate, according to the most recent and startling rese
arch can STOP and CURE cancer. And not only that, relieves very important side effects of chemotherapy.


Since I started my treatment I do gargles or gurgling every two hours.
I also take sodium carbonate pills. How does it taste, suuuuper salty. I am now used to it. Even some night nurses get shocked when I go in the middle of the night to the bathroom and after peeing
and washing my hands i say: hey, now that we are here, I should do some gargles...eh? I will do all what is in my hands to help the doctors and the treatment to be fast and effective.



SANITAS

Normal napkins to wipe hands them after washing them.

First I got a bit mad; why did they wanted me to wipe my hands with PAPER!!! not ecological at all!! aren't we killing the world, aren't the glaciers melting!!!??!!!
anyways, I got a good explanation, I can't use a towel cause it keeps dirt and bacteria....I get it, and I don't want dirt and bacteria around, so let's use paper. I will do something for the environment when i get out of here.


EXAGERM

This guy lives in the entrance of the room and it's popular and the most used item in here.
Exgerm is a hand sanitizer/alcohol that needs to be used every time someone gets in the room, every time someone touches me, or something that I will touch, and always after washing hands. Pretty much all the time. We have use a great quantity of it so far and I guess we will keep it up.

THEY ARE BACK LETS FIND HOME NOW






So, we start the count again, Day ONE with Stem Cells in!

I had the best night so far
And I woke up so happy and so energized by getting back my Stem Cells! Even if it is psychological, I feel them running around my body and getting to the bone marrow, and that makes me happy.

Now I need to concentrate and let them know they should get home and start working.

I have been told they take around 36 hours on getting back home. So, maybe some of them do it today but some until tomorrow. All good, they can take their time while they all get there and alive.
It's been a great day, sunny outside and inside myself.

All the doctors have promised I will feel really tired and now is when my immune system is almost in Zero I will get fevers so I am prepared; I am but I will keep on enjoying that I feel good and telling my body as much as I can that we are strong, we are ready to start producing, we are up for this challenge.

Here's a chart on how my cells are gonna start regenerating really soon.

I also want to share this quote from Gertrud's Book "Cuatro Velas"

Energy is the strength that composes, unifies, move, changes and makes flow the universe; it is the potential to make change happen.



Feb 23, 2011

IT'S VALENTINE'S, I'M IN LOVE






Yeah, in my last post I did say I don't care much about Valentine's...well, I think i should make this more clear, I do care, but I think Velentine's can be every day...we don't need a special day to demostrate our love, do we?
Anyways, Today is 14th of february and I am in Love, and I am the luckiest girl ever not only for having the best boyfriend in the galaxy but because i had a long long full of love Valentine's.
Alex and me started it "together" at 12 am Toronto time (13/feb 11.00pm Mexico City) ... and ended it "together"at 1am (15/feb) Toronto (12.00am)Mexico City time. 26hours due to the time difference. Thanks time zones :D

We had some tacky conversation (ok, I had maybe...) and some cute pictures exchange...

Anyhow, I really do think I have the best boyfriend ever ... he nourishes my heart...and has been great support through this challenge.

Thanks Alex, I have Valentine's around you everyday!










Feb 22, 2011

DAY ZERO & LOVE IS IN THE AIR


I need to sit and wait...all day long excited about what was going to come in the afternoon and all day long wishing for it to be a total and complete success.

Day Zero is called the day that the second part of the transplant is made.
And that day is today.
Actually I am loving the fact that is the 14th of february. I am getting back my stem cells during a day that many people is thinking on love, making love, sending love ... and love is all around the world. Normally I am not a big fan of valentine's day, but I just thought that is love is normally flowing that day...and hearts are all over, I like it as my day zero.

The day was loooong, as when you are sitting and waiting for something.

Finally at 6.50 pm the doctors arrived.
I was ready with several robots connected to my body. Ade was with me then...and we had some good fun with the robots.

I was more and more excited, but i could see everyone else was too.

Dr. Rafael Hurtado - Haematologist-Oncologyst
Dr. Pablo Vargas - Internal Medicine
their assistant (sorry forgot the name)
Dr. Julissa - Cardiologist
Maria Luisa - Nurse

It all started a bit chaotic, they brought in the bag of stem cells. They have an awesome color.

When they were hanging it from the electric grandpa* somehow the bag containing them broke so stem cells were all over....all the doctors were moving fast as the nurse was bringing some other bag...I have to admit that made me a bit nervous ... but the medicines they gave me somehow coped with my nerves and made me a bit sleepy. They fixed it by doing a surgery to my stem cells bag, as you can see it in the picture; by then the medicine was having such a good effect that I was even thinking on taking pictures with my cell and sending them to Ade and my dad by bbm and to Alex by email....so they could see!!
The stem cells started running in my veins. I felt really happy, those guys going in my body are the ones that will make me healthy again, they were out of my body for a week, waiting until I was ready for them, they are life.
The doctor explained me that as soon as they are in the veins, they start looking for the way home. Inside the bone marrow, in between many other cells there are some that have a magnetic call for the stem cells, and that is how they actually get home, they should all be in 36 hours inside the bone marrow...and getting ready to work.
I really like imagining them...colorful and full of life...here's a picture I found of stem cells so you can see what I am talking about
beautiful eh?

In a couple of hours my stem cells were in. I had a good time with the doctors. As they needed to keep me awake so i told them how I was feeling and stuff they were telling me stories of their lives and talking to me all the time. So, i sent all my good energy to the bag of stem cells and talked with the doctors, my mom came in towards the end, she seemed happy.
When the bag was over, we celebrated.
I closed my eyes and told them to get home soon.
I was still excited, and really happy. like i got back in me something so important.

I talked to dad, Ade, Uri and Alex. We were all happy...

I slept, so good, so calm.

SO COMPLETE

*electric grandpa: Named by Alex Morley, it is the robot from where all my medicine, serum, stem cells or chemos are hanging and delivered to my body. Before it was electric grandma but she had to go to a special surgery after too much work with my chemos.
here some pictures.


electric grandpa some of what he holds