Operation Stem Cell is a go!
In support of
Tiffany Collins
View Support Registry
Tiffany Collins
Tiff checked into the U of M on November 13th and, to no one’s surprise, immediately befriended every nurse on the unit. Within hours she was asking if she could help with projects, so she has been assembling discharge paperwork packets, organizing supply stations, and hanging up Thanksgiving decorations just to keep her hands busy and her mind occupied.
In the days leading up to her transplant, she underwent more chemo, spent time resting, and kept up on her walking (more on that later!) while the medical team monitored her levels in anticipation of her big day.
A stem cell transplant is a wildly coordinated, high stakes relay race. Tiffany’s donor is a 28-year-old woman in Poland, and once her stem cells were collected, they had just 72 hours to make it to Tiff. To keep them safe, they traveled with a trained courier and hand carried in a temperature controlled case. This human to human chain of care, from donor, to courier, to medical team, is an extraordinary global effort where science, logistics, and compassion all come together to give a person a brand new chance at life. Truly remarkable!
A stem cell transplant is a wildly coordinated, high stakes relay race. Tiffany’s donor is a 28-year-old woman in Poland, and once her stem cells were collected, they had just 72 hours to make it to Tiff. To keep them safe, they traveled with a trained courier and hand carried in a temperature controlled case. This human to human chain of care, from donor, to courier, to medical team, is an extraordinary global effort where science, logistics, and compassion all come together to give a person a brand new chance at life. Truly remarkable!
November 19th was nothing short of miraculous. Around 9:00pm, Tiff officially received her transplant - an IV infusion of stem cells that looked surprisingly similar to a regular blood transfusion. And, after all the preparation, and all the oceans and airports those cells crossed to get to her? The actual procedure was, in her doctor’s words, “pretty anticlimactic.” Thirty minutes, start to finish. Boom. Done.
Now those superstar cells are off on their big adventure, heading to her bone marrow, unpacking their bags, and settling in to start growing brand new, healthy blood cells. Over the next few months, Tiffany’s medical team will keep a very close eye on how her body welcomes these VIP visitors. The goal: they build her a shiny new immune system… and that everyone plays nicely together. :)
Tiff, of course, is handling all of this like the warrior that she is. Despite the nausea and fatigue, on November 20th she completed her “Marrow-Thon” - 26.2 miles of walking laps around the unit, and on November 23rd, she finished her very last round of chemo!
As we enter the holiday week, there is so much to be thankful for: the incredible generosity of Tiff’s donor, the phenomenal medical professionals caring for our girl each day, and all of you - for your prayers, messages, meals, donations, and unwavering love as Tiffany continues kicking cancer’s ass!
Please keep Tiff and her girls in your thoughts and never doubt how deeply they love and appreciate every single one of you.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Comments
Jenni Max
Amy Smith
Jenni Wilken
Nkmcclain51
Meggan Redfield
Natalie Gaffney
Kelly Shaffer
Nancy Wilken
We are keeping you in our prayers. I know that you are in good hands. Our love to you and the girls.
Jillwp
Sothira.mcdowell
Teresa Herchert
Ruthie Bartlette