The Stem-Cell Experience

1 March 2011

It's Are's week of leave from Dubai and we're using it to get an Adult Stem-Cell Transplant for Noor in Düsseldorf, Germany. On Tuesday morning, after millions of hugs and kisses for Amélie, who is staying home with opung and the babysitter, we get on our way to the XCell-Center. It's a 2hrs45min drive and we reach the clinic just after lunch time.

After a last consultation with the doctor and the anesthetist, it's time for the first part of the transplant; collecting bone marrow from Noor's hipbone. I bring Noor to the operating room, where she will get full anesthetics because of her young age. She's still okay about the men and women in scrubs and mouth covers, she watched me before dressing up the same way. She knows very well that something is going to happen, something strange, and so she struggles a bit when I lay her on the table and they insert the IV in the back of her hand to start the anesthetics. Within seconds she's gone and I leave the room to join Are in waiting. The nurse who guides me on my way out gives me the well known 'You did great mommie'.

The procedure went well and Noor is still asleep when they ride her in her bed to the ward. The first thing Noor sees when she wakes up from the anesthetics are Are and me, just like they'd promised us. She is still groggy and grumpy, but it doesn't take long before she says 'ahm', feeling hungry after having nothing to eat in six hours. She's released from the clinic almost immediately. She doesn't seem to be in any pain. We have an early dinner and a quiet evening in our hotel room. The end of the first exciting day.

While Noor's bone marrow is being cleaned and the stem-cells are being prepared for part two of the procedure in the lab in Köln, we have a day off. It's a sunny day and we decide to explore Düsseldorf's center on foot. The city is gearing up for the yearly carnival, where people dress up in funny costumes and drink a lot of beer. We spend some time by the riverside, the Rhein Promenade, feeling the early March sun rays on our faces. Noor even takes a nap on the spot.

Part two of the stem-cell transplant is up on Thursday morning. Noor was rescheduled to be the first patient that morning. The clinic feels that it's best for children and their parents that they shouldn't wait too long for their turn. We agree.

After a mild sedative, Noor is given an IV with the medicine Manitol, a drip that lasts for about twenty minutes. Manitol temporary opens the blood barrier to the brain. After she's been given the Manitol, Noor's stem-cells are injected through the IV, which takes about one minute. Noor is kept on IV for fluids for just a short while longer, meantime the stem-cells are travelling in her bloodstream towards the brain, where their extra help is most wanted. With that the whole procedure is done.

All the while Are and I are with Noor, comforting her when needed, entertaining her to pass time and assist the doctor and nurse when necessary. Noor is brave and her happy self, she's enjoying the attention she's getting from both mama and papa, all to herself.

We've spend two hours in total at the clinic and are on our way home to Amélie around lunch time. Are takes the opportunity to test our car's top speed on the German autobahn, reaching the max right before the border. Driving 120km/hrs on the Dutch roads suddenly feels like going 50.

Our trip to Düsseldorf turned out to be a good experience. We were excited about the transplant, at the same time relaxed and confident. We enjoyed our day off as if we were just on a city trip, a family outing. Looking back, I realize that our attitude must have reflected on Noor as well. She was so patient and cheerful. As with everything, we want to make the best of it. After all, it was Are's week at home; functional quality time.