How?! Today, I was informed I tested positive for Covid! How?? This is after I had tested negative for Covid two separate times on entry for the stem cell transplant. Here is the simple answer. When the white blood cells start dying due to the potent chemo one receives for the transplant, the white blood cell count drops steadily and significantly, exposing any deep-seated virus/viruses. My labs exposed that hidden particle of virus. My doctors are clear—I DO NOT HAVE COVID, AND I AM NOT CONTAGIOUS! However, due to Center for Disease Control guidelines, I must be quarantined. To say that my doctors are displeased is an understatement! Here is the technical description from my hospital MyChart: “positive results…may be caused by residual viral nucleic acid fragments persisting in the upper respiratory tract, subgenomic particles, or other factors associated with noninfectious virus.”
So what does quarantine in an isolation hospital floor look like? Yes, you got that right–I went from isolation to quarantine within isolation! Is there any other possible way to get me further removed from humanity??! Kathy and I were moved from our spacious room all decorated and set up for our stay into a much smaller room on the same floor. We will now be “cozy” and we will survive. Kathy is already busy fixing it up and it looks wonderful. This room has an outer room before the hallway, really isolating us. That room is forbidden to me. So, no more walking in the hallways (I was over 2 miles daily in laps prior). Kathy has limited ability to leave. The good news is that since she cannot use my restroom, her restroom is now much closer than before. We also have a great view over the beautiful Houston Medical Center. I must remain quarantined for the duration of my stay. Unfortunately for the staff, they must take extra precautions in visiting me.
My doctor today suggested baby food as my numbers fall towards zero (a good thing). My digestive system is being stripped. Soft foods are better at preventing severe diarrhea. Our wonderful Salem Life Group provided bonafide baby foods off the grocery store shelf and delivered them. The hospital kitchen is pureeing my meals as well. This will probably last for several days.
About my white blood cell numbers. The chemo killed the bad white cells with a defective protein that attacked my bone marrow. When I entered the hospital my white blood cell count was 8.7. The goal is to get it as close to 0.1 as possible. It is now at 1.17 and falling. Once it falls below 0.99 the good stem cells (with good white blood cells) harvested from my body after over six months of immunomonoclonal targeted therapy can begin to replant and reproduce in my bone marrow. The purpose of the stem cell transplant is to give me more good years in the future, not tied down to weekly infusions of drugs that limit my mobility. I will be on a maintenance drug, probably a pill, not yet determined. As always, they remind me that they will not be able to kill all the bad protein and at some point multiple myeloma will actively return. God willing, this stem cell transplant will buy me more years of productive living.
Romans 8:28 – “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good,
for those who are called according to His purpose.”
Praise Report: My numbers are falling appropriately. Cardiologists report my heart is in good shape. (I anticipate getting my monitor taken off tomorrow.)
Prayer Request: Numbers fall as low as possible. Good stem cells be super-charged to replant and reproduce (a several days’ process).
kgraumann
wgraumann
gofarther.me 
Praying for you now, Brother! May God grant healing, low numbers, patience, mercy, and the balm of Gilead to speed your healing and recovery. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
still praying for you and Kathy. We pray for you at our Women’s Bible Study. You are on our Weekly prayer list. If God is for you the devil cannot win!
love y’all. Glynda
Oh dear, Wayne. You do pose a challenge now and then, but God has you in His hands and Kathy at your side. Prayers are all over you and the staff. Isn’t it amazing how the body works??? And sometimes overacts? We will keep praying for healing, ow side effects and and a fast recovery. You are treasured!Hugs,Pat and Tommy
Prayers. Great that Kathy can be with you. Fear not!
praying for you always. ❤️🙏❤️
You and Kathy are in our prayers daily! Praying for your numbers to continue to go down and your side affects to be minimal. May God bless you and keep you in the palm of His loving hands as you continue your battle! Love you,
Brad & Joni
Continuing to keep you and Kathy in our prayers. You are an inspiration to so many. Thank you for sharing the “real” behind your story. Hugs and prayers.
Oh my. I sure will be praying for numbers to go the lowest they can! Keeping both you and Kathy close in prayer and my heart. 🩷 Paula
I don’t know how much more can be thrown at the two of you. Hang In There and know we are all praying!
Enjoy your “coziness” as you truly quarantine in a quarantine environment! Praying for the WBC to get in the recommended area. Continue prayers!
Praying for your numbers to drop. God remains the center of all of this. You & Kathy are in my prayers. This is a hiccup & it too shall pass. love y’all 🩷🩷
Linda
Wayne and Kathy
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Hold fast in the Lord and this too shall pass. Prayers for comfort and the Lord’s peace with many more years on this earth to come!
Thinking of you both and praying for more good results! Your updates are incredible and give us daily strength! Xoxo Stacey and Lamar
Goodness – what a journey you are on right now! Praying your numbers continue to fall and that you don’t get to stir crazy in isolation. Thanks be to God Kathy gets to still be with you.
If you do laps in your room, do 1/2 one direction and then half the other way just for variety. Hope they scored you some bannana and tutti fruti babyfood – those were the best as I recall from the many years ago we were in the baby food days.
Continuing to lift you up daily.
“I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.”
I Cor. 1:4
Our prayers and thoughts are with you both. Poisonous Chemo does such strange things to our bodies. Mine is killing my Red blood cells and leaving me anemic. Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. HEBREWS 12:1 ESV. Keep running your race Wayne. Heaven is cheering you on.
Blessings, Kathy Dube