Entering Isolation

Austin was moved into a reverse isolation unit today where he received his first stem-cell (bone marrow) transplant. His blood counts are slowly dropping as the chemotherapy drugs take effect, so the isolation protects him from outside infections. Austin has not had any side effects from the transplant as of yet (ie. drop in blood pressure, fever, breathing difficulties, etc..), so things appear to be better today in comparison to yesterday. On another positive note, it looks like his fever has "broke", and the added morphine has taken away his pain & discomfort. He still has no interest in even looking at food, and he told us today that he wishes he could always be fed through an IV, so he would never have to eat again! He literally throws up anything that enters his mouth - but it doesn't really phase him anymore because he is so used to vomiting by now. Tomorrow Austin will begin receiving a drug that helps to rapidly grow new white blood cells, which as a result, helps to repair his damaged immune system.