Tricia eating a few crackers before getting hooked up to the needles. She has no idea that the next 5 hours will be ridiculous.

First hookup attempt on the left arm. Looks good. (yeah, right!)

I think this is where it started to go wrong...

Fun, right?!

The blood coming out Tricia's right arm (gotta pump that ball to get it flowing!)

The nun hat ice pack. Helped a bit.

Cleaning out the tubes with saline.

There it is! First day 6.42 million stem cells.

Bruising from day one of apheresis on Tricia (ALMOST compares to some of Michelle's bruising from the weeks before. I think Michelle still wins!)

Michelle and Tricia, day 2 of apheresis (and done!) for Tricia, day of transplant for Michelle (sorry, they are a little dark!)

Lovely fruit display from Covenant Offices (where Tricia works)

Day after transplant, waiting to have our blood drawn. Tricia is feeling MUCH better, Michelle is tired and still swollen from being on Prednisone.

Tricia and Diane S., our wonderful Blue Team Nurse

Michelle and Eric H., our social worker

Day after transplant, Phong, Michelle, and Jim