Steve was released from the hospital on Friday May 7, just in time for Mother's Day Weekend...a real treat for mom. He was able to start eating real food once at home, instead of IV nutrition and jello, applesauce, etc. His skin has been healing little by little from the level 4 (highest level possible) graft vs. host disease. This caused a burning rash all over that caused most of his skin to die and peel off.
One of the treatments that has helped the most to bring the graft vs. host disease back to a level 1 on his skin is called photopheresis. This involves taking some of Steve's blood out, spinning it in a centrifuge, separating the white cells out, and putting medicine in the white blood cells. The white blood cells are then exposed to UVA rays on a mini-tanning bed, which activates the medicine, then they are put back into Steve's body. This small percentage of white blood cells are then sluffed off due to the medicine, and the body is able to return to a more balanced immune system.
Steve is having this treatment twice a week up at Huntsman Cancer Hospital. He is making progress in getting over the skin rash little by little. He is resting up and hopes to start exercising soon.
Photos: The photopheresis machine separating the white blood cells from the red cells prior to exposing them to the UVA rays.
Steve being his happy self while being hooked up for the treatment(note
rash on his arm).
