The 100 Days

Trying to explain Jesse’s 100 days of contact precaution… has been a little difficult for me. I am hoping that by writing it out here, it will help me to explain it clearer. ( I have left some very confused people in my wake 🙁  )

Until July 14th, Jesse has to follow very special precautions because she is at high risk for infection due to the stem cell transplant. I have learned from several nurses who used to be involved with bone marrow transplants at other hospitals, we are very lucky. People who have bone marrow transplants have to follow even stricter requirements for their safety.

• Hand hygiene is crucial!!! Hands are great tools, but they are also great ways to spread germs.
• Jesse shouldn’t go to public stores or places (she can go, but they have told me to go at times that aren’t busy).  The reason being is we don’t know who is there with what.
• No eating in restaurants or getting fast food because we don’t know how long that food has been sitting out in the open.
• No public ice machines due to bacteria and germs. ( I wouldn’t even let her have the ice from the machine on the floor because I saw people come from other areas of the hospital with their personal cups…)
• Leftover food older than 24 hours is not to be eaten by Jesse.
• Once Jesse’s food or drink is prepared she has 90 minutes to eat or drink it. Once the time is reached, the food and drink must be tossed.
• At clinic, she has to be in an isolated room for her safety. Not that they don’t clean that clinic very well and the toys too, but I think that the staff doesn’t want anyone to feel guilty if Jesse gets sick.
• To get to clinic, she has to wear a mask. Granted we’re in the hospital… and unfortunately that is where the greatest population of sick people are.
• We can’t walk through clinic to get to the room. We have enter the clinic through the back door.
• No new plants or animals. We were told this from the beginning. And in fact they would not allow her to have flowers in her room because of the bacteria.
• I can let Christine go to school. I debated about that for awhile. But our doctor told me it would be fine. And her teachers at Walnut Hills are the best. This entire time they have bent over backwards to clean the room and everyone’s hands. I greatly appreciate that.
• If I open a container of apple juice for Jesse, I can’t give her anymore juice from that container after 24 hours.
• She is not able to have angel food cake ( we are all a little baffled on that one).
• No fresh fruits or veggies.
• No cereal or other food containing dried fruits.
• No juice that hasn’t been pasteurized.
• No soft serve ice cream, cheese made with mold, or yogurt or sherbert from bulk machines.
• No fresh deli meat.
• No well water.
• No fruits or veggies with blemishes.
• Friends can visit Jesse as long as they have been well for 48 hours and not around anyone else who has been sick for 48 hours.
• Jesse can’t be in the sun between 10am and 2pm because of sensitivity.
• No bug spray, but she can use sunscreen.
• No new mulch in the yard (good thing we never got around to that this year)
• If Mike or I are around any chemicals, we can’t handle Jesse until we have showered.
• If we cut the grass, we have to shower before we can be around her.

After day 28 (currently we are on day 15) Jesse will begin radiation. I had thought about staying in Norfolk since the price of gas is increasing. But after her getting depressed during our last hospital stay, and fear of not knowing how the place was cleaned and who had been there before, I have decided to just make the trip back and forth.