November 1, 2011
Yesterday was the day when I received my bone marrow transplant. We were told that by 9AM, as the Stem Cells were being prepped in the lab, they will be able to provide us a specific time for the transplant. Surely enough, a little after 9, we were informed that the transplant was scheduled for 10AM. While the nurse was getting Alaris ready, she mentioned something very interesting. She said that I am not going to receive a “Stem Cell” transfusion, but rather a “Bone Marrow”. After requesting clarification, I was told that generically the procedure is called Bone Marrow Transplant, however, a patient may end up with a Stem Cell or Bone Marrow transfusion, it all depends on what was received from the Donor. In this case my donor sent Bone Marrow. The Bone Marrow is harsher on the donor to extract than just Stem Cells, yet better for the recipient, since it’s a complete Bone Marrow and not just Stem Cells. < speechless moment … another blessed surprise>. PTL
With that said, they brought in the Bone Marrow, which had a perfect reddish color and connected it to Alaris, and voila, the Bone Marrow started flowing in full view through my catheter into my body … wow … it kept on going and going, for almost two full hours. Once done, I did not have any drastic side effects. I just felt a bit tired and needing to sleep. Otherwise, everything was almost normal. PTL
Later that day, I was informed that it might take an additional week or so for the graft to finalize since it was a bone marrow and not a stem cell transplant (i.e. it takes longer for a bone marrow transfusion to graft). I will have to stay in the hospital until the new bone marrow is fully operational. We are praying that the graft will take place very peacefully, without any serious side effects and I will be home on Thanksgiving with all the beloved !!
I cannot thank you enough for your prayers. They are making a huge difference. PTL.
In His Grip
Sami
Sami Lahoud 
PTL! PTL! PTL! Amen.
Now, that’s what I call good news! Yalla, God willing, I’m sure you will have another good news to share with all of us everyday going forward Samsoum.
Keep them coming my (younger) Brother :-).
I love you.
Dear Brother Sami,
You’ve been and will continue to be in our prayers. Our God is good. Let’s keep trusting Him and His everlasting love.
Pastor Albert Haddad
Wentworthville Arabic Baptist Church
Sydney – Australia
Our prayer for you is to be home for Thanksgiving too… God keep you in the palm of His hand…
All the ladies here were praying,(and giving thanks for you and Jacko, for they are so touched by your courage and witness) Monday in one place , Tuesday in another…
Sleep like a child this week my friend….and enjoy the healing…with you all the time…
get ready for Jackline’s wonderful thanksgiving meal….
You continue to amaze and encourage me with your faith, Sami. You are on a miraculous journey that gives proof of how mighty is our God. Thank you, again, for sharing with us. Your words continue to be a blessing for me. We will continue to pray and for you and your family.
Hugs from the Mendez household
طوبي لأناس عزّهم بك. طرق بيتك في قلوبهم. عابرين في وادي البكاء يصيرونه ينبوعاً … يذهبون من قوة الى قوة …. يا رب الجنود طوبى للانسان المتكل عليك …… لأنك عظيم انت وصانع عجائب انت الله وحدك…..لا مثل لك بين الالهة يا رب ولا مثل اعمالك…. احمدوا الرب لانه صالح لان الى الابد رحمته
God bless you & your family
Our God is a perfect God and His gifts are always perfect.That is why He supplied you with the perfect match who gave u the best. Keep up the fight As God will continue the work till the end wht He has started i you. You are and inspiration and encouragement to all of us
praying for all of you
Love
PTL
Diane
PTL what a mighty God we serve . All made perfect in His eyes. perfect timing, perfect match, perfect everything, keep it up, in prayer.
Always happy to read your news Sami, Great are the works of the LORD!
“Surely this is our God;
we trusted in him, and he saved us.
This is the LORD, we trusted in him !”
Sami,
thanks for sharing your journey, so we can know how to pray for you specifically. We’re thankful for the BMT (bone marrow transplant)!
Our Dear Sami,
We are so happy to hear about your experiences, and continue to pray for a speedy recovery. Keep those updates coming. Love to you and your wonderful family.
Hani and Rula
brother, we love you and hope for a fast and complete recovery.
gas, iman, yara, rami and liza bitar
Sami,
We are so happy to hear all the positive news that you are experiencing while going through this courageous journey! PTL!
We are hoping for your speedy recovery and hope you can be with your family on Thanksgiving!
Shankar and Luisa
Sami, great news! Hope to hear further progress soon. Best wishes and God bless.
hi sami,
my name is aida nasr khoury the mother of anis khoury and the niece of salma nasr your sunday school teacher the one you mentioned in your blog earlier is praying for you all the time.
Hi sami this is anis we all hope that alls well that ends well and we pray the success for all the procedures and all will go ahead as scehduled by thanksgiving. keep the faith and god bless you always
يا أيها الطيب سامي، إلى الأمام نحن معك منتظرون والرب عظيم. تحية حب من جنوب لبنان إليكم جميعا. God bless you all my dear. Mariam
Dear Sami, we are so glad that everything is going better than expected,but you know God is so powerful and merciful than is not a surprise! With Him in our side who can be against us? Our family continues to pray for you and your family and we know that the outcome is going to be positive! So glad you will be able to go home for Thanksgiving, for sure this year it will be Soooo… much for which to give thanks! Keep your faith and keep trusting in God’s love for you.
Rom 8: 37-39 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.