Sept 10, 2007

We had a wonderful weekend with the Huber Clan.

Everyone arrived on Friday. We tried to pace ourselves in visiting Bill. Everyone wanted to see him, but all the activity wore him out quickly. "Everyone" is Janine, Don and 5 month old Maggie from Indy, Jon and Laura from Knoxville, and Kari (37 weeks pregnant) and Jeff from Charlotte.

On Saturday, after visiting Bill, Janine, Don, Maggie and Laura headed to the Brookfield Zoo, which is just down the street from the hospital. Church friends (The Throndsons) who volunteer at the zoo, gave us passes to use. They had a wonderful time and loved the monkey exhibit and the elephants.

Another church friend (The Masters) brought over everything we could possibly need for breakfast. It was wonderful not to have to think about that, and the guys got in the kitchen and cooked up a feast. They even cleaned up afterwards.

Bill is now on Day 4 of chemo. He receives 2 drugs by IV, 24 hours a day, for 7 days. He also receives red blood platelets everyday and if needed, he is getting plasma, but not on a daily basis. He is tired, very tired. But his strength is building, and he is getting out of bed and sitting in a chair to eat. Today I will take the computer to the hospital and see if he is interested in working on it.

Bill was healthy before all this started. His chances for a cure are very good. His organs are handling the chemo drugs very well. The bad white cells are being destroyed (as well as the good cells), and don't seem to be multiplying at a faster rate then they are being destroyed. (Amen). We will know the outcome of chemo in 2 weeks when he has another bone marrow aspiration.

Interesting fact: The results of Bill's first bone marrow sample showed it be 50%-60% white cell "blasts." Blasts are the mutated white cells that take over the blood and destroy the good cells. The color of his bone marrow was white. (I believe red or pink would have been much better.)
The attending doctor had never seen this before.

We thank you for all the cards you are sending, and well wishes. Bill has not read the get well cards as of this date. He is very weepy, and I'm sure that comes from his weakness. But the cards are in his room just waiting to be read when he is ready to receive your good wishes and prayers.

I go to the hospital everyday. Not only to be with Bill and care for him in the "little" ways, but watch what is going on, speak to the doctors, and become more educated on the subject of leukemia. After 8 days, I have more knowledge on this subject then I wish to know.

Thank you all for you prayers, well wishes, and offers of help. We are in this for the long haul, and I may need your help later.
Love,
Nancy