We have the official word from our doctor that the Leukemia cells in his brain are GONE!!! Even the cluster of cells in the membrane along the frontal lobe and two small clusters at the base of the brain, that were a huge concern, have been destroyed. AMEN! The chemotherapy again is doing it’s job, and I’m sure your prayers have speeded things along. Bill does not have to go back for a chemo shot to the Ommaya until Thurs a week.
Bill’s blood counts are rising daily. He is still very tired. It must take a lot of energy to make bone marrow and blood. But each day is getting better. He should be ready for the SEC Championship game on Saturday afternoon.
I probably won’t have any news for several days. But remember, “No News is Good News.” I will let you know the results of his sister’s blood tests as soon as I get the word. That will probably be on December 6th when we go back to the Cancer Clinic.
Caring is all around us, thank you for your love and prayers.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Sunday, November 25, 2007
November 25- Doing better
Just a quick note to say our prayers have been answered again.
Bill is no longer experiencing double vision. It stopped as quickly as it had started and seems to be chemo related. Football is a lot easier to watch when only one quarterback is throwing the ball.
His body is making white cells and platelets again, and the red cells should catch up this week. He hopefully will be feeling much better by this weekend. We are headed back to the Cancer Clinic on Monday for another chemo shot and to meet with the doctor. If there is any new information, I will share that with you Monday night.
I don't know what was better this weekend.
Bill's vision healing
Turkey dinner with Janine, Don and Maggie
OR THE TENNESSEE VOLS BEATING KENTUCKY!!! What a game!!!
GO Big Orange.... Beat LSU!!!!
Bill is no longer experiencing double vision. It stopped as quickly as it had started and seems to be chemo related. Football is a lot easier to watch when only one quarterback is throwing the ball.
His body is making white cells and platelets again, and the red cells should catch up this week. He hopefully will be feeling much better by this weekend. We are headed back to the Cancer Clinic on Monday for another chemo shot and to meet with the doctor. If there is any new information, I will share that with you Monday night.
I don't know what was better this weekend.
Bill's vision healing
Turkey dinner with Janine, Don and Maggie
OR THE TENNESSEE VOLS BEATING KENTUCKY!!! What a game!!!
GO Big Orange.... Beat LSU!!!!
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Thanksgiving Day
Now what are you doing on the blogsite!!! It’s THANKSGIVING!!! But since you must be really interested in keeping up with Bill (or totally bored with food and football) you get to read the latest scoop.
Bill has just returned home from an unexpected trip to the hospital. He woke up Wednesday morning with double vision. After a call to the doctor, we were driving to the emergency room. Not an “emergency", but the ER is equipped with an “isolation” room for their cancer patients. Tests and medical treatment can be administered quickly from the ER verses being admitted into the hospital.
After an MRI of his brain, the neurologist determined that cancer was NOT causing his vision problems. This was great news. In fact, we were told, his MRI looked terrific compared to his pre-Ommaya Reservoir MRI. More good news. Our hematologist-oncologist also said Bill’s CSF was clean on the latest extraction, so the doctors are puzzled on what is causing this eye malfunction. They are guessing it is chemotherapy related.
We will be scheduling an appointment with a neurologist/ophthalmologist if it continues. It does come and go, so we will be recording his routine to see what might affect it. They kept Bill overnight to observe him, and he was glad to come today.
So we will be doing hamburgers for our Thanksgiving Day dinner. And are still hoping to see Janine, Don, and Maggie over the weekend for our Turkey Day. As always, we take one day at a time.
Happy Thanksgiving. And thank you for your Thanksgiving prayers on Bill’s behalf.
Nancy
Bill has just returned home from an unexpected trip to the hospital. He woke up Wednesday morning with double vision. After a call to the doctor, we were driving to the emergency room. Not an “emergency", but the ER is equipped with an “isolation” room for their cancer patients. Tests and medical treatment can be administered quickly from the ER verses being admitted into the hospital.
After an MRI of his brain, the neurologist determined that cancer was NOT causing his vision problems. This was great news. In fact, we were told, his MRI looked terrific compared to his pre-Ommaya Reservoir MRI. More good news. Our hematologist-oncologist also said Bill’s CSF was clean on the latest extraction, so the doctors are puzzled on what is causing this eye malfunction. They are guessing it is chemotherapy related.
We will be scheduling an appointment with a neurologist/ophthalmologist if it continues. It does come and go, so we will be recording his routine to see what might affect it. They kept Bill overnight to observe him, and he was glad to come today.
So we will be doing hamburgers for our Thanksgiving Day dinner. And are still hoping to see Janine, Don, and Maggie over the weekend for our Turkey Day. As always, we take one day at a time.
Happy Thanksgiving. And thank you for your Thanksgiving prayers on Bill’s behalf.
Nancy
Monday, November 19, 2007
November 19th- Gratitude beyond belief
As the holiday season is upon us, we would like to thank those who have supported Bill through his journey with cancer. Your phone calls, cards, e-mails, and blog messages give both of us the boost we need to sometimes make it through the day (and night). We have not been able to personally thank many of you who have donated to the Leukemia Research Foundation, because we do not know who you are. But, please know that we are very grateful for your support.
You have logged on to get the latest on Bill, so here goes. His blood count is still extremely low. The home health care nurse came by to give him platelets and two bags of red cells. That took about 3 hours and he is doing much better this evening. (Plus he has Monday Night Football to watch this evening.) We are still waiting for the Nulasta shot to kick in, and for his blood numbers to begin to rise. We think this will happen by Saturday. But who knows.
Janine, Don, and precious Maggie will be coming here on Friday and we will celebrate Thanksgiving on Saturday. We have so much to be thankful for in all of this craziness, and you are on the top of our list.
Bill’s sisters, Paula and Gail, had their blood draw this morning in Pennsylvania. The sample will be over-nighted to Loyola Hospital and we should have the results in 2 weeks. If either are a match and they agree to donate their bone marrow, we will proceed quickly.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. Count your blessings, as we are counting ours.
Bless you all.
You have logged on to get the latest on Bill, so here goes. His blood count is still extremely low. The home health care nurse came by to give him platelets and two bags of red cells. That took about 3 hours and he is doing much better this evening. (Plus he has Monday Night Football to watch this evening.) We are still waiting for the Nulasta shot to kick in, and for his blood numbers to begin to rise. We think this will happen by Saturday. But who knows.
Janine, Don, and precious Maggie will be coming here on Friday and we will celebrate Thanksgiving on Saturday. We have so much to be thankful for in all of this craziness, and you are on the top of our list.
Bill’s sisters, Paula and Gail, had their blood draw this morning in Pennsylvania. The sample will be over-nighted to Loyola Hospital and we should have the results in 2 weeks. If either are a match and they agree to donate their bone marrow, we will proceed quickly.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. Count your blessings, as we are counting ours.
Bless you all.
Friday, November 16, 2007
November 15th- Another day, Another chemo injection
We were back to the Cancer Clinic at Loyola today for Bill’s 6th injection of MTX into his Ommaya Reservoir. He does great with this injection, no side effects. The doctor said Bill looks great, considering the chemo regiment he endured last week. It is wonderful to hear to doctor say “You look great” when you are wondering how you are doing and just what is “great”.
Bill’s white cell count is way down. It is 200. The lowest it has ever been. So, no visitors are permitted past Nurse Nancy. His platelets (12,000) and hemoglobin (7.6) are also low. He will receive platelets and red cells at home on Saturday from the Home Health Care nurse. Bill is feeling okay, and enjoys your phone calls. As much as we would enjoy seeing everyone, Bill cannot have visitors at this time.
We are anxiously awaiting the results of the blood tests of Bill’s two sisters to see if there might be a bone marrow match. All future plans for chemotherapy treatments and bone marrow transplant will be influenced by those results. He will continue to have the MTX shot on a weekly basis until he has a BMT.
You know what our prayers are this week. We need someone to be a bone marrow match. And if one of his sisters is a match, it will be so much easier on Bill. Amen.
(And I know if his mom at 92 years old could have another child, she would do that for Bill. Love to hear your comments on that one.)
Bill’s white cell count is way down. It is 200. The lowest it has ever been. So, no visitors are permitted past Nurse Nancy. His platelets (12,000) and hemoglobin (7.6) are also low. He will receive platelets and red cells at home on Saturday from the Home Health Care nurse. Bill is feeling okay, and enjoys your phone calls. As much as we would enjoy seeing everyone, Bill cannot have visitors at this time.
We are anxiously awaiting the results of the blood tests of Bill’s two sisters to see if there might be a bone marrow match. All future plans for chemotherapy treatments and bone marrow transplant will be influenced by those results. He will continue to have the MTX shot on a weekly basis until he has a BMT.
You know what our prayers are this week. We need someone to be a bone marrow match. And if one of his sisters is a match, it will be so much easier on Bill. Amen.
(And I know if his mom at 92 years old could have another child, she would do that for Bill. Love to hear your comments on that one.)
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
November 13- What next?
Our meeting with the Bone Marrow Specialist was anti-climatic. We had all done so much reading on the subject we knew the procedure and the risks and were given very little new information. The doctor did confirm that if Bill wants any quality of life, he needs to proceed with a transplant.
Answers to your questions.
Is Stem Cell Replacement and Bone Marrow Transplant the same thing?
Basicly, yes. A Knoxville friend, Shannon Eaker, who has his doctorate in stem cell research, may correct me. One is from the bone marrow, and the other is from the umbilical cord. But they both involve chromosomes and what Bill would be given. With the quanity of marrow needed, stem cells would not be enough.
Can anyone be tested?
Yes, but his best match to avoid Graft vs Host Disease (GVHD) is a sibling. Our insurance will pay for a sibling test only. This is a blood test and packets are being sent this week to Bill’s two sisters. Anyone can add their name to the Bone Marrow Bank list. One would go to their local blood bank to be tested and their type recorded. It is best if one is under 40 years old.
What is a “match”?
To make this as simple as possible (the only way I understand it), we all have a HLA type, or human leukocyte antigen. This tissue type consists of proteins on the surface of the cells and the better the match on antigens, the less chance for rejection. Our HLA results are a combination of our mother and father’s chromosomes. We want as close a match as possible so his body doesn’t reject the new bone marrow, or visa versa (GVHD). But, on the other hand. We want a little bit of a rejection so his new white cells recognize the mutated white cells as “foreign” and destroy them. (Something his white cells are not capable of doing right now.)
What if his sisters aren’t a match?
All three hospitals we are considering have access to the National Bone Marrow Bank and the International Bone Marrow Bank. Fortunately, Bill is of Western European heritage (German/Italian). It is the easiest group to find a match. This is because for centuries, these cultures have been intermarrying. The doctor said Bill picked his parents well.
Send me your questions and I will do my best to answer them. Or, I will ask the doctor.
About Bill. His blood count numbers are dropping today, as they should. He is tired, but feels pretty good. Home Health Care came this morning to draw blood for a CBC reading and will come back if he needs platelets or red cells. He received his Nulasta shot on Monday and it will take 2 weeks for his blood to return to normal.
Jon and Laura are still here. Jon and Laura finished the outside work to get us ready for the winter season. Everything is put away, and leaves have been raked again. Laura has been cooking dinner and helping around the house. It has been wonderful having them here.
Thanks for your prayers. We will stay in touch.
Answers to your questions.
Is Stem Cell Replacement and Bone Marrow Transplant the same thing?
Basicly, yes. A Knoxville friend, Shannon Eaker, who has his doctorate in stem cell research, may correct me. One is from the bone marrow, and the other is from the umbilical cord. But they both involve chromosomes and what Bill would be given. With the quanity of marrow needed, stem cells would not be enough.
Can anyone be tested?
Yes, but his best match to avoid Graft vs Host Disease (GVHD) is a sibling. Our insurance will pay for a sibling test only. This is a blood test and packets are being sent this week to Bill’s two sisters. Anyone can add their name to the Bone Marrow Bank list. One would go to their local blood bank to be tested and their type recorded. It is best if one is under 40 years old.
What is a “match”?
To make this as simple as possible (the only way I understand it), we all have a HLA type, or human leukocyte antigen. This tissue type consists of proteins on the surface of the cells and the better the match on antigens, the less chance for rejection. Our HLA results are a combination of our mother and father’s chromosomes. We want as close a match as possible so his body doesn’t reject the new bone marrow, or visa versa (GVHD). But, on the other hand. We want a little bit of a rejection so his new white cells recognize the mutated white cells as “foreign” and destroy them. (Something his white cells are not capable of doing right now.)
What if his sisters aren’t a match?
All three hospitals we are considering have access to the National Bone Marrow Bank and the International Bone Marrow Bank. Fortunately, Bill is of Western European heritage (German/Italian). It is the easiest group to find a match. This is because for centuries, these cultures have been intermarrying. The doctor said Bill picked his parents well.
Send me your questions and I will do my best to answer them. Or, I will ask the doctor.
About Bill. His blood count numbers are dropping today, as they should. He is tired, but feels pretty good. Home Health Care came this morning to draw blood for a CBC reading and will come back if he needs platelets or red cells. He received his Nulasta shot on Monday and it will take 2 weeks for his blood to return to normal.
Jon and Laura are still here. Jon and Laura finished the outside work to get us ready for the winter season. Everything is put away, and leaves have been raked again. Laura has been cooking dinner and helping around the house. It has been wonderful having them here.
Thanks for your prayers. We will stay in touch.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
November 10- Third round of chemo is going well
Bill is doing so well. The doctors are controlling nausea and other side effects of chemo with medications. He is walking the halls of the hospital, reading, and eating 3 meals a day. Ever since Bill has had the Leukemia controlled in his spinal fluid, he has been a different person (for the good). Nothing seems as bad, to me, as the first 2 months. And, I might add, he has no pain. Amen.
We learned yesterday that Bill has a very aggressive form of Leukemia. We may not have an option on whether or not to do Bone Marrow Transplant. Our choice is only where to have it done, and as soon as possible.
Bill’s bone marrow biopsy on Wednesday was “CLEAN” again. That is good news, but it is only a matter or time (weeks) before the mutated white cells will grow again.
That is what happened after the first round of chemo when his shin broke out in the Leukemia Cutis. (Which is now healed because of the type of chemo he is taking.)
His eighth and last dosage of chemo begins at 2am Sunday and ends at 6am. He will be home again Sunday afternoon. Phone calls are encouraged. Healthy visitors are welcome until his white cell count drops. Just call and ask.
Monday at 4pm CST, we will meet with the Bone Marrow Transplant specialist to discuss our options, and the treatment plan at Loyola University. Jon and Laura will go with us to ask questions and gather more information. It will be a big day for all of us, so if you happen to think of us, just shoot a prayer our way.
God Bless.
We learned yesterday that Bill has a very aggressive form of Leukemia. We may not have an option on whether or not to do Bone Marrow Transplant. Our choice is only where to have it done, and as soon as possible.
Bill’s bone marrow biopsy on Wednesday was “CLEAN” again. That is good news, but it is only a matter or time (weeks) before the mutated white cells will grow again.
That is what happened after the first round of chemo when his shin broke out in the Leukemia Cutis. (Which is now healed because of the type of chemo he is taking.)
His eighth and last dosage of chemo begins at 2am Sunday and ends at 6am. He will be home again Sunday afternoon. Phone calls are encouraged. Healthy visitors are welcome until his white cell count drops. Just call and ask.
Monday at 4pm CST, we will meet with the Bone Marrow Transplant specialist to discuss our options, and the treatment plan at Loyola University. Jon and Laura will go with us to ask questions and gather more information. It will be a big day for all of us, so if you happen to think of us, just shoot a prayer our way.
God Bless.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
November 7th- Third month of Chemo
Bill has been feeling so good, we hate that chemo has to begin again.
He began the day with his fourth Bone Marrow Biopsy. He says "No big deal, I'm getting use to the procedure".
Then chemo began. Three hours later the drip was finished and no side effects. He will get a 12 hour break, and the next dosage will begin. This will continue until 8 doses have been given. Each dose is stronger than the one before. He hopes to be finished and come home on Sunday.
While Bill is still feeling good, we took the opportunity to tour the Bone Marrow Transplant wing at Loyola Hospital. The nurses answered our questions and told us about the facility, the head doctor's requirements of his patients and support groups available to us. They do about 100 transplants a year at this facility. Monday we will be meeting with one of the doctors to have more questions answered.
We were blessed today with a surprise visit from Jon and Laura. Jon had work to do in the Chicago area, and Laura came with him. Jon is going to stay in town for the Monday consultation with Loyola's doctors.
Bill has made so many improvements over the past month. We need to pray for continued improvements to his body, and the destruction of the leukemia cells. With a miracle, maybe he won't need a bone marrow transplant.
He began the day with his fourth Bone Marrow Biopsy. He says "No big deal, I'm getting use to the procedure".
Then chemo began. Three hours later the drip was finished and no side effects. He will get a 12 hour break, and the next dosage will begin. This will continue until 8 doses have been given. Each dose is stronger than the one before. He hopes to be finished and come home on Sunday.
While Bill is still feeling good, we took the opportunity to tour the Bone Marrow Transplant wing at Loyola Hospital. The nurses answered our questions and told us about the facility, the head doctor's requirements of his patients and support groups available to us. They do about 100 transplants a year at this facility. Monday we will be meeting with one of the doctors to have more questions answered.
We were blessed today with a surprise visit from Jon and Laura. Jon had work to do in the Chicago area, and Laura came with him. Jon is going to stay in town for the Monday consultation with Loyola's doctors.
Bill has made so many improvements over the past month. We need to pray for continued improvements to his body, and the destruction of the leukemia cells. With a miracle, maybe he won't need a bone marrow transplant.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
November 3- Events of the weekend
Bill is dong well.....considering all that is going on.
Friday he received another chemo injection to the Ommaya Reservoir and had no side effects. Amen. He will have about 3 more of these injections this month, once a week.
Bill goes back to Loyola Hospital on Wednesday for 4-5 consecutive days of chemo treatments. They told him this will be very intense and they will monitor him closely. He will stay overnight for this coming session. Recovery will be at home and it will take 14-20 days for his blood counts to return to normal. He will also receive a bone marrow biopsy this Wednesday to review the mutated white cell count in his bone marrow. This is because of the Leukemia Cutis rash that had developed on his body.
We are getting ready to make the decision on a bone marrow transplant. Not only whether or not to do it, but at what hospital. We ask for your prayers this month. We need guidance from the Lord to make the right decisions, acquire the knowledge needed, talk to the right people, and have doors open for us. This is a tough decision, and I'm asking Jon (our son) to join us during the information gathering process.
On a lighter note. We had a wonderful visit with Kari, Jeff and Andrew. Bill was having a good weekend, and having a baby in the house is delightful. Jeff was a wonderful help getting the patio furniture put away for the winter, raking, mowing, and cleaning gutters. It was a great weekend to work outside. Jeff works for food if you need him.
I'll write again in a few days. We are hoping for an uneventful week.
Friday he received another chemo injection to the Ommaya Reservoir and had no side effects. Amen. He will have about 3 more of these injections this month, once a week.
Bill goes back to Loyola Hospital on Wednesday for 4-5 consecutive days of chemo treatments. They told him this will be very intense and they will monitor him closely. He will stay overnight for this coming session. Recovery will be at home and it will take 14-20 days for his blood counts to return to normal. He will also receive a bone marrow biopsy this Wednesday to review the mutated white cell count in his bone marrow. This is because of the Leukemia Cutis rash that had developed on his body.
We are getting ready to make the decision on a bone marrow transplant. Not only whether or not to do it, but at what hospital. We ask for your prayers this month. We need guidance from the Lord to make the right decisions, acquire the knowledge needed, talk to the right people, and have doors open for us. This is a tough decision, and I'm asking Jon (our son) to join us during the information gathering process.
On a lighter note. We had a wonderful visit with Kari, Jeff and Andrew. Bill was having a good weekend, and having a baby in the house is delightful. Jeff was a wonderful help getting the patio furniture put away for the winter, raking, mowing, and cleaning gutters. It was a great weekend to work outside. Jeff works for food if you need him.
I'll write again in a few days. We are hoping for an uneventful week.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Easy week
Just a quick update to let you know Bill is really having a good week, in moderation.
I dropped him off at work on Tuesday, for what was suppose to be one hour, and he wanted to stay 2 hours. The visit was wonderful for his well being. And he really enjoyed seeing his work friends.
Visitors came by on Wednesday. Church friends, as well as Sponge Bob, witches and goblins.
Tonight Kari, Jeff, and baby Andrew arrive, and Friday we go back to the Cancer Clinic for chemo injection into his spinal fluid.
This weekend is Kari's 30th birthday. (Our "baby" is 30!!) Been a long time since I have baked a birthday cake, but I am up to the challenge. No store baked cake here!
Jeff has offered to help with some of the fall cleanup jobs around the yard. I am going to take him up on that offer. Hope he brings a warm coat, the weather has turned cold.
Thank you again for your interest in Bill's illness and his well being. We are all players in the fight for his life.
I dropped him off at work on Tuesday, for what was suppose to be one hour, and he wanted to stay 2 hours. The visit was wonderful for his well being. And he really enjoyed seeing his work friends.
Visitors came by on Wednesday. Church friends, as well as Sponge Bob, witches and goblins.
Tonight Kari, Jeff, and baby Andrew arrive, and Friday we go back to the Cancer Clinic for chemo injection into his spinal fluid.
This weekend is Kari's 30th birthday. (Our "baby" is 30!!) Been a long time since I have baked a birthday cake, but I am up to the challenge. No store baked cake here!
Jeff has offered to help with some of the fall cleanup jobs around the yard. I am going to take him up on that offer. Hope he brings a warm coat, the weather has turned cold.
Thank you again for your interest in Bill's illness and his well being. We are all players in the fight for his life.
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