Bill's Friends and Family

Thursday, January 31, 2008

January 31st- The Waiting Game

Bill is still in the hospital, just waiting for his bone marrow to make white cells. He has had 15 Neupogen shots in his tummy over 15 days and his white cell count is still below 600. His ANC is still zero. He hasn’t had a fever for days, and walks the halls about 3 times a day. He is so ready to come home, but not yet. He has been in the hospital since Jan 13th. The doctors are pleased with the improvement in his health this week and say we just have to wait.
I’ve contacted our bone marrow coordinator at Loyola and told her we are ready to proceed. She said Bill needs to be in remission and will need to come in for more testing, ie: EKG, x-rays, and an evaluation to decide if he is healthy enough to endure the bone marrow transplant and full body radiation.
She mentioned that the second donor was also a 9 out of 10 antigen match, but was 48 years old. They would prefer the 26 year old as their first choice. She said this man may be from the USA or an International donor. Even if she knew, she could not tell me. The preparation for the transplant takes about 2 more months.
We have rescheduled our Seattle trip for Feb 11th. If Bill’s health is good, we will still go to just check it out and get their opinion. This way we will have a backup if something falls through here, or have future options for a second transplant down the road. At this time, we just need to move things along.
Our prayers today are to give Bill’s body the strength to make the good white cells that will make his bone marrow complete. I know your prayers will help. Amen.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

January 27th- Bone Marrow Drive at Church







The Bone Marrow Drive at Grace United Methodist Church, in honor of Bill, was very successful. I wish he could have been there with me, to personally thank the members of Grace UMC who are willing to make the commitment of their bone marrow to save another. There were also other members who supported the program with cash donations to help pay for the testing for those who could not. It was Pastor Bob Atkins and our Parish Nurse, Pam Riley, who organized the drive with LifeSource Blood Bank.
I don’t have an exact count yet, but it looked like there were close to 50 envelopes with DNA samples ready to go to the labs. Wouldn’t it be the intervention of God if one of these samples was a match for an adult or child, and this was the drive that was needed to find that match. Amen

Concerning Bill: His blood work has been up….then down… and now going back up. But in baby steps. Each day is a new adventure. He is very weak and I can’t wait to get him home and fatten him up and let him sleep all day and night. Today begins his third week in the hospital. The latest results of spinal fluid testing done on Thursday show no Leukemic blasts. Amen. The latest brain MRI done on Thursday looked very good to me. (The doctors roll a COW- computer on wheels- into the room, and we get to review all tests.) But, I’m not a doctor, so I’ll hear what they have to say on Monday.

God was with us today.
It “just happened” that a young man visited our church today because his friend’s girlfriend wanted to hear our amazing choir perform before she left town. He had a bone marrow transplant done at Loyola University Medical Center 6 years ago. He had an Ommaya Reservoir in his head, like Bill. He was a survivor and pleased with his treatment at Loyola. So, is this a sign from above that I should listen to?
This has been a very humbling day for us. We appreciate the support of our church family. Bless you all.









Wednesday, January 23, 2008



January 23rd- Birthday Celebration

Bill awoke on the morning of his birthday with no fever. His voice was a little stronger and he seemed to have “turned the corner”. I arrived at the hospital with a birthday balloon, cupcakes, and a sack full of cards and gifts. The nurses were waiting for me. They had a small cake from the hospital. With fifteen ladies packed into his very small private room, they sang “Happy Birthday”. Bill smiled from ear to ear. The nurses had arranged a manicure and hair trim for him. This coal miner received his first ever manicure for his 59th birthday.
The picture was taken 5 minutes before his world fell apart.
Bill was receiving platelets while they gave him a manicure. He began shaking and had this desperate look in his eyes. I’m running for the nurse, the manicurist and hair stylist are getting more than they bargained for, and Bill was having an allergic reaction to the platelets. It took about 15 minutes for the Demoral, and steroids to do their job. Bill then slept for 4 hours. He hardly remembers the rest of the day.
On Tuesday, we started all over again. It was a much better day. Bill awoke a little stronger. We opened birthday cards and gifts. He actually got out of bed for the first time in 10 days and walked the hall. The nurses made a big fuss when they saw him walking the floor (they all love him). Bill still has not had a piece of birthday cake because he isn’t making saliva when he eats. So, ice cream is good, but not cake.

Today, Wednesday, they tried platelets again, and there was NO reaction. Amen.
The doctors had told us several days ago that his fevers were caused by a staph infection. Once the antibiotic cleared up the infection, they were going to remove the PICC line, (the tubing that runs from a catheter in his arm to his aorta). His blood cultures came back good. His fever is gone. And the PICC line was removed today. They replaced it with a Power PICC! We’ll see what new and improved wonders this new line will provide.
This evening Bill again walked the hall. He seems a little stronger, but his blood work is still going up and down, and his ANC is still zero. It needs to be 500 before he can go home. Today he received his 7th Neupogen shot to increase white cells. So the numbers should rise any day. Back in September he only needed 4 Neupogen shots to get those white cells dividing. His body is just “wore out”, as they say in Kentucky.

I am hoping the next few days will be uneventful and will let you know when he is home again and feels like phone calls.
This evening we are praying for the physical, mental, and emotional strength it takes to build bone marrow for the fourth time. If anyone can do it, Bill can, with a little help. Amen.

Friday, January 18, 2008

January 18th- Still Fighting Fevers

I was too quick on Wednesday to report Bill’s fevers were over. By the time I arrived at the hospital, the fever had returned and we have been battling high temperatures all week. After blood cultures, more x-rays, CAT scans, etc, the doctors found no major cause. They just changed his antibiotic and anti fungal drugs and that seemed to help. At least his temperature can be controlled to less than 103 degrees.

Good News: Bill had a bone marrow biopsy done this week and the results were great. It is not only CLEAN of “blasts”, but the reading was “less than 1% leukemia cells.” His spinal fluid was also clean of leukemia cells. This will hopefully give us a few weeks without cancer and he can gain some strength back.

Because his bone marrow was “clean”, the Neupogen shots (white cell builder) began on Thursday. He gets one injection a day for 5 days. In the next 5 days, we will see an increase in his white cells and ANC and he will be able to come home.

Our church, Grace United Methodist Church, has organized a Bone Marrow Testing Drive in honor of Bill. On January 27 from 9am until 11am representatives from LifeSource will be doing DNA cheek swabs for those who would like to have their name placed on the National Bone Marrow registry. What a wonderful gift this will be to a cancer patient, adult or child, who cannot fight their disease alone. If you live in the area and want to be tested, there are two major criteria. You must be healthy, and between the ages of 18 and 60 years old. That eliminates most of MY friends. Bill is the third member of our congregation to get Leukemia in the past 5 years. Our congregation understands the need.

“Sometimes the path to healing is not an easy one, but the Lord is walking right by our side. His hand will be within your reach. He’ll guard your every step. His love will light your way and be your guide”. Thank you Kim and Tom for the card with that verse. We need a bright light and a tight hand to hold on to right now.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

January 16th- Back in the hospital

Bill is back in the hospital. He has a neutropenic fever, which means, without white cells, a fever is the only way to fight even the smallest infection. We went to the hospital on Sunday morning, and by Tuesday the fever was under control. There does not appear to be any serious cause to the fever, but never the less, he must remain in the hospital until his white cell count and ANC (Absolute Neutrogen Count) have recovered. This count is a reading of the good white cells in your blood. Bill will be in the hospital for 10-14 days. (Bummer, we like it better when he is home.) At the moment, Bill does not feel up to phone calls. Sleep is the best medicine.

We have no new news on the donor situation. A bone marrow transplant is a slow process of coordination of donor, hospital, doctors, and Bill’s health. As Carol, a friend from Kentucky said. When we all get really frustrated with God because things aren’t happening…..we need to pray a little louder.

On a lighter note….Bill will be celebrating his 59th birthday on Monday, January 21st. He will still be in the hospital. If you would like to send a greeting by a blog message, e-mail, or card,I take the computer to the hospital everyday.

Bless you all for walking this walk with us. It is truly “hills and valleys” We all rejoice on the hill tops, and your support makes the valleys bearable.

Friday, January 11, 2008

January 11- One Step Closer

We have a donor!!!
Out of the three potential donors, a 26 year old male has stepped forward. He is a 9 out of 10 match. This means his HLA (human leukocyte antigen) typing is a close match. Plus, being male, and young. and hopefully healthy, are all a plus. We don’t know anything else about him at this time, but when we do, we will let you all get to know him.

A second donor has come forward and the hospital just received his/her blood sample. So we might know more next week.

The third potential donor has not been located.
The hospital has also placed on hold 3 cord blood units that will work for Bill. Seattle Cancer Center in 2007 had outstanding success with clinical trials using cord blood units. This also might be an option.

Everyday Bill’s HLA typing is entered in the National Marrow Donor Program search, and each month over 25,000 new donor names are added. We may have choices before the process is finished.

Our daughter Janine, who is on the donor list, said, “I hope my HLA is a match for someone. I would want to make another family feel as happy as I do right now”.

Our prayers: Thank you Lord for people who are willing to give the gift of “life” to a stranger.

Other exciting news: Jon and Laura have just announced that she is pregnant!!!! Our next grandbaby is due in July.

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

January 8th- Just an Update

Bill came home on Sunday. His blood work is just a little below normal. He is very tired and is taking a much need nap. But just two days ago he was on the treadmill and walking around the block. His energy level can drop so quickly.
The last round of chemotherapy did it’s job on the Leukemia cutis. The rash is just about gone and we hope we don’t see it again for a few weeks.
Today, Bill received another injection into the Ommaya Reservoir (the port on the top of his head), and will receive another on Friday. This chemo injection is keeping the blasts under control in is CSF (Central Spinal Fluid).
We have temporarily canceled the visit to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. The doctor thinks it will be too soon for him to travel. But we are all booked for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle for January 30th and 31st. Returning home on February 1st. So far they have been wonderful to work with.
I hope to have some information on a potential donor real soon. The bone marrow transplant team meets on Friday and they have indicated there may be some news. I hope they will share this news with us.
Please continue to pray for Bill and his potential donor. I know the Lord is listening, we just have to remember who is in charge.
Love you.

Friday, January 4, 2008

Three Down / Two To Go

So far I’ve completed three days of chemo and have two more to go. I still feel very good and have not experienced any side effects to speak of. I am anticipating feeling good until early next week when my nap time should increase as my blood counts decrease. However, I am going into this chemo session in better shape than the previous sessions so maybe I won’t feel as tired.

Still no word on a marrow donor so keep praying that one shows up.

We wish everyone a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Bill

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

January 1st- Chemo Round Four

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

“They didn’t want to do it”, but the cancer is back and the doctors are once again using an aggressive approach to keep it under control while we wait for a bone marrow donor. His chemotherapy treatment will be another Introductory round (his third- you are only suppose to have one Introductory round) of the drugs Mitoxantrone and Etoposide (also called VP-16). Treatments will begin January 2, and will last for five consecutive days. White “blasts” were found in his bone marrow, only 9% blasts, but that is 9% too many. Bill should come home Sunday or Monday and will be back in ”Nurse Nancy” isolation for 2-3 weeks.
Bill’s previous chemo treatment was November 4th. For the past 2 weeks he has felt almost normal and we have enjoyed getting out, going to church, and being with friends and family on a limited basis. We even “partied” with friends on New Years Eve, even though we were home by 9pm. Bill says he feels better now, then he did in August. He has also gained back 8 lbs of the 30lbs he had lost early on.
Bill has just one prayer request. LORD, WE NEED A DONOR. AMEN.