Monday, October 29, 2007
Chat Room Monday- 7:30pm Central time
Yes, That would be 7:30pm CST at this house- 8:30pm EST for the rest of you. I don't think anyone reading the blog is on Mountain or Pacific time. But I'm sure I will get corrected if I missed someone. Nancy/Mom
Chat room- Monday at 7:30pm
Bill is home this week. His blood count numbers are rising and he feels pretty good, relatively speaking. He would like you to join him on the Chat room site tonight at 7:30pm. See you then, and yes you can do it. I don't want to hear any excuses. Jon made it easy.
For our Grace UMC friends. Bill will not be in church this Sunday because they are giving flu shots. That is an active virus that he does not need right now.
If our local friends have time to stop by, this is the week to do it. When his immune system is at it's best. Call to check on his "napping" schedule.
Kari, Jeff and baby Andrew will be visiting from North Carolina on Friday and Saturday. It will be a busy weekend.
I probably won't enter another blog until next week. It will hopefully be an uneventful week. For those who were concerned about Bill's skin, Leukemia Cutis, it is looking very good. The chemo did it's job there.
Your support has meant so much. Bill is surrounded by your love. Bless you.
For our Grace UMC friends. Bill will not be in church this Sunday because they are giving flu shots. That is an active virus that he does not need right now.
If our local friends have time to stop by, this is the week to do it. When his immune system is at it's best. Call to check on his "napping" schedule.
Kari, Jeff and baby Andrew will be visiting from North Carolina on Friday and Saturday. It will be a busy weekend.
I probably won't enter another blog until next week. It will hopefully be an uneventful week. For those who were concerned about Bill's skin, Leukemia Cutis, it is looking very good. The chemo did it's job there.
Your support has meant so much. Bill is surrounded by your love. Bless you.
Friday, October 26, 2007
October 26th- Good New, Bad News, Good news
First off, we arrived at the Cancer Center at 11:45am and were finished at 5:25pm. The winner of the “Bill Huber blog site Loyola Cancer Center treatment schedule predictor” is our daughter, Janine, at a predicted time of 5:22pm. Congratultions! We left the center just in time to hit Friday rush hour traffic, in the rain. But a church friend, Julie, read the blog and knew it would be a long day, and brought dinner by at 7pm. It was a blessing.
Today was full of good news, and not so good news, followed by good news. Here is how the day went.
Bad news: Last week Bill’s torso and back were covered in a red/purple rash, which the doctors call “Chemo rash”. Plus, he had large red bumps all over his extremities. The doctors took a biopsy in 2 places. Today we met with the dermatologist to have the stitches removed and she told us it is Leukemia cutis or Leukemia of the skin, common with his form of Leukemia.
Good news: The chemo treatment he is currently being given will eliminate this cancer. And we are already seeing healing results. The rash is almost gone, and the red bumps are much smaller. Amen.
Bad news: We learned today that Bill’s type of Leukemia, M-4, is one that migrates to other parts of the body. It does not stay in the blood. That is why it went to the lining of the brain, inside the brain, spinal fluid, and skin.
Good news: There are no signs that it has attacked any other organs of his body. Amen.
Bad news: His chemo treatments next month will be increased to 5 consecutive days of chemo, two 3 hour treatments a day, with 12 hours in between treatments. He will stay at the hospital all week. It will be a brutal week for him. And a tough recovery.
Great news: Dr Shafer said his CSF (cerebral spinal fluid) was clear on the previous sample and clean of white cells. He will only need injections of chemo into the Ommaya reservoir once a week (and not every 3 days). Amen.
Good news: The chemo he had last week is killing the Leukemia cells in his brain, and Bill continues to show signs of improvement in brain functions. Amen.
Good news: The Neulasta (white cell builder) is just beginning to work, and Bill’s blood count numbers are on the rise. We won’t make it to church this weekend, he still has no immune system, but are hoping to be there Nov 4th before he goes back into the hospital. Just look for a guy wearing a face mask and a smile from ear to ear because he is out of the house.
This is probably way more information than you wanted to know. But, this was the reality of our day, and there was more good news than bad news. We are still fighting the battle, and still need your prayers. Amen.
Today was full of good news, and not so good news, followed by good news. Here is how the day went.
Bad news: Last week Bill’s torso and back were covered in a red/purple rash, which the doctors call “Chemo rash”. Plus, he had large red bumps all over his extremities. The doctors took a biopsy in 2 places. Today we met with the dermatologist to have the stitches removed and she told us it is Leukemia cutis or Leukemia of the skin, common with his form of Leukemia.
Good news: The chemo treatment he is currently being given will eliminate this cancer. And we are already seeing healing results. The rash is almost gone, and the red bumps are much smaller. Amen.
Bad news: We learned today that Bill’s type of Leukemia, M-4, is one that migrates to other parts of the body. It does not stay in the blood. That is why it went to the lining of the brain, inside the brain, spinal fluid, and skin.
Good news: There are no signs that it has attacked any other organs of his body. Amen.
Bad news: His chemo treatments next month will be increased to 5 consecutive days of chemo, two 3 hour treatments a day, with 12 hours in between treatments. He will stay at the hospital all week. It will be a brutal week for him. And a tough recovery.
Great news: Dr Shafer said his CSF (cerebral spinal fluid) was clear on the previous sample and clean of white cells. He will only need injections of chemo into the Ommaya reservoir once a week (and not every 3 days). Amen.
Good news: The chemo he had last week is killing the Leukemia cells in his brain, and Bill continues to show signs of improvement in brain functions. Amen.
Good news: The Neulasta (white cell builder) is just beginning to work, and Bill’s blood count numbers are on the rise. We won’t make it to church this weekend, he still has no immune system, but are hoping to be there Nov 4th before he goes back into the hospital. Just look for a guy wearing a face mask and a smile from ear to ear because he is out of the house.
This is probably way more information than you wanted to know. But, this was the reality of our day, and there was more good news than bad news. We are still fighting the battle, and still need your prayers. Amen.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
October 23- Tuesday at the Cancer Clinic
October 23
I had another chemo treatment through the Ommaya Reservoir today with no ill effects. For those of you with a noon over/under, we were in the car on the way home at 12:55PM. My blood counts have been low from the previous chemo and I have been getting transfusions of platelets almost daily. I hope that my energy levels will increase in the next day or two. I am scheduled for another treatment on Friday afternoon and a trip to the dermatologist. We start at 12:30PM so we should be done around 5:00PM. Please send your comments relating to a 5:00 PM over/under for completing the treatment. The person coming closest to the actual completion time will become the official Bill Huber blog site Loyola Cancer Center treatment schedule predictor and entitled to all of the benefits that go along with the title, which are too numerous to mention at this time.
I thank you again for all of your interest and comments and look forward to reading the next day’s comments and bestowing the title of schedule predictor on the deserving individual.
May God wrap His loving arms around you and your loved ones,
Bill
I had another chemo treatment through the Ommaya Reservoir today with no ill effects. For those of you with a noon over/under, we were in the car on the way home at 12:55PM. My blood counts have been low from the previous chemo and I have been getting transfusions of platelets almost daily. I hope that my energy levels will increase in the next day or two. I am scheduled for another treatment on Friday afternoon and a trip to the dermatologist. We start at 12:30PM so we should be done around 5:00PM. Please send your comments relating to a 5:00 PM over/under for completing the treatment. The person coming closest to the actual completion time will become the official Bill Huber blog site Loyola Cancer Center treatment schedule predictor and entitled to all of the benefits that go along with the title, which are too numerous to mention at this time.
I thank you again for all of your interest and comments and look forward to reading the next day’s comments and bestowing the title of schedule predictor on the deserving individual.
May God wrap His loving arms around you and your loved ones,
Bill
Monday, October 22, 2007
October 22- Quick Update
Just a quick update to let you know Bill is doing fine.
Over the weekend his CBC (blood count) took a dive, as it should for the next 2 weeks. So he can no longer be exposed to bacteria, viruses, or fungus. Home Health Care came by Sat and Sun to give him transfusions of red cells and platelets to keep the numbers stable.
We saw the hematologist today for just a visit, and will return on Tuesday for his second chemo injection in his Ommaya Reservior, more platelets, and have his stitches removed from surgery. So, it's a big day tomorrow. All this should be accomplished by noon.
Hopefully, Tuesday's visits will be uneventful, but I will let you know tomorrow evening.
Nancy
Over the weekend his CBC (blood count) took a dive, as it should for the next 2 weeks. So he can no longer be exposed to bacteria, viruses, or fungus. Home Health Care came by Sat and Sun to give him transfusions of red cells and platelets to keep the numbers stable.
We saw the hematologist today for just a visit, and will return on Tuesday for his second chemo injection in his Ommaya Reservior, more platelets, and have his stitches removed from surgery. So, it's a big day tomorrow. All this should be accomplished by noon.
Hopefully, Tuesday's visits will be uneventful, but I will let you know tomorrow evening.
Nancy
Friday, October 19, 2007
How to Chat, by Jon Huber
So, you’re being forced to join a chat room. It’s very easy, and I might provide too much information, which may result in more confusion than clarity. If you have any questions, then add a comment to THIS post.
First, click on the link to the Chat Room.
Bill's Chat Room
You will get a ‘loading’ screen; give it a few seconds to load. If you get an error, try this link, it will install the most recent version of Java, it’s free:
http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp
After the Chat Room loads, you will be prompted for a Username. You can enter in anything you want, but something that can be associated with you is best. For me, Jon, JonH, JonHuber, Jon Huber, Jon Says Go Vols are all good Usernames. You can change the Username at anytime you re-enter the site.
Once logged-in, chatting is ‘easy’. Type what you want to say, then press the ENTER Key. Really, that’s it.
As a note, all the typing will disappear if you re-open the page. The chat room is not meant to be a ‘long term’ transcript, if you want to say it and make it last forever then add it to the blog.
First, click on the link to the Chat Room.
Bill's Chat Room
You will get a ‘loading’ screen; give it a few seconds to load. If you get an error, try this link, it will install the most recent version of Java, it’s free:
http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp
After the Chat Room loads, you will be prompted for a Username. You can enter in anything you want, but something that can be associated with you is best. For me, Jon, JonH, JonHuber, Jon Huber, Jon Says Go Vols are all good Usernames. You can change the Username at anytime you re-enter the site.
Once logged-in, chatting is ‘easy’. Type what you want to say, then press the ENTER Key. Really, that’s it.
As a note, all the typing will disappear if you re-open the page. The chat room is not meant to be a ‘long term’ transcript, if you want to say it and make it last forever then add it to the blog.
October 19 - Day 2 and Counting
Not much happening today – eat, nap and read. I am almost through David McCullough’s 1712 and after that, I will tackle two more revolutionary war era novels. After my doctor visit on Monday, I am going to establish an exercise program to work on stamina and general body strength. For those of you who know me from Knoxville and London, I weigh about the same as when I was living there and running 25 to 30 miles a week. I wanted to get back to that weight, but I had a different method in mind of getting there.
As usual, Nancy is my biggest booster and keeps me on track and moving forward. Her tireless spirit and energy are an inspiration to me.
Now that I realize that I can solicit over a dozen comments by writing a couple of short paragraphs, I will add writing the daily blog to my daily therapy. Your comments make me laugh, cry and feel very thankful to have such wonderful family and friends. Your comments also make me realize how quirky and somewhat crazy this circle of family and friends is. However, I do not believe brain surgery will fix this bunch.
Jon wants to set up a chat room on this site so that we can communicate for an hour a day. Let me know what you think.
Thank you for your support.
Bill
As usual, Nancy is my biggest booster and keeps me on track and moving forward. Her tireless spirit and energy are an inspiration to me.
Now that I realize that I can solicit over a dozen comments by writing a couple of short paragraphs, I will add writing the daily blog to my daily therapy. Your comments make me laugh, cry and feel very thankful to have such wonderful family and friends. Your comments also make me realize how quirky and somewhat crazy this circle of family and friends is. However, I do not believe brain surgery will fix this bunch.
Jon wants to set up a chat room on this site so that we can communicate for an hour a day. Let me know what you think.
Thank you for your support.
Bill
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