Bill has left the hospital (sounds like an Elvis thing). It was emotional leaving the nursing staff, the residents, doctors, and some of the patients we had befriended. (The snoring man had already left the hospital).
Home Health Care will start on Monday, but we have been trained (just in case) to clean and change his PICC line that remains for future chemo treatments. We have learned the definition of “sterile” when it comes to working with a tube that bacteria can travel to heart in an instant.
Bill’s only instructions are to rest, eat well, avoid crowds and (you will love this), avoid school teachers. He can have visitors and phone calls. His immune system can now handle bacteria from fruits and flowers. He is almost normal.
Visitors should not come if you have just had a flu shot. It is an active virus.
We return to Loyola Hospital on Wednesday for blood work, a doctor’s visit, and another Bone Marrow Biopsy. The results will tell us how he really is doing, and when Consolidation chemo will start.
Once again, we are humbled by your cards, well wishes, prayers and concerns. It has meant so much to Bill and I. Thank you for your kind words.
If you want the blood work “numbers” just ask. Let me just say, “They are GREAT”. Amen
New news. Kari said we couldn’t have two Hubers in the hospital at the same time. Bill came home on Friday afternoon, and she went into the hospital on Friday evening. Andrew was born Saturday at 12:20pm. He weighed in at 9 lbs 3 oz. Jeff says he has big hands and big feet. Baby and mom are doing fine. Guess Andrew better wear those newborn clothes quickly, he’s already a big boy. Nancy has a plane reservation for next Saturday to Charlotte, NC. (You can see where her priorities are, Bill or new baby….no contest). Janine and family are coming for the weekend to help Bill, and Jon is coming for the following week. It is wonderful to have family members that can “rise” to the occasion when needed.
Kari’s address is: Jeff and Kari Langley, 211 Mingus St., Belmont, NC 28012
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Friday, September 28, 2007
Kari has gone to the hospital
Looks like we will have a baby this weekend. Kari and Jeff went to the hospital this evening. More later.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Sept 26- The Numbers are Rising
Bill/Dad’s blood work just kept getting better as the day went on. His platelet count was so good, he did not receive any platelets today. Which also means he didn’t get any Demerol in the morning before the platelets. This means he was more alert and his speech was not as labored. The numbers will probably drop on Thurs, but that is okay. They will go up and down for the next few days. Then rise quickly (or so they tell us). The next step is to eliminate the antibiotics by IV for a couple of days, and then he will be ready to come home next week.
Here are the numbers:
Wed morning- White- 2,300 HGB- 8.1 Platelets- 24,000
Wed afternoon- White- 4,900 HGB- 8 Platelets- 43,000 ANC- 400
You are really good at praying. Keep up the good work. Someone must be listening.
I won’t have any news for the next few days. Same old thing. Numbers go up…numbers come down. I’ll let you know when we are home (Oh what a nice word.)
No grandbaby yet. He is due any day. Kari had her last day of work on Tuesday. She is taking a much needed rest before the big day.
Here are the numbers:
Wed morning- White- 2,300 HGB- 8.1 Platelets- 24,000
Wed afternoon- White- 4,900 HGB- 8 Platelets- 43,000 ANC- 400
You are really good at praying. Keep up the good work. Someone must be listening.
I won’t have any news for the next few days. Same old thing. Numbers go up…numbers come down. I’ll let you know when we are home (Oh what a nice word.)
No grandbaby yet. He is due any day. Kari had her last day of work on Tuesday. She is taking a much needed rest before the big day.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Sept 25- The Waiting Game
The doctor walked into Bill’s room and said, “BORING……. Nothing new, everything moving along as we expect." No fevers, no reactions. Just working on building those good white cells back to “normal”. He still receives either one or two 5-unit bags of platelets everyday.
Today is Bill’s 5th shot of Neupogen, the good white cell builder. The ANC (Absolute Nertrophil Count) will have to rise above 500 for Bill to go home. It still remains at zero.
For those keeping track:
White cells 500, HGB 8, and Platelets 10,000. The doctors assure us, that when the numbers begin to go up, they will rise quickly. But nothing yet.
Questions you all have asked?
Q: Can Bill talk on the phone?
A: Bill is still anemic, which means VERY TIRED and doesn’t want to talk on the phone. He will call you if there is something you need to know. For the same reason he doesn’t need company either. Especially if the Chicken Pox virus is at your
house!!!!! Bill has NO immune system. You can’t even shake hands with him, and
guys, absolutely NO HUGGING.
Q: Has Bill lost weight?
A: Bill has lost 15 lbs. He now weighs under 170 lbs. But, with the Sunday School
Class’s help, we will have him fattened up in no time. Bill did not get physically ill from the chemo, but he eats very small portions. He is just not hungry.
Q: Has Bill lost his hair?
A: Yes. And he hasn’t shaved for 2 days. I think he likes that part.
Q: When will Bill come home?
A: Doesn’t look like it will be this week. We will aim for next week.
I know I am being “The Overprotective Caretaker”, but Bill is not recovering from surgery. He is recovering from his blood supply (bone marrow) being destroyed, and the chemo is still doing that. It is an effort for him to sit in a chair or sit up to eat. But he is a fighter, and is giving this all he has. When I said he was a “Cancer Survivor”, that means he survived the first round of chemo, but has a lifetime battle ahead of him. This is far from over.
Our prayer for Bill/Dad this day is for the Lord to give his body the strength to make the “good” white cells that will help his body heal. Amen
Today is Bill’s 5th shot of Neupogen, the good white cell builder. The ANC (Absolute Nertrophil Count) will have to rise above 500 for Bill to go home. It still remains at zero.
For those keeping track:
White cells 500, HGB 8, and Platelets 10,000. The doctors assure us, that when the numbers begin to go up, they will rise quickly. But nothing yet.
Questions you all have asked?
Q: Can Bill talk on the phone?
A: Bill is still anemic, which means VERY TIRED and doesn’t want to talk on the phone. He will call you if there is something you need to know. For the same reason he doesn’t need company either. Especially if the Chicken Pox virus is at your
house!!!!! Bill has NO immune system. You can’t even shake hands with him, and
guys, absolutely NO HUGGING.
Q: Has Bill lost weight?
A: Bill has lost 15 lbs. He now weighs under 170 lbs. But, with the Sunday School
Class’s help, we will have him fattened up in no time. Bill did not get physically ill from the chemo, but he eats very small portions. He is just not hungry.
Q: Has Bill lost his hair?
A: Yes. And he hasn’t shaved for 2 days. I think he likes that part.
Q: When will Bill come home?
A: Doesn’t look like it will be this week. We will aim for next week.
I know I am being “The Overprotective Caretaker”, but Bill is not recovering from surgery. He is recovering from his blood supply (bone marrow) being destroyed, and the chemo is still doing that. It is an effort for him to sit in a chair or sit up to eat. But he is a fighter, and is giving this all he has. When I said he was a “Cancer Survivor”, that means he survived the first round of chemo, but has a lifetime battle ahead of him. This is far from over.
Our prayer for Bill/Dad this day is for the Lord to give his body the strength to make the “good” white cells that will help his body heal. Amen
Monday, September 24, 2007
Sept 24-Message from Bill
I want to thank everyone for their comments of words and encouragement. I continue to be overwhelmed and humbled by the response to the blog site.
It looks like 5 to 7 more days of hospital stay before I get to go home. So far the doctors are happy with my progress, and I just sit back and let Mother Nature take it’s course.
Thank you again for your comments.
Bill
It looks like 5 to 7 more days of hospital stay before I get to go home. So far the doctors are happy with my progress, and I just sit back and let Mother Nature take it’s course.
Thank you again for your comments.
Bill
Saturday, September 22, 2007
September 21st, What a Glorious Day!!!!!
When the doctors walk into a room with smiles on their faces, you know something good is about to happen.
The bone marrow is CLEAN of blasts of white cells. That means the reading is less then 5% BLASTS (the mutated white cells). Some white cells must be left in the bone marrow so they can begin to reproduce the good white cells (Neutrophils). The chemo treatments were a success, and Bill is a CANCER SURVIVOR.
Now the rebuilding of white cells begins. There are 5 types of white blood cells. Each cell type has a special function. The Nertrophils are the most important cells in fighting bacterial infections in our body. We want to see his ANC (Absolute Neutrophil Count) begin to rise. It has been at zero during the chemo treatments, it needs to be at 500 to go home. He received his first injection of Neupogen in his abdomen on Friday. Neuprogen stimulates the growth of good white cells.
Bill continues to receive platelets, 10 units on Friday and antibiotics. He cannot come home until his immune system and blood counts are much higher.
Friday’s numbers were 500 White, 9.7 HCB and 6 Plts. ANC- 0
Bill will be home for about 4 weeks, then start the second round of chemo called “Consolidation”. This is not near as aggressive of a treatment. Just one chemo drug, 8 hours a day, three times a week, one week a month, for three months. (Did you get all that?) He will be back to work (half day), probably next month. Can you believe that he has gone from “near death, to “back to work” in 6 weeks. Praise the Lord!!!! And the doctors at Loyola.
Nurse Stephanie, who is our “real” source of information, explained it best. She said, “Bill, if you made it through this, you can make it through Hell and back.” The chemo treatment for AML is the most aggressive chemo treatment given. 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 4 types of drugs. The chemo treatments in the next 3 months will be a “walk in the park”.
Bill’s spirits are high. He cannot believe he will be out of the hospital in 7 days, and we are hoping for a speedy recovery.
THANK YOU……. THANK YOU….. THANK YOU. Our prayers were answered.
The bone marrow is CLEAN of blasts of white cells. That means the reading is less then 5% BLASTS (the mutated white cells). Some white cells must be left in the bone marrow so they can begin to reproduce the good white cells (Neutrophils). The chemo treatments were a success, and Bill is a CANCER SURVIVOR.
Now the rebuilding of white cells begins. There are 5 types of white blood cells. Each cell type has a special function. The Nertrophils are the most important cells in fighting bacterial infections in our body. We want to see his ANC (Absolute Neutrophil Count) begin to rise. It has been at zero during the chemo treatments, it needs to be at 500 to go home. He received his first injection of Neupogen in his abdomen on Friday. Neuprogen stimulates the growth of good white cells.
Bill continues to receive platelets, 10 units on Friday and antibiotics. He cannot come home until his immune system and blood counts are much higher.
Friday’s numbers were 500 White, 9.7 HCB and 6 Plts. ANC- 0
Bill will be home for about 4 weeks, then start the second round of chemo called “Consolidation”. This is not near as aggressive of a treatment. Just one chemo drug, 8 hours a day, three times a week, one week a month, for three months. (Did you get all that?) He will be back to work (half day), probably next month. Can you believe that he has gone from “near death, to “back to work” in 6 weeks. Praise the Lord!!!! And the doctors at Loyola.
Nurse Stephanie, who is our “real” source of information, explained it best. She said, “Bill, if you made it through this, you can make it through Hell and back.” The chemo treatment for AML is the most aggressive chemo treatment given. 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 4 types of drugs. The chemo treatments in the next 3 months will be a “walk in the park”.
Bill’s spirits are high. He cannot believe he will be out of the hospital in 7 days, and we are hoping for a speedy recovery.
THANK YOU……. THANK YOU….. THANK YOU. Our prayers were answered.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Sept. 21 - Our Prayers Answered!
Dear Friends & Family -
The results are in: Bill is cancer free!!
It is with a joyous heart that I pass this info on from Mom/Nancy. She'll fill you in on all the details as soon as she has time.
(Being a journalist, I just had to get this breaking news on the web ASAP!)
Thank you so much for your prayers - keep 'em coming! Bill will need them for the next phase!
More to come...
Janine
The results are in: Bill is cancer free!!
It is with a joyous heart that I pass this info on from Mom/Nancy. She'll fill you in on all the details as soon as she has time.
(Being a journalist, I just had to get this breaking news on the web ASAP!)
Thank you so much for your prayers - keep 'em coming! Bill will need them for the next phase!
More to come...
Janine
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