Hi all! An update was requested. As many of you know, I journal daily on Dave's caring bridge site which is a link you can find on my profile page. So sometimes I forget to update you here!
Anyway, we made medical history with the stem cell collection process which I posted earlier regarding Hyperbaric treatments. The total number they have collected is around 44 MIL, over 80 min total, in 2 day collection process. Enough for "two people" they say! :) Anyway, we are on a bit of a forced break right now. Most people evidently go home after the collection process for a week or month. We aren't, so they weren't really ready to move ahead. The docs were all at a Myeloma conference last week when Dave finished, then we had freezing rain here and most didn't get in on Tuesday, when we had a scheduled appt. It worked out well. Dave realized he needed a break, even though I was ready to drag him in a sprint over the finish line (poor guy!). As it turns out on Tuesday, because of the bad weather, we were able to get ALL of Dave's pre-transplant (post stem cell collection) tests DONE! EKG, Pulmonary Function Test, CAT Scan, PET Scan, blood labs and then now we are just doing the 24 hour urine collection and we'll turn that in tomorrow morning, do some more blood labs with that and see the doc around noon. We hope to get a marching orders then (well I do anyway!).
Dave continues to have good chunks of time with more not so good chunks of time.
Last Wed or Thursday he decided to have me shave his head finally. His hair follicles were "hurting" he said and he had had enough. I did a really good job if I do say so myself.
So that's about it from Little Rock. Our children are flying down in 4 days from Univ of Maryland and I can't wait to see them. Christmas will be quiet and joyous for us. Best to you all! Lori
FormerMember
Hi Lori,
Blimey mate, loads of stuff to cope with on your plate at the moment. Still, things seem to be progressing.
Overused word, I know, but the devotion and commitment you are piling into your joint ordeal is quite breathtaking. I'm not going to describe Dave as "lucky" or "blessed", although he must be a pretty extraordinary person to have the love and life-force of someone like you. What an amazing partnership you have - I really can't think of anything which better illustrates what the whole point of life is.
On a much more mundane front, I've been meaning to post about aching/itching hair follicles! I was in agony for days when my hair started to give up the ghost; the doctor prescribed me a liquid called Betamethasone and bingo! - pain and itching gone.
Thank you for replying to my blog request Lori. Dave has certainly been very busy!!!!!!!! Lovely to hear that your children will be joining you for Christmas, it will a big boost for you both and they will be so very happy to see you in the flesh. Best Vibes lindaj p.s. have you noticed the math question is becoming more difficult!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for the update. No wonder you haven't had time to post here! Everything seems to getting done at a wonderful rate so at least you can both wind down a bit and enjoy Christmas with your family.
Wishing you all a merry Christmas and a Healthy and Happy New Year
Ken and I enjoyed the time between the collection and the melphalan/transplant, as he felt quite well and also that he was building his strength up for what was to come. I hope both of you are able to enjoy this time too.
Remember to keep yourself well; all the best as always, Clare xx
