Day 1 May 3, 2017

Getting ready to go another round

Terri, my companion on this journey

Just wanted to let you know where things stand as far as my treatments go. As you may recall, the doctor was happy enough with the results of the last infusion in March that he recommended a 2nd round to see if we could really get the multiple myeloma under control. I was supposed to reenter the hospital on April 25, but because I came down with an upper respiratory infection, it was delayed until yesterday, May 2. All went smoothly with the preliminary procedures and I began the 4-day (96 hour) infusion just a short time ago. As before, I will remain in the hospital after the infusion ends while my immune system rebuilds itself --approximately another 2 weeks or so.
I am lucky enough to have another corner room with a beautiful view of the surrounding neighborhood, although without the iconic landmarks of the last room. This time my room looks  to the east and south of the hospital, but my view of the lake is obstructed by a number of buildings. I can just see the horizon above the tops of the buildings. But there is more activity in this part of the neighborhood to keep me occupied, including the construction of a new high rise just down the street. And everything looks sparkling on a sunny morning--something we have not seen for awhile here in Chicago.
Thanks to those of you who sent ideas on how to pass the time. They all look quite interesting and I hope to explore them as the days go by if my stamina holds. And thanks to all of you for your encouragement--in thought, word, and deed; in prayers, good wishes, and encouraging words.  Though I have said it many times, I hope it does not get old. Your love and support has uplifted us and gotten us to this point. Terri and I could not have done it without you. I'll keep you posted as the treatment proceeds. Please keep us in your prayers for strength and patience and, in the end, for even  better results in fighting this disease.

What's Next?

Checking out the MI beach on a beautiful sunny day

Celebrating my birthday with my boys at Red Lobster

Sorry I have not blogged much in recent weeks but there is not much to report as I have been recuperating at home and slowly venturing out as my immune system has improved since I came home on March 12. One of my first times out was to celebrate my 66th birthday on March 29th. Oldest grandson Drew (in the background above) was sure we were going to Red Lobster because Grandpa knows "that's my favorite restaurant" so off we went. My birthday was, in fact, quite memorable because it also included homemade waffles from Terri for breakfast, a Subway lunch brought in by brother Dave, birthday calls from my siblings, lots of birthday cards filled with good wishes, and a chance to Skype with our son and granddaughters in Minnesota. What a grand day.

Terri and I also had a chance to drive up to our stuga in Michigan for a little R&R. It was great to get away and enjoy the outdoors as you can see above. Unfortunately we were having some issues at the house and, in the course of checking out the sump pump in the crawl space, I fell down the stairs and fractured one rib in my back. Nothing to do for it but to let it heal, but the pain hasn't helped my recovery. I move quite gingerly these days, but the pain is slowly lessening.

Right now, I am at a Yay...Boo time in my life, as Sister Sue says. After visiting my doctor, I had an MRI done of my pelvis as an indicator of how effective the treatment was overall. It showed that, while not a complete remission, it had shrunk the lesions and no new ones appeared. That is definitely a Yay event. The Boo event is that the doctor wants me to enter the hospital shortly to run the treatment again (all 18 days of it) to see if we can improve my condition and perhaps even reach a complete remission. So, while I am enthusiastic about the outcome, I am not real happy about going through the procedure and recovery time. I'll be entering the hospital on April 25. Long hospital stays are definitely monotonous and no fun even if the view from the room is great.

Please keep both Terri and me in your prayers that the results of the 2nd treatment will greatly arrest the development of the multiple myeloma. Pray also for patience and strength for both of us as we go through the process again. (It's hard to fill all those days in the hospital, especially when the fatigue sets in. Any ideas are greatly appreciated!)

Thank you all for your get-well cards, your notes of encouragement and best wishes, and your prayers. Knowing that so many prayers are being offered up for us and receiving both serious and humorous good wishes are so uplifting to both of us and can certainly help to set the tone for those long days.

And for those who are celebrating: A Joyous Easter or a Happy Passover!

As for Terri and me: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

At Home

I finally was released on Sunday and am very glad to be home, enjoying another beautiful view out my window, although I'm not sure how thrilled I am about the snow outside. But, with spring coming, I know it will be gone soon. I am amazed at how exhausted I am now that I am home. My goal is just to rest and recuperate to continue to build up my immune system. The more sleeping I do the quicker my white blood cells will come back. And, as always seems to be the case when I get home, my hair is starting to fall out. And just as all my hair had come back from my last treatment. Oh well! I'll be wearing my Cubs World Series cap now that baseball season is soon to begin. Go Cubs!!  And I will see the doctor in about 2 weeks to decide what the next steps will be in my treatment.

On the Rebound/Saturday

Just wanted to send a quick update. I hit rock bottom last Wednesday with my white blood cell count going to just about zero and my immune system wiped out. I felt light headed and extremely fatigued with lots of little issues generally making me feel crummy. I had been getting daily shots to help boost my white blood cells and on Thursday I received a blood transfusion. As a result, my white blood cell count improved significantly on Friday. My appetite has returned and I feel like doing things again. Enjoyed a couple Division 3 basketball games last night on YouTube since Hope College and Augustana College were in the playoffs. Augustana, Terri's alma mater, won and moves on. Hope, my school, was eliminated. 😟 It would have been nice to see them play off against each other.

In the meantime, I continue to enjoy watching the beautiful sunny weather and all the activity in the park and the harbor and on the streets below. I do hear from Terri and the nurses, however, that it is unusually cold for Chicago right now. Guess I don't have to worry about that!   😃

Hopefully, I'll be heading home early next week.

A view Saturday morning from the hospital

Day 11 Update

Keeping hydrated with my Batman water bottle from Drew and Zachary while enjoying photo cards  from Anna, Norah, and Greta as well as good wishes from so many. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treatment is going as expected with counts dropping. I am feeling more fatigued as a result. Most of the treatment ends today so now it is just a waiting game while dealing with all of the little annoying side effects of any treatment in the hospital. I keep busy with reading, daily devotions, some TV, youTube videos of old sitcoms, word searches, and watching the world go by. Terri and I have relearned how to play gin rummy and solitaire which are great diversions.

Day 9 Waiting

Watching the ship cruise the harbor

Hooray! The chemo infusion finished up late on Tuesday after 4 days of being plugged in to the wall with a medical pole following me around. It is wonderful not to be hooked up 24/7. Now it's just time to wait and see how I respond to the treatment as my immune system rebuilds itself. The doctor wants to keep me in the hospital for at least another week to 10 days to monitor my condition. We'll see how that goes and how I feel. In the meantime, it is a beautiful day, if cold, with the sun shining so I can continue to enjoy the wonderful view from my room. Lake Michigan is fascinating with the change in colors as the sun goes in and out of the clouds. And I just saw the first luncheon cruise ship of the season come around Navy Pier. In March!!  Spring MUST be coming!

The View from My Room on the 14th Floor

The view from my room thanks to a wonderful nurse who moved me from the dungeon in back when this room opened up over the weekend. Full size windows on 2 sides with views of Lake Michigan, the Chicago Water Tower and Water Tower Place, and the Museum o Modern Art (respectively in the photos above). It certainly brightens my day to look out and see all that is going on. The weather is so nice I keep expecting some boats to come cruising through the harbor but no such luck. All in all, a wonderful place to be if I have to go through such a lengthy stay.

An Update for 2017

It has been awhile since I have blogged. Not sure exactly why. I'd  like to say that it has been because I have been living a life apart from being a cancer survivor as many of you know, but also, as many of you also know, I have been challenged by the multiple myeloma and required an ever changing series of treatments to keep it under control. Some required hospital stays with long recuperations followed by maintenance treatments that occurred weekly, bi-weekly, or, if lucky, monthly. Some of those days would require 10-12 hours in the clinic.
I am writing you now because my last series of treatments was not as effective as the doctor would have liked so I am now in the hospital again for a 96-hour (4 day) infusion of an 8 drug cocktail to see if we can knock it back. I am feeling fine now and have a beautiful room which overlooks both Lake Michigan and Michigan Avenue. The view today is gorgeous. Many thanks to my nurse who knew the room was opening up and moved me down here from my room with no view.
The infusion will end Tuesday, but then my counts will fall and the crash begins around the end of the week when fatigue and other side effects will set in. The doctor wants to keep me for at least another week and a half or so until my counts (and my immune system) come back up. That cycle is the most difficult time and I do not look forward to it.
Terri comes to visit everyday and Elizabeth stops by before/after her shifts as she is a transport nurse for Lurie Children's hospital just across the street. I enjoy those times together as well as calls from Andrew checking up on me. Both Andrew and Elizabeth, as well as Katie and Mike, share tales of our grandkids which I love.
I'll try to keep you posted as the days progress. In the meantime, please keep both Terri and me in your prayers and your thoughts. Feel free to share our story with others in your church or social groups. We know how miraculous prayers can be working together. I would love to hear from you via  email or text although I can't always assure you that I will respond especially as my strength fades. Know I will appreciate and enjoy them very much.
As always thanks for your care, love, and support for both of us. It means so much.

Bob and Terri