february 15, 2011
"WILL HE MAKE THE FLIGHT???"
Hello,
It's almost 70 degree's down in Little Rock today. Which is a big change, from the 20 degree weather last week. My treatment is going extremely well. I am feeling better and I am more active than the previous treatments. This round of treatment was/is supposed to last 3 weeks. Due to the fact that this round of treatment is just a cycle of chemo and head home. They don't want to have the second transplant too soon after the first. So they have two cycles of chemo in between the two stem cell transplants. To give my body a little break from the beating of a transplant. While there intentions are to give the body a break from the transplant, they don't want any cancer to grow back. So they have the two cycles of chemo. These two cycles of chemo are about 75% of the chemo that I recievd before. This all makes sense to me.
When I came down to Little Rock for my first stem cell transplant, I was here for 4 weeks. So it would make sense that a light round of chemo would have my down here for 3 weeks. However my body is being stubborn and not playing with with my schedule. Since I have figured a two week break between chemo cycles. I have already made plans for the two weeks I will be at home, and I booked my return airfare for this coming Saturday.
Before they will release me to head home, my white blood cell count has to crash or bottom out and restart. Then my white cell count has to rise up to atleast 2.0 for the hospital to release me. I also have to see my doctor before I can leave.
Over the weekend my white blood cell count way just taking it easy and hanging around 3 point something. Come Monday it finally moved down to 2.58, at the point I was thinking that we are finally getting some were. Today my count was 3.60 which told me the numbers were going back up, but the staff at the hospital still expects my numbers to drop back down. So tomorrow will tell us more. Plus after my numbers go up, they have to fit me in to visit with the doctor. I still think I am going make the flight on Saturday, but it sure keeps things intersting.
So that has been my excitment for the week. Most of you may remember that I took a trip out to Las Vegas, back in October of last year for a Union convention. Since the trip to Vegas fell into one of the off weeks from my chemo treatments in Cleveland, I was able to drink that week. So when I got to the airport, I thought I would stop at a filling station, and check and see if the adult beverages were at the right tempature. After siting down and having a beer. I found out the beer was indeed being served at the correct tempature. As I was sitting there, wondering on wether or not there could be two beverages at the correcct tempature. I spot a old friend of mine, that I haven't seen in a few years. Due to the fact that we are all busy making the world go around in our own way. So Steve sits down and we get to catch up on life. Before we depart, Steve and I exchange conatct information, and plan on getting together when I return with my riches from
Vegas.
Later in that same week in Vegas, I got to spend time with Elijah and Josh Rankin. Elijah as you will recall, was my caretaker last week. Josh is scheduled to visit with me in Little Rock in the spring. So between Union business, and counting all that money laying on the floor in my hotel room from the tables. I was a rather busy guy in lost wages.
Now before Steve and I got to know each other, over 10 years ago. Steve was busy at college. Some say that Steve went to school to learn engineering. I think Steve went to school to drink beer and meet girls. One of the girls Steve met in college was Meggan, who Steve later married. Meggan and I went to high school together, so yes, it is a small world.
After Steve and Meggan heard that I was in need of some assistance in Little Rock. They jumped at the opportunity. They starting talking to each other over who would be better suited for the job of caretaker, and looking at their busy family schedule. Since they have two girls ages 4 and 8.
I think the final decesion was made by them choosing straws, and Meggan choose the short straw. So I have been blessed with Meggan looking over me this week. Or more likely, Meggan putting up with me this week. So that little trip to Vegas has had major impact on my life.
So I am sorry that I don't have any bad news to share with you, just kidding. Keep your fingers crossed, along with me. On me making the flight this coming Saturday. I will fill you in on the rest of the details next week. Thanks again for all the support and postive replies! Jeff
Hello,
It's almost 70 degree's down in Little Rock today. Which is a big change, from the 20 degree weather last week. My treatment is going extremely well. I am feeling better and I am more active than the previous treatments. This round of treatment was/is supposed to last 3 weeks. Due to the fact that this round of treatment is just a cycle of chemo and head home. They don't want to have the second transplant too soon after the first. So they have two cycles of chemo in between the two stem cell transplants. To give my body a little break from the beating of a transplant. While there intentions are to give the body a break from the transplant, they don't want any cancer to grow back. So they have the two cycles of chemo. These two cycles of chemo are about 75% of the chemo that I recievd before. This all makes sense to me.
When I came down to Little Rock for my first stem cell transplant, I was here for 4 weeks. So it would make sense that a light round of chemo would have my down here for 3 weeks. However my body is being stubborn and not playing with with my schedule. Since I have figured a two week break between chemo cycles. I have already made plans for the two weeks I will be at home, and I booked my return airfare for this coming Saturday.
Before they will release me to head home, my white blood cell count has to crash or bottom out and restart. Then my white cell count has to rise up to atleast 2.0 for the hospital to release me. I also have to see my doctor before I can leave.
Over the weekend my white blood cell count way just taking it easy and hanging around 3 point something. Come Monday it finally moved down to 2.58, at the point I was thinking that we are finally getting some were. Today my count was 3.60 which told me the numbers were going back up, but the staff at the hospital still expects my numbers to drop back down. So tomorrow will tell us more. Plus after my numbers go up, they have to fit me in to visit with the doctor. I still think I am going make the flight on Saturday, but it sure keeps things intersting.
So that has been my excitment for the week. Most of you may remember that I took a trip out to Las Vegas, back in October of last year for a Union convention. Since the trip to Vegas fell into one of the off weeks from my chemo treatments in Cleveland, I was able to drink that week. So when I got to the airport, I thought I would stop at a filling station, and check and see if the adult beverages were at the right tempature. After siting down and having a beer. I found out the beer was indeed being served at the correct tempature. As I was sitting there, wondering on wether or not there could be two beverages at the correcct tempature. I spot a old friend of mine, that I haven't seen in a few years. Due to the fact that we are all busy making the world go around in our own way. So Steve sits down and we get to catch up on life. Before we depart, Steve and I exchange conatct information, and plan on getting together when I return with my riches from
Vegas.
Later in that same week in Vegas, I got to spend time with Elijah and Josh Rankin. Elijah as you will recall, was my caretaker last week. Josh is scheduled to visit with me in Little Rock in the spring. So between Union business, and counting all that money laying on the floor in my hotel room from the tables. I was a rather busy guy in lost wages.
Now before Steve and I got to know each other, over 10 years ago. Steve was busy at college. Some say that Steve went to school to learn engineering. I think Steve went to school to drink beer and meet girls. One of the girls Steve met in college was Meggan, who Steve later married. Meggan and I went to high school together, so yes, it is a small world.
After Steve and Meggan heard that I was in need of some assistance in Little Rock. They jumped at the opportunity. They starting talking to each other over who would be better suited for the job of caretaker, and looking at their busy family schedule. Since they have two girls ages 4 and 8.
I think the final decesion was made by them choosing straws, and Meggan choose the short straw. So I have been blessed with Meggan looking over me this week. Or more likely, Meggan putting up with me this week. So that little trip to Vegas has had major impact on my life.
So I am sorry that I don't have any bad news to share with you, just kidding. Keep your fingers crossed, along with me. On me making the flight this coming Saturday. I will fill you in on the rest of the details next week. Thanks again for all the support and postive replies! Jeff
February 22, 2011
"STILL TRYING TO HEAD NORTH"
Hello,
I know most of you have been sitting in suspense, waiting to hear if I was able to make my flight on Saturday or not. I was not able to make the flight. My white blood cell count did not reach 2.0 until Saturday. So my plan at that point, was to see my doctor on Monday for my discharge appointment and fly out on Tuesday. A nurse told me on Sunday that due to the holiday on Monday that the doctors office would be closed. Which I found shocking, until I remembered that UAMS is a state run hospital. Kind of like the large medical center at Ohio State. So then I planned of seeing the doctor on Tuesday or Wednesday and flying out the next day.
So that was the plan, until I work up with a low grade fever Monday morning. So that is probably going to keep me in Little Rock till Friday or Saturday. I might be out of here a little earlier, you never know.
Over the weekend I got to spend the night with some friends that I have met down here. They have a set up similar to the camper I have out in Vermilion, Ohio. So that was a real blast. On Saturday I attended my first rodeo, at there indoor arena here in Little Rock. Yesterday I laid around all day in a deep dark depression, cuz I wasn't going home. Just kidding, I did lay around all day, but that was because I felt like crap from the cold that I was battling. Tonight, I have a cook out with another cancer patient over at there appartment. So I have been making the most of my exended stay here in Little Rock.
I am going to return to Little Rock on Sunday March 6. After the next round of treatment I am going to continue into the next round of treatment rather than taking the two week furrlow. I am doing this so I can finish up my treatment sooner rather than later. This should allow my treatment to finish up in the end of April. This will allow me to be in Vermilion for the start of the camping season, which is really important to me. I also have a few other items on the back burner, that might bear some fruit. So I need to finish up my treatment and move on to the next phase of my life. I am defintly going to miss the staff and the other patients that have almost become family. I am not going to miss this disease, once I get into remission.
I will keep the update short this week for you. Rather than the 10 page plus that you have become acustom to. So let's hope I get to send you a update from snowy Ohio next week. Jeff
Hello,
I know most of you have been sitting in suspense, waiting to hear if I was able to make my flight on Saturday or not. I was not able to make the flight. My white blood cell count did not reach 2.0 until Saturday. So my plan at that point, was to see my doctor on Monday for my discharge appointment and fly out on Tuesday. A nurse told me on Sunday that due to the holiday on Monday that the doctors office would be closed. Which I found shocking, until I remembered that UAMS is a state run hospital. Kind of like the large medical center at Ohio State. So then I planned of seeing the doctor on Tuesday or Wednesday and flying out the next day.
So that was the plan, until I work up with a low grade fever Monday morning. So that is probably going to keep me in Little Rock till Friday or Saturday. I might be out of here a little earlier, you never know.
Over the weekend I got to spend the night with some friends that I have met down here. They have a set up similar to the camper I have out in Vermilion, Ohio. So that was a real blast. On Saturday I attended my first rodeo, at there indoor arena here in Little Rock. Yesterday I laid around all day in a deep dark depression, cuz I wasn't going home. Just kidding, I did lay around all day, but that was because I felt like crap from the cold that I was battling. Tonight, I have a cook out with another cancer patient over at there appartment. So I have been making the most of my exended stay here in Little Rock.
I am going to return to Little Rock on Sunday March 6. After the next round of treatment I am going to continue into the next round of treatment rather than taking the two week furrlow. I am doing this so I can finish up my treatment sooner rather than later. This should allow my treatment to finish up in the end of April. This will allow me to be in Vermilion for the start of the camping season, which is really important to me. I also have a few other items on the back burner, that might bear some fruit. So I need to finish up my treatment and move on to the next phase of my life. I am defintly going to miss the staff and the other patients that have almost become family. I am not going to miss this disease, once I get into remission.
I will keep the update short this week for you. Rather than the 10 page plus that you have become acustom to. So let's hope I get to send you a update from snowy Ohio next week. Jeff
March 8, 2011
"GOOD MORNING!"
Hello Everyone,
The weather in Arkansas is a lot like the weather in Ohio. Last week the weather in Little Rock was in the 70's. This morning the temperature was 36 with a high around 55. Which is warm compared to Ohio, but with me being the high maintenance guy that I am (not really). I was hoping for the 70 degree weather to continue.
I just flew back to Little Rock Sunday afternoon. I am sorry that I was not able to visit with most of you while I was in Ohio. I only had about 5 days in Ohio, so the week went bye extremely fast for me. I only took a week off of treatment, so I can get the treatment finished up as soon as possible.
Before I left Arkansas and headed back to Ohio I meet with my oncologist in Little Rock for my discharge appointment. Dr. Nair explained to me that my cancer level is currently at .8 Which is a huge reduction from the over 60% a year ago. I not only have the awesome medical staff in Ohio and Arkansas to thank for the reduction in my cancer levels, but all of you as well. Whether it is mental, financial, or spiritual. I have been blessed with more than a person could ask for. With me being a person a few words, I don't always share all the different ways I have been blessed. I am always pleased with the responce I get from someone when I do share one of the stories of the many blessing I have been given since I found out about my cancer about a year ago.
My hair is starting to fall out from the chemo cycle about 3 weeks ago. I think I am going to get my hair shaved again tomorrow. For those of you that have been able to see me over the past few weeks, you got to see that my hair was growing back that way it was back in early November of last year. I have really gotten used to not having any hair, not that I ever really kept my hair long. It's nice to not have to comb my hair or not worried about my hair being messed up.
This week I am blessed with Bob Sparhawk as my caregiver. Bob and I have been friends for about 3 years now. Bob is a retired school principal. One of Bob's hobbies is working on cars. So Bob is a very popular person and has lots of friends, since everyone has a car that needs worked on.
As far as my treatment goes I am getting ready to round second base and I am getting the green light to head to third base. I am hoping to spend the next two months in Little Rock to finish up my treatment as soon as possible. I was hoping to have my treatment done by mid to late April. My oncologist told me when we last spoke 10 days ago. That I would not finish up my treatment until early to May.
Last night I had a MRI at 9 p.m., followed by another MRI at 5:30 a.m. this morning. I have a bone marrow biopsy tomorrow. Followed by seeing the doctor on Thursday. I will get another port installed on Friday and start the light round of chemo on Saturday. This round of treatment is exactly like the previous round of treatment. April is the heavy round of chemo followed by my second transplant. Then it's back to the beach at Vermilion and chasing around the Walleye on lake Erie.
Will talk to you again next week! Jeff
Hello Everyone,
The weather in Arkansas is a lot like the weather in Ohio. Last week the weather in Little Rock was in the 70's. This morning the temperature was 36 with a high around 55. Which is warm compared to Ohio, but with me being the high maintenance guy that I am (not really). I was hoping for the 70 degree weather to continue.
I just flew back to Little Rock Sunday afternoon. I am sorry that I was not able to visit with most of you while I was in Ohio. I only had about 5 days in Ohio, so the week went bye extremely fast for me. I only took a week off of treatment, so I can get the treatment finished up as soon as possible.
Before I left Arkansas and headed back to Ohio I meet with my oncologist in Little Rock for my discharge appointment. Dr. Nair explained to me that my cancer level is currently at .8 Which is a huge reduction from the over 60% a year ago. I not only have the awesome medical staff in Ohio and Arkansas to thank for the reduction in my cancer levels, but all of you as well. Whether it is mental, financial, or spiritual. I have been blessed with more than a person could ask for. With me being a person a few words, I don't always share all the different ways I have been blessed. I am always pleased with the responce I get from someone when I do share one of the stories of the many blessing I have been given since I found out about my cancer about a year ago.
My hair is starting to fall out from the chemo cycle about 3 weeks ago. I think I am going to get my hair shaved again tomorrow. For those of you that have been able to see me over the past few weeks, you got to see that my hair was growing back that way it was back in early November of last year. I have really gotten used to not having any hair, not that I ever really kept my hair long. It's nice to not have to comb my hair or not worried about my hair being messed up.
This week I am blessed with Bob Sparhawk as my caregiver. Bob and I have been friends for about 3 years now. Bob is a retired school principal. One of Bob's hobbies is working on cars. So Bob is a very popular person and has lots of friends, since everyone has a car that needs worked on.
As far as my treatment goes I am getting ready to round second base and I am getting the green light to head to third base. I am hoping to spend the next two months in Little Rock to finish up my treatment as soon as possible. I was hoping to have my treatment done by mid to late April. My oncologist told me when we last spoke 10 days ago. That I would not finish up my treatment until early to May.
Last night I had a MRI at 9 p.m., followed by another MRI at 5:30 a.m. this morning. I have a bone marrow biopsy tomorrow. Followed by seeing the doctor on Thursday. I will get another port installed on Friday and start the light round of chemo on Saturday. This round of treatment is exactly like the previous round of treatment. April is the heavy round of chemo followed by my second transplant. Then it's back to the beach at Vermilion and chasing around the Walleye on lake Erie.
Will talk to you again next week! Jeff
March 14, 2011
"HOW ABOUT ANOTHER ROUND OF CHEMO, BARTENDER?"
Good Afternoon Everyone!
As most of you know, I enjoy reading positive phrases and books. While I was at home in Ohio, on my last visit. I needed to receive a bone strenghtener, this is to help reduce the damage done to my bone marrow from the MM (Multiple Myeloma). So I got to head out to Westlake, Ohio where my first chemo treatment started about year ago. My old stomping grounds, if you will. It's always nice to see the friendly staff at Westlake. Plus I enjoy spreading other peoples money around. Especially when it's from the health insurance company's that we all complain about. As I was looking around the treatment area, since I had not been in that particular treatment room in about 6 months. I noticed a nice phrase on the wall I thought I would share with you all. "We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails." Enough said. Don't you think? Plus it's short and sweet.
I am currently undergoing my 4th round of chemo. I have been receiving treatment for my MM down in Little Rock, Arkansas for about 4 months now. I am usually in Little Rock for about 4 weeks. Each time I return to Little Rock I undergo some testing to check my health and cancer levels. Followed by a round of chemo. This round of chemo is identical to the previous round of chemo. Or about 75% strenght of what I am used to. A chemo cycle in Little Rock for me lasts 4 days. In the mornings while I am on the chemo cycle I take 20 mg of steriods. In the evenings I take 100 mg of a oral chemo pill. For the rest of my day, evening, sleeping, and showering I am attached to small nylon lunch bag filled with chemo. Or better know as "The red devil and his 3 wicked sisters" If you would like to have a better description or explaination. Come to Little Rock for a chemo cycle.
Tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon I loose the chemo bag, which is great. Having the chemo bag is like driving a stick shift. Because when you are off the bag, you are constantaly reaching for the bag in the middle of the night to take a piss. So you don't drag the bag around the room. That reaction only comes after you drag the bag around the room for about two nights as you head to the bathroom to take a piss. Due to the steriods and all the fluids that they are pouring into me. I tend to put on 10 to 15 pounds during the chemo cycle. After the chemo cycle I will usually loose all that weight and a few more pounds. Don't worry, as soon as I get home with a healthy apetite, and the abilty to have a few cold adult beverages the weight goes right back in place.
Yesturday (Sunday) I had the changing of the guard ceremony. This usually requires me dropping off one caregiver at the airport and picking up the next caregiver. While Bob Sparhawk and I were sitting at the airport yesturday. Drinking coffee and people watching before his flight. Bob's flight got delayed by 20 minutes. Bob was supposed to land in Cleveland at 3:00 p.m. I believe Bob finally made it to Cleveland around 7:00 p.m. last night. I slight delay or detour. Contact Bob for further details.
Filling in for Bob and staying with me in Little Rock until this round of treatment is complete is my Aunt Trish. Aunt Trish is my mother's younger sister. In addition to Trish always being a big part of not only my life, but my sister Christine as we were going up. Aunt Trish has been assisting me on and off for about a year now. Especially at the beginning when we found out about the cancer and I had a hard time walking while my back and chest were calasping. Let's just say that I am happy that part of my life is over with and that even the strong pain med's I was on were only helping so much. I do believe the medical marjuania would be good for cancer patients! But that is a whole different subject.
All the other patients and staff members have been jealous of all the extremley strong support of the caregivers I have around me. Thanks to the caregivers and all of you, my cup is overflowing!
After being in Little Rock for about 4 months and having nothing but good news. I finally have some very minor bad news to share with you. The very earliest I will be done with the inital round of my 6 months of treatment in Little Rock will be the second week of May. This disease is really starting to cut into my personal life. I mean, I yankee never minds heading to warmer climates for a winter or so. But when you start talking about cutting into my beach (girl watching), fishing, and drinking hobbies. That'a a whole different subject, this cancer is really starting to get personal.
All kidding a side I am very fortunate to have not hit any major whammy's going through all this cancer treatment. I will defintaly miss Little Rock and the friends and staff at UAMS. I will not miss the cancer once it's in remission. I am anixios to see where things will be in the future. Due to all the changes and new opportunites that come from me having some doors being closed from my back and bone damage. To all the new doors and opportunites that are waiting for me to take the first step.
So if you haven't already set a few goals for yourself to hit this year. Be sure to do so. Otherwise nothing is ever going to change. Except for your age and health. Talk to you next week! Jeff
Good Afternoon Everyone!
As most of you know, I enjoy reading positive phrases and books. While I was at home in Ohio, on my last visit. I needed to receive a bone strenghtener, this is to help reduce the damage done to my bone marrow from the MM (Multiple Myeloma). So I got to head out to Westlake, Ohio where my first chemo treatment started about year ago. My old stomping grounds, if you will. It's always nice to see the friendly staff at Westlake. Plus I enjoy spreading other peoples money around. Especially when it's from the health insurance company's that we all complain about. As I was looking around the treatment area, since I had not been in that particular treatment room in about 6 months. I noticed a nice phrase on the wall I thought I would share with you all. "We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails." Enough said. Don't you think? Plus it's short and sweet.
I am currently undergoing my 4th round of chemo. I have been receiving treatment for my MM down in Little Rock, Arkansas for about 4 months now. I am usually in Little Rock for about 4 weeks. Each time I return to Little Rock I undergo some testing to check my health and cancer levels. Followed by a round of chemo. This round of chemo is identical to the previous round of chemo. Or about 75% strenght of what I am used to. A chemo cycle in Little Rock for me lasts 4 days. In the mornings while I am on the chemo cycle I take 20 mg of steriods. In the evenings I take 100 mg of a oral chemo pill. For the rest of my day, evening, sleeping, and showering I am attached to small nylon lunch bag filled with chemo. Or better know as "The red devil and his 3 wicked sisters" If you would like to have a better description or explaination. Come to Little Rock for a chemo cycle.
Tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon I loose the chemo bag, which is great. Having the chemo bag is like driving a stick shift. Because when you are off the bag, you are constantaly reaching for the bag in the middle of the night to take a piss. So you don't drag the bag around the room. That reaction only comes after you drag the bag around the room for about two nights as you head to the bathroom to take a piss. Due to the steriods and all the fluids that they are pouring into me. I tend to put on 10 to 15 pounds during the chemo cycle. After the chemo cycle I will usually loose all that weight and a few more pounds. Don't worry, as soon as I get home with a healthy apetite, and the abilty to have a few cold adult beverages the weight goes right back in place.
Yesturday (Sunday) I had the changing of the guard ceremony. This usually requires me dropping off one caregiver at the airport and picking up the next caregiver. While Bob Sparhawk and I were sitting at the airport yesturday. Drinking coffee and people watching before his flight. Bob's flight got delayed by 20 minutes. Bob was supposed to land in Cleveland at 3:00 p.m. I believe Bob finally made it to Cleveland around 7:00 p.m. last night. I slight delay or detour. Contact Bob for further details.
Filling in for Bob and staying with me in Little Rock until this round of treatment is complete is my Aunt Trish. Aunt Trish is my mother's younger sister. In addition to Trish always being a big part of not only my life, but my sister Christine as we were going up. Aunt Trish has been assisting me on and off for about a year now. Especially at the beginning when we found out about the cancer and I had a hard time walking while my back and chest were calasping. Let's just say that I am happy that part of my life is over with and that even the strong pain med's I was on were only helping so much. I do believe the medical marjuania would be good for cancer patients! But that is a whole different subject.
All the other patients and staff members have been jealous of all the extremley strong support of the caregivers I have around me. Thanks to the caregivers and all of you, my cup is overflowing!
After being in Little Rock for about 4 months and having nothing but good news. I finally have some very minor bad news to share with you. The very earliest I will be done with the inital round of my 6 months of treatment in Little Rock will be the second week of May. This disease is really starting to cut into my personal life. I mean, I yankee never minds heading to warmer climates for a winter or so. But when you start talking about cutting into my beach (girl watching), fishing, and drinking hobbies. That'a a whole different subject, this cancer is really starting to get personal.
All kidding a side I am very fortunate to have not hit any major whammy's going through all this cancer treatment. I will defintaly miss Little Rock and the friends and staff at UAMS. I will not miss the cancer once it's in remission. I am anixios to see where things will be in the future. Due to all the changes and new opportunites that come from me having some doors being closed from my back and bone damage. To all the new doors and opportunites that are waiting for me to take the first step.
So if you haven't already set a few goals for yourself to hit this year. Be sure to do so. Otherwise nothing is ever going to change. Except for your age and health. Talk to you next week! Jeff
march 21, 2011
"WEEK 3 IN LITTLE ROCK"
Spring is Here!
The blue skies and warm weather seem to put smiles on everybody's faces. Even those surly folks, that we all know. Just about everyone in the myeloma caner program in Little Rock has picked up a cold. A good deal of the nursing staff has been out of work from all the cold and flu virus that they have picked up from the patients. Right after the writing of last weeks update I picked up a nasty cold that really kicked my butt for a few days. I am really starting to get over the cold I picked up, so I am starting to feel like a normal person again. Which is great!
As I keep explaining to you all. This round of treatment is identical to the previous round of treatment. So at this cycle of the treatment I am off the chemo and watching my WBC (white blood cell) or immune system numbers drop down and reset. Kind of like restarting your computer. When my WBC numbers climb back up to 2.0 and my blood work is in order. I will get a discharge appointment and go visit the doctor. Dr. Nair will have me go home and rest for two weeks. Followed by my return to Little Rock for my second stem cell transplant.
So each day is kind of like the movie Groundhog Day were I get up and head over to the hospital. Have them check my blood work, and head back home. When my numbers get extremely low, I have to pretty much stay home. So I don't pick up another cold or flu virus. With my Aunt Trish being in town a few "first" have taken place since her arrival in Little Rock. Have you ever been relaxing on a Saturday afternoon when you get the knock on the door and there stands a person wanting to take up your time talking about religion and Jesus. So I hope you are guessing what kind of funny experience my Aunt attracted to us last week. I am sitting in the chair in the waiting room. Feeling like hell from the cold and here come the religious police. Since I am a very easy person to read, and I was feeling like the road kill you see on the side of the road. I let my body language tell this individual that it was in his best interest to take his verses to someone else. So
my Aunt let him explain his position, but she let him know that when his speech was done. So was he. So I did get a nice laugh out of that little moment in time. Been here 4 months, and not had that experience until now.
I was planning on flying home on Saturday, but my WBC is continuing to be stubborn, like myself. So I am still waiting for the computer (my body) to go into reset mode. My body is still shutting down all the programs before the screen goes blank and it resets.
When I return in mid-April it will be last run around the baseball diamond with my second stem cell transplant. I'll have to save those details for next weeks update. All is good on my end, I am blessed to be in one of the best Myeloma Clinic's in the world. All I have to do is keep showing up and follow their instructions.
Wish you all a wonderful week. Be sure to finish up those taxes! Jeff
Spring is Here!
The blue skies and warm weather seem to put smiles on everybody's faces. Even those surly folks, that we all know. Just about everyone in the myeloma caner program in Little Rock has picked up a cold. A good deal of the nursing staff has been out of work from all the cold and flu virus that they have picked up from the patients. Right after the writing of last weeks update I picked up a nasty cold that really kicked my butt for a few days. I am really starting to get over the cold I picked up, so I am starting to feel like a normal person again. Which is great!
As I keep explaining to you all. This round of treatment is identical to the previous round of treatment. So at this cycle of the treatment I am off the chemo and watching my WBC (white blood cell) or immune system numbers drop down and reset. Kind of like restarting your computer. When my WBC numbers climb back up to 2.0 and my blood work is in order. I will get a discharge appointment and go visit the doctor. Dr. Nair will have me go home and rest for two weeks. Followed by my return to Little Rock for my second stem cell transplant.
So each day is kind of like the movie Groundhog Day were I get up and head over to the hospital. Have them check my blood work, and head back home. When my numbers get extremely low, I have to pretty much stay home. So I don't pick up another cold or flu virus. With my Aunt Trish being in town a few "first" have taken place since her arrival in Little Rock. Have you ever been relaxing on a Saturday afternoon when you get the knock on the door and there stands a person wanting to take up your time talking about religion and Jesus. So I hope you are guessing what kind of funny experience my Aunt attracted to us last week. I am sitting in the chair in the waiting room. Feeling like hell from the cold and here come the religious police. Since I am a very easy person to read, and I was feeling like the road kill you see on the side of the road. I let my body language tell this individual that it was in his best interest to take his verses to someone else. So
my Aunt let him explain his position, but she let him know that when his speech was done. So was he. So I did get a nice laugh out of that little moment in time. Been here 4 months, and not had that experience until now.
I was planning on flying home on Saturday, but my WBC is continuing to be stubborn, like myself. So I am still waiting for the computer (my body) to go into reset mode. My body is still shutting down all the programs before the screen goes blank and it resets.
When I return in mid-April it will be last run around the baseball diamond with my second stem cell transplant. I'll have to save those details for next weeks update. All is good on my end, I am blessed to be in one of the best Myeloma Clinic's in the world. All I have to do is keep showing up and follow their instructions.
Wish you all a wonderful week. Be sure to finish up those taxes! Jeff
march 27, 2011
"HEADING HOME FOR TWO WEEKS"
Hey, Hey,
I will be boarding the plane for Ohio on Tuesday morning. Just like the other flights home, I will have a lay over in Chicago's Midway airport. Had I been able to fly home on Saturday, my lay over would have been in Baltimore. I was trying to have a lay over in a different airport this time, but when you change your flight at the last minute, you are some what limited to what flight options are available.
The last week has gone by pretty much uneventful. The weather has been a little cold for Little Rock. About a week ago, the temperature was in the 70's and 80's. Now the high is in the 50's. Which is actually warm for Ohio, this time of year.
Tomorrow morning I will have to get up around 6:00 a.m. Which I still enjoy. But some day's it doesn't pay to get up all that early, when all you do is sit around. So I have been sleeping in till 7:00 a.m. a good portion of the time. I have gotten into the habit of stopping at Starbucks most mornings and enjoying a cup of coffee. Watching all you folks rush off to work. If I can't be in the work force with all if you, I can at least enjoy watching all of you rush off to work. After my crazy morning commute to Starbucks, I will head over to the hospital for my daily lab work or blood work. After they are done with my labs, I will head down to "Line placement services." The fine folks there will remove my port. My discharge appointment with the doctor isn't until 2:30 p.m.
After the doctor's appointment all I have to do is get ready to head home. The flight on Tuesday takes off at 7:30 a.m. So I will get to the airport around 6:00 a.m. The airport in Little rock is a lot like the Akron Canton airport. Small and not all the crowded.
I will be in Ohio until Sunday April 10. On Sunday April 10 I fly back to Little Rock for my final cycle of treatment. The final round of treatment should take about 4 weeks. After the final round of treatment, I will be driving home. I plan on stopping in Nashville on the way home to checkout a radio show that I listen to, which is the Dave Ramsey show.
I guess that is it for now. I don't plan on sending another weekly update until I return to Little Rock, AR. So you should get a break from reading about my medical condition. Talk to you in 2 weeks! Jeff
Hey, Hey,
I will be boarding the plane for Ohio on Tuesday morning. Just like the other flights home, I will have a lay over in Chicago's Midway airport. Had I been able to fly home on Saturday, my lay over would have been in Baltimore. I was trying to have a lay over in a different airport this time, but when you change your flight at the last minute, you are some what limited to what flight options are available.
The last week has gone by pretty much uneventful. The weather has been a little cold for Little Rock. About a week ago, the temperature was in the 70's and 80's. Now the high is in the 50's. Which is actually warm for Ohio, this time of year.
Tomorrow morning I will have to get up around 6:00 a.m. Which I still enjoy. But some day's it doesn't pay to get up all that early, when all you do is sit around. So I have been sleeping in till 7:00 a.m. a good portion of the time. I have gotten into the habit of stopping at Starbucks most mornings and enjoying a cup of coffee. Watching all you folks rush off to work. If I can't be in the work force with all if you, I can at least enjoy watching all of you rush off to work. After my crazy morning commute to Starbucks, I will head over to the hospital for my daily lab work or blood work. After they are done with my labs, I will head down to "Line placement services." The fine folks there will remove my port. My discharge appointment with the doctor isn't until 2:30 p.m.
After the doctor's appointment all I have to do is get ready to head home. The flight on Tuesday takes off at 7:30 a.m. So I will get to the airport around 6:00 a.m. The airport in Little rock is a lot like the Akron Canton airport. Small and not all the crowded.
I will be in Ohio until Sunday April 10. On Sunday April 10 I fly back to Little Rock for my final cycle of treatment. The final round of treatment should take about 4 weeks. After the final round of treatment, I will be driving home. I plan on stopping in Nashville on the way home to checkout a radio show that I listen to, which is the Dave Ramsey show.
I guess that is it for now. I don't plan on sending another weekly update until I return to Little Rock, AR. So you should get a break from reading about my medical condition. Talk to you in 2 weeks! Jeff
april 14, 2011
"FRIDAY MORNING CHEMO"
Hello Everyone,
I got my port installed around 2:00 p.m. central time on Thursday. With my new addition of the port comes big things. At 8:00 a.m. Friday morning, I get to head over to the hospital, flirt with the nurses, and get my happy bag of chemo. As in the past, this round of chemo will last 4 days. Along with the chemo I will be on steroids and a oral cancer medication for 4 days. Lot's of happiness!! It really could be a lot worse.....I am just not going to lie to you and tell you it's a day at the beach.
This past week I have been under going all kinds of testing, like the previous trips to Little Rock, AR. The testing is to check my cancer levels and make sure my body can handle the chemo that is headed my way.
However this round of treatment is a little different. When I finish up this stem cell transplant I will have completed the tandem stem cell transplant, or two stem cell transplants. Which means that I will be able to spend a lot more time in Ohio, and have a much more normal life. If any of us has ever lived a normal day.
Right after I complete the 4 days of chemo, I will under go the stem cell transplant. Some of you will remember me talking about how I would smell like creamy corn for a day or so. The preservative that they use to freeze me stem cells make the transplant patient smell like creamy corn. From what I was told on my first transplant. I only had that smell for about a day.
My first transplant went extremely smooth. I am expecting the same results on this round. The rumor on the cancer ward is that one of your transplants will be rather difficult and the other transplant goes rather smooth. I am planning on breaking from the norm and having two "walk in the park" stem cell transplants.
This week I have a friend from high school hanging out with me. His name is Cory. Cory and I had enough fun in high school to last us a life time. A few years after high school, Cory got a job offer in southern Ohio and headed south. So we haven't had all the time in the world to hang out together. So we have been busy catching up with each other this week.
Cory and I visited the Clinton Presidential Center today. I have been taking all the caregivers that come to Little Rock to the Clinton Center. The staff at the Clinton Center are some very nice people and noticed that I keep coming back to the Clinton Center with a different person almost every week. So the staff at the Clinton Center has invited me to attend a special luncheon with the volunteer's at the Clinton Center next Wednesday. I don't know of too many cancer patients that are blessed with that kind of luck.
I guess that is it for now. Look forward to talking to you all next week and counting down the days left in this cycle of treatment! Jeff
Hello Everyone,
I got my port installed around 2:00 p.m. central time on Thursday. With my new addition of the port comes big things. At 8:00 a.m. Friday morning, I get to head over to the hospital, flirt with the nurses, and get my happy bag of chemo. As in the past, this round of chemo will last 4 days. Along with the chemo I will be on steroids and a oral cancer medication for 4 days. Lot's of happiness!! It really could be a lot worse.....I am just not going to lie to you and tell you it's a day at the beach.
This past week I have been under going all kinds of testing, like the previous trips to Little Rock, AR. The testing is to check my cancer levels and make sure my body can handle the chemo that is headed my way.
However this round of treatment is a little different. When I finish up this stem cell transplant I will have completed the tandem stem cell transplant, or two stem cell transplants. Which means that I will be able to spend a lot more time in Ohio, and have a much more normal life. If any of us has ever lived a normal day.
Right after I complete the 4 days of chemo, I will under go the stem cell transplant. Some of you will remember me talking about how I would smell like creamy corn for a day or so. The preservative that they use to freeze me stem cells make the transplant patient smell like creamy corn. From what I was told on my first transplant. I only had that smell for about a day.
My first transplant went extremely smooth. I am expecting the same results on this round. The rumor on the cancer ward is that one of your transplants will be rather difficult and the other transplant goes rather smooth. I am planning on breaking from the norm and having two "walk in the park" stem cell transplants.
This week I have a friend from high school hanging out with me. His name is Cory. Cory and I had enough fun in high school to last us a life time. A few years after high school, Cory got a job offer in southern Ohio and headed south. So we haven't had all the time in the world to hang out together. So we have been busy catching up with each other this week.
Cory and I visited the Clinton Presidential Center today. I have been taking all the caregivers that come to Little Rock to the Clinton Center. The staff at the Clinton Center are some very nice people and noticed that I keep coming back to the Clinton Center with a different person almost every week. So the staff at the Clinton Center has invited me to attend a special luncheon with the volunteer's at the Clinton Center next Wednesday. I don't know of too many cancer patients that are blessed with that kind of luck.
I guess that is it for now. Look forward to talking to you all next week and counting down the days left in this cycle of treatment! Jeff
april 22, 2011
"STEM CELL TRANSPLANT #2 ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON"
Hello Friends,
Did you ever have one of those days that didn't workout as you planned? I know we all have. Most of the time if the day isn't going as we planned, it's not a very good day. I am pleased to report Wednesday April 20 far exceeded any planning I could have thought of, Wednesday April 20, 2011 will be with me for the rest of my life.
I was planning on attending a luncheon at the Clinton Center to honor the volunteers at the Clinton Center for another year of hard work on their behalf. After we all got done enjoying the excellent food at the luncheon. The presentation began, thanking the volunteers and to honor some of the individuals in attendance. I had no idea that I was going to be one of the individuals receiving a Honorary welcome at the event. They also put together the funding to have a granite paver placed on the upcoming pedestrian bridge with my name inscribed on the stone.
All this came together from the hard work of one of the volunteers that I have had the pleasure of meeting over the past 5 months. You could easily say that I was a bit caught off guard when key note speaker at the event started talking about a person from Copley, OH. When you visit the Clinton Center, you learn about a boy from a small town in Arkansas that became President of the United States. I came to Arkansas looking for treatment for a terminal disease, and I am leaving with so much more.
Immediately after the luncheon I had an appointment with the staff at the UAMS Medical Center for my second stem cell transplant. As most of you will remember from my first transplant in December. It's a rather simple and boring medical procedure from the patients outlook. Compared to all the chemotherapy, and biopsies.
Due to the amount to stem cells in a given bag, I had to receive two bags of cells on this transplant. Which means I am extra stinky from the preservative that they place in the bag to persevere the stem cells. The smell from the preservative is similar to creamy corn.
Due to the sedative that they give me before the transplant I was rather laid back, even for me, well into the Wednesday evening. Which is strange, since I have officially rounded third base and have a nice clean shot at the home plate in the next few weeks.
I will be in Little Rock for about another two weeks as my immune system recovers before they will allow me to head home. After I return home they want me to return to Little Rock in three weeks for some orientation and that should be it for my trips back and forth to Little Rock for at least 2 to 3 months.
This week I am blessed with my brother-in-law Joel hanging out with me. Joel had been a great blessing to the entire family. My sister set the bar rather high, bringing someone of Joel's caliber into the Family. I guess that is why I am still searching, just kidding.
For the next few weeks I have to take it easy and not catch a cold or infection. I wish all of you a wonderful and safe Easter! Jeff
Hello Friends,
Did you ever have one of those days that didn't workout as you planned? I know we all have. Most of the time if the day isn't going as we planned, it's not a very good day. I am pleased to report Wednesday April 20 far exceeded any planning I could have thought of, Wednesday April 20, 2011 will be with me for the rest of my life.
I was planning on attending a luncheon at the Clinton Center to honor the volunteers at the Clinton Center for another year of hard work on their behalf. After we all got done enjoying the excellent food at the luncheon. The presentation began, thanking the volunteers and to honor some of the individuals in attendance. I had no idea that I was going to be one of the individuals receiving a Honorary welcome at the event. They also put together the funding to have a granite paver placed on the upcoming pedestrian bridge with my name inscribed on the stone.
All this came together from the hard work of one of the volunteers that I have had the pleasure of meeting over the past 5 months. You could easily say that I was a bit caught off guard when key note speaker at the event started talking about a person from Copley, OH. When you visit the Clinton Center, you learn about a boy from a small town in Arkansas that became President of the United States. I came to Arkansas looking for treatment for a terminal disease, and I am leaving with so much more.
Immediately after the luncheon I had an appointment with the staff at the UAMS Medical Center for my second stem cell transplant. As most of you will remember from my first transplant in December. It's a rather simple and boring medical procedure from the patients outlook. Compared to all the chemotherapy, and biopsies.
Due to the amount to stem cells in a given bag, I had to receive two bags of cells on this transplant. Which means I am extra stinky from the preservative that they place in the bag to persevere the stem cells. The smell from the preservative is similar to creamy corn.
Due to the sedative that they give me before the transplant I was rather laid back, even for me, well into the Wednesday evening. Which is strange, since I have officially rounded third base and have a nice clean shot at the home plate in the next few weeks.
I will be in Little Rock for about another two weeks as my immune system recovers before they will allow me to head home. After I return home they want me to return to Little Rock in three weeks for some orientation and that should be it for my trips back and forth to Little Rock for at least 2 to 3 months.
This week I am blessed with my brother-in-law Joel hanging out with me. Joel had been a great blessing to the entire family. My sister set the bar rather high, bringing someone of Joel's caliber into the Family. I guess that is why I am still searching, just kidding.
For the next few weeks I have to take it easy and not catch a cold or infection. I wish all of you a wonderful and safe Easter! Jeff
april 29, 2011
"THIS IS IT...."
This is it,
I am finishing up the tandem stem cell transplant (2 transplants) treatment that I came to Little Rock in search of. My family and I were told before we started this intense treatment that the whole process would take about 6 months. The process took a little over 6 months due to fact that I took almost a month off treatment after my first stem cell transplant back in December.
As big of a change as it was in lifestyle to basically move to Little Rock. It will be a rather large change getting used to spending time at home again. As you have heard me mention in the past emails, I will definitely miss the city of Little Rock and the awesome staff and fellow patients at UAMS. I won't miss the disease or the red devil and his 5 wicked sister's (High dose chemotherapy).
All the support and prayers from all of you definitely helped my moral and lifted my spirit's. I have my discharge appointment with my oncology doctor on Monday. Which means I get to fly home on Tuesday, hip, hip hurray!
I have to return to Little Rock in 3 weeks for some testing and orientation. After that I should be able to stay at home for about 3 months before returning to Little Rock. The next step in my treatment is called "maintenance." This will involve me having chemotherapy treatment twice a week for 3 week out of a average month. All this treatment will be done at home. From what I have been told, this treatment will be very similar to the treatment that I received last summer. Which is a much easier to endure chemo. This maintenance treatment is done to keep the cancer from coming back. Multiple Myeloma is a nasty cancer that likes to pop it's nasty head back up into a persons life. The maintenance treatment will last about 3 years.
While my brother-in-law Joel was in town we met with a spine surgeon at UAMS to see what my options were for the future. The spine doctor laid out a physical therapy program for me to begin as soon as I get home. With a lot of physical training on my end, and my bones becoming stronger since they won't have cancer eating away at them. The spine surgeon will be able to improve my back condition. The surgery would be 6 months to a year from now.
So fortunately I have a very bright future a head of me. Things are still going very will for me down here in Little Rock. I am sleeping more than a normal person and feel a little tired and lazy. Which is just my body working with my new 4 million plus stem cells, setting up camp in my bone marrow. This round of treatment has been one of the easiest over the past 6 months. Which is a great way to finish things out in Little Rock. My Aunt Trish is the caregiver for the time I have left in little Rock. You may recall that Aunt Trish was with me for 3 weeks on my previous chemo cycle.
I am planning on this being the last weekly update. Since things are going so well, I really won't have any new information to share with you on a weekly basis. Other than who ever was willing to take me fishing on their boat on Lake Erie that particular week.
I wish all of you a AWESOME and safe summer for you and your family. If I do have any fun and interesting stories for you, I won't hesitate to send you another update. Thanks again for making sure that my cup was over flowing with joy and support! Now let's look around us and find someone else that needs some help and support. Jeff
This is it,
I am finishing up the tandem stem cell transplant (2 transplants) treatment that I came to Little Rock in search of. My family and I were told before we started this intense treatment that the whole process would take about 6 months. The process took a little over 6 months due to fact that I took almost a month off treatment after my first stem cell transplant back in December.
As big of a change as it was in lifestyle to basically move to Little Rock. It will be a rather large change getting used to spending time at home again. As you have heard me mention in the past emails, I will definitely miss the city of Little Rock and the awesome staff and fellow patients at UAMS. I won't miss the disease or the red devil and his 5 wicked sister's (High dose chemotherapy).
All the support and prayers from all of you definitely helped my moral and lifted my spirit's. I have my discharge appointment with my oncology doctor on Monday. Which means I get to fly home on Tuesday, hip, hip hurray!
I have to return to Little Rock in 3 weeks for some testing and orientation. After that I should be able to stay at home for about 3 months before returning to Little Rock. The next step in my treatment is called "maintenance." This will involve me having chemotherapy treatment twice a week for 3 week out of a average month. All this treatment will be done at home. From what I have been told, this treatment will be very similar to the treatment that I received last summer. Which is a much easier to endure chemo. This maintenance treatment is done to keep the cancer from coming back. Multiple Myeloma is a nasty cancer that likes to pop it's nasty head back up into a persons life. The maintenance treatment will last about 3 years.
While my brother-in-law Joel was in town we met with a spine surgeon at UAMS to see what my options were for the future. The spine doctor laid out a physical therapy program for me to begin as soon as I get home. With a lot of physical training on my end, and my bones becoming stronger since they won't have cancer eating away at them. The spine surgeon will be able to improve my back condition. The surgery would be 6 months to a year from now.
So fortunately I have a very bright future a head of me. Things are still going very will for me down here in Little Rock. I am sleeping more than a normal person and feel a little tired and lazy. Which is just my body working with my new 4 million plus stem cells, setting up camp in my bone marrow. This round of treatment has been one of the easiest over the past 6 months. Which is a great way to finish things out in Little Rock. My Aunt Trish is the caregiver for the time I have left in little Rock. You may recall that Aunt Trish was with me for 3 weeks on my previous chemo cycle.
I am planning on this being the last weekly update. Since things are going so well, I really won't have any new information to share with you on a weekly basis. Other than who ever was willing to take me fishing on their boat on Lake Erie that particular week.
I wish all of you a AWESOME and safe summer for you and your family. If I do have any fun and interesting stories for you, I won't hesitate to send you another update. Thanks again for making sure that my cup was over flowing with joy and support! Now let's look around us and find someone else that needs some help and support. Jeff
october 20, 2011
Hello Everyone, I haven't sent out any email updates to you because things have been great and I haven't had any new information to share with you.
I have been in Little Rock, Arkansas this past week. I am in Little Rock for my first quarterly check up since my tandem stem cell transplants. My cancer levels are great and I am looking and feeling healthy. For the next three years and possibly the rest of my life I will be on "Maintenance Therapy." This therapy is kind of like weed killer that you might use in you garden in the back yard. The weekly chemo that I receive is a watered down chemo compared to the chemo that I received earlier this year. The therapy is used to keep the cancer from growing back, due to the fact that I have a blood cancer and the cancer is in my DNA and my body will begin to produce the cancer cells again without some weed killer to kill the cancerous cells.
In addition to all the testing that I have been going through this past week I also got to meet with the spine surgeon that will be fixing back and chest when the time is right. The spine doctor was happy to report that he saw a little bit of improvement in my back condition. The improvement was very minor, but it's a baby step in the right direction. So we are going to continue to wait for my bone strength to improve one day at a time.
As my bone strength and bone density continues to improve this will give the spine surgeon more options and anchor points. We need these anchor points to secure a titanium rod, this rod will give me support to my back area to allow me to stand up straight, rather than my current hunched over condition.
So that means another 12 months of the same kind of physical therapy that I have been undergoing. This includes fishing as often as possible. Deep mediation therapy at the beach, followed by the occasional 12 ounce curl. Why change what was been working so well. I guess that is it for now. My next trip to Little Rock will be after the first of the year. Jeff
I have been in Little Rock, Arkansas this past week. I am in Little Rock for my first quarterly check up since my tandem stem cell transplants. My cancer levels are great and I am looking and feeling healthy. For the next three years and possibly the rest of my life I will be on "Maintenance Therapy." This therapy is kind of like weed killer that you might use in you garden in the back yard. The weekly chemo that I receive is a watered down chemo compared to the chemo that I received earlier this year. The therapy is used to keep the cancer from growing back, due to the fact that I have a blood cancer and the cancer is in my DNA and my body will begin to produce the cancer cells again without some weed killer to kill the cancerous cells.
In addition to all the testing that I have been going through this past week I also got to meet with the spine surgeon that will be fixing back and chest when the time is right. The spine doctor was happy to report that he saw a little bit of improvement in my back condition. The improvement was very minor, but it's a baby step in the right direction. So we are going to continue to wait for my bone strength to improve one day at a time.
As my bone strength and bone density continues to improve this will give the spine surgeon more options and anchor points. We need these anchor points to secure a titanium rod, this rod will give me support to my back area to allow me to stand up straight, rather than my current hunched over condition.
So that means another 12 months of the same kind of physical therapy that I have been undergoing. This includes fishing as often as possible. Deep mediation therapy at the beach, followed by the occasional 12 ounce curl. Why change what was been working so well. I guess that is it for now. My next trip to Little Rock will be after the first of the year. Jeff
