The Seven Dwarfs

I am sorry I haven't posted for several days. We are now at Day 4 of Transplant #2. Don's white blood cell and platelet counts started to drop yesterday. Overall, he is tolerating this transplant a little better than the last. At least we aren't battling the dizziness he had in February. It really helps to be able to get outside a little, when the weather cooperates. His hiccups persisted for four days around the clock. They finally started him on a muscle relaxer to stop them. He got some brief relief, but they didn't stop until the steroids wore off today.

His reaction to the various drugs keeps me on my toes. It's like living with the seven dwarfs of chemotherapy......

Zippy came when we started steroids and was joined very quickly by Burpy (OK, actually hiccupy....give me a little poetic license here). The next day, we had a brief visit by Crappy (no comment needed). With the sedatives for hiccups came Spacy and his cousin Droopy.
Today, as counts are dropping and steroids have worn off, Sleepy has taken up residence.....and, of course, with everything that Don has been through, we also got a visit from Grumpy.

Now, I hope this fairy tale will have a happy ending and the handsome prince will return before we go back to Texas....

Seriously, though, Don is a trooper through all of this. He is still getting two IV antibiotics and I have to wake him up to connect and disconnect autoinfusers and flush lines. The dogs are camped out under his bed and/or at his side on the bed most of the day. Of course, the fact that it is NASCAR and drag racing season helps keep Don entertained when he is awake.

There is nothing like seeing other people with cancer to make you realize how fortunate you are. Our roomie today was a 34 yr old woman with a mediastinal lymphoma that measured 17.5 cm. She has been through a very aggressive chemotherapy regimen before she got to transplant. She and her husband have a 4yr old, and she wants to get better by August so she can go back to kindergarten teaching in the fall. Their spirit was inspiring.

I bought a sponsorship in "honor of Don Lehman" for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life today. It was a sobering reminder of how our lives have changed. I even got one of those goofy plastic bracelets that says "Celebrate Hope". Our hope is in the hands of God and a the very talented medical team He has sent us. Thank you all for your support and prayers. I will continue to post (if those seven visitors will give me time! ) God bless you.

Day Zero Stem Cell Transplant #2

Today was officially Day Zero of transplant #2. Don received his melphalan chemo yesterday and got 6.3 million stem cells infused today (24 hrs later). This leaves around 9 million cells in reserve, if another transplant is needed down the road. The only major side effect Don has had is hiccups from the dexamethasone. Tomorrow is the last day for that, so he should get some relief.

The results of last week's tests were positive. Don has a small focal lesion on his left femur, but no other bone lesions. His "M" spike was zero! (For our non-medical friends, this means that the plasma cell tumors are no longer growing). The only hitch at this point is a staph infection in his central line. All four ports and the peripheral culture were positive. Since they have had an increase in staph that is resistant to Levaquin, they started Don on Invanz. They also started him on Vancomycin IV today to treat the line and will pull it as soon as he is safely through the transplant. He's off coumadin and back on Lovenox now. The little bag of pills continues to grow!

He has slept most of the day today. "Nazi Nurse" hasn't arrived yet, since he has been cooperating in drinking fluids. We learned a great deal the last time! His spirits have been good and he looks great, sporting a new "fur" haircut that has potential for another mullet in the future. It will be interesting to see how much hair he loses this time.

It has been raining the past two days, so the dogs are a bit stir crazy. Overall, we like this apartment location. In spite of the rain, I have enjoyed the patio, which is secured with wire to keep "houdini" dog secure. The evenings have been cool and there is a wonderful scent of honeysuckle from the vines across the road. I think Little Rock is growing on me!

Thank you all for your continued prayers, emails and calls. We are so blessed. I will keep the postings up as often as I can!

The Arkansas Travelers

The Arkansas Travelers

Greetings from Little Rock,
Here I sit in the apartment early in the morning with the rain falling outside listening to the Byrds sing “Turn Turn Turn” and with Bogie & Maggie aside scrounging for treats. I have no more tests scheduled so it is a wonderful day. We drove over on Monday & got settled Tuesday then routine testing on Wednesday – blood work, 24 hour urine, bone marrow biopsy, EKG, CT of the chest & head, cardiac echo & PFT’s then Thursday – a total body PET scan in the AM & a MRI of the head, spine & pelvis in the evening. It is all pretty routine and amazingly it goes very smoothly.
I will see Dr. Van Rhee on Monday to review test results & if all is okay will get chemo on Tuesday morning the 24 hours later will get the 2nd transplant on the 26th and the will feel like crap for a few weeks again. The nice things are knowing that this is the 2nd transplant and that eventually I will feel better like with this time. The recovery from the 1st transplant was slow but actually was beginning to improve at about 6 weeks then I got that DVT in my left thigh which literally had me flat on my back for 2 weeks & really put the brakes on things. Not being able to walk or stand is a real ass bitter, but it gave me the opportunity to polish up my Tiger Woods 2006 skills plus watch ever B movie made in the past 30 years.
The past 2 weeks have been much improved as far as energy & concentration are concerned. I have been able to get out of the house, do light yard work plus work on the car. Concentration & cognitive abilities have improved to the point where I have been able to drive again. I had to write a reference letter for a friend and it took me 2 weeks – pretty retarded. Probably my biggest surprise about chemo was how if effects the brain even though I was forewarned. The ability to think & concentrate pretty much vanish – so weird. Thank God I have a patient wife.
It has been so nice to see some of you over the past few weeks and also to hear from some old friends I haven’t seen in years. Much appreciation to Dr. Bob (my boss) for the radio controlled Lamborgini for my birthday that runs up & down the street like a streak of shit – toys for boys, you know. Also many thanks to Dr. Joan, Elise, Tina, Chris, Clint, Quiana and all the others who took such good care of me when I came in with the DVT. I came to Methodist because I knew I would get the best care there and I did. It was certainly an unusual way to spend our 18th wedding anniversary.
If all goes well we should be back home 2-3 weeks after the transplant and then will return to LR every 2 weeks for a few months for vaccinations & routine tests then to monthly visits through next January. The rest depends on how long my remission lasts which could be months or years – nobody knows. Personally I’m hoping for many years.
We hope all is well with you and your families and especially those of you who are also fighting cancer who have truly been inspirational to me. My fight has been very small compared to yours.
Don

DVT update

Don seems to be getting some relief from the DVT. At least he can walk on it a little now. He has done well on coumadin therapy so far. We see Dr Bhogarajhu tomorrow. His spirits or "OK", but he is definitely not his usual smart-assed self. Rather, he is a bit pensive and quiet. Maybe some of you can encourage him. Bob got him a radio controlled car for his birthday....another toy to harass the dogs, the wife and the staff at the hospital.... Bob, if you are reading this, I am going to get your grandkids a drum set!!... Anyway, it has kept him entertained.

We are beginning to gear up to return to Little Rock in 10 days. He should start the second transplant on the 25th of April. I have just begun to enjoy my antique roses here at home. I will try to get some pictures for the blog. Hope all is well with you. We so enjoy hearing from out friends. Feel free to call or meet us for lunch in the Lewisville area. He can get about for short periods of time! God bless you all!