Do I have some information for you?!?!?
Last Friday (12-19) Debbie and I got up early and drove to Tulsa to meet with Dr. Lynch. He is a stem cell oncologist. I didn’t want to go, but I wanted to go too. Anyway, long story short, I am SO VERY happy we went to see him. He was the single most informative doctor I’ve dealt with in this entire process. I told him I didn’t know much about the multiple Myeloma and really didn’t understand all the ins and outs of the condition. He then started back at square-one and put us through Multiple Myeloma 101. Granted… I couldn’t pass a final over it, but I know more than I did.
First of all, the stem cells would be harvested from my own body. If I had an identical twin we could use his, but survival and rejection rates go to about 10% not making it. If the stem cells came from my daughter, for example, the success rate drops to 40%. Not good odds. So, all in all… I will be my own donor.
My T-Cells are the culprit. I have a single T-cell reading that was high when I was in the hospital. It was 1.6. After 2 rounds of chemo (Revlimid by pill), steroids, and radiation the last blood work was 0.6!! That means, without a doubt, that my body is responding to the treatments. Now, about the stem cells.
If… (notice the word “if”) I chose to do the stem cell transplant, and if it is medically needed, then we will pick a convenient time to have my life interrupted for 4 months. I will go over for a long day of all kinds of tests. They have to determine if I’m healthy enough for the transplant. There will be blood tests, liver tests, heart, lung, etc. Once they decide that I’m at near super-hero strength, then they will have me come back 2 weeks later (as I recall) for the harvesting of the cells. This will be the simplest of the procedures. I may have to be hospitalized for a few days, but once the harvest is complete, then they will send me home for about 2 months. Then the fun starts. I will go back to St. Francis and I will go inpatient for about 21 to 28 days. At the start of this hospital stay they will do a super dose of radiation and a super dose of chemo. When those two super doses are finished… I will have no immune system. They will basically kill off all my bone marrow. Then they will inject the harvested stem cells back into my system and let the next 3 to 4 weeks grow me a new immune system. I understand from other conversations with MM patients that they will give me my “childhood” shots all over again.
The reason they will keep me inpatient for those 21 to 28 days is because I will have no white blood cells (of any value) to fight disease and infection, and the platelets will be ‘gone’ so if I cut myself, I could bleed to death.
The reason I was so excited to go see Dr. Lynch is because I knew there were 4 treatment modalities; chemo, steroids, radiation and … stem cell. Well, I didn’t understand where the stem cell transplant fit into the grand scheme of things. He told me that if my body continued to respond to the Revlimid (chemo) my numbers could stay in the healthy range and I may never need the stem cells. But if I started having adverse reactions to the Revlimid then I may have to have the stem cell transplant as a stop gap in the treatment regimen.
So, all in all… I’m glad I went. I’m glad to find out that my T-cells are responding to the treatment.
Please continue to pray for me. Pray that I don’t feel wiped out all the time. I told Debbie yesterday that I felt like I had worked outside in the blazing summer heat all day. That zapped feeling is how I feel all the time. So… pray that I can get beyond this wiped out feeling. Prayer request #2 is to pray for Debbie. She has had a very stressful 4 months. With my health issues, surgery, treatments, and with her mom’s health issues and ultimate death, and other stressors, she can certainly use your prayers.
We are so thankful to serve a God that we know loves us even when we are unlovable.
Grace & Peace to you all.
Bob
Monday, December 22, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Strength and Trust: The Dynamic Duo
I wish I could try to make everyone believe that my trust in God and my personal strength are unwavering. I wish I could use perfect words every day to make my readers believe that I have “arrived” and that I have it all together. People tell me how “inspiring” my blog is; quite frankly, most of the time it doesn’t feel very inspiring.
Today, I’m going to look at two words that have impacted me today. And, my comments may not be 100% infallible, but it is the way I see it. Maybe someone has more insight and I can be shown a more perfect way.
Today I’ve named the blog “Strength and Trust: The Dynamic Duo”. I guess we all remember “Batman and the Boy Wonder” and how they were billed as “The Dynamic Duo”. When Batman and Robin would fall victim to the perils of The Joker, the Riddler, or Catwoman the Caped Crusader would find some miraculous action that would free them of the bonds of evil. There were times when Robin would be the catalyst to lead them to safety. I think the key to their success is the term, “dynamic duo”. Duo... the word means “two”. Scripture says two can ward of the attack that would overpower one alone. Duo... two fighting one battle. Duo...two harmonizing the tune. Duo...not a solo.
Confession will be good for my soul here. I’ve had a hard week. Fear has seized its grip on me, and I’ve given in to worry and depression. But today, I am making a conscious effort to fight back. I am going to employ the energy of my dynamic duo... “strength and trust”.
Now, this is where my concept may veer from the traditional view of these words. But, this is my take on it. I think strength and trust are the exact same energy. But where they radiate from is what is different. Strength is my own arsenal that helps me fight the battles that hurt so bad. Strength wells up in me and I focus its energy to help me win each battle that besets me. Trust, on the other hand, addresses one’s trust in God. Again, I believe both words are the same energy, but they radiate from a different place and are focused on different characters. Strength is focused on me... trust is focused on God.
And here is the wonderful part –when I can’t muster the energy to be strong, I can turn my focus toward God and trust him. When I let my trust in God fall by the wayside, I can attempt to assemble my own strength. It takes both strength (focused on my own energy) and trust (focused on God’s energy) to find success in the battles of the every day world.
Some of you may notice that I often wear suspenders and a belt. The tumor on my right lower rib creates an unusual waist line, and if my trousers fall below the tumor’s bulge, there isn’t much to hold up my pants. I was told recently there is a term in the finance world called “belt and suspenders”. It employs a “duo” of supports so that if one fails, the other will act as a backup. My intent is to use both supports... strength and trust... so that if one fails, I’ll have the stabilizing backup of the other.
I will be in Tulsa on Friday, 12-19-08 for a consult with the Stem-cell specialist. I have no idea what this will hold. I covet your prayers.
Grace & Peace,
Bob
Today, I’m going to look at two words that have impacted me today. And, my comments may not be 100% infallible, but it is the way I see it. Maybe someone has more insight and I can be shown a more perfect way.
Today I’ve named the blog “Strength and Trust: The Dynamic Duo”. I guess we all remember “Batman and the Boy Wonder” and how they were billed as “The Dynamic Duo”. When Batman and Robin would fall victim to the perils of The Joker, the Riddler, or Catwoman the Caped Crusader would find some miraculous action that would free them of the bonds of evil. There were times when Robin would be the catalyst to lead them to safety. I think the key to their success is the term, “dynamic duo”. Duo... the word means “two”. Scripture says two can ward of the attack that would overpower one alone. Duo... two fighting one battle. Duo...two harmonizing the tune. Duo...not a solo.
Confession will be good for my soul here. I’ve had a hard week. Fear has seized its grip on me, and I’ve given in to worry and depression. But today, I am making a conscious effort to fight back. I am going to employ the energy of my dynamic duo... “strength and trust”.
Now, this is where my concept may veer from the traditional view of these words. But, this is my take on it. I think strength and trust are the exact same energy. But where they radiate from is what is different. Strength is my own arsenal that helps me fight the battles that hurt so bad. Strength wells up in me and I focus its energy to help me win each battle that besets me. Trust, on the other hand, addresses one’s trust in God. Again, I believe both words are the same energy, but they radiate from a different place and are focused on different characters. Strength is focused on me... trust is focused on God.
And here is the wonderful part –when I can’t muster the energy to be strong, I can turn my focus toward God and trust him. When I let my trust in God fall by the wayside, I can attempt to assemble my own strength. It takes both strength (focused on my own energy) and trust (focused on God’s energy) to find success in the battles of the every day world.
Some of you may notice that I often wear suspenders and a belt. The tumor on my right lower rib creates an unusual waist line, and if my trousers fall below the tumor’s bulge, there isn’t much to hold up my pants. I was told recently there is a term in the finance world called “belt and suspenders”. It employs a “duo” of supports so that if one fails, the other will act as a backup. My intent is to use both supports... strength and trust... so that if one fails, I’ll have the stabilizing backup of the other.
I will be in Tulsa on Friday, 12-19-08 for a consult with the Stem-cell specialist. I have no idea what this will hold. I covet your prayers.
Grace & Peace,
Bob
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Life Goes On...
Last Thursday my mother-in-law, Anna Smith, passed from this life to her reward. She was a wonderful, caring woman and she will be greatly missed. She was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer just a week or so before my diagnosis came. I called her "Mother-in-law" and she called me, "Son-in-law". She always supported me and my family's dreams and plans. I will look forward to seeing her again on the other side.
Any time big changes occur... the passing of a loved one or the diagnosis of cancer, for example, there are always adjustments that have to be made. An old fellow I knew once told me it took him 6 months to quit pulling down two coffee cups every morning after his wife died.
One of the things that I have to adjust to is physical weakness. I'm just not as strong as I once was. Ok... lets be honest here. I even have the kid at the grocery store pop the lid on the pickles before he bags them for me. I think I'll get stronger as the treatments progress, but right now, I'm a sap.
I will have the stem cell consult on December 19 in Tulsa. I am excited to talk to them and find out what all of that entails.
It has been a while since I've asked for prayers, but today, I think I need them. So, if you will... say a prayer for me to keep my strength and attitude up, to stay grounded in my faith, and to accept life as it comes.
Thanks for your encouragement.
Grace & Peace,
Bob
Any time big changes occur... the passing of a loved one or the diagnosis of cancer, for example, there are always adjustments that have to be made. An old fellow I knew once told me it took him 6 months to quit pulling down two coffee cups every morning after his wife died.
One of the things that I have to adjust to is physical weakness. I'm just not as strong as I once was. Ok... lets be honest here. I even have the kid at the grocery store pop the lid on the pickles before he bags them for me. I think I'll get stronger as the treatments progress, but right now, I'm a sap.
I will have the stem cell consult on December 19 in Tulsa. I am excited to talk to them and find out what all of that entails.
It has been a while since I've asked for prayers, but today, I think I need them. So, if you will... say a prayer for me to keep my strength and attitude up, to stay grounded in my faith, and to accept life as it comes.
Thanks for your encouragement.
Grace & Peace,
Bob
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Debbie's Mother
My mothers mom, Anna Smith, passed away on Thursday evening. Mom & Dad have been in McAlester since then, and DJ and I are heading there Sunday for the funeral on Monday.
When my mom called me to let me know she said, "She won the victory!" And she did win!!! She devoted her life to Christ and now she can rest and be with Him in heaven. Although it is hard to not have her here with us, we have peace knowing where she is.
Please keep my parents and my granddad, Leo, in your prayers.
God gives grace,
kj
When my mom called me to let me know she said, "She won the victory!" And she did win!!! She devoted her life to Christ and now she can rest and be with Him in heaven. Although it is hard to not have her here with us, we have peace knowing where she is.
Please keep my parents and my granddad, Leo, in your prayers.
God gives grace,
kj
Monday, December 1, 2008
Family
Medically, I don't have a great deal of updating. I finished my first round of chemo and started the new one on 11-26-08. I have finished my 3rd round of steroids and I took my last radiation on 11-25-08. I will go to Tulsa on 12-5-08 to be evaluated for the stem cell treatment. More about that in next Monday's blog entry.
In my last blog entry "I am Thankful" (11-26-08) I talked about my family and how important they have been to me in my recovery. And, this has caused me to seriously consider how important family is for the one who is in the throws of healing... whether it is healing from hurts of the body or hurts of the heart.
Last week Debbie spent a great deal of time in McAlester. Of course her mother has been hospitalized for many days, she has pancreatic cancer, and is not long for this world. I sat in my mother-in-law's hospital room and watched my wife loving care for her mother. Although it has not been medically proven, but there seems to be some belief that the cancer has moved into her stomach. She can't keep anything down, and her she constantly complains of pain in her tummy. Debbie stands by her mothers bed and gently rubs her mom's stomach to try to help soothe her pain. She has dabbed cold water in the wash cloth and kept it on her mom's forehead, and she adjusts the warm pad they keep on her aching stomach. Gentle, loving, and caring. The image of God's servant doing what good servants do.
If I was standing over the hospital bed of a loved one would I be as compassionate? Would I suffer my own pain to the benefit of my loved one? I was the pupil in my wife's "classroom of life" last week and I watched her and I learned from her actions. My wife... the teacher. She teaches 2nd graders during the day, and if I pay attention, she teaches me how people are supposed to behave when she is with me.
Then, the thought crossed my mind... what do people do who don't have family? In my recovery of body my wife has had to do things for me that are indescribable. She has done them without complaining, and she has been as gentle and caring as possible. And, without her help I really don't know what I would have done. For example... last night while peeling a potato I cut the tip-end of my left thumb off. Man... it hurt. Triple antibiotic ointment and Band-Aids were my first line of defense. Then, to double my misery, this morning, while toasting an English Muffin, I burned the index finger on my right hand. And when I say burned it, I mean I brought a large water blister about an inch long on the left side of that finger. Remove the use of the left thumb and the right index finger and see if you can button a shirt, tie a shoe, zip the pants, much less tie a tie. If I didn't have my wife, I would have been less than dressed adequately for church this morning!
Family is important. Don't take them for Granted... love them... do whatever it takes to keep your family front and center in your life. You never know when you're going need help buttoning your shirt.
Grace & Peace,
Bob
In my last blog entry "I am Thankful" (11-26-08) I talked about my family and how important they have been to me in my recovery. And, this has caused me to seriously consider how important family is for the one who is in the throws of healing... whether it is healing from hurts of the body or hurts of the heart.
Last week Debbie spent a great deal of time in McAlester. Of course her mother has been hospitalized for many days, she has pancreatic cancer, and is not long for this world. I sat in my mother-in-law's hospital room and watched my wife loving care for her mother. Although it has not been medically proven, but there seems to be some belief that the cancer has moved into her stomach. She can't keep anything down, and her she constantly complains of pain in her tummy. Debbie stands by her mothers bed and gently rubs her mom's stomach to try to help soothe her pain. She has dabbed cold water in the wash cloth and kept it on her mom's forehead, and she adjusts the warm pad they keep on her aching stomach. Gentle, loving, and caring. The image of God's servant doing what good servants do.
If I was standing over the hospital bed of a loved one would I be as compassionate? Would I suffer my own pain to the benefit of my loved one? I was the pupil in my wife's "classroom of life" last week and I watched her and I learned from her actions. My wife... the teacher. She teaches 2nd graders during the day, and if I pay attention, she teaches me how people are supposed to behave when she is with me.
Then, the thought crossed my mind... what do people do who don't have family? In my recovery of body my wife has had to do things for me that are indescribable. She has done them without complaining, and she has been as gentle and caring as possible. And, without her help I really don't know what I would have done. For example... last night while peeling a potato I cut the tip-end of my left thumb off. Man... it hurt. Triple antibiotic ointment and Band-Aids were my first line of defense. Then, to double my misery, this morning, while toasting an English Muffin, I burned the index finger on my right hand. And when I say burned it, I mean I brought a large water blister about an inch long on the left side of that finger. Remove the use of the left thumb and the right index finger and see if you can button a shirt, tie a shoe, zip the pants, much less tie a tie. If I didn't have my wife, I would have been less than dressed adequately for church this morning!
Family is important. Don't take them for Granted... love them... do whatever it takes to keep your family front and center in your life. You never know when you're going need help buttoning your shirt.
Grace & Peace,
Bob
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