February 7, 2009

The 445 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron is hosting a Blood Drive in honor of me, MSgt. Sandi Golden-Vest today Saturday, Feb 7, 2009 from 8:00am-1:00pm. Walk-in’s are welcome!

Site: American Legion Post 526
526 Legion Lane
Fairborn, OH 45324
Site phone: 878-3831

Contact on Arrival: Major Kimm Sandusky (1-513-678-2715 ) MSgt Joseph
Drake (George Copfer, Post Commander )

While you are waiting you can become a Bone Marrow Donor as well, no appointment is necessary for this & there is no cost associated becoming a registered Bone Marrow Donor on this date at this location.

Beginning registration for the blood drive is 8:00am. Please come out & donate if you can.
***Community Blood Center will provide juice and cookies and a t-shirt to all
blood donors.

Yesterday's labs
Date------Day----WBC----ANC--------Hgb--------PLT---- Transfusions
24 Jan---144-----3.3----2700---------8.4----------34----------------N/A
25 Jan---145-----5.9----4320---------9.0----------28----------------N/A
26 Jan---146-----4.5----3100---------9.1----------37------------N/A
28 Jan---148-----2.7----1100---------10.6----------64------------N/A
30 Jan---150-----2.8----1000---------10.4----------85------------N/A
2 Feb---153-----36.4----31700--------10.6---------131------------N/A
4 Feb---155-----3.9----????----------9.9---------160------------N/A
6 Feb---157-----3.2----1500------10.0-------190------------N/A

I am sorry I was unable to post yesterday, I had a really bad headache & my body was aching badly all over but especially in my hip. The resting MUGA tests seemed to go well but took forever. I thought I had one of those tests before but after going through it I was wrong. They put an IV in my arm, drew blood, then they mixed it with radiation & injected it back in my arm. They performed an EKG & then waited about 30 minutes, then they remove all but 3 of the leads. There is a big metal container with a camera inside in the shape of a plate. They put you in 3 different positions to take 3 pictures of the heart. From what I could see on the monitor it was just a bunch of tiny dots that went into a white blur so I do not know how they read it. We got out of the Ross Heart Hospital about noon.

Marc took me to get some lunch & then we headed to Madison County Hospital to get my labs drawn. After that we picked up Brandon & Katie from school. Here's a news flash I forgot to tell you about the other day. Brandon did not get to wrestle in his meet on Thursday. When the referee’s did his weigh in & body inspection they found a spot on the back of his neck that looks like it could be ringworm. So yesterday I took him to see his pediatrician & although it looks like it could be dry skin she said that the pattern of it & coloration could be ringworm so she put him on a prescription just in case. The SCOL District Tournament is on the 14th so he should be cleared up by then.

Here is what you have all been waiting for...I got my results back from the Bone Marrow Biopsy & I am very happy to report that there is 1% Blast Cells in my Bone Marrow & no signs of Leukemia! We could not have asked for better results. I questioned my Neutraphil count again as it appears it is still dropping but since it is above 1,000 we are still ok. They also told me that the pumping action of my heart is at 64% & it needed to be above 50% so everything is good to start my Maintenance Chemotherapy on Monday.


Thank you Aunt Sue & Uncle David for the Cheryl Cookies. The kids & I did not want to wait until Valentine's Day so we dug in not to mention they were a wonderful surprise & a nice treat to celebrate the good news that we received from the James!

This morning Katie let Spike out to potty & there is a skunk that lives under my neighbors shed... well the skunk was out I guess & Spike went for it & got sprayed in the face. Poor Katie let Spike back in the house not realizing it & Marc hurried up & got him back outside but the house has "ode de skunk" smell now. Zack thought the whole thing was cool & wants to see the skunk & Marc wants to shoot the skunk. I think it is the same skunk that got Coral, the Chocolate lab we used to have, a few times. Marc used some white vinegar & dishwashing liquid on Spike to try & tame the smell.

Here is a picture of Paige that I took at her Basketball game Thurseay night.

It is forty degrees outside already today, talk about a heat wave. It is about time it warmed up around here. I am feeling a lot better today then I did last night but I am still a little shaky, I did not get out of bed last night except to eat dinner.

Thank you everyone for being so supportive & your prayers. I know I say this all the time, but it is true we could not get through all of this without you. I will try to update again on Sunday.