November 6, 2008

Date------Day----WBC----ANC--------Hgb--------PLT---- Transfusions
3 Nov-----62-----6.4-------4100--------11.7--------187--------- N/A
4 Nov-----63-----7.1-------5800--------11.1---------173--------- N/A
5 Nov-----64-----4.6-------4400-------11.6--------168----------N/A
6 Nov-----65-----4.9-------4600-------10.7--------144----------N/A
Is all this information making you guys crazy yet? Today has been a good day, the new regiment of the Dexamethasone injection & Zofran seem to be working well together so I do not throw up & my nausea is not near as bad thank goodness. This is my nurse giving me the Dexamethasone through my IV.I had real bad night sweats & cold chills last night but no fever so all is well.



Paula Parker came to see me today, I have talked about her visits in my blogs I finally remembered to get a picture today


My favorite Nurse Practitioner is back, Carlie Greenfield, she has been an outstanding resource for me & really has been above & beyond to ensure I am involved & at ease with my treatment.


Master Sergeant Drake came to visit me this evening & brought me lots of information, the 2008 Federal Benefits for Veterans & Dependents booklet along with points of contacts in the Cinci Offices, he also brought me an Air Force Times article from November 3, 2008 that talks about a memo that the Air Force Lt. Col James Elliot former Chief of Aeromedical Services for the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, was deployed to Balad at the time & co-signed a memo dated December 20, 2006 that Air Force Lt Col Darrin Curtis, former Bio environmental Flight Commander Balad wrote. It states that from the burn pits that were operating without restrictions in Balad troops may have been exposed to many highly poisonous contaminates such as aircraft fuel known to cause leukemia... It is a very interesting article. He also is taking back my signed orders from September 3rd & 4th that I was unable to turn in so I can get off the unpaid orders list. I was also very surprised when he pulled out $107 that he collected over the last UTA as well. I am truly grateful for all of the support & generosity from everyone at the 445th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. He was uncertain what the numbers Donors for the Wing wide Bone Marrow Donors registry over the November UTA in addition to the 64 that were registered from the Squadron Bone marrow Drive in October. He is also working with Major Sandusky to try to pull of a Blood Drive with the American Legion I believe in January. I am just amazed. For all you Airmen out there that ever questioned the necessity of the Wingman program let my situation & Master Sergeant Drake, my Wingman be a testament to you. For what he is doing, & he is not doing it alone, to help me is above & beyond what I never would have asked form him but is one more reason why we have the program & it goes to show you should all have a Wingman, because you never know when you are going to need one.
The one & only time my hair will ever be shorter than his!Me & my Wingman


There was also an interesting article in today's NY Times: " The woman at Washington University had acute myelogenous leukemia, a fast-growing cancer that affects about 13,000 people a year in the United States and kills 8,800. Its cause is not well understood. Like most cancers, it is thought to begin in a single cell, with a mutation that is not present at birth but that occurs later for some unknown reason. Generally, one mutation is not enough to cause cancer; the disease does not develop until other mutations occur.“Most of them are just these random events in the universe that add up to something horrible,” said Dr. Timothy J. Ley, a hematologist at Washington University and the director of the study.

The researchers chose to study this disease because it is severe and the treatment has not improved in decades.

“It’s one of the nastiest forms of leukemia,” Dr. Wilson said. “It’s very aggressive. It affects mostly adults, and there’s really no good treatment for it. A very large fraction of the patients eventually will die from their disease.”

Dr. Ley said, “We wanted to start studying a cancer where it would make a difference to people and their families if we could begin to unravel its genetic roots.”


The most striking part to me is how is describes AML as such a devastating disease for which we don't have very good treatments -- yipes! How lucky I am that the treatments seems to be working for me so far!!!! (Click this for the entire article if your interested.)

November 5, 2008

Date------Day----WBC----ANC--------Hgb--------PLT---- Transfusions
3 Nov-----62-----6.4--------?---------11.7--------187--------- N/A
4 Nov-----63-----7.1--------?---------11.1--------173--------- N/A
5 Nov-----64-----4.6--------?---------11.6--------168----------N/A

I posted my labs since admission above I will be asking my nurse tomorrow for my neutraphils since I do not have the detailed lab reports to calculate it. I am still on a regular diet. Once my counts drop they will put me on a neutrapenic diet.

I had a much better day today than yesterday. I was able to eat lunch & dinner. I have also been able to send out some thank you letters & e-mails. I still have a roommate & we are getting along real well. She may get to go home tomorrow.

I started my 2nd dose of Chemo at 8:45pm. They pre-medicated me at 8pm with 2-Zoframs & a Dexamethasone injection. This will hopefully keep the nausea away, but as I am sitting her typing I am already starting to sweat so we will see, it could be the night sweats, they are relentless. They are giving me the Valtrex as an antiviral & I am back on the Nexium, they also have me on the Decadron steriod eye drops 4 times per day.

I found this on another cancer site & it cracked me up because it is a good way to explain chemo brain with a sick sense of humor...

Chemo Brain
10) Swear to everyone that you were a blonde before you lost your hair.
9) Tell people that your brain, "temporarily shuts down during chemo to prevent excessive loss of brain cells."
8) Spend the next 20 minutes trying to actually remember and articulate #9.
7) When your brain gives out and you stumble over a sentence, look the person directly in the eye and say, "Did you catch all that?"
6) Wait, what was I talking about?
5) Look at your oncologist and say, "Whoa! You're treating me for WHAT?!?"
4) Proudly announce that, "At least it doesn't affect my ability to drive!"
3) (For the Girls) Tell everyone it gives you a chance to live in a man's shoes for a change (For the Guys) Hey, now you have a legitimate excuse to forget birthdays and anniversaries.
2) Wait, what was I talking about?
1) When all else fails, just pretend you're having flashbacks from 'Nam... even if you weren't born until 1982.

November 4, 2008

This picture is from yesterday when we got into my room.

This is from the blood draws for abmission

This is when they took my PICC line dressing off to change it.

This is the new bandage afterwards.

This is Marc trying to get comfortable


This is how I feel today. I have been very slow & sluggish. This is not like me to post so late, but I had a tough round last night & this morning. They put me on Decadron eye drops which have steroids in them that are supposed to stop the Chemo from burning my eye balls.
This is the Zofram so I do not get sick...


10 minutes before they started my high dose Citerbine they gave me the Zofram to help with the nasuea but I still threw up rather violentley last night about 3 hours into the Chemo, it was horrible. I am not a graceful puker. The broght in advivan after the fact to stop it, So I thought I would be alright, no such luck a couple hours latter ole pukey came back with a vengence.
I woke up to find I have a roommate, she is from southern ohio down by Portsmouth. She also has AML & has been coughing up blood. Come to find out we were in the James together on both of our last visits. Marcus was also here when I woke up he was sitting there so quietly I did not even notice him at first. I am so glad he is here this round is tougher already.
This is a picture of the nurse bringing in my Chemo last night.

This is my Chemo tree


My poison

This is my Dr. Allison Walker & my morning nurse

They brought me my morning poison which also made me sick as a dog.

They gave me more adivan but it was too late, I was puking,

These are the morning pills they have me on so far.


I have to stay hydrated.

November 3, 2008

It is 4:30pm & I have been at the James since about 9:30am. I am in room 1063B South. The room phone number is (614)293-5187. They are not starting my Chemo until around 8pm tonight. I am anxious to get this round over with. I don't know why they brought me in so early this morning just to have me wait so long.

They took a ton of blood for all of my lab draws but my PICC was not cooperating. They are going to do an A&C on it to "Rotorooter" it out. My blood was clotting faster then they could draw it from the line, it was real stringy & gross looking.

They went ahead & started me on an IV to load up on the fluids to cushion my kidneys for the high dose Citerbine. My Dr. is the floor doc all this week so I do not have to deal with the Dr. that I did not get along with to well the last half of my admission the first go round. My Dr. has a very good bedside manner, actually listens to me & answers all my questions.

The Researcher for my Clinical Trials was excited to see me doing so well. She did reiterate that I need to be very careful though because she has had some bad luck with infections lately with her good patients.She almost lost one of them, so Marcus snitched on me about mowing the grass yesterday & she got on my butt about it.

I was going to try & smuggle Spike in with me but Marc said no, I had him laying in bed with me this morning, he is not going to know how to act this week with me not there to hold him.

I forgot my camera cord at the house so I will have to wait until Marcus brings it in to me tomorrow to post pictures from today.

November 1, 2008

I have had a mild rash on my face for about 3 days now that has progressively been getting more noticeable. When I got out of the shower today it was much redder in patches & more bumps under the skin, not acne. I have quit using all moisturizers/ facial products yesterday in case I am having a reaction to something. I will have my Dr.s take a look at it on Monday.

I got my wig Thursday afternoon, it looks a little B52ish to me but that is ok. I got it trimmed up on Friday afternoon so it is not quite a boofy.

I have not been doing to much except for trying to mentally prepare myself for this next round of Chemo. I am not looking forward to going back in the hospital but I know it is necessary. Monday is approaching way to quickly, it is hard to believe that I am missing my third drill weekend I am so ready to go back. I got a certified letter from the base requesting additional information about my medical condition. I called down & spoke with the Medical Squadron because I did not understand it all. After talking with my Dr.s it sounds like as long as this round of Chemo goes as well as the first they will release me to go back with some restrictions.They need the paperwork within the next 60 days. The Flight Surgeon will go over it & it is possible this may put me back for drill shortly after the first of the year. That would make me very happy!

We got out first bill from OSU today. Wow $222,327.90 I have never seen one so big before. This is what they have billed my insurance they made sure to include an important notice that I will responsible for co-payments, co-insurance, deductibles & non-covered services. They also included a note at the bottom in small print that stated I will get a separate bill from the other professional services such as the physicians, radiologists etc. The bill we got from Mount Carmel West was for $21,713.55. Insurance paid $14,776.26 of that bill so it will be interesting to see how much of the OSU bill they pay. I am sure this is all a drop in the bucket to what it will be by the time it is all said & done.

I want to make sure everyone that is donating to help us out understands how much we appreciate what you have done. We have never been a family in need before, we have always lived a somewhat comfortable lifestyle, never lavish but we have not struggled too much in the past few years. The cancer treatment is definitely putting a strain on us financially but we will get through it in time. No matter what the cost it does not matter, because it is my life even if it takes the rest of it to pay for it, it will be worth it. I have said it is hard for me to ask for help & I mean that, so it is with the utmost gratitude when I say thank you for your generosity to those of you who have contributed in our time of need.

Halloween was a a real treat this year. The kids had a great time. Paige & Zack were the only ones to actually Trick or Treat this year we cut them off when they hit high school. Katie was not to happy about that but she'll be fine, she still gets to reap the benefits of all their candy, it all goes in one big bowl on the table.Our Paige & Kim & Donnie's Paige dressed up as Thing 1 & Thing 2 from Cat in the Hat & Zack was Captain Jack Sparrow.


Thursday was the London Trick or Treat Brandon & Katie got to pass out the candy & Zack liked the Haunted Carnival & the Haunted Garage the most.










Friday we went to Kim's moms in Grove City, she is currently going through Chemo as well, her breast cancer came back. She has a really neat Halloween set up so we were really excited to go there plus all of the houses are closer together. Zack's chunky butt was too through after an hour. He did not want to carry his bag or go to anymore of the houses. So we went back to the house. When we got there, there was a big crowd because Donnie & Marc were messing with the trick or treaters through a life size witch & a remote microphone. It was really neat most of the kids could not tell it was not real, a few of the older ones caught on though. Afterwards we stayed & played wii. The guys were all out of breath from the boxing. I think Marc was feeling his age, this morning he was all sore from it.







It was so nice outside today, I was sweating at one point with my sweatshirt. Marcus washed my bike for me & I rode my bike a little bit. AJ from Cincinnati came up for a visit so we rode out to the clubhouse & had Marcus cook for us. It was a nice break in the middle of the day.




I was finally able to update our halloween pictures from the Missing Link Party, they are under this post. Starting Monday we go back to daily updates so stay tuned for the next episode...