Terry got the results of her biopsy today. The cancer has grown from 8% to 23% of her marrow. In spite of the medicines, etc. that she took to lower her cancer count, the disease increased. That puts everything on hold. No transplant on 09/09/09-no hospitalization, just a new weapon or two to try and get this cancer under 5% of her bone marrow cells so she can have her transplant.
We don't have a timeline yet, for the new drug cocktail she will be taking. However we continue to keep our faith and know we are in the hands of experts who will do everything in their God-given power to help. In the meantime keep those thoughts and prayers coming in. When we learn anything it will be posted.
8/19/09
From January to August 2009- A brief history
January - a terrible month - Terry is diagnosed with multiple myeloma (cancer of the bone marrow). Fortunately this is a cancer where there have been some recent strides and we are blessed with a top-notch Hematologist/Oncologist, Dr. Robert Bloom.
February through March - showed little physical improvement, however Dr. Bloom was encouraged by Terry's hematological responses.
May - Terry has her 2nd bone marrow biopsy and her cancer cells have fallen from 68% to 8%. The ultimate goal is less than 5% cancer cells. This is also the month that she meets Dr. Shin Mineishi. He will be her physician to handle everything pertaining to her transplant. He is the Director of the Transplant Department at the University of Michigan. We have all the confidence in the world with him.
June and July - Terry has her own stem cells removed. It was a long and arduous process as she had to go through two procedures to get enough cells. The goal was 6,000,000 and she pumped out almost 7,000,000 of those suckers. That will be enough for two stem cell transplants should she need a 2nd one. July was a good month!
August - Terry has completed all of her therapy that we pray will bring her cancer cells to less than 5%. A bone marrow biopsy was done on 08/19 by Dr. Bloom. We will have those results on 08/24. Evidently Dr. Mineishi is confident that her bone marrow biopsy will suffice for the transplant as Terry is scheduled to be admitted to the University of Michigan on 09/09/09 to have her stem cell transplant on that day. We think 09/09/09 is a very good sign. As many know 666 is sometimes construed to be evil. If you tip 666 upside down you get 999 and all of the evil is drained and the numbers are filled with goodness and hope. That is our story and we are sticking to it!!!
February through March - showed little physical improvement, however Dr. Bloom was encouraged by Terry's hematological responses.
May - Terry has her 2nd bone marrow biopsy and her cancer cells have fallen from 68% to 8%. The ultimate goal is less than 5% cancer cells. This is also the month that she meets Dr. Shin Mineishi. He will be her physician to handle everything pertaining to her transplant. He is the Director of the Transplant Department at the University of Michigan. We have all the confidence in the world with him.
June and July - Terry has her own stem cells removed. It was a long and arduous process as she had to go through two procedures to get enough cells. The goal was 6,000,000 and she pumped out almost 7,000,000 of those suckers. That will be enough for two stem cell transplants should she need a 2nd one. July was a good month!
August - Terry has completed all of her therapy that we pray will bring her cancer cells to less than 5%. A bone marrow biopsy was done on 08/19 by Dr. Bloom. We will have those results on 08/24. Evidently Dr. Mineishi is confident that her bone marrow biopsy will suffice for the transplant as Terry is scheduled to be admitted to the University of Michigan on 09/09/09 to have her stem cell transplant on that day. We think 09/09/09 is a very good sign. As many know 666 is sometimes construed to be evil. If you tip 666 upside down you get 999 and all of the evil is drained and the numbers are filled with goodness and hope. That is our story and we are sticking to it!!!
8/10/09
Terry's Mom celebrates her 90th birthday
Our immediate family from left to right in the rear:
Dick/Richard-Terry in her babushka, Karen, Jim
seated Terry's Mother Mary Podkowka
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