SHE'S NORMAL

Terry had an appointment with Dr. Bloom, her primary hematologist/oncologist today. He read all of the test results and said, "Congratulations, you're back in the pool, you are normal." Her results show that she is between 90-100 % in remission. There is one small protein that showed up, but that could be interpreted as normal. She no longer has any restrictions other than she shouldn't lift heavy objects. He doesn't want her to do any jumping jacks either. She can go out in crowds, travel, kiss the cat, and just about anything she wants to do.
Terry will have to continue to see Dr. Bloom on a regular basis as her cancer can come back at anytime----but for the moment and who knows how long-SHE'S NORMAL.
Thanks to all of you who have done so much for us this past year. Now my prayer is to keep her normal for a long-long time.

SUPER RESULTS

What a week! Exhilarating might be the best descriptor. On Monday we got a call from Terry's Cardiologist. He sees no reason for her to continue seeing him and her heart follow up will now be taken care of by her Primary Care Physician.
On Monday evening we got a call from her Primary Hematologist/Oncologist with the initial results of her bone marrow biopsy. He started the call with, "Great news!".
On Tuesday Terry saw her Transplant Oncologist. He reiterated the good news about the bone marrow biopsy and is very pleased with how Terry progressed. There are a few test results he will get back next week before he makes his final interpretation and prognosis, however he feels she is at least 90% in remission. Terry doesn't have to see him again until December as he is turning Terry over to her Primary Oncologist.
WOW---What week!!!!

Cardiac Update

Some really good news! Terry saw the cardiologist in the congestive heart failure (CHF) clinic. He ran a slew of tests, but the most important one showed that her left ventricle has returned to normal. He is leaning toward a diagnosis of something called takotsubo cardiomyopathy. In layman's terms it is also called broken heart syndrome. It seems that stress can put someone into CHFand after awhile the heart will normalize. She will have to take some oral medications for awhile, but if she has takotsubo then those meds will eventually be withdrawn.
She saw her primary oncologist yesterday and had a bone marrow biopsy. Next week Terry will be having her 60 day post transplant check up and we hope to get a reading on how well she is doing with her fight against multiple myeloma.
Her spirits are great. She looks wonderful and we are getting out to movies, restaurants and grocery shopping. However we have to go when these places aren't loaded with people. Still it is out and about.
Please say two prayers for Terry:
1-Her bone marow biopsy shows that she is remission,
2-She has takotsubo and that her heart will normalize.

HOME AGAIN

Terry got sprung from the hospital today. I put up her bail and she promised to follow all doctors orders otherwise they might want to throw her in the UM slammer again. It is good to see her where she belongs---at home. She has a way to go for full recovery and this is the first step. FYI her preliminary cancer results came in and they look very promising-more to follow on that one in 30 days. Thanks again to everyone for keeping her on your prayer list.

WHAT A LOOOONG DAY

Terry was not allowed to eat or drink after midnight on Monday, a standard procedure when you are undergoing an operation or procedure that will involve anesthesia. We weren't sure what time Terry's cardiac cath would be, but we were hoping for a morning procedure. That was not to be, Terry finally was started at 6 PM and completed about 8:15 PM. She had a 70% blockage of one of her major arteries, so a stent was put in. The physician did say that a major heart attack was probably averted. Right now the cause of the problem seems to be Terry's recent chemotherapy. I am sure we will get a more definitive reading on everything tomorrow. Right now Terry is under the cloud of Versed and enjoying some well deserved rest.
Thanks to all for the continued prayers.

THE BIMP IS A MOUNTAIN

Terry had her echocardiogram this morning and it wasn't good. There can be a few different diagnoses and a few different treatments for whatever she has. We'll find out on Tuesday as Terry now has to have a double cardiac catheterization. When the cardiologists look into her heart they will know what the problem is and how to treat it. These bumps in the road are getting bigger, more frequent and just plain lousy.
Please redouble your prayers for a positive recuperation.

Day 30 - a bimp in the road

Inspector Cleauseu had many bimps in the road and so does Terry. Yesterday (Friday) was the 30 day anniversary of her stem cell transplant. Things were going along swimmingly until Dr. Mineishi mentioned that one cardiac enzyme was a bit elevated, so he decided to do an EKG. He then compared the new EKG to the one done a month ago and there were some changes that concerned him. He sent us to see a cardiologist who decided to admit Terry to the hospital for a workup, diagnosis and treatment. Her enzyme started coming down today (Saturday) but it was decided to keep Terry in the hospital, until Monday, for more tests. I know it wasn't the food that brought her back here, as it is mediocre at best.
We were informed regarding the stem cell transplant that everything was on course and we would get the definitive results in one more month. That was the good news. This other thing is just another test of her resilience. I have decided there can't be anything wrong with Terry's heart because it is 24 karat gold.