TWO MORE BUMPS

Lord, you have given Terry a real roller coaster ride for the past few years: with the disease there was fear, with the initial treatment there was hope, then came the transplant and there was anticipation followed by happiness. The happiness was short lived and then there were cardiac problems, then this, then that. All these highs and lows. Usually the bumps come one at a time but not this time. Three weeks ago Terry was having a surprise 70th birthday and she was doing really well. It was all downhill from there. All of a sudden she started needing a walker, then she started to lose some arm strength and she listed to the right when she walked. Then all of a sudden she needed a wheelchair for anything ambulation outside the house. An MRI of her brain was done last Friday and today we got the news about the two bumps in this lousy road. She has a growth in one of her sinus cavities and another growth on the rear part of her brain (cerebellum). Terry will be seeing an EENT specialist in 2 days and a neuro-surgeon in 3 days. Each will be doing a biopsy. When we don't know yet. Then, depending upon the biopsies, treatment(s) will be started.
It never rains it just seems to pour.
There is always a possibility that these growths are benign so keep the prayers coming in.
Thanks to all.

MORE GOOD NEWS

Terry had 4 medical appointments this past week. On Monday she saw her primary oncologist and he said everything appears to be going well and he discontinued one of her IV chemos. Tuesday was a dental appointment but it still counts as a visit to the doctor. Thursday she saw our primary care physician as she was having some problems with her feet and legs. He assured us that her heart, kidneys, lungs, etc were all working just fine. It appears she is having a reaction to the high weekly dose of steroids. That is now in tow (not toe). Friday she revisited the ENT doc and he wants to wait and watch the growth on her palate. The biopsy was non-cancerous, so why undergo surgery if we can err on the side of caution.
Then we looked at the calendar. Terry has no, none, zip, nada appointments with any kind of doctor for the next two week. That hasn't happened in six months. We often wear "Life is good" T-shirts. It certainly has been for the past few weeks and it looks pretty good for the near future too.
Thanks to all of you for you constant prayers and good wishes.

A GOOD COUPLE OF WEEKS

Since the last posting Terry has finished one full course of her current chemo. We can't tell if it is successful or not until Monday when she has her blood tested.
The past few weeks have been mostly highs:
1-She had a growth on her palette and the biopsy came back as non-cancerous-she has a blocked salivary gland.
2-Her hearing seemed to be waning so off she goes to another specialist. This time an ENT. He noted there was quite a bit of fluid behind her eardrum. He put in a tube, just like the kids get when they have multiple ear infections. Her hearing improved immediately.
3-We went to NYC for a 4 day vacation and stayed in Times Square at the Marriott Marquis. A super great time as we saw 5 musicals and met with our good friends Paul and Lynne for dinner.
It was a terrific time.
4-After getting back from NYC we drove to Buffalo to visit with some long time friends and ex-neighbors Deanne and Roy Sheppard. They have been putting up with our visits for over 35 years. It was a wonderful time spending time with them. It always is.
5-After Buffalo it was off to Rome, NY to spend two nights at Terry's sister's house. Helen and Bill are absolutely fantastic hosts. The first night in Rome, Terry and I attended a reunion of her 8th grade graduating class. WHAT A BLAST! A good time was had by all.
When all is said and done, the past few weeks have been really good.

PLAN B

Terry met with the multiple myeloma specialist yesterday. He gave us quite a bit of hope for the immediate and long term future. He is recommending that she go back to the heavy duty chemo regimen that she had been on prior to her recent hospitalization. She will be on that for 6 weeks after which she will be weaned down or off of most chemo meeds over the period of about 6-8 months. She will have to stay on one or another chemo agents and a steroid, probably forever. If or when her disease starts to rear its ugly head again, then the medications would have to be reintroduced again. He seems to think that Terry may get some longevity doing this way. Let's hope she can.
In the meantime some good news is that he wants her to start her immunizations. She lost all immunity against things like polio, tetanus, diphtheria, etc. when she had her first transplant. Once she is properly immunized and if her health allows it, then we can start our international travels again. The important thing is getting her cancer in tow and we are praying for that daily.
Thanks for all of your support.

ON TO PLAN B

Terry met with the transplant specialist yesterday. His recommendation is not to do another transplant. He feels that Terry's heart might not be able to stand the rigors of another procedure. She has had two serious cardiac events since the first transplant in 12/09. In January 2010, she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure(CHF) and also had a stent put in a blocked artery. She has since recovered completely from that and no longer has CHF. Last month she had a series of cardiac events where her pulse and blood pressure dropped through the floor. That has since been taken care of, but the transplant physician doesn't want to take any chances that there could be something even more serious with her heart should they do a transplant.
So it is on to plan B. Terry will now be going to another set of specialists who will be treating her medically. At this moment in time, we are not sure what that will entail. I'll keep you posted.
I think it is ironic that she is having heart problems. Terry has the most wonderful and giving heart of anyone I know. We have been told that God doesn't close a door unless He opens another one. I hope this new door has a golden heart behind it for my golden girl.
Take care one and all and be thankful for every day.

THE LATEST MONTH IN REVIEW

Last month we were getting ready for a transplant to take place this month. Now things are up in the air. Terry spent two weeks in the hospital after she fainted and had a series of medical misadventures. She wound up with pneumonia, many episodes of bradycardia (very low heart rate), high blood carbon dioxide and sleep apnea. At one time she had an external pacemaker put in. She also was put on a BiPAP machine.
The good news is that the pneumonia is cleared, the bradycardia is gone, the pacemaker is out. She will keep the BiPAP for the foreseeable future. The great news is after two weeks as a guest of the University of Michigan cardiology unit she is home.
However, with these latest medical travails her transplant has been delayed. Her transplant physician wants to see her in a few days, to reevaluate her medical status. There is a possibility that she will not be eligible for a transplant now. If that is the case it will be on to plan B, whatever that is.
I'll let you all know as soon as we know anything.
Take care, love each other and cherish every day.

NEXT TRANSPLANT SCHEDULED

The last two weeks have been extremely hectic and filled with more than the usual number of medical appointments. The good news is that Terry's cancer is in check enough that she is going to have another stem cell transplant. She has been viewed, reviewed, checked and rechecked by her primary care physician, her primary hematologist/oncologist, her oral surgeon, her cardiologist and today by her transplant specialist. She is fighting a terrible cold at this time and needs a biopsy on a growth in her mouth that is probably related to her cancer, but other than that she is ready.
Right now it looks as if July will be the magic month. There is a lot of prep work to do before T-minus 6. FYI, T-minus 6 is the day she goes into the hospital and gets 6 days of chemo before the actual transplant.
This time she will be getting her sister Helen's stem cells. Terry received her own stem cells for the first transplant. Helen has promised that her cells will come out swinging and knock the crap out of any cancer left in Terry's body. I have known Helen for a long time. If she says it, it will happen.
Please keep up the prayers and good thoughts.