More tests

More tests. They are getting a good view of his insides. MRI, CT scan, PET scan. Relatively short days which allows them to check out housing. They are looking for a furnished apartment to stay at instead of a hotel room. Anyone know of any help? contact Kay through her e-mail. kay3467@gmail.com

They also get to see the sights of D.C. while feeling strong and healthy.

Thanks for prayers.

day 1 MD

Today was the start. Blood draw (17 vials!!!), EKG, met with social worker, dietician, case worker, and physicians. Got a clearer picture of what to expect. Got to visit the floor of where he will be staying when he is an in-patient. A lot of sit-and-wait. Tomorrow will be more sit-and-wait with a pulmonary test, and other non-invasive tests. Then they are off for the weekend.

I guess the complex is HUGE, to say the least. But they knew it would be.

That's it for today. Thank you for reading.

You can also e-mail John at jhem66@gmail.com
or Kay at kay3467@gmail.com

Have a great weekend. Probably won't post until Monday, unless we have something significant to report.

Trip 1

Made it to MD about 6:30 - ahead of the "big storm". Freezing rain across Ohio and parts of Pennsylvania, but the roads were fine. They start procedures at the clinic Thursday morning.

So now, bring on the snow!!! (if it must come...)

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Maryland, here we come!

The time has finally come! John/Kay leave Tuesday(tomorrow) for Bethesda, MD to begin procedures that will eventually lead to a bone-marrow transplant. This is taking place at the National Institute of Health. It is a trial-clinical for his type of cancer (T-cell lymphoma), and therefore that is why he is traveling so far. Bone-marrow transplants has proven to be highly successful for other types of cancer.

A donor was found back in December, but it took a little bit to coordinate everything.
The actual transplant will NOT take place just yet. This first week will be tests/procedures to ensure he is still a candidate since this is the first time the doctors have physically seen him and not just his file. The next week will be a dose of chemo. THEN he'll get sent home to soak up the chemo and let it do it's job. THEN back out to MD.

So I'll keep you posted. The immediate concern is getting out there. If you don't know, a HUGE snowstorm is predicted tomorrow. Since they don't check into the clinic until Thursday, they do have a small cushion.

I'm going to hold things down at the homestead in Ludington. :-)

The prayers and positive energy thoughts are much appreciated!
Michelle (daughter #3!)

19 January 2011

Chemo today! My blood count numbers were high enough.
The neurontin injections that I will have to get this weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun) I will be able to get at Memorial Medical Ctr in Ludington. Finally! No more driving all the way to Manistee for a quick shot.
Although WE haven't spoken with coordinator in Bethesda, the cancer clinic here got through. So far the info they got was that the first of February is when we'll be expected out there. NOTHING is set in stone yet as far as when we will travel.
Thank you for the prayers.

Although this chemo doesn't make John feel sick, it wreaks havoc on his blood counts. Hemoglobin drops down easily to an 8. A normal Hgb count for most people should be 12-16. So John got another blood transfusion (2 bags) last Sunday. It really makes a positive difference. The low Hgb makes him very fatigued and just about any activity tires him out. But he's retired, and napping is what retired folk do, right?
Because of the effect on his blood counts (especially the platelets) chemo is only every other Wednesday. Then he gets an injection of Neurontin the Friday, Saturday, Sunday of his chemo week. Since it is such a special, super-duper drug, he's had to drive 30 minutes to the hospital in Manistee to receive it.

Still waiting for word from the folks out in Bethesda for when the bone marrow transplant will take place. The donor has been found, just waiting for the coordination to come all together. Prayers that will happen soon.

This weekend John and Kay will drive to Marquette to finally celebrate Christmas with Johnny. He's finally home from his winter work on the boats. Also, Mya (Johnny's girl) turned 3 this week! So birthday presents will be shared also.