Great news today! Jeff's white blood counts are back up and he no longer has to give himself a daily Neupogen shot. Woo hoo! Now all he has to do is take it easy and rest-up for the next cycle of treatment. In the meantime, the other great news is that I get to take the kids to visit him this weekend! They are all so excited. This will be their first plane ride and their first trip to Texas. I told Aubrey that Texas state law requires everyone under the age of 12 to wear a cowboy hat at all times--except when removing it in reverence to salute the Texas Flag (another state-mandated activity), of course. (Don't tell her I'm kidding until she gets home!) Ha! It would be great if we could take them to visit NASA while we're there, but that could interfere with our big plans for watching the Super Bowl in the apartment! All of us being together will be fantastic no matter what! Lest I forget, the kids are also excited to see Grandma Mary--they're going through withdrawal after having had her at home for the past three weeks.
All is right with the world.
Much love, Kelly
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Address Request
Some Lincoln friends requested our Houston address, so here it is:
8181 Fannin St. #2514
Houston, Texas 77054
In the meantime, Jeff reports that he is feeling good but tired today. He needs to take it easy and let those white blood cells work their magic. He has another blood test tomorrow afternoon to see if the Neupogen shots have brought his WBC (white blood count) back up to the requisite 10,000+ range. The doctor's office informed me they will likely hospitalize Jeff again on February 7th. He has asked me to come take care of him again during his "hospital week." I am so flattered that it's almost like having him propose all over again. I'm not kidding. There are so many people who have offered to come take care of him, and I'm sure no one does the job as well as his own mother, so Thank You, Jeff, for loving me and trusting me enough to do this with you! Unless a rectal thermometer is involved--then you are on your own. This whole "in sickness and in health" thing can only go so far! Ha ha! I'm kidding, of course!
So, I'll report more tomorrow after we receive the new blood test results. We're still only in Week Two, so he has a lot of time to catch up before the next cycle starts!
Kelly
8181 Fannin St. #2514
Houston, Texas 77054
In the meantime, Jeff reports that he is feeling good but tired today. He needs to take it easy and let those white blood cells work their magic. He has another blood test tomorrow afternoon to see if the Neupogen shots have brought his WBC (white blood count) back up to the requisite 10,000+ range. The doctor's office informed me they will likely hospitalize Jeff again on February 7th. He has asked me to come take care of him again during his "hospital week." I am so flattered that it's almost like having him propose all over again. I'm not kidding. There are so many people who have offered to come take care of him, and I'm sure no one does the job as well as his own mother, so Thank You, Jeff, for loving me and trusting me enough to do this with you! Unless a rectal thermometer is involved--then you are on your own. This whole "in sickness and in health" thing can only go so far! Ha ha! I'm kidding, of course!
So, I'll report more tomorrow after we receive the new blood test results. We're still only in Week Two, so he has a lot of time to catch up before the next cycle starts!
Kelly
Monday, January 29, 2007
Sorry for the Dead Air . . .
Hi All:
Sorry for the dead air these past couple of days. Poor Jeff still does not have internet access in the apartment and I have been tending to all kinds of things since returning home on Saturday. The good news is that you haven't missed much. Jeff has been recuperating under the 5-Star care of his Mom and has begun eating and taking walks ahead of schedule. (Remember, this is supposed to be the "lazy" week of rest and relaxation--he's supposed to start "training" for Round Two next week).
Jeff was still very tired and still wasn't eating well when I left. On Friday, his white blood counts were quite low (1,300), but he seemed to really turn the corner on Sunday. When I talked to him on the phone his voice was strong and animated. Before, he talked like he was trying not to wake a sleeping baby--very soft and quiet. On Sunday, he said he felt 100 percent better than he did the day before and that he ate waffles, soup,--three regular meals and even some cake that some visitors dropped off! He continued this streak today. He's been eating very well and gaining strength and stamina. He had more blood tests today and, based upon how well he felt, he was sure that the Neupogen shots had put his white blood counts back into the "normal range." Unfortunately, we got the results of his blood tests and he's not quite there yet. The normal range is 4,000 to 10,000. Today, Jeff's were at 3,900. He was a little disappointed. Jeff is an overachiever and cannot stand being below average at ANYTHING. On the bright side, his white blood counts tripled in only three days. He's going back in to have them tested again on Wednesday. So, say a prayer that they jump up to the 10,000-plus benchmark that the doctor established for him.
In the meantime, I tried to delay this post in anticipation of some more good news wholly unrelated to Jeff's treatment--my brother John and sister-in-law Anni are likely having their baby girl today! Yay! I can't wait. I've already given all my siblings TWO nieces--after having so many nephews it's about time someone returned the favor! As of yet, there is no word on the baby, but I'll be sure to share the good news when she arrives.
I had my regular monthly check-up for our baby today and he is doing very well. He is our squirmiest baby yet and is growing right on schedule (Thanks in no small part to my nurse-friend Barbara who prescribed daily Luna Bars and protein drinks for me!). My obstetrician encouraged me to consult with an OB in Houston in the event I encounter complications while I am down there with Jeff. He was more than happy to help me find a colleague with whom he can collaborate in the event I need obstetrical help in Texas. He is a great doctor and we are forever grateful to him for the professional judgment, care, and effectiveness with which he delivered our other son, Jack. He saved his life--no doubt about it. So, Thank You, Dr. Matthew Lee!!
And while I'm handing out Thank Yous--I can't forget Brendan Gardiner and Katie Clancy et al for spearheading the donation of frequent flier miles to help my family travel to Houston and back. Brendan, if this whole Law Thing doesn't work out, you definitely have a future as a travel agent! Ha! You have been a tremendous help and I have been touched by your generous assistance because I know that as a father, yourself, you understand Jeff's urgent need to be with his children. So, Thank You Thank You Thank You for making it possible!
Much Love, Kelly
Sorry for the dead air these past couple of days. Poor Jeff still does not have internet access in the apartment and I have been tending to all kinds of things since returning home on Saturday. The good news is that you haven't missed much. Jeff has been recuperating under the 5-Star care of his Mom and has begun eating and taking walks ahead of schedule. (Remember, this is supposed to be the "lazy" week of rest and relaxation--he's supposed to start "training" for Round Two next week).
Jeff was still very tired and still wasn't eating well when I left. On Friday, his white blood counts were quite low (1,300), but he seemed to really turn the corner on Sunday. When I talked to him on the phone his voice was strong and animated. Before, he talked like he was trying not to wake a sleeping baby--very soft and quiet. On Sunday, he said he felt 100 percent better than he did the day before and that he ate waffles, soup,--three regular meals and even some cake that some visitors dropped off! He continued this streak today. He's been eating very well and gaining strength and stamina. He had more blood tests today and, based upon how well he felt, he was sure that the Neupogen shots had put his white blood counts back into the "normal range." Unfortunately, we got the results of his blood tests and he's not quite there yet. The normal range is 4,000 to 10,000. Today, Jeff's were at 3,900. He was a little disappointed. Jeff is an overachiever and cannot stand being below average at ANYTHING. On the bright side, his white blood counts tripled in only three days. He's going back in to have them tested again on Wednesday. So, say a prayer that they jump up to the 10,000-plus benchmark that the doctor established for him.
In the meantime, I tried to delay this post in anticipation of some more good news wholly unrelated to Jeff's treatment--my brother John and sister-in-law Anni are likely having their baby girl today! Yay! I can't wait. I've already given all my siblings TWO nieces--after having so many nephews it's about time someone returned the favor! As of yet, there is no word on the baby, but I'll be sure to share the good news when she arrives.
I had my regular monthly check-up for our baby today and he is doing very well. He is our squirmiest baby yet and is growing right on schedule (Thanks in no small part to my nurse-friend Barbara who prescribed daily Luna Bars and protein drinks for me!). My obstetrician encouraged me to consult with an OB in Houston in the event I encounter complications while I am down there with Jeff. He was more than happy to help me find a colleague with whom he can collaborate in the event I need obstetrical help in Texas. He is a great doctor and we are forever grateful to him for the professional judgment, care, and effectiveness with which he delivered our other son, Jack. He saved his life--no doubt about it. So, Thank You, Dr. Matthew Lee!!
And while I'm handing out Thank Yous--I can't forget Brendan Gardiner and Katie Clancy et al for spearheading the donation of frequent flier miles to help my family travel to Houston and back. Brendan, if this whole Law Thing doesn't work out, you definitely have a future as a travel agent! Ha! You have been a tremendous help and I have been touched by your generous assistance because I know that as a father, yourself, you understand Jeff's urgent need to be with his children. So, Thank You Thank You Thank You for making it possible!
Much Love, Kelly
Friday, January 26, 2007
Week Two
Greetings!
We officially started Week Two of Jeff's treatment-adventure. This is the "rest and recovery week" after last week's hospital stay. We decided to celebrate with some blood tests and a trip to the oncologist. Today, Jeff had his first post-hospital check-up. His white blood counts were quite low (which is to be expected). They were 1,300 and the normal range is 4,000 to 10,000. Therefore, Jeff will have to continue to give himself a daily Neupogen shot until his counts are 10,000 or better. Otherwise, he is feeling better everyday and the doctor has been encouraging and optimistic. So, we have chosen to follow his lead and ignore any possibility that the treatment is not working. The doctor told Jeff that he can consider Week Two his "vacation" week and that he should sleep and "be lazy" as much as he wants. However, during Week Three, Jeff has to work hard to gain weight and strength for the Second Cycle of treatment which should start on or about February 7th when he will go back into the hospital.
Oh, and before I forget . . . Jeff cannot have any flowers or plants around him. He also cannot have any fresh fruits or vegetables. These things pose a threat of air-borne and food-borne illnesses, so Jeff has to stay away from them until his white blood counts are back up. So, if you were thinking of sending Jeff a singing telegram, please make sure the lady is wearing FAKE coconuts. Ha!
Jeff's mom, Mary, arrived in Houston last night. She and I will be trading places while I go home to Milwaukee tomorrow. We're not yet sure how long either of us will stay at our "new" posts. I would really like to bring the kids to visit Jeff during his Third Week (next week before he goes back into the hospital). They are desperate to see him and I'm sure it would do Jeff good, as well. So, we'll have to see how Jeff is doing and whether he can handle the company. So pray that the kids stay well (we cannot go visit Jeff if one of them is sick) and that Jeff stays well so that they can all see each other soon! I dread leaving Jeff tomorrow, but I am also very excited to see my kids, and I miss my friends in the band and at work. So, it will be nice to return to the "normal" routine for a while--even if it is not so normal.
In the meantime, pray that Jeff's white blood counts rebound so that he can gain some momentum going into the next treatment cycle. And thank you to Barbara for bringing dinner to the kids last night. They loved it and Jack especially liked the "yummy yummy bread!" It was a big hit and we appreciate it sooo much!!
So, I'll see you all soon and I'll continue to try to keep everyone updated here. Maybe Jeff will post some entries from Houston if he feels up to it. We still don't have internet access in our apartment but we're working on it. Otherwise, I'll report what he tells me second-hand and will use this as a forum to fill-him in on what's going on at home until I am back on the front-lines in Houston.
Much Love, Kelly
We officially started Week Two of Jeff's treatment-adventure. This is the "rest and recovery week" after last week's hospital stay. We decided to celebrate with some blood tests and a trip to the oncologist. Today, Jeff had his first post-hospital check-up. His white blood counts were quite low (which is to be expected). They were 1,300 and the normal range is 4,000 to 10,000. Therefore, Jeff will have to continue to give himself a daily Neupogen shot until his counts are 10,000 or better. Otherwise, he is feeling better everyday and the doctor has been encouraging and optimistic. So, we have chosen to follow his lead and ignore any possibility that the treatment is not working. The doctor told Jeff that he can consider Week Two his "vacation" week and that he should sleep and "be lazy" as much as he wants. However, during Week Three, Jeff has to work hard to gain weight and strength for the Second Cycle of treatment which should start on or about February 7th when he will go back into the hospital.
Oh, and before I forget . . . Jeff cannot have any flowers or plants around him. He also cannot have any fresh fruits or vegetables. These things pose a threat of air-borne and food-borne illnesses, so Jeff has to stay away from them until his white blood counts are back up. So, if you were thinking of sending Jeff a singing telegram, please make sure the lady is wearing FAKE coconuts. Ha!
Jeff's mom, Mary, arrived in Houston last night. She and I will be trading places while I go home to Milwaukee tomorrow. We're not yet sure how long either of us will stay at our "new" posts. I would really like to bring the kids to visit Jeff during his Third Week (next week before he goes back into the hospital). They are desperate to see him and I'm sure it would do Jeff good, as well. So, we'll have to see how Jeff is doing and whether he can handle the company. So pray that the kids stay well (we cannot go visit Jeff if one of them is sick) and that Jeff stays well so that they can all see each other soon! I dread leaving Jeff tomorrow, but I am also very excited to see my kids, and I miss my friends in the band and at work. So, it will be nice to return to the "normal" routine for a while--even if it is not so normal.
In the meantime, pray that Jeff's white blood counts rebound so that he can gain some momentum going into the next treatment cycle. And thank you to Barbara for bringing dinner to the kids last night. They loved it and Jack especially liked the "yummy yummy bread!" It was a big hit and we appreciate it sooo much!!
So, I'll see you all soon and I'll continue to try to keep everyone updated here. Maybe Jeff will post some entries from Houston if he feels up to it. We still don't have internet access in our apartment but we're working on it. Otherwise, I'll report what he tells me second-hand and will use this as a forum to fill-him in on what's going on at home until I am back on the front-lines in Houston.
Much Love, Kelly
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Me again.
I found a plug-in, so thought I'd take advantageof it long enough to give you all a meaningful update since we've been out of touch for the past couple of days.
But first, I have a little story . . . When I told Jeff's mom about our computer problems she blamed it on the devil, but I refuse to flatter him by giving him any credit. Only God is powerful enough to inflict this kind of suffering. Really. I'm not talking about the computer problems, of course, but the entirety of this incredible situation. One of my all-time favorite books ("Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis) has a passage where two devils are discussing their frustration with the fact that although they are perceived by humans as having superior powers to inflict pain and suffering even THEY have not been able to use suffering the way God does. The book hypothesizes that God chooses those he loves the most to suffer the most in order to vex the devil. God chooses his favorites to bear unimaginable suffering and pain because he knows that, even then, they will not turn from him. In doing so, God uses the devil's own tools with more purpose and effect than the devil himself, because through this unimaginable suffering, God's chosen ones actually draw CLOSER to God and refuse to seek relief by rejecting him or turning elsewhere (to the devil) for help. So, I suppose I should be flattered or grateful that God has chosen Jeff and me and our children (and all of our family, really) to suffer so much.
You know what they say . . . "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade." But I'd still prefer life to give me Pina Coladas.
However, so many of you are making "lemonade" for us! Thank you to Kevin and all the other Aardvarks for arranging a benefit concert. I'll be sure to post the details here on the blog. Thanks also to Cathy of the Houston N.D. club for taking us under her wing. You have been the source of so many blessings: airport transportation, a rental car, home deliveries! I can't thank you enough! There are too many "Thank Yous" to list here, but I assure you we think of all of you everyday with humility and gratitude.
I have to sign off for the moment. I need to get home to Jeff--and I'm absolutely BAKING in the sunny window of this cafe. It is supposed to be 63 degrees in Houston today. It's sunny and warm--great flying weather for Jeff's mom who arrives for a Houston shift this afternoon. Which means I'll be flying home on Saturday! I'll try to keep posting in the meantime. Please keep praying for Jeff to gain strength and for him to continue to persevere.
Kelly
I found a plug-in, so thought I'd take advantageof it long enough to give you all a meaningful update since we've been out of touch for the past couple of days.
But first, I have a little story . . . When I told Jeff's mom about our computer problems she blamed it on the devil, but I refuse to flatter him by giving him any credit. Only God is powerful enough to inflict this kind of suffering. Really. I'm not talking about the computer problems, of course, but the entirety of this incredible situation. One of my all-time favorite books ("Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis) has a passage where two devils are discussing their frustration with the fact that although they are perceived by humans as having superior powers to inflict pain and suffering even THEY have not been able to use suffering the way God does. The book hypothesizes that God chooses those he loves the most to suffer the most in order to vex the devil. God chooses his favorites to bear unimaginable suffering and pain because he knows that, even then, they will not turn from him. In doing so, God uses the devil's own tools with more purpose and effect than the devil himself, because through this unimaginable suffering, God's chosen ones actually draw CLOSER to God and refuse to seek relief by rejecting him or turning elsewhere (to the devil) for help. So, I suppose I should be flattered or grateful that God has chosen Jeff and me and our children (and all of our family, really) to suffer so much.
You know what they say . . . "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade." But I'd still prefer life to give me Pina Coladas.
However, so many of you are making "lemonade" for us! Thank you to Kevin and all the other Aardvarks for arranging a benefit concert. I'll be sure to post the details here on the blog. Thanks also to Cathy of the Houston N.D. club for taking us under her wing. You have been the source of so many blessings: airport transportation, a rental car, home deliveries! I can't thank you enough! There are too many "Thank Yous" to list here, but I assure you we think of all of you everyday with humility and gratitude.
I have to sign off for the moment. I need to get home to Jeff--and I'm absolutely BAKING in the sunny window of this cafe. It is supposed to be 63 degrees in Houston today. It's sunny and warm--great flying weather for Jeff's mom who arrives for a Houston shift this afternoon. Which means I'll be flying home on Saturday! I'll try to keep posting in the meantime. Please keep praying for Jeff to gain strength and for him to continue to persevere.
Kelly
Update
Hi All:
Sorry for the interruption--Jeff's computer broke on Tuesday so we couldn't charge it or connect to the internet, so we've been unable to access the internet, e-mail, etc. for the past few days.
We replaced the cord, so we can charge the computer, but since leaving the hospital yesterday we have no way of accessing the internet (we're having trouble hooking up the service in our apartment). So, I'm in a little cafe mooching off of their internet connection and hoping I can type this before my last few precious seconds of battery power run out.
I'll type more as soon as I find an internet connection AND a plug-in. Until then, rest assured we are not ignoring all of your posts and e-mails and will be back up and running as soon as possible.
In the meantime, Jeff is rebounding well. His white blood counts were already back up to normal before we left the hospital. However, he still has to give himself a daily shot of Neupogen as a precautionary measure because they can take another dip in the post-hospital week. He ate a blueberry waffle last night (his first solid food in a week)! Now his job is to rest up and fatten up for the next round! More to come . . .
Kelly
Sorry for the interruption--Jeff's computer broke on Tuesday so we couldn't charge it or connect to the internet, so we've been unable to access the internet, e-mail, etc. for the past few days.
We replaced the cord, so we can charge the computer, but since leaving the hospital yesterday we have no way of accessing the internet (we're having trouble hooking up the service in our apartment). So, I'm in a little cafe mooching off of their internet connection and hoping I can type this before my last few precious seconds of battery power run out.
I'll type more as soon as I find an internet connection AND a plug-in. Until then, rest assured we are not ignoring all of your posts and e-mails and will be back up and running as soon as possible.
In the meantime, Jeff is rebounding well. His white blood counts were already back up to normal before we left the hospital. However, he still has to give himself a daily shot of Neupogen as a precautionary measure because they can take another dip in the post-hospital week. He ate a blueberry waffle last night (his first solid food in a week)! Now his job is to rest up and fatten up for the next round! More to come . . .
Kelly
Monday, January 22, 2007
Waiting . . .
Hi Everyone!
Jeff finished his last treatment this evening! Yay!! So, he is officially done with Round One. Now, they must observe him for 24 hours to make sure he can eat, drink, and walk on his own. They also have to monitor his temperature and blood pressure because he can only be released if they are in the normal range. If not, they'll continue to observe him. If all goes well, it looks like he'll be discharged on the 24th.
The only other (minor) set back--if you can even call it that--is that his blood counts came back "low." This is to be expected because chemotherapy impairs the body's ability to effectively and efficiently produce new white and red blood cells. The doctor said counts can be "mildly low," "moderately low," or "severly low." He said Jeff is "right in the middle." Therefore, Jeff will have to have a daily shot of a drug called "Neupogen" to bring his white blood count up. He'll also have to have a weekly shot of a drug called "Procrit" to increase his red blood count. He had his first dose of both drugs earlier this evening. The good news is that even if his counts remain "low" it will not necessarily compromise his ability to start the next round of treatment. Sounds like they will forge ahead regardless!
And speaking of good news . . . Jeff may not lose his hair to chemotherapy after all. People undergoing chemotherapy frequently lose their hair. However, the nurse told me today that people with Jeff's chemo combination do not always lose their hair and sometimes just have a little bit of "shedding" or thinning. Some people do not lose their hair at all. Of course, some people do lose their hair, but it sounds like it is not at all a certainty and that odds are better than not that he won't. So, I guess I should not have been so quick to shave my head in a show of solidarity. Just kidding! Ha Ha!
I'll update everyone again tomorrow. In the meantime, please read Jeff's post below!
Kelly
Jeff finished his last treatment this evening! Yay!! So, he is officially done with Round One. Now, they must observe him for 24 hours to make sure he can eat, drink, and walk on his own. They also have to monitor his temperature and blood pressure because he can only be released if they are in the normal range. If not, they'll continue to observe him. If all goes well, it looks like he'll be discharged on the 24th.
The only other (minor) set back--if you can even call it that--is that his blood counts came back "low." This is to be expected because chemotherapy impairs the body's ability to effectively and efficiently produce new white and red blood cells. The doctor said counts can be "mildly low," "moderately low," or "severly low." He said Jeff is "right in the middle." Therefore, Jeff will have to have a daily shot of a drug called "Neupogen" to bring his white blood count up. He'll also have to have a weekly shot of a drug called "Procrit" to increase his red blood count. He had his first dose of both drugs earlier this evening. The good news is that even if his counts remain "low" it will not necessarily compromise his ability to start the next round of treatment. Sounds like they will forge ahead regardless!
And speaking of good news . . . Jeff may not lose his hair to chemotherapy after all. People undergoing chemotherapy frequently lose their hair. However, the nurse told me today that people with Jeff's chemo combination do not always lose their hair and sometimes just have a little bit of "shedding" or thinning. Some people do not lose their hair at all. Of course, some people do lose their hair, but it sounds like it is not at all a certainty and that odds are better than not that he won't. So, I guess I should not have been so quick to shave my head in a show of solidarity. Just kidding! Ha Ha!
I'll update everyone again tomorrow. In the meantime, please read Jeff's post below!
Kelly
Public Service Announcement
Jeff here . . .
I don't know why I am going through this. That's something I'll probably never know. But I do know that I want to make sure no one else has to go through anything like this if I can help it.
So, if you are fair skinned or of northern European heritage (e.g. Irish, English, German, Polish, etc), have had at least one major sunburn in your life, or have lots of moles (dysplastic nevii) on your body, YOU NEED TO CALL A DERMATOLOGIST. Dermatologists are nice people. Moreover, because dermatology residencies are among the most competitive for medical students, dermatologists are also really smart people. A dermatologist can look at your skin to identify any potentially cancerous lesions.
When you call the dermatologist, ask for a skin checkup. Wear comfortable clothing to the appointment because you are probably going to have to shed most of it. The dermatologist will look at all your skin, including several places that you may not be able to see for yourself, like your back, your scalp, the bottom of your feet, even between your toes. If the dermatologist sees something suspicious, he may want to remove it immediately. LET HIM DO IT! Better to carry around a couple of stitches than a festering cancer.
If you live in Wauwatosa, I strongly recommend Dr. James Barnett. He is an excellent doctor. If you would like a reference to a dermatologist elsewhere, I will do my best to get you one.
I don't know why I am going through this. That's something I'll probably never know. But I do know that I want to make sure no one else has to go through anything like this if I can help it.
So, if you are fair skinned or of northern European heritage (e.g. Irish, English, German, Polish, etc), have had at least one major sunburn in your life, or have lots of moles (dysplastic nevii) on your body, YOU NEED TO CALL A DERMATOLOGIST. Dermatologists are nice people. Moreover, because dermatology residencies are among the most competitive for medical students, dermatologists are also really smart people. A dermatologist can look at your skin to identify any potentially cancerous lesions.
When you call the dermatologist, ask for a skin checkup. Wear comfortable clothing to the appointment because you are probably going to have to shed most of it. The dermatologist will look at all your skin, including several places that you may not be able to see for yourself, like your back, your scalp, the bottom of your feet, even between your toes. If the dermatologist sees something suspicious, he may want to remove it immediately. LET HIM DO IT! Better to carry around a couple of stitches than a festering cancer.
If you live in Wauwatosa, I strongly recommend Dr. James Barnett. He is an excellent doctor. If you would like a reference to a dermatologist elsewhere, I will do my best to get you one.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Almost There!
Hi All!
We had a great day today. Things seem to have gotten easier day by day. Although Jeff didn't sleep well last night, he woke up around 7 a.m. this morning and watched mass on T.V. Ironically, it was a live broadcast from the Basilica at Notre Dame. I took it as a good sign (which I look for everywhere and in everything these days!). He took a nap and a shower and then decided he felt well-enough to go downstairs to the hospital chapel for "real" mass. This is no small feat considering he has to haul around 6 or 7 IV bags and a big IV stand/cart everywhere he goes. So, he took an elevator ride today and walked all the way to the chapel. He did a great job, but was exhausted when he got back to the room. However, he kept himself awake with hope that he would be sleepy tonight and not have a reprise of last night's wakefulness.
He talked to his Mom and Dad on the phone and we talked to the kids. Sounds like Aubrey and Regan are knitting up a storm. Way to go, Girls! Keep up the great work! After that, Jeff felt good enough to check his own messages and was very excited to read all of your comments and e-mails! Keep'em coming! He also watched part of the Chicago/New Orleans football game. Then, Dr. Legha stopped by to check-on Jeff and declared that he is doing great and has had "a very easy time of it." I'm sure it doesn't feel that way to Jeff, but I'm also sure Dr. Legha has seen people much worse off. He seemed encouraged by Jeff's progress and was glad to hear Jeff was eating ice cream sundaes.
Tonight, Jeff finished his last 2 doses of chemotherapy! His blood tests came back normal so he was able to take the Cisplatin as usual. He's on his last dose of Interleukin-2 and will finish that treatment tomorrow night. He also has to take one more shot of interferon tomorrow. After that, they must monitor him for 24 hours, so if all goes well, Jeff might be released on January 24th. After that, they will monitor his white blood counts to make sure he is not too susceptible to infection and to make sure he can bounce back for Round Two of treatment in two weeks.
So, keep praying. He needs all of your prayers so much. Because the drugs make him so sleepy and groggy, he said that he has trouble concentrating and thinking. (Note to Aubrey: When we come visit Dad let's make sure to play Scrabble with him since we might have a little bitty chance of finally winning! Ha Ha!). Although he hasn't been able to dwell on his circumstances (which has been good), he also hasn't been able to devote his mental energy to positive thoughts of shrinking and eradicating the cancer; staying strong; etc. So, he needs all of you to help him in this regard.
I know you'll come through for him!
Love, Kelly
We had a great day today. Things seem to have gotten easier day by day. Although Jeff didn't sleep well last night, he woke up around 7 a.m. this morning and watched mass on T.V. Ironically, it was a live broadcast from the Basilica at Notre Dame. I took it as a good sign (which I look for everywhere and in everything these days!). He took a nap and a shower and then decided he felt well-enough to go downstairs to the hospital chapel for "real" mass. This is no small feat considering he has to haul around 6 or 7 IV bags and a big IV stand/cart everywhere he goes. So, he took an elevator ride today and walked all the way to the chapel. He did a great job, but was exhausted when he got back to the room. However, he kept himself awake with hope that he would be sleepy tonight and not have a reprise of last night's wakefulness.
He talked to his Mom and Dad on the phone and we talked to the kids. Sounds like Aubrey and Regan are knitting up a storm. Way to go, Girls! Keep up the great work! After that, Jeff felt good enough to check his own messages and was very excited to read all of your comments and e-mails! Keep'em coming! He also watched part of the Chicago/New Orleans football game. Then, Dr. Legha stopped by to check-on Jeff and declared that he is doing great and has had "a very easy time of it." I'm sure it doesn't feel that way to Jeff, but I'm also sure Dr. Legha has seen people much worse off. He seemed encouraged by Jeff's progress and was glad to hear Jeff was eating ice cream sundaes.
Tonight, Jeff finished his last 2 doses of chemotherapy! His blood tests came back normal so he was able to take the Cisplatin as usual. He's on his last dose of Interleukin-2 and will finish that treatment tomorrow night. He also has to take one more shot of interferon tomorrow. After that, they must monitor him for 24 hours, so if all goes well, Jeff might be released on January 24th. After that, they will monitor his white blood counts to make sure he is not too susceptible to infection and to make sure he can bounce back for Round Two of treatment in two weeks.
So, keep praying. He needs all of your prayers so much. Because the drugs make him so sleepy and groggy, he said that he has trouble concentrating and thinking. (Note to Aubrey: When we come visit Dad let's make sure to play Scrabble with him since we might have a little bitty chance of finally winning! Ha Ha!). Although he hasn't been able to dwell on his circumstances (which has been good), he also hasn't been able to devote his mental energy to positive thoughts of shrinking and eradicating the cancer; staying strong; etc. So, he needs all of you to help him in this regard.
I know you'll come through for him!
Love, Kelly
Chemo--Day 3
Me again.
Jeff sailed through day 3 of chemotherapy. No chills, no shaking--he took it like a champ! He had a restless night of sleep though. The nurse told us that the Interleukin-2 (Proleukin) can make patients jittery, anxious, and restless, so this, coupled with the fact that Jeff has slept for the past three days, caused him to be awake most of the night. However, he is sleeping very well now and will definitely make up for it by sleeping most of the day, I'm sure.
The only other thing that is at all noteworthy is that he had a big drop in blood pressure last night (it was 75/47). He ate a hot fudge sundae from McDonald's and it immediately went back up to the normal range. So, I guess McDonalds isn't all bad and their blood-pressure-raising food can have a therepeutic effect in the right context!
Otherwise, we are waiting for the doctor to make his rounds and check on Jeff. In the meantime, we are also waiting for the results of a blood test to determine the amount of "creatinine" in Jeff's blood. This will determine to what extent, if any, Jeff's kidneys have been affected by the Cisplatin chemotherapy drug. Cisplatin is derived from platinum and I guess your kidneys get all offended when they have to clean platinum out of your system. If the blood tests show that Jeff's kidneys are having a hard time, the doctor will decide how to handle the next (and last) administration of Cisplatin tonight.
Also, just for fun, I'm including a link about the Groshong Catheter. http://www.cc.nih.gov/ccc/patient_education/pepubs/groshong.pdf This is the tube they placed in Jeff on Day 1 before they started the chemo. I found out yesterday that the tubes are actually threaded to/through Jeff's heart! Yikes! I'm glad I didn't know that before they took him downstairs to have it installed. I would have been a lot more concerned. Oh well. This is a good example of "what you don't know, can't hurt you." He's doing fine and experiencing no pain or adverse effects from the catheter whatsoever.
Finally, I now have access to our new medial apartment. It is very nice and the accommodations will be perfect for our needs. So, our new address in Houston is:
8181 Fannin, #2514
Houston, Texas 77054
We will not be there on a regular basis until Jeff is released from the hospital on either the 23rd or 24th. I don't have a phone number yet. I will likely be getting Jeff a cell phone later this week. Right now we share my cell phone that I use for work, so I would like him to have one of his own that he can use all the time here in Houston. When I have a phone number, I'll let you know. You can always contact me directly by e-mail, as well, at kellymdodd@juno.com I check this account often. If you have been e-mailing Jeff directly, he has been getting those messages. I check his accounts for him everyday and read his messages to him. I also read him all of your blog comments and the guestbook entries on the familyfund site. It is the highlight of his day (next to talking to his kids, of course!). Although he did enjoy that hot fudge sundae quite a bit . . .
The prayers are working. Keep it up! We need each and every one of you!
Love, Kelly
Jeff sailed through day 3 of chemotherapy. No chills, no shaking--he took it like a champ! He had a restless night of sleep though. The nurse told us that the Interleukin-2 (Proleukin) can make patients jittery, anxious, and restless, so this, coupled with the fact that Jeff has slept for the past three days, caused him to be awake most of the night. However, he is sleeping very well now and will definitely make up for it by sleeping most of the day, I'm sure.
The only other thing that is at all noteworthy is that he had a big drop in blood pressure last night (it was 75/47). He ate a hot fudge sundae from McDonald's and it immediately went back up to the normal range. So, I guess McDonalds isn't all bad and their blood-pressure-raising food can have a therepeutic effect in the right context!
Otherwise, we are waiting for the doctor to make his rounds and check on Jeff. In the meantime, we are also waiting for the results of a blood test to determine the amount of "creatinine" in Jeff's blood. This will determine to what extent, if any, Jeff's kidneys have been affected by the Cisplatin chemotherapy drug. Cisplatin is derived from platinum and I guess your kidneys get all offended when they have to clean platinum out of your system. If the blood tests show that Jeff's kidneys are having a hard time, the doctor will decide how to handle the next (and last) administration of Cisplatin tonight.
Also, just for fun, I'm including a link about the Groshong Catheter. http://www.cc.nih.gov/ccc/patient_education/pepubs/groshong.pdf This is the tube they placed in Jeff on Day 1 before they started the chemo. I found out yesterday that the tubes are actually threaded to/through Jeff's heart! Yikes! I'm glad I didn't know that before they took him downstairs to have it installed. I would have been a lot more concerned. Oh well. This is a good example of "what you don't know, can't hurt you." He's doing fine and experiencing no pain or adverse effects from the catheter whatsoever.
Finally, I now have access to our new medial apartment. It is very nice and the accommodations will be perfect for our needs. So, our new address in Houston is:
8181 Fannin, #2514
Houston, Texas 77054
We will not be there on a regular basis until Jeff is released from the hospital on either the 23rd or 24th. I don't have a phone number yet. I will likely be getting Jeff a cell phone later this week. Right now we share my cell phone that I use for work, so I would like him to have one of his own that he can use all the time here in Houston. When I have a phone number, I'll let you know. You can always contact me directly by e-mail, as well, at kellymdodd@juno.com I check this account often. If you have been e-mailing Jeff directly, he has been getting those messages. I check his accounts for him everyday and read his messages to him. I also read him all of your blog comments and the guestbook entries on the familyfund site. It is the highlight of his day (next to talking to his kids, of course!). Although he did enjoy that hot fudge sundae quite a bit . . .
The prayers are working. Keep it up! We need each and every one of you!
Love, Kelly
Saturday, January 20, 2007
A New Day
Hi All!
What a difference a day makes! Dr. Legha came to see Jeff yesterday and took him off of the anti-nausea medicine that was knocking him out. By 3:00 p.m. yesterday, Jeff was alert for short periods and even ate two cups of applesauce and a cup of orange juice! Yay!! He ate a little bit of his dinner and talked very briefly to Jack and Regan on the phone last night (Aubrey was at a friend's house). He slept pretty well (except that the alarm on his stupid IV machine kept going off all night, so the nurse kept having to come fix it). He went through his second round of chemo last night and got his second doses of the immune boosters. He started shaking quite a bit in response to one of the chemo drugs. The drug induces fever and patients often get the chills for 15 or 20 minutes while they are working up the fever. The nurses can administer a shot to stop the chills and shaking, but Jeff very bravely refused it because the doctor told him that the more pristine the treatment remains, the better it will work, so it is best if he doesn't have to introduce other drugs to control side effects. Jeff was very tough last night and said "I'll do whatever I have to do" and refused the shot. His shaking subsided as expected and he had an otherwise uneventful night.
Even better, he got up at 9:00 a.m. this morning and felt well-enough to take a shower on his own. He chatted with me for a while and ate a banana. It was a really big morning for him. It's the most activity he has had in the last two days. However, he is again very tired and is sleeping as I write this.
I'm going to sign the lease on our medical apartment today. It sounds very nice. You might be able to look at it on-line by visiting http://www.archstoneapartments.com/apartments/texas/houston/archstone_medical_center/default.htm
I'll update you all again soon. In the meantime, I want to thank my brother Jim for offering to leave at a moments notice to come take care of me in Houston while I take care of Jeff. It was really very sweet of him, but I'm feeling good and getting along fine right now and want to save such big offers of help for when I REALLY need them. I also want to thank Robin Cox for arranging play dates for the kids. Jack is very excited to go on his first "real" play date. I think the variety and distration helps the time go faster for the kids and really helps out. Thank You So Much, Robin. For EVERYTHING!!
What a difference a day makes! Dr. Legha came to see Jeff yesterday and took him off of the anti-nausea medicine that was knocking him out. By 3:00 p.m. yesterday, Jeff was alert for short periods and even ate two cups of applesauce and a cup of orange juice! Yay!! He ate a little bit of his dinner and talked very briefly to Jack and Regan on the phone last night (Aubrey was at a friend's house). He slept pretty well (except that the alarm on his stupid IV machine kept going off all night, so the nurse kept having to come fix it). He went through his second round of chemo last night and got his second doses of the immune boosters. He started shaking quite a bit in response to one of the chemo drugs. The drug induces fever and patients often get the chills for 15 or 20 minutes while they are working up the fever. The nurses can administer a shot to stop the chills and shaking, but Jeff very bravely refused it because the doctor told him that the more pristine the treatment remains, the better it will work, so it is best if he doesn't have to introduce other drugs to control side effects. Jeff was very tough last night and said "I'll do whatever I have to do" and refused the shot. His shaking subsided as expected and he had an otherwise uneventful night.
Even better, he got up at 9:00 a.m. this morning and felt well-enough to take a shower on his own. He chatted with me for a while and ate a banana. It was a really big morning for him. It's the most activity he has had in the last two days. However, he is again very tired and is sleeping as I write this.
I'm going to sign the lease on our medical apartment today. It sounds very nice. You might be able to look at it on-line by visiting http://www.archstoneapartments.com/apartments/texas/houston/archstone_medical_center/default.htm
I'll update you all again soon. In the meantime, I want to thank my brother Jim for offering to leave at a moments notice to come take care of me in Houston while I take care of Jeff. It was really very sweet of him, but I'm feeling good and getting along fine right now and want to save such big offers of help for when I REALLY need them. I also want to thank Robin Cox for arranging play dates for the kids. Jack is very excited to go on his first "real" play date. I think the variety and distration helps the time go faster for the kids and really helps out. Thank You So Much, Robin. For EVERYTHING!!
Friday, January 19, 2007
Chemo--Day 2
Hi Everyone!
Today is officially day two of Jeff's chemotherapy. He will take his last doses of this first treatment session on January 23rd. Until then, the doctors will keep hammering away at the cancer. They are really going at it hard-core! Late last night, Jeff finished his first round of chemotherapy and started his first round of bio-therapy (the immune boosters). He will receive daily shots of Interferon-alpha and will be on a continuous IV drip of Proleukin for the remainder of his stay in the hospital. These drugs are EXTREMELY potent. If you're interested in learning more, please visit http://www.proleukin.com. Take a look at the sections on "How Does It Work, " "Side Effects," and, of course, "Melanoma Patient Success Stories."
So far, the staff has been managing Jeff's side effects very well and have kept them to a minimum. He had a fever of 102.7 last night, but this was medically induced because, as the doctor explained, fever debilitates cancer cells and makes them more susceptible to treatment, so fever actually helps the medicines work. His only other side effect has been some mild swelling/weight gain (4 pounds) due to the extremely high volume of fluids they are pumping into him. Again, this was to be expected and is quite normal. However, the most serious side-effect for Jeff has been the fatigue.
The nurses explained that everyone responds differently to treatment and that side effects are unpredictable and unique to each individual, however, EVERYONE has fatigue. But, fatigue doesn't even begin to describe it. Jeff is basically comatose. He doesn't wake up or respond when the nurses come into take his blood pressure and temperature. He doesn't respond to noise--doors opening/shutting, people talking to him-trying to wake him, etc. He is totally and completely out of it. This morning the nurse told me he HAD to eat breakfast. He couldn't just "try" to eat--he had to actually do it. So, they brought him food at 8:30 a.m. and I tried to feed him and keep him awake, but he just couldn't stay conscious long enough to cooperate. I can totally see now why they like to have a family member actually stay in the hospital with him--he needs round the clock care and the nursing staff simply can't spend the time necessary to feed him, make sure he drinks water and Gatorade, and try to wake him up/make him sit up every so often. He also needs someone to simply speak for him (I had to decide what he should have for lunch and dinner; I have to tell the nurses when his IVs run-out or when air is in the line because he doesn't hear the machine's alarm; etc. I'm so glad I'm here with him. I don't know what a cancer patient would do if they had to be in the hospital alone.
I don't mean to be so graphic in my descriptions of what is going on, but I have two reasons for going into detail: (1) other people who have a diagnosis of metastatic melanoma may be cruising the internet looking for hope and information, so if they come across this blog, I want them to learn something about the process; and (2) it will serve as a little diary for Jeff. He isn't entirely aware of what he's going through at the moment and I want him to be able to read back over his days in the hospital and see how well he did and how much he accomplished so that he can be proud of how much he's gone through. Finally, it is therapeutic for me to write these blog entries--it makes me feel like I'm "doing" something. It's either this or watching "The View" and Rosie annoys me. :-)
I'll write more after the doctor makes his rounds and checks on Jeff this afternoon. In the meantime, rest assured that even though he is tired, he is doing very well and has exhibited no unusual or scary side effects whatsoever. So, please don't worry or be scared. He's doing exactly what he is supposed to be doing to get the job done!
P.S. "Father David" the hospital's Catholic priest came this morning to bless Jeff and offer him communion which he, unfortunatley, was too asleep to receive. However, I'm sure he benefitted all the same. He said a very nice prayer which included Thanksgiving for all of Jeff's family and friends who are supporting him, so know that you all have been prayed for too!
Much Love, Kelly
Today is officially day two of Jeff's chemotherapy. He will take his last doses of this first treatment session on January 23rd. Until then, the doctors will keep hammering away at the cancer. They are really going at it hard-core! Late last night, Jeff finished his first round of chemotherapy and started his first round of bio-therapy (the immune boosters). He will receive daily shots of Interferon-alpha and will be on a continuous IV drip of Proleukin for the remainder of his stay in the hospital. These drugs are EXTREMELY potent. If you're interested in learning more, please visit http://www.proleukin.com. Take a look at the sections on "How Does It Work, " "Side Effects," and, of course, "Melanoma Patient Success Stories."
So far, the staff has been managing Jeff's side effects very well and have kept them to a minimum. He had a fever of 102.7 last night, but this was medically induced because, as the doctor explained, fever debilitates cancer cells and makes them more susceptible to treatment, so fever actually helps the medicines work. His only other side effect has been some mild swelling/weight gain (4 pounds) due to the extremely high volume of fluids they are pumping into him. Again, this was to be expected and is quite normal. However, the most serious side-effect for Jeff has been the fatigue.
The nurses explained that everyone responds differently to treatment and that side effects are unpredictable and unique to each individual, however, EVERYONE has fatigue. But, fatigue doesn't even begin to describe it. Jeff is basically comatose. He doesn't wake up or respond when the nurses come into take his blood pressure and temperature. He doesn't respond to noise--doors opening/shutting, people talking to him-trying to wake him, etc. He is totally and completely out of it. This morning the nurse told me he HAD to eat breakfast. He couldn't just "try" to eat--he had to actually do it. So, they brought him food at 8:30 a.m. and I tried to feed him and keep him awake, but he just couldn't stay conscious long enough to cooperate. I can totally see now why they like to have a family member actually stay in the hospital with him--he needs round the clock care and the nursing staff simply can't spend the time necessary to feed him, make sure he drinks water and Gatorade, and try to wake him up/make him sit up every so often. He also needs someone to simply speak for him (I had to decide what he should have for lunch and dinner; I have to tell the nurses when his IVs run-out or when air is in the line because he doesn't hear the machine's alarm; etc. I'm so glad I'm here with him. I don't know what a cancer patient would do if they had to be in the hospital alone.
I don't mean to be so graphic in my descriptions of what is going on, but I have two reasons for going into detail: (1) other people who have a diagnosis of metastatic melanoma may be cruising the internet looking for hope and information, so if they come across this blog, I want them to learn something about the process; and (2) it will serve as a little diary for Jeff. He isn't entirely aware of what he's going through at the moment and I want him to be able to read back over his days in the hospital and see how well he did and how much he accomplished so that he can be proud of how much he's gone through. Finally, it is therapeutic for me to write these blog entries--it makes me feel like I'm "doing" something. It's either this or watching "The View" and Rosie annoys me. :-)
I'll write more after the doctor makes his rounds and checks on Jeff this afternoon. In the meantime, rest assured that even though he is tired, he is doing very well and has exhibited no unusual or scary side effects whatsoever. So, please don't worry or be scared. He's doing exactly what he is supposed to be doing to get the job done!
P.S. "Father David" the hospital's Catholic priest came this morning to bless Jeff and offer him communion which he, unfortunatley, was too asleep to receive. However, I'm sure he benefitted all the same. He said a very nice prayer which included Thanksgiving for all of Jeff's family and friends who are supporting him, so know that you all have been prayed for too!
Much Love, Kelly
Thursday, January 18, 2007
No Turning Back . . .
I've commandeered the blog because Jeff is asleep. We checked into St. Luke's Hospital at 9:00 a.m. this morning. As an interesting side note, this hospital has a McDonald's inside it! It's either pure irony (this hospital is the premier heart hospital in the area) or it is ingenious (albeit, ruthless) marketing.
Jeff ate a good lunch in his hospital room, then they took him to a surgical radiologist who inserted a "central line." This is a catheter that is inserted into a main artery through the neck. Two small tubes remain exposed and are coiled and taped to his chest. Hydrating fluids are administered through one of the tubes; medications are administered through the other. Jeff said he will be required to keep the cenral line in for one year. P.S. He can never get it wet, so showers are going to get a little more challenging!
After the doctors inserted the central line, they gave him some anti-nausea medication (one given orally and the other given through his IV). Then they brought him dinner and encouraged him to eat before they began the chemotherapy. However, as soon as they brought his dinner, they gave him two more anti-nausea mediations. These made him extremely tired almost immediately, and before he could finish eating he fell asleep.
The nurse came in the room to administer the first chemotherapy drug called "DTIC" at 6:30 p.m. She tried to wake Jeff to explain what she was doing, but he was completely out of it. She started the DTIC via an IV drip and left the room. I kissed Jeff on the forehead and cried. Jeff is officially undergoing chemotherapy and there is no turning back. I trust his doctor completely and the nursing staff is wonderful. I just hate that Jeff has to go through this and no matter what the outcome, I realize our lives will never be the same again. I feel like today was both the end of our "old" life and the beginning of our "new" one. I'm sure we'll all adjust.
I just took a break to talk to the kids on the phone. They are being real troopers! Jeff was too exhausted to hold the phone and kept falling asleep while he tried to talk to them, so we kept the call short tonight. As we talked on the phone, Jeff finished the first chemo treatment! (It is now 8:30 p.m.). So far, so good.
I'll update everyone again tomorrow. Until then, I want to say a special thank you to our friend Katie for taking Regan and Aubrey for a girls' night out tonight and to my extra-special friend Liz for dropping by the house tonight. I wish I could have been there to see you! I'll likely be home late next week. In the meantime, we'll be making arrangements for Jeff's mom to come to Houston for the second week of treatment (the sick/tired week) when he'll be out of the hospital. I rented a "medical apartment" today--thank you, Betty for pointing us in the right direction!--so, very soon, Jeff will have an address in Houston where you can send him well-wishes during his off-weeks when he is out of the hospital. In the meantime, he is in Room 2034 at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston. We'll likely be here until next Tuesday or Wednesday if all goes as planned.
In the meantime, please keep praying. Don't let up! He needs it now more than ever.
Jeff ate a good lunch in his hospital room, then they took him to a surgical radiologist who inserted a "central line." This is a catheter that is inserted into a main artery through the neck. Two small tubes remain exposed and are coiled and taped to his chest. Hydrating fluids are administered through one of the tubes; medications are administered through the other. Jeff said he will be required to keep the cenral line in for one year. P.S. He can never get it wet, so showers are going to get a little more challenging!
After the doctors inserted the central line, they gave him some anti-nausea medication (one given orally and the other given through his IV). Then they brought him dinner and encouraged him to eat before they began the chemotherapy. However, as soon as they brought his dinner, they gave him two more anti-nausea mediations. These made him extremely tired almost immediately, and before he could finish eating he fell asleep.
The nurse came in the room to administer the first chemotherapy drug called "DTIC" at 6:30 p.m. She tried to wake Jeff to explain what she was doing, but he was completely out of it. She started the DTIC via an IV drip and left the room. I kissed Jeff on the forehead and cried. Jeff is officially undergoing chemotherapy and there is no turning back. I trust his doctor completely and the nursing staff is wonderful. I just hate that Jeff has to go through this and no matter what the outcome, I realize our lives will never be the same again. I feel like today was both the end of our "old" life and the beginning of our "new" one. I'm sure we'll all adjust.
I just took a break to talk to the kids on the phone. They are being real troopers! Jeff was too exhausted to hold the phone and kept falling asleep while he tried to talk to them, so we kept the call short tonight. As we talked on the phone, Jeff finished the first chemo treatment! (It is now 8:30 p.m.). So far, so good.
I'll update everyone again tomorrow. Until then, I want to say a special thank you to our friend Katie for taking Regan and Aubrey for a girls' night out tonight and to my extra-special friend Liz for dropping by the house tonight. I wish I could have been there to see you! I'll likely be home late next week. In the meantime, we'll be making arrangements for Jeff's mom to come to Houston for the second week of treatment (the sick/tired week) when he'll be out of the hospital. I rented a "medical apartment" today--thank you, Betty for pointing us in the right direction!--so, very soon, Jeff will have an address in Houston where you can send him well-wishes during his off-weeks when he is out of the hospital. In the meantime, he is in Room 2034 at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston. We'll likely be here until next Tuesday or Wednesday if all goes as planned.
In the meantime, please keep praying. Don't let up! He needs it now more than ever.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
The Fight Begins
Hi!
We have good news and better news. The good news is that we have settled on a treatment option. The better news is that we start treatment tomorrow (Thursday, 1/18/07).
The decision-making process started yesterday when we paid our first visit to MD Anderson. It was an impressive facility and the people were friendly. We felt very comfortable there. We were assigned to a team led by Dr. Wen-Jen Hwu (pronounced "who"), a doctor who came to MD Anderson from Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York. She presented us with two treatment options. The first option involved a study in which one group of patients receives one of the most common chemotherapy drugs (DTIC) and the other receives treatment with an experimental chemotherapy drug called Temozolomide (spelling may be wrong). Dr. Hwu created this international study and believed the experimental dose would prove more effective than the standard treatment of DTIC, but she could not guarantee that I would be in the group that received the experimental drug. The second option she presented is referred to as Biochemo because it involves a cocktail of traditional chemotherapy drugs along with a cocktail of drugs designed to boost the body's natural immune system. This is an aggressive in-patient treatment that can produce a quick response. Dr. Hwu recommended this option as the best for me and said she could work with my local oncologist in Milwaukee to administer the treatment.
Dr. Hwu made a positive impression on us. She was very competent, professional, intelligent, and friendly. What really stood out in our minds, however, was that she obviously had a lot of respect for Dr. Sewa Legha (pronounced "Leg-uh"). Dr. Hwu knew that we were going directly from MD Anderson to meet with Dr. Legha, and she mentioned that she has known Dr. Legha for quite some time, that he had worked at MD Anderson for many years, and that he was well liked at MD Anderson. She also mentioned that the Biochemo treatment option, which she recommended to us, was developed by Dr. Legha while he was at MD Anderson. Finally, she asked us to let her know if Dr. Legha recommended something other than Biochemo. The way she asked that question gave us the impression that she highly respected his opinion as a doctor.
So we felt as if we were visiting a guru when we came to Dr. Legha's office at St. Luke's, which is literally right around the corner from MD Anderson. He was very personable, mentioning that he studied in Wauwatosa at the Medical College there while he was a young doctor. He spent a considerable amount of time asking personal questions: how many children did we have, what were their ages, what did my parents do, what did I do, which magazines did I write for, and so on. He then recommended the Biochemo option to us. He did not recommend that we do it in Milwaukee, though. He said the effectiveness of Biochemo, which is a particularly aggressive form of treatment, is dependent in large part on the skill of the person administering it. He said the doctors at MD Anderson could administer it properly and that he, being the person who developed the treatment, could administer it properly. But he said no one in Milwaukee could do it properly and therefore we were not going to get the full benefit of the treatment if we did it in Milwaukee. He said if we really wanted the best shot at beating it, we needed to stay in Houston for treatment. He was very complementary of MD Anderson, but it was obvious that he was very confident in his ability to treat melanoma.
We quickly decided that Biochemo was the best option and that seeking treatment in Houston made the most sense. The question then became: do we go with MD Anderson, which is arguably the best cancer center in the US, or do we go with Dr. Legha, who developed the melanoma treatment that MD Anderson recommended to us. We decided on the latter. As impressed as we were with MD Anderson, we could not walk away from the chance to seek treatment from the man who pioneered the treatment and who was obviously held in high reverence by the MD Anderson doctors. If this treatment does not work, we will still be able to seek alternative treatments at MD Anderson. I sought consultation from Dr. Jim Cox, a melanoma scientist at the University of Missouri who also happens to be the brother of a very good friend of ours. He said the treatment I was seeking was exactly what he would do. That made me feel very good about my decision.
Here are the specifics on my treatment. It consists of three chemo drugs--Cisplatin, Vinblastine, and DTIC--that are designed specifically to kill cancer cells and two bio drugs--Interferon Alpha and Interleukin-2--that boost the immune system. These drugs are given to me over a 96 hour period. Some are given continuously, others are administered in small doses at regular intervals, and one is given as a daily shot. After five or six days in the hospital, I will be released to recover for two weeks. At the end of this three-week cycle, I am again admitted to the hospital and the process starts all over again. After two cycles, I am rescanned. Hopefully, the cancer will show signs of shrinkage. If so, Dr. Legha will administer two more cycles and rescan again. Hopefully it will show more signs of shrinkage. The treatment will continue for two more cycles and, if everything goes well, a final scan will show that the cancer has gone away completely. If any scans show that the cancer has grown, treatment will stop immedately and we will have to pursue another course of treatment. Please pray that the six cycles will do the job.
I am to report to Dr. Legha's office tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. to start the admissions process and should be hooked up to the machines by evening. Kelly will stay with me while I'm in the hospital, then she will go up to Milwaukee and somebody (hopefully my mom) will come down to be with me here. Kelly's primary order of business at this point is to find us short-term accommodations where I can stay for the many weeks -- treatment could last for four months -- when I am not in the hospital. There are lots of hotels around the Medical Center here and several contacts in the area have recommended some places we should consider.
Thank you to the many people who have called, emailed, and helped out in so many ways. You cannot imagine how good it makes me feel to know people are praying that I beat this.
God bless you all. And wear sunscreen (especially if you're one of my kids, siblings, or maternal first cousins; melanoma is a familial cancer)!
Jeff
PS. I have asked Katie Clancy to post an article that describes the treatment in more detail; you can read it by visiting her site at www.doddfamilyfund.com; you might need to give her a few days so that she has time to get it up.
We have good news and better news. The good news is that we have settled on a treatment option. The better news is that we start treatment tomorrow (Thursday, 1/18/07).
The decision-making process started yesterday when we paid our first visit to MD Anderson. It was an impressive facility and the people were friendly. We felt very comfortable there. We were assigned to a team led by Dr. Wen-Jen Hwu (pronounced "who"), a doctor who came to MD Anderson from Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York. She presented us with two treatment options. The first option involved a study in which one group of patients receives one of the most common chemotherapy drugs (DTIC) and the other receives treatment with an experimental chemotherapy drug called Temozolomide (spelling may be wrong). Dr. Hwu created this international study and believed the experimental dose would prove more effective than the standard treatment of DTIC, but she could not guarantee that I would be in the group that received the experimental drug. The second option she presented is referred to as Biochemo because it involves a cocktail of traditional chemotherapy drugs along with a cocktail of drugs designed to boost the body's natural immune system. This is an aggressive in-patient treatment that can produce a quick response. Dr. Hwu recommended this option as the best for me and said she could work with my local oncologist in Milwaukee to administer the treatment.
Dr. Hwu made a positive impression on us. She was very competent, professional, intelligent, and friendly. What really stood out in our minds, however, was that she obviously had a lot of respect for Dr. Sewa Legha (pronounced "Leg-uh"). Dr. Hwu knew that we were going directly from MD Anderson to meet with Dr. Legha, and she mentioned that she has known Dr. Legha for quite some time, that he had worked at MD Anderson for many years, and that he was well liked at MD Anderson. She also mentioned that the Biochemo treatment option, which she recommended to us, was developed by Dr. Legha while he was at MD Anderson. Finally, she asked us to let her know if Dr. Legha recommended something other than Biochemo. The way she asked that question gave us the impression that she highly respected his opinion as a doctor.
So we felt as if we were visiting a guru when we came to Dr. Legha's office at St. Luke's, which is literally right around the corner from MD Anderson. He was very personable, mentioning that he studied in Wauwatosa at the Medical College there while he was a young doctor. He spent a considerable amount of time asking personal questions: how many children did we have, what were their ages, what did my parents do, what did I do, which magazines did I write for, and so on. He then recommended the Biochemo option to us. He did not recommend that we do it in Milwaukee, though. He said the effectiveness of Biochemo, which is a particularly aggressive form of treatment, is dependent in large part on the skill of the person administering it. He said the doctors at MD Anderson could administer it properly and that he, being the person who developed the treatment, could administer it properly. But he said no one in Milwaukee could do it properly and therefore we were not going to get the full benefit of the treatment if we did it in Milwaukee. He said if we really wanted the best shot at beating it, we needed to stay in Houston for treatment. He was very complementary of MD Anderson, but it was obvious that he was very confident in his ability to treat melanoma.
We quickly decided that Biochemo was the best option and that seeking treatment in Houston made the most sense. The question then became: do we go with MD Anderson, which is arguably the best cancer center in the US, or do we go with Dr. Legha, who developed the melanoma treatment that MD Anderson recommended to us. We decided on the latter. As impressed as we were with MD Anderson, we could not walk away from the chance to seek treatment from the man who pioneered the treatment and who was obviously held in high reverence by the MD Anderson doctors. If this treatment does not work, we will still be able to seek alternative treatments at MD Anderson. I sought consultation from Dr. Jim Cox, a melanoma scientist at the University of Missouri who also happens to be the brother of a very good friend of ours. He said the treatment I was seeking was exactly what he would do. That made me feel very good about my decision.
Here are the specifics on my treatment. It consists of three chemo drugs--Cisplatin, Vinblastine, and DTIC--that are designed specifically to kill cancer cells and two bio drugs--Interferon Alpha and Interleukin-2--that boost the immune system. These drugs are given to me over a 96 hour period. Some are given continuously, others are administered in small doses at regular intervals, and one is given as a daily shot. After five or six days in the hospital, I will be released to recover for two weeks. At the end of this three-week cycle, I am again admitted to the hospital and the process starts all over again. After two cycles, I am rescanned. Hopefully, the cancer will show signs of shrinkage. If so, Dr. Legha will administer two more cycles and rescan again. Hopefully it will show more signs of shrinkage. The treatment will continue for two more cycles and, if everything goes well, a final scan will show that the cancer has gone away completely. If any scans show that the cancer has grown, treatment will stop immedately and we will have to pursue another course of treatment. Please pray that the six cycles will do the job.
I am to report to Dr. Legha's office tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. to start the admissions process and should be hooked up to the machines by evening. Kelly will stay with me while I'm in the hospital, then she will go up to Milwaukee and somebody (hopefully my mom) will come down to be with me here. Kelly's primary order of business at this point is to find us short-term accommodations where I can stay for the many weeks -- treatment could last for four months -- when I am not in the hospital. There are lots of hotels around the Medical Center here and several contacts in the area have recommended some places we should consider.
Thank you to the many people who have called, emailed, and helped out in so many ways. You cannot imagine how good it makes me feel to know people are praying that I beat this.
God bless you all. And wear sunscreen (especially if you're one of my kids, siblings, or maternal first cousins; melanoma is a familial cancer)!
Jeff
PS. I have asked Katie Clancy to post an article that describes the treatment in more detail; you can read it by visiting her site at www.doddfamilyfund.com; you might need to give her a few days so that she has time to get it up.
A Big Decision . . .
Hi Everyone!
First, we want to thank you all for embracing this blog so enthusiastically and for your continuous well-wishes and prayers. It really motivates Jeff to see that so many people are pulling for him. We visited M.D. Anderson yesterday where we met Dr. Hwu and we also met with Dr. Sewa Legha, who was an oncologist at M.D. Anderson for 25 years and who pioneered Anderson's melanoma treatment protocol. He is now in private practice with St. Luke's hospital which is across the street from M.D. Anderson. Both doctors explained the different options available to Jeff and it was immediately clear that the cancer treatment in Houston is very advanced from what he was offered in Milwaukee. Today, we have to make the Big Decision about whether to start treatment under Dr. Hwu at M.D. Anderson or under Dr. Legha at St. Luke's. Jeff has prayed a lot about the decision and, depending on the results of the MRI and blood work ordered today, he feels confident about which direction to go. I don't mean to leave everyone hanging--we won't have a definitive answer until his test results come back. I've learned that the only certainty in all of this is the uncertainty. Fortunately, Jeff and I work with wonderful people and have a phenomenal network of friends and family that help us adjust to the changes as they come. I'm sure Jeff will want to update all of you, himself, as soon as he chooses a course of action. Until then, please pray for good test results and for Jeff's peace of mind as he makes this enormous decision. We love you all!
First, we want to thank you all for embracing this blog so enthusiastically and for your continuous well-wishes and prayers. It really motivates Jeff to see that so many people are pulling for him. We visited M.D. Anderson yesterday where we met Dr. Hwu and we also met with Dr. Sewa Legha, who was an oncologist at M.D. Anderson for 25 years and who pioneered Anderson's melanoma treatment protocol. He is now in private practice with St. Luke's hospital which is across the street from M.D. Anderson. Both doctors explained the different options available to Jeff and it was immediately clear that the cancer treatment in Houston is very advanced from what he was offered in Milwaukee. Today, we have to make the Big Decision about whether to start treatment under Dr. Hwu at M.D. Anderson or under Dr. Legha at St. Luke's. Jeff has prayed a lot about the decision and, depending on the results of the MRI and blood work ordered today, he feels confident about which direction to go. I don't mean to leave everyone hanging--we won't have a definitive answer until his test results come back. I've learned that the only certainty in all of this is the uncertainty. Fortunately, Jeff and I work with wonderful people and have a phenomenal network of friends and family that help us adjust to the changes as they come. I'm sure Jeff will want to update all of you, himself, as soon as he chooses a course of action. Until then, please pray for good test results and for Jeff's peace of mind as he makes this enormous decision. We love you all!
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Welcome to Houston!
We made it to Houston! We flew out of Chicago yesterday afternoon after some hard goodbyes to the kids. Thank you, Mary Margaret for giving us a ride to O'Hare! It was snowing in Wisconsin when we left and planes in and out of Houston were delayed or cancelled due to "terrible" weather in Houston. Although we arrived substantially late, we were happy to be one of the planes that made it into Houston International Airport. We were actually entertained to learn that in Houston "terrible" weather consists of 35 degree temperatures with a threat of rain. The roads were dry, yet offices closed early, schools were closed, and people stocked up at the grocery store in anticipation of being stranded by the storm! This morning it is 32 degrees, and our hosts, Kevin and Melissa, advised us to call the hospital to make sure that Jeff's appointments will not be cancelled due to the weather. Jeff has two appointments today: one at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center where he will meet his new oncologist and one with a different oncologist at St. Luke's medical center. We have heard nothing but wonderful things about the Anderson Center and are both eager and nervous to hear what they have to tell us. We'll update you again tonight after the meetings. Until then . . .thank you to our very generous hosts, Kevin, Melissa, and Trey Gardner. Kevin was Jeff's roommate at Notre Dame and was a groomsman at our wedding. It's been great to see him again. He's always good for a laugh which is definitely what we need right now. Thanks for everything, Gardners!
Saturday, January 13, 2007
And Away We Go!
Welcome to Jeff's Daily Update. I've started this blog as a way for Jeff to leave regular updates about his progress and for family and friends who are far away to stay informed.
As most of you already know, on January 11, 2007 Jeff was diagnosed with Stage IV Metastacized Melanoma that has spread to his liver and kidney. His oncologist encouraged our decision to seek additional/alternative treatments at the M.D Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas in Houston. Jeff and I are leaving from Chicago on Monday, January 15th to fly to Houston. His appointments at M.D. Anderson are on Tuesday and Wednesday. Jeff's parents, Mary and Gary, will be holding down the fort in Milwaukee. We do not yet know when we will be home. We hope to receive M.D. Anderson's treatment recommendation while we are in Houston and that they will immediately implement it. In the meantime, thank you all for your very generous prayers and offers of support and assistance. I'm sure that we will begin taking you up on them as we transition into our new routine. Until then, please check back for frequent updates and feel free to leave your comments!
As most of you already know, on January 11, 2007 Jeff was diagnosed with Stage IV Metastacized Melanoma that has spread to his liver and kidney. His oncologist encouraged our decision to seek additional/alternative treatments at the M.D Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas in Houston. Jeff and I are leaving from Chicago on Monday, January 15th to fly to Houston. His appointments at M.D. Anderson are on Tuesday and Wednesday. Jeff's parents, Mary and Gary, will be holding down the fort in Milwaukee. We do not yet know when we will be home. We hope to receive M.D. Anderson's treatment recommendation while we are in Houston and that they will immediately implement it. In the meantime, thank you all for your very generous prayers and offers of support and assistance. I'm sure that we will begin taking you up on them as we transition into our new routine. Until then, please check back for frequent updates and feel free to leave your comments!
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