First Appointment in HSV

It has been a few days since the last blog update and I am happy to report that things are going well. Dad is gaining more strength each day and has much more energy to do things. Sunday has been the first day that I have seen Dad stay awake all day without any cat napping.

Starting Monday Dad has been hitting the SBIR proposals hard. The proposals are all due Thursday so there is now a mad rush to get the proposals finished up. Dad has been writing intermittently all day and has draft versions of two different proposals ready to go.

Today was Dad's first Dr's appointment with his original oncologist. The appointment was about noonish so Dad took a long break during the day to get checked out. Mom came by and picked Dad up and stayed with him through the appointment. The verdict was that Dad's doctor said he was doing fantastic after just going though a bone marrow transplant. There was not any new information about diet or cat contact so until further notice dad is still cat quarantined.

Dad and I are busy still working on proposals and watching Discovery channel so that is all for today!

Back in HSV

Today has been Dad's first full day back in Huntsville. It has been decided that Dad will reside at Amanda and my's house until construction is finished out at the farm on internal sections of the house.

Dad is still pretty fatigued from the exploits of the last month but is working hard to get his strength back. Dad had a good breakfast of eggs made by Amanda and some juice to go with his meds. Mom was able to drop by for a few minutes today while I was at work and she left shortly before noon. I got back home to help Dad with lunch some time around noon. Dad had a good meal of cheese ravioli and was able to work a little bit after eating.

Dad and I watched movies and some Modern Marvels to pass the time until Amanda got home. Amanda made a nice diner of chicken fingers, broccoli and potatoes right before we all went out for a walk. We walked about 1/8 of a mile in 91 degree heat before Dad finally had enough. After the walk we settled down to watch a movie and are now on the second movie of the night.

Special thanks to Joan and Sue for helping out so much over the last few weeks. Dad appreciates very much all that you guys have done for him. Hope you have safe trip home and we look foreword to visiting the great north soon!

All for tonight!

LIBERATION DAY~ Sept. 1

Wt: 62.7 kg

Temp: 96.9

BP: 106/67

WBC: 4.16

Platelets: 112.8

LIBERATION DAY is finally here! Dr. Shelton says Rod is doing so well with his recovery, that she will release him from the BMT in Birmingham today. Rod has an appointment scheduled for Sept. 8 with Dr. G. in Huntsville for his next check-up.

Alex will be coming later in the day to pick up Rod and take him to Huntsville. He will stay at Alex & Amanda’s house for awhile as he continues his recovery. Being back in his home territory will make Rod a very happy camper. :-D

Joanie & Sue’s work here in ‘Bama is done. Tomorrow, the flight for them is going back to Wisconsin at 5:30pm. It was a great pleasure to be able to help out our dear brother during this rough patch in his life. We thoroughly enjoyed our “sibling bonding time” especially in light of the fact that we hadn’t spent this much time together since we were children! It was heartening and deeply rewarding to be able to be serve as Rod’s Recovery Coordinators for the past two weeks.

We were also very impressed with all of the doctors, nurses, and other support staff at UAB hospital, and most especially, those individuals at the BMT. Everyone was totally caring, competent, and compassionate. AWESOME+++

Pictured above it the Bell that patients get to ring on the day they get to leave the Inpatient BMT. Rod got to ring the Bell on Aug. 17, but almost seems like he should get to ring the Bell today! Next to the Bell is the plaque with the inspiring words of "Courage". The last photo is of a small quilt in the BMT that is also uplifting and heart-warming.

We are currently waiting for the staff to remove Rod’s Hickman catheter. Rod also has a hamburger and fries coming here for lunch...

THEN WE ARE OUTTA HERE!!!

Cheetos Rule the Day ~Late Blog Post recapping Wednesday, August 31

We expected this day to be lazy and laid-back, and it certainly was. Talk about your slow news day… this was it. Rod had a pass, so we did not have to go to the BMT for a check-up. Instead, we took it easy with napping, snacking, and spent the day in the slow-lane. It was great!

Joanie was the most active because she walked a 2 mile round trip to the convenience store, and brought back a few items we needed. Joanie also thoughtfully bought for us TWO bags of Cheetos. Sue and Rod both love Cheetos, and Rod benefits from their heavy salt load, so we were pretty excited. In fact, the gift of the Cheetos was the highlight of this low-key day! We received our Cheetos at about noon, but by 7:00pm, we had nearly consumed both bags. Yes, Cheetos rule the day!

Sue also went for a walk, and saw the same gray kitty in the usual spot. The cicadas were chirping loudly and seemed to be everywhere. Sue also came upon some cacti plants along the way. She didn’t think ‘Bama had cacti, so that discovery was quite interesting.

For the evening entertainment, we watched a PBS documentary on "Becoming Human". We learned of fascinating fossil finds of ancient hominids and ape-like cousins. This was particularly intriguing to Sue since she recently saw the movie “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”.

Rod felt good all day, and ate hearty meals with more gusto than previously. He also went to bed earlier than usual. We suspect that it is not so much that he was extra tired, but instead, we think it was because he wants Thursday to come faster. He will see Dr. Shelton on Thursday morning and he is expecting that she will give him his “discharge papers” so he can head back to Huntsville, much closer to home sweet home.

Dr. Shelton has Good News for Rod~ Late Blog Post recapping Tuesday, August 30

Dr. Shelton has Good News for Rod~ Late Blog Post recapping Tuesday, August 30

Temp: 97.5

WBC: 4.91

Platelets: 122.4

Weight: 62.9 kg

BP: low normal

Dr. Shelton was very pleased to see Rod for his check-up and said he looked GREAT! If Rod continues to do well, then it is imminent that he will be discharged from UAB in Birmingham and be transferred back to Dr. G, his oncologist in Huntsville. Dr. G. will then provide continuing care and check-ups for him. Huntsville, in northern Alabama, is much closer to Rod’s home & farm, near Gurley, AL. The plan is for Rod to stay with his son and daughter-in-law, Alex & Amanda, at their home in Huntsville for a period of time so as to be closer to Dr. G.’s office. Thursday, Sept. 1, is the likely day for Dr. Shelton to release Rod to the care of Dr. G. Rod was all smiles with this Good News!

On Day 30, (counting forward from the transplant on Aug. 5), Rod will have several diet and lifestyle restrictions lifted. Day 30 will fall on Sept. 4. That will be a significant landmark day highlighting the triumph of the transplant.

The next important day will be Day 60, which will fall on Oct. 4. On that day, Rod will see Dr. Shelton and have a scan to see if there is any cancer remaining; fortunately, it is unlikely that any cancer cells will have escaped the intense treatment he has undergone. Also, his new, fresh white blood cells are already mobilizing and eliminating most, if not all, rogue cancer cells. If there is evidence of any cancer on Day 60, then Rod will be treated with radiation, just to the problem area, and then he should be clear. Dr. Shelton said that even if they have to do this radiation, the cure rate is the same as if there weren’t any remaining cancer cells. This cure rate for a BMT is 50%.

Rod’s BMT was not so much a “transplant” as it was a “re-infusion”. The stem cells used were his own stem cells, which were harvested after high-dose chemo was used to kill off cancer cells. After harvesting, the stem cells were purged or cleansed to rid them of nearly all remaining cancer cells that managed to survive. When patients give their own stem cells back to themselves like Rod did, the procedure is called an autologous stem cell transplant. His cleansed stem cells were then given back to him on Aug. 5 by a process called re-infusion. Some patients cannot use their own stem cells, and must have donor cells instead, and so these people truly do have transplants. Typically, the patients using donor cells have a more difficult time and take much longer to recover. Happily, Rod’s bone marrow re-infusion has the highest success rate, fewer complications, and the most rapid recovery.

Over the course of the next year, Rod’s immune system will get stronger and stronger. He will still be at high risk for infections, however, and therefore, he will need to be careful to avoid sick people, crowds, dusty areas of any kind, germy environments, construction & remodeling sites, certain foods prone to harbor fungi & bacteria, and close contact with animals, including dogs, cats, birds, & horses. At the end of the first year, he will need to receive all of his childhood vaccinations over again. Then, his immune system will make the appropriate antibodies, and thus be even more powerful in fighting off infections.

For the first year, Rod will need to wear a medical alert bracelet that is engraved with the message: “Autologous BMT. Transfuse only irradiated and leuko-filtered blood products.” The reason for this is protect his newly growing white blood cells from being contaminated by “unprocessed” blood products. After one year, his doctor will decide if it is okay to lift this restriction.

Since we still don’t have internet at the apt., we all zealously took advantage of the free wi-fi at the hospital while Rod got his IV fluids and check-up. Joanie and Sue were on laptops, while Rod used his Kindle to check his email and the news. Joanie and Sue were especially parched, and our thirst for internet access was somewhat assuaged.

Once Rod got the good news from Dr. Shelton, he wanted to leave ASAP. We totally understood how he felt, and hurriedly packed up our laptops and other items when told we could go, and then headed quickly for the exits. Rod was given a “pass” by Dr. Shelton for Wednesday, so we will not return to the hospital until Thursday.

Once back at the apt., we all took satisfactory naps. After our rest, Joanie made another super supper, using some fresh supplies she had just purchased, and Rod ate up some good portions. His appetite continues to improve, and his energy is coming back, albeit slowly.

After supper, Sue took a short walk around the neighborhood. When she got back, Joanie took a short walk about the neighborhood, too. We both saw the gray kitty at its house, lying in exactly the same spot as always. When Joanie saw the kitty, it was getting a bit wet from the owner’s lawn sprinkler, but seeing as it was a very warm and humid evening, we are sure the kitty enjoyed the cooling spray.

Becky and Bill called and had a nice, long chat. They are doing well, although their kitty, Aurora, keeps them hopping with her mischievous adventures.

For the evening’s entertainment, we watched another episode of “Star Trek: The Original Series”. Rod tried some popcorn to go with the show, and he said the popcorn tasted pretty good. Certainly the popcorn was not as good as our Dad’s popcorn, but it was still quite agreeable to the taste buds.

We are all looking forward to another relaxing day on Wednesday, hanging out at our cozy, comfortable apt., and with no doctor visit necessary.

Late Blog Post recapping Monday, August 29 ~ A lazy, laid-back day.

Rod can't have real flowers (because they carry bacteria) so we got him a cool bubble balloon decorated w/ fake flowers. Debby & Rod are pictured.

Some of the many cards and gifts Rod has received. Keep 'em coming, folks, they are very inspiring!

The little fruit jellos pictured above were a very special and honored gift from Mr. Kitagawa, one of Rod's good friends from Japan.

Monday was very quiet, and we just took it easy. Very Nice!

Joanie took a hike to the little convenience store nearby to pick up a few supplies. It was about 2 miles round trip, but she enjoyed the walk and racked up mileage on her pedometer.

Joanie and Sue called our Dad (Robert Clark) and filled him in on Rod’s progress. Dad said he was doing fine, except for the 10 chipmunks that he captured who were eating his tomatoes. Rod was taking a siesta when we called Dad, but we will call Dad again on Tuesday, in-between his bridge games, so Rod can chat with him directly.

The afternoon was nap time for all of us. Like we said, it was a lazy, laid-back day.

Joanie cooked up an enjoyable supper of meatloaf, baked beans, pears, and oatmeal cookies. The oatmeal cookies weren’t as good as Becky’s cowboy cookies, but we nonetheless gobbled them down with gusto. For a rich snack later in the evening, Rod ate a half of a Mounds candy bar. His appetite is getting better, and his sense of taste is slowing returning.

P.J., the manager of the apt. building, called to let us know that they found out why we have lost our internet connection. There is no internet in the building because the router is malfunctioning. They will have to replace the router, and it may take some time. Having no internet access at the apt. is pretty rough on us three internet-addicted nerds. Tomorrow, Tuesday, we plan to take all three of our laptops to the BMT clinic and work on our email, blogs, etc., while Rod is getting his IV fluids.

The evening entertainment was watching the movie “Galaxy Quest”. It’s a comedy, a spoof on the sci-fi genre, in particular, “Star Trek”. We all got some good laughs out of this lively movie.

Rod felt pretty good all day, other than being tired and low-energy. He didn’t walk today, thinking that yesterday’s walk was over-doing it. We are happy to say that the Monday Mission of resting, relaxing, and rejuvenating was successfully accomplished.

Late Blog Post recapping Sunday, August 28 ~ A very good day.

Photo: Rod and Joanie taking a walk in our hilly, historic neighborhood. On the left is the Dog Park.

We lost internet access at the apt. on Saturday morning, so that is why this is another (very) late blog post. (We have internet access when at the hospital, so that’s how we will get this blog post up.)

Sunday was a very good day! Rod had a short check-up at the BMT Outpatient, just getting IV fluids as usual, and checking vitals. Rod’s blood pressure continues to run on the low side, but his temperature is steady and normal telling us that the infection is under control, and his meds are doing their job. His weight is on the upswing- 139.9 lbs. They did not take blood, so no WBC, RBC, or Platelets count for Sunday.

Dr. Shelton was pleased to see Rod smiling more. He still has fatigue, but she said it will take time to gain back his energy. Because he is relatively youthful, and because he was in good shape and had good fitness prior to the cancer starting, he is most likely going to have a speedier recovery of his energy level.

Dr. Shelton said that staying POSITIVE is extremely important to Rod’s recovery. Rod has every reason to be positive, in her professional opinion, because he did so well with the bone marrow transplant, and because he is making excellent progress. Dr. Shelton said being positive and optimistic will go a long, long way to enhancing the recovery, and to getting him back to a healthy “normal” lifestyle.

Rod has received lots and lots of encouraging and heartfelt wishes, visits, cards, and gifts from family and friends. This outpouring of support is greatly appreciated and deeply meaningful to Rod. Thank you so much to ALL OF YOU WONDERFUL CARING FAMILY & FRIENDS because your support and thoughtfulness have made a POSITIVE difference, and that is literally “just what the Doctor ordered”!

We left the BMT quite early, before noon, and came straight back to the apt. Joanie made us all a tasty lunch of spaghetti, and Rod ate a good-sized portion as his appetite is starting to kick up its heels. After that, Rod did some work on his laptop, we lounged and dozed, or in Sue’s case, crashed hard for a high quality nap.

It was a most beautiful day in Bham in ‘Bama. Warm in the low 90’s, a little less humidity than usual, and with a pleasant breeze (probably thanks to Tropical Storm Irene). We went for a walk in our historic, hilly neighborhood. Most buildings are older and made of richly colored red bricks from the abundant red clay in this area. We cruised over by the dog park, and saw some of the same doggies from yesterday’s walk. We also saw a lazy, but cute, gray cat relaxing in a fenced-in yard in front of its house. This kitty was lying in the exact same spot as yesterday. We walked a good half of a mile today, which was terrific for Rod to do, despite his fatigue. Exercise is important to his recovery, but it must be increased gradually.

Upon our return to our apt., Joanie whipped up another appealing meal. She took Amanda’s advice and made Rod a meal of Hamburger Helper w/ cheesy noodles, with a side of green beans. For dessert: a wickedly chocolaty w/ creamy center Swiss Roll.

For the night’s entertainment, we three avid Trekkies watched the recent movie “Star Trek” (the prequel). We’d all seen it at the theater, but enjoyed seeing it on DVD, as it is truly a fun and entertaining movie.

Rod was given a “pass” by Dr. Shelton and does not have to go to the BMT on Monday. We are all looking forward to a relaxing and laid-back full day at our apt. Hopefully, our Internet will be back up soon. We did talk with the manager of the apts., a nice lady named P.J. She assured us that they are working on the problem and should get us all back online before too long.

We are expecting that Monday will be a pleasant day and we plan to walk the neighborhood and take in more pretty scenery, sites and critters. Sue has been to Alabama several times, but she never realized what an interesting and beautiful state it is till this visit. She can readily see why Rod chose this state to settle down in and to raise his family. It is a delightful state chock-full of Southern charm and super-friendly folks!