Hello everyone. I wrote a lengthy post yesterday but alas the blog site went down in the midst of my writing and I lost it all. So I took 24 hours to recover and to see how much I can reconstruct. Yesterday (Thursday) I received my final velcade shot for the first phase along with an IV of zometa to keep building those bones back up. The side effects these past 2 weeks have included some nausea, which is controlled by meds, some neuropathy (shooting pains in the feet and some in the hands), which is tolerable, and significant fatigue the day after each of my velcade shots--Tuesdays and Fridays are energy challenges. But by the time I'm going in for my next shot, I seem to be feeling better. I am looking forward to having next week off from the velcade. My white count and neutrophils continue to fall and I am now neutropenic. Platelets are also low. I'm told this is most likely due to the velcade and we are hoping to see these numbers rise during my week off. They will check my myeloma numbers when I return for my first shot of the second cycle (Feb. 6th). I won't have the results until Wed. or Thurs. of that week and will report once I have more info.
My brother Mike is planning a visit next week and we are looking forward to it. We, as always, have a few jobs for him but mostly hope to just have some fun.
Both of the girls (young women to be more accurate) have returned to school. The house isn't as quiet as you might think as Catherine has started her part time job here in Cherry Creek and is here 3 days a week. While she is very busy with her work, course load and commute to Boulder, we are elated she is here so often and she also gets a good home cooked meal. Julia is taking calculus this block and is not happy. Her outlet? She plans to go skiing every weekend. Sounds like a gene I might have passed on to her.
Speaking of home cooking, Susan's cousin, Eileen Stinson, is on assignment here in Denver for the next 6 months and is staying at the JW Marriott here in Cherry Creek. Eileen is a fabulous Italian cook and has spent a few hours in our kitchen already. mmmmmm, delicious. She is also very funny and the girls think she is hysterical. Susan has long bemoaned the absence of family "out in the boondocks" so she is very happy a family member is now nearby.
With the posting from Antarctica my brother Tom commented that we are only missing posts from Africa and South America and we will have communicated with every one of the 7 continents. Not bad for a North Dakotan from the north side of the tracks.
So, I am doing well. My disease feels as if it has moved from dealing with acute situations to a chronic disease. While it is easier not to have to wrestle with the daily pain issues, the idea of always having to deal with these cancer treatments and the physical limitations due to my lack of energy and my back problems is hard to accept. My struggle with whether I will ever be able to try another case is another issue we'll leave for another day. I know we all age and as we do we will have to confront these issues; I just wasn't prepared to face these issues at the young age of 53. So be it. Don't worry, we still know how to laugh and have fun and as I continue to recover the from transplant we are certainly finding ourselves laughing a bit more. So, once again, stay with us as we walk this path and let's not forget to have some fun along the way. Love, Dan
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2 comments:
Like so many others, I can't wait to get progress reports. I hope that our needs don't place an undo burden on you. I am always rewarded by your postings. Family, friends, good food and laughter; those are the measures of a good life. You are doing well my friend. Love, Ted
Ditto Brother Ted,
"Family, friends, good food and laughter; those are the measures of a good life. You are doing well my friend." If success is measured by the above, you all have already passed go. Enjoy your time off. Thinking of you all often. Love, shawn
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