It's a Match, and Other Happenings

As I mentioned in an earlier post, my brothers and sister were requested to have blood drawn to see if their blood matched mine, for a possible transplant (called a mini allogenaic transplant). They look at 10 separate antigens. I think it's called HLA testing. Anyway, they have all been subjected to the needle in the arm and had blood sent to the lab for testing. The testing involves 2 steps--a blood serology test and, if that matches, then DNA matching. There is a 25% chance that a sibling will match. If the serology matches, then the odds are 95% in favor of a DNA match. So here's the news: Mike (aka "The Big Fella" or "Mrs. Joshwick" on the blog) is a complete match on both serology and DNA. Tom (aka "Mr. Pete", and apparently now also known as "T-Bone" in Spokane) is a serology match and we are awaiting the DNA testing. They decided not to complete testing of my sister Kathy's blood, after getting Mike's results back, as apparently a woman who has had kids (Kathy has 3) develops antibodies that make the transplant more difficult for the recipient, even if the antigens match. So, in the event I will need another transplant to bring this myeloma under control, I have a match with Mike and also probably with Tom (will know in about 10 days). So here are the questions for you bloggers: For those of you who know Mike, "Is the world ready for 2 Big Fellas?" Should I have them go out into the back yard and take the blood donation from the one who survives? What testing criteria do you suggest to assist me in this very difficult decision? As I told each of them as I was saying goodbye on the phone today, "You take care of yourself, your life isn't just about you anymore!" All joking aside, I am overjoyed that if need be, I have a sibling blood donor to get me through the next transplant.

I had blood drawn today for myeloma testing, but won't know the results until Thursday. I feel quite good after this past week off. I think this velcade is a good drug. I got velcade (I'm starting my 3rd cycle) and zometa today, along with an antinausea drug.

And our abundance of friends continues. This weekend brought more of the same parade of friends through our house. We had such a good time. Both Catherine and Julia were home, which made it all the more fun. Saturday morning our doors opened at around 10 a.m. and Gail and her son Paul arrived. I student taught with Gail (she was my supervising teacher) many years ago (pre law school) and we have remained close friends. Gail is a techno whiz and has been helping us with various technical issues around the house, like DVD's and headphones, etc. Paul made me a "chain" of colored links, to count they days for my release from the hospital after my transplant. Soon after Gail and Paul arrived, Jim and Nancy Neenan showed up just to check in on us. They are the couple who were responsible for the statue of Mary coming to our house a few months ago. While they were here, our friend Devraj dropped by. Soon after that Kathryn McNamee, the principal at our girls' high school came by to go to lunch with Susan. Then Gail's daughter, Molly, and her fiance' Dan stopped in. Molly is getting married this coming summer and Catherine will be her maid of honor. Molly works just up the street in the lab at National Jewish Hospital and has been a great resource for us biologically challenged individuals. Jeff Hammerberg then stopped in, for his 2nd visit of the week, bringing a bouquet of flowers, as he so often does. Jeff had been by earlier in the week with his mother, Dollie, and his brother, Jason, both of whom were here visiting from Minnesota. I should note that I was lounging around in my pajamas when Gail and Paul arrived and I finally had to excuse myself at 1:30 to get dressed before I left for my meditation class. I got home at 6 p.m. and our friends, the Richardsons, arrived at 7 for dinner. Yes, they are still our friends, even after surviving an evening on the town with The Big Fella. (see the posting entitled, "Velcade--Second Cycle Begins"). Chris and Lenie Richardson are going to Italy this summer for their 25th wedding anniversary and we spent the evening talking about all the great places to see, the best restaurants, etc. (along with Julia and Catherine--who spent a semester in Florence). We also had to drink some Italian wine to capture the moment--yes I still imbibe on that week off. Sunday was relatively calm, with only one couple--Kevin and Mary Beall visiting us. Most amazing about these visitors is that (with the exception of the lunch and dinner guests) they were all "drop ins". We are so tickled that our friends are that comfortable that they just drop in to see us. That is usually such a rare occurrence in larger cities, but not in this household. And we are comfortable enough that I just lounge around in my p.j.'s. It is so much fun.

We have a couple of out of town visitors coming in this week. Tim Boulger, one of the cousins from southern California, will be here on Wednesday and Rich Boulger, who grew up with us in North Dakota, will be here on Thursday (for his second visit). I am looking forward to seeing both of them and catching up on all the family gossip.

Despite all the struggles and worries, life feels rich and full. We so enjoy all of our visitors and look forward to the weekends when we know our friends will be dropping in for a visit. I think our daughters are of a similar opinion, as they certainly like to come home for the weekends. All they can say about it is, "This is crazy." Yes, it is. And may it continue. Love, Dan