This has been a whirlwind of a week. It seemed like a lot to take in during the week. Bob and I have both had a million ideas and speculations and theorizations coursing through our brains and then between us.
The decision that we made, thanks to your prayers, was not to have the stem cell transplant, even though Bob is 65. For us and for right now in our life we believe that to be the best decision. Bob is already forty eight hours into the protocol of the new drug along with the dex.(Now 36hrs) Seems like once a decision is made things move very quickly.
Dr. Bahlis has sorta, kinda said if Bob is in good health he would still do the transplant to say 67. The Dr.'s plan is to wait until this drug fails. Perhaps it won't!!!!! We asked if there were new drugs coming and we were told yes in the next couple of years at least two more will come on test.
Oh Bob didn't have a spinal tap. Wrong terms, he had a bone marrow aspiration and just from a watching perspective it hurts!!!!! All the tests that were carried out this week, we will get the bottom line on them, on May 7---next visit to the oncologist. That will be three weeks in to this protocol.
So far the reaction to the drug hasn't been as horrible as we thought it might be. I truly believe that our merciful God has heard the many prayers that have been said on Bob's behalf. Thank you. Bob gets a really bad headache within the first hour but he takes the chemo at supper time so we are at home. Dizziness and being unsteady on his feet also happens. Walking stick is handy. Bob gets really red---like a bad sun burn but that doesn't last the whole day. He went to work today and by mid afternoon was very tired. The tiredness has been ongoing, however this time it seems a bit more pronounced.-------So all in all not bad at this point.(Says me).
Spring is more or less here, warm one day snow the next. I can hardly wait to get my yard cleaned up and start seeing some green while we enjoy a cup of coffee outside.
It looks like Bob will be able to manage our trip. Altho he has a plugged ear, which has been plugged for several weeks and Bob can't seem to "fix" it. He sees our family doc tomorrow. Hopefully Dr. G. will be able to do something for the ear. We hope that the plugged ear won't bother Bob when we fly---as in pain!!! Oh yes, we are off to Niagra Falls to spend Easter with dad Hildebrand and Reta. We are looking forward to the trip and change of venue for a bit.
Gotta finish up with a story about my time at the hospital as a volunteer today. Ready???!!! Well, it was within a half hour of my shift ending and a sweet lady asked if she could go for a walk so I went to ask the nurse and of course she couldn't but would I mind taking Helen for a walk in a wheel chair? The nurse says "just a short walk, as I know you must be almost done". Turns out this dear woman hadn't been out of her room for a while so how could this just be a short walk so off we went. I warned Helen that I had recently received speeding tickets so she should hold on tight. I think that info was like a 747 went right on overhead, anyway away we went and enjoyed looking out windows, seeing the drugstore, cruising by the cafeteria, enjoying the new gift shop. Yes we really did see a lot of the hospital. As we head back to Helen's floor I begin to panic which ward did I take her from??? I knew the floor but yikes which ward? OK, got that one figured out but for the life of me I did not know where Helen's room was or even which wing it was in. All looked the same to Helen too and she didn't know where her room was....so I told her we were on an adventure. You have to realize this is the first time I have visited this dear lady. In the end we had to stop and ask a nurse (not at the main desk that would be well...very humbling) who checked Helen's bracelet and looked on the computer to find Helen's abode. Wrong wing but now at least we had a room number. Helen was smiling so it was a great walkabout for her...embarrassing for me, especially if there had been security sent out to find the volunteer who lost a patient---learn something everyday---keep notes !!!!!!
Enjoy your Easter celebrations of our Resurrected Lord.
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