Spring, fashionably late as usual, reveals that it has been here all along, working its magic under the veil of bad weather. A trio of deer, two does heavy with fawn and a young buck, amble across our property. Twice, I’ve spotted them browsing on the leaves of low hanging branches. On other mornings, their … More Springtime in the Cascades
I returned to work on April 6th following a ten-month absence. I’d taken time off to receive treatment for multiple myeloma, a cancer affecting the plasma cells in my blood. I spent the fall and winter months recuperating from an immune suppressed condition, the result of an autologous stem cell transplant. I am the Postmaster … More El Gato del Correos
April is the cruelest month, breeding Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing Memory and desire, stirring Dull roots with spring rain. T. S. Eliot The coming of April teases the gardener in me. I long to sink glove deep into the warming loam. Yet a fresh skiff of snow spoils the mood. Cheerless breezes … More April Is The Cruelest Month
On one of the myeloma blogs I read, there was an entry titled, “The High Cost of Staying Alive.” The subject was a particular drug commonly prescribed for patients with multiple myeloma, thalidomide. In the article, the writer questioned its exorbitant monthly cost. He alleged that the drug’s manufacturer discriminated against myeloma patients due to … More Our Healthcare, Our Conscience
My family is safe and sound following several harrowing trips through the Columbia River Gorge. We’ve lived in the Hood River Valley for 30 years. Nothing confers “sourdough” status upon visitors more quickly than driving The Gorge in a winter storm. It doesn’t matter whether you are a passenger or behind the wheel. If you’ve … More Remission, Relapse, Rejoice
Sunday we got a break from our daily clinic visit and blood work. So, we went out to breakfast. Returning to the apartment, we then watched 300 hours of football, which wouldn’t be so bad but we’d watched 200 hours on Saturday. I am soooo tired of TV. Monday, it was back to the lab. … More Our Goal
Day 5 and we are plodding along here. At the daily clinic visit the nurses and docs assure us that everything is going downhill just like it should – blood counts dropping, appetite non-existent, energy flagging, bouts of nausea, all of which will continue to get worse over the next week. Still . . . … More Plodding Along
I just want to let everyone know that John is home from the hospital and feeling better. We are doing an IV antibiotic at home to try and get rid of the pesky pneumonia. John is composing an update that will give his version of the events of the past week in detail. Thank you … More Back At The PGH
I miss my cats. During the extensive evaluation at the SCCA, I’d had an EKG that presented an irregularity. So, in order to follow up on every little health clue in preparation for the demanding transplant in my future, a visit to a cardiologist was arranged. Early Monday morning we caught a shuttle … More I Miss My Cats
The science behind a stem cell transplant is elegant in its simplicity. Blood stem cells, which reside in the marrow, are mobilized by medication to move into the bloodstream. Once they are present there in sufficient numbers, the patient is hooked up to an apheresis machine that separates and collects the stem cells. These cells … More Stem Cell Transplant 101
Good Blood, Bad Blood 