Safe and Sound

Well, I just received a call from Dave's Mom who told me that he has made it home. He is very happy to be there, as you would guess. Hopefully, his own bed will provide him with the rest that he needs to get stronger and fatter. According to Mom, he is quite thin.
But, the first leg of this thing is over for him-on to the next one, which is keeping him germ/virus/bacteria free for at least 100 days.
Fingers crossed, Happy thoughts.
Marilyn

It's a 'Home'run!

That's right. He is coming home tomorrow, barring any unforseen circumstances. He is a little weak today, and his food still tastes horrible, but our little buddy is going home. Kathy will be picking him up around 11 am. They are both very excited. His medical team is extremely pleased with his progress, aside from the rash. Hopefully, his taste buds will return in a few weeks. The lethal doses of chemo last a while and that is what the Docs think has taken his taste buds away. And, hopefully, his rash will go away quicker now that he is off some of the meds. He is not leaving empty handed though. He still has to add about 10 new meds to the all day pill parade.

It's a Bird, it's a plane, no it's Super Dave. ( giggle) He doesn't leap tall buildings in a single bound, but he can kick the stuffing out of Myeloma. Nice.

One Happy Thought equals One Happy Dave.

Marilyn

The Comeback Kid

Well, he has done it. Kathy told me today that even the Docs are impressed with his numbers. His white cell count was 150 yesterday and it jumped up to 1000 today. That means that he is only about 200 away from having somewhat of a functioning immune system. Going home this week is still a possibility. Kathy also said that she felt like she had her 'honey' back because Dave sounded so great on the phone today.
This puts him a little bit ahead of 'right on track'. Of course, then we have to deduct points :-( for the 'rash', which is getting better. Still not too sure what that is?!?!
When he does come home, he will be quarantined for about 100 days. Any small virus or bacteria can really set him back.

That's the news of today.
Keep thinking happy!

Marilyn

Footnote: We are so lucky to have Dana Farber and Brigham & Womens. Both facilities have taken such good care of Dave (and Kathy). Every time her and I talk she tells me what wonderful care he is getting.

Bad to Worse and Back, Hopefully Soon

Well, as we suspected, based on all of the info that Kathy and Dave had to read before he did this, he has gotten a little worse since my last update. I spoke with Kathy yesterday, who spent her birthday in the hospital with her darling. She said that the rash Dave has is awful, it looks like 3rd degree burns all over. The staff takes very good care of him, and they are quite sure that this is a reaction to one of the anti-biotics that he has to be on. Besides the rash, they keep reassuring Dave and Kathy that he is right where he should be as far as his medical progress. His numbers are good, (red/white blood cell counts), and he is staying hydrated. Although, it is a balancing act between keeping him hydrated and having him retain fluids??!! Kathy said that the staff has a handle on that so.... She said that he was a little puffy with fluid retention.
The Docs are looking at releasing him hopefully next week. He will need to get a bit better before they will let him go home. And for at least the first 100 days, he will have to be isolated from germs.
This is a huge ordeal for the both of them, and the details of their ordeal can be somewhat confusing and overwhelming to write about on the blog. I am trying to condense it into something understandable to all. But, what we do need to know is this, they are tough, and they are strong, and Dave is very determined to be at home with his family. He is in the best place he can be for this procedure and Kathy says that he gets excellent care. And as miserable as Dave is, Kathy says that he still has his wonderful sense of humor and his undying good nature.
It's still all good, considering.
Enjoy your coffee in the morning, hug your buddies, do one nice thing for someone else tomorrow, even if it's just a Happy Thought.
Marilyn

It's An All Day 'Pill Parade'

Dave tells Kathy that he is feeling good, except for the fact that he can't keep his eyes open-he's so tired, AND that he has no energy, AND that he feels like puking all the time (he hasn't yet), AND the food sucks!, AND he has a 'killer' rash in some spots on his body, AND it takes him all day to get the meds down-but he insists that he is GOOD! What a guy, huh? Believe it-these symptoms are normal for what he has endured the last few weeks. He, as we expected, will get a little bit worse, before he gets better. The Medical Staff at Brigham & Womens tells Kathy that Dave is right where he should be. That's great. He is coming along the way they expect him to and he knows what to expect, so he is toughing it out. Let's just keep him in our thoughts that the worst is over for him by the week-end.
There is strength and comfort in your happy thoughts for him.
Marilyn

Oh and a P.S. for those of you who have been e-mailing him. He may not be able to get back to you right away. I know Kathy is reading them to him, so you can keep writing. He is just so tired that writing back is difficult, but he will eventually.

He's Hanging Tough

I heard from Kathy today and she said the the Docs are very happy with Dave's platelet counts. He doesn't feel well, but he is hanging in. She said that he does do a bit of exercise every hour or so. The Docs have told him that the people who do the best with stem cell transplant are the people who keep active, despite how they feel. And we know how Dave loves to keep fit, so he has that in his favor. He is maintaining his weight, which is a really good thing. Progress is heading in the right direction for him, no setbacks, and he is not expecting any. His attitude is superb, he definitely has enough drive and determination to get through this. And he really is a very handsome, bald guy.
Bravo!! Dave!!! You are the Hero we all want to be. Courageous, Determined, Brave, and all with your usual Quiet Reserve. We will have to get you a SuperHero costume!
Keep those Happy Thoughts.
Marilyn

They're In

Well, as of yesterday, Dave has 5 million of his own stem cells back in his body, kicking Myeloma Butt. The staff at Brigham and Women's told Kathy today that Dave is exactly where they want him to be as far as 'medical progress'. That's great news. He is feeling tired, somewhat nauseous, but he is eating and able to socialize for a few hours at a time. That's also great! Don't despair if you have sent him an e-mail and he hasn't responded. That does knock the wind out of him since he is a 'one finger pecker' typist. It's good for him to hear from you, though, just know that he is not ignoring your message. When he is stronger, he will get back to you.
It seems, after talking to Kathy, that Dave is really doing pretty well, considering the circumstances. He probably will get a little bit worse, before he gets better. Chemotherapy tends to rear its ugly side effects a week or so after it gets into your body.
So far, for our friend Dave, things look quite positive.
It's gotta be those Happy Thoughts, ya think?
Marilyn

Let's Keep In Touch

I just spoke with Kathy from the hospital. (She was talking to me through a mask which she said was getting all 'lipsticky' on the inside. giggle)!! Dave is doing tremedously well. He is still harboring very positive spirits. His hair is falling out a little at a time, but according to the nurses he still looks like he has a head of hair. Kathy said that he has a nice private room, and that he is getting alot of attention. Today will be the beginning of the medical process. High doses of Chemo today and tomorrow and then re-infusion on Thursday. And then we wait. So far, everything that has had to take place in the procedure for him has come to pass at the top of the A list compared to others in his situation, so we can only hope for straight A's through the rest of the process.
I am going to post the address to the hospital so that you can send him greetings. Cards and letters only, no flowers, no fruit, no door-to-door salesmen, no candy-grams or singing telegrams (giggle). I will also post his e-mail address. He has access to a lap top and the internet. E-mail is the preferable choice of contact with Dave. Everything that comes into his room has to go through a process of de-contamination. Obviously, correspondence through e-mail is safer for him. He doesn't want any 'viruses' computer or otherwise, so when you send him an e-mail, please indicate in the subject who you are if it's not clear by your e-mail address. Thanks!

David Tousignant
c/oBrigham & Women's Hospital
Floor 6B-Room 39
75 Francis Street
Boston, MA 02115

E-mail address : katmonstor@AOL.com

Happy, happy, happy
Marilyn

Haven't Heard Anything Yet

What I do know is that Dave was feeling very good when he and Kathy went to Brigham and Women's on Sunday night. Today will be his first heavy dose of Chemo and tomorrow, another. And Thursday will be the re-infuse, which is a little bit of a change from the original schedule.
As soon as I hear from Kathy, I will let you all know how he is doing.
Seriously, it's Happy Thought time.
Marilyn

It's All Good :-)

Well I never thought that I would be delivering any news to you all at this early stage in the harvesting process, but, AMAZINGLY-he's done. They told Dave and Kathy that they were able to get 9.7 million Good stem cells from him today. The Docs expected it would take 2 to 4 days to get that much. He is a SuperDude. So now he and Kathy get the rest of the week off to enjoy their home and each other. (And rest up a bit, he was pretty tired tonite.)
So, that's it for the harvest. The next stop is Brigham and Women's, on the 9th.
It's All Good!
Happy Thought, Happy Thought. Happy Thought.
Marilyn

September-Harvest Time :-)

Well, Labor Day has brought an end to the week-long Nupogen injections and by all counts Dave is full of stem cells and ripe for the picking (or should I say poking!) Kathy and Dave will be at Dana Farber at 7 am Tuesday morning, and for as many mornings as it takes through Thursday, to 'harvest' millions of those little buggers. The Docs told them that it might only take 2 instead of 4 days. Let's hope for that, so that he can have a few days off.

I will keep you as up-to-date as I can with his progress.

Happy Thoughts Always Welcome.
Marilyn