Riding Cloud 9

Oh, it's such a lovely story to tell. David had his all day doctor visit, Tuesday, and by all accounts he is doing great!! Dr. Anamur has told him that he is like a new patient and will have to be medically treated as such. So that means the tests all have to be done over again. And, hopefully, what it also means is that the transplant has put him in an earlier stage of the Myeloma. And that is fantastic news.
Although his day was very long on Tuesday, it was not without pleasure. He had to go back and forth a bit, but when he finally got over to the Cancer Center, and was able to go in and see 'his nurses', he was greeted with tears and hugs and kisses from Theresa, Ellen and Indy (because they all miss him). He's like a celebrity, he is.
Kathy likened her new 'medical' schedule with Dave to 'being on cloud 9'.
What a relief.
Oh the power of those Happy Thoughts!
Marilyn

It's a Turtle's Pace

I had the pleasure of talking to Dave last night. He sounds really great. Aside from some knee pain which he has determined is due to 'overdoing it', he said he feels pretty good. He feels that his medical progress is definitely going forward, as opposed to backward. It's just going 5mph! But luckily, he has learned the art of patience and positive thinking, both of which have helped him be triumphant. His progress is slow, but gaining each day. He has had the pleasure of Olivia's company overnight already, and felt strong enough to drive her home once. So that's huge.
Next Tueday he will be seeing Dr. Anamur, and we will have some proper numbers. But it appears from how he feels, that those numbers will continue to be good.
He and I made a pact to check in with each other on Wednesday's, like we used to before the stem cell transplant, so that I can keep you all up to date on what's going on.
Happy Thoughts Accepted Gratefully,
Marilyn

Getting to the Edge of the Woods

I had an opportunity to speak with Dave yesterday, and he sounds pretty good. I happened to have caught him on a day when he was a little wiped out, because he did a little too much the day before. But, it's nice to report that he was 'able' to do something, (a small workout, changing screens on the porch), even if it means that he feels crummy the next day. He said that he just needs to figure out how much is too much.
It was nice to hear that he was feeling well enough to do something. Hopefully, he is through the worst of this thing. Obviously, time will tell. But it appears, for the moment anyway, that the stem cell transplant is going to work for him. His numbers still remain very good.
No slacking with the Happy Thoughts. He still needs us and as long as we all 'think' they work, they will.
Marilyn

A Small, But Funny, Diversion

Since the beginning of this blog, I have kept us all up to date on Dave's medical, physical and emotional condition. Except for maybe one or two posts, they have all been pretty much related to Multiple Myeloma, compression fractures, purple skin conditions, etc, etc.
Well, not today. Come with me if you will to Las Vegas, where we meet John Pyle, a very good friend of Dave's, who after reading one of the blog posts becomes concerned, as many of you did, about Dave's cold, little, bald head. Well, John decides that since he is taking a business trip to Pakistan, he might as well pick him up a nice little warm turban. But he couldn't find a turban ?? so he makes another choice. John phones Dave's mom from Pakistan to tell her that he can't find a turban and that he has purchased another kind of head covering, but he can't remember what they call it so he tells her that it's the little hat that the organ grinder monkey wears. - a fez. Dave and his mom had quite a giggle over that one and John, wanting to protect his purchase, carried this thing through 4 different airports to get him home safely.
So without further ado, I give you Dave, with his permission, in his new Fez!
He's a Cutie!
Marilyn

Posted by Marilyn Tremblay at 9:30 AM 0 comments

I WANT MY MONKEY

He Sounds Good!

I got a phone call from David today and he sounded pretty darn good. Kathy took him into Boston today for a follow-up visit and the Docs are very impressed with his numbers. They said as far as the Stem Cell Transplant goes, he is still doing quite well. His skin is healing, but slowly. He claims to look like he has a really fantastic tan. Thin, though. But he was optimistic that if he could bulk up like he did before the transplant, then he could do it again. So he is taking baby steps towards gaining weight, bulking up, getting the rest that he needs and just being him again. It was oh so lovely to talk with him, he sounded the same to me, except just a bit pooped.
He apologizes to everyone for not having the strength to get back to each of you who have emailed him or written in the Guest Book or sent snail mail to the house. Not to worry, hang in there, he will get back to you soon.
I wanted you all to rest your head on your pillow tonite with the image of David being 'Good'.
Thanks to your Happy Thoughts.
Marilyn

There's a Light

According to Kathy, there is a tiny light at the end of this tunnel for Dave. He is getting better each day, but it is slow. This morning he did call Moe and have a chat. He said he was feeling good enough to chit-chat with someone, good sign. Kathy sounded pretty up beat on the phone today, also a good sign.
The healing continues.
Keep a happy thought.
Marilyn

It Gets Better and Better.

Well, Dave's coming home tomorrow! The purple skin has turned a 'lighter shade of pale' and he appears to be free of infection. He is still a little bloated, but that is also getting better each day. He's a fast healer. The power of wanting to go home badly enough, I guess.
The Docs are pretty sure that they have isolated the medicine that caused the reaction and they have taken him off of that. He will still have to be pill popping, but not that one!
The folks at Brigham and Women's, although very concerned about this skin problem, are extremly pleased with the way Dave is progressing as a Stem Cell Transplant patient. His blood count numbers continue to improve and that is some really good news. Once he gets all of these annoying, uncomfortable issues out of the way, he should be good. Kathy told me tonite that the Docs are very pleased with his health otherwise.
So, he is on the road to recovery. I will try to keep you informed of his progress at home.
Keep a happy, healthy thought.
Marilyn

The Power of the People

I just got off the phone with Kathy and she is feeling very upbeat tonite because David is getting better!! Woo-Hoo!! She said that the Docs are pretty positive that they are battling an infection and a drug reaction at the same time. Narrowing it down to that has helped them to bring Dave some relief. Kathy said that his arms are not as swollen, and Dave feels that by tomorrow his legs will get back to normal. So, good news tonite!!
He will be in Brigham and Women's probably for the rest of the week, and hopefully they will not send him home until this skin condition has cleared up.
Way to go people, your happy, thoughtful energy went right to the healing process.
Marilyn

He's Got Them All Stumped

Dave has a herd of Specialists, coming in and out all day at Brigham and Women's, and not one of them has been able to get a handle on what is causing his symptoms. The way that Kathy describes him, he sounds like a 'Purple Shrek'. The rash is all over his body, and it's itchy and painful, and now he is swollen again because of the fluids. They would like to try to take him off the anti-biotics to see if he is allergic, but that might have devasting consequences, being that he has little or no immune system. It's a pickle, and still Dave does not complain. He is, incredulously, still the mild mannered, sweet guy that we all know and love-he actually apologizes to Kathy and the medical staff for making them work so hard to care for him. It's amazing that he can maintain his humility in such a chronically frustrating and uncomfortable situation.
We still need to keep it happy, for Dave and for Kathy.
Marilyn

Oh Yeah, They Found Him a Bed at Brigham & Women's

I just got off the phone with Phyllis and she said that they will be transporting David to Brigham and Women's before the night is over. His physician, Rick, and the oncologist, Dr. Ardman both agreed that he needs a more sterile environment. Of course, Dave is not happy about having to go back to Boston, but the rest of us are thankful that they have a bed for him. Hopefully, they will be able to get a handle on this skin and mouth condition. But, in the meantime, they can keep him hydrated.
I will continue to update the Blog as I get info from either Kathy or Phyllis.
Stay tuned.
Keep it coming. Happy Thoughts, that is.
Marilyn

The First 'After Transplant' Infection

Dave's Mom called me this morning to let me know that David has been taken to Lowell General Hospital with the first, of hopefully not too many, immune deficient infections. She said that he had thrush pretty badly in his mouth and throat which was causing him alot of pain and, therefore, causing a serious dehydration problem. (He had this same problem when he was first diagnosed and was in LGH back in March.) He sounds pretty miserable. I haven't spoken with Kathy yet, hopefully I will get that chance a little later. If I do, I will update you all as soon as possible. We need to stick together here at this junction for Dave. Lots of positive energy tossed in his direction is the best medicine.
It's hard, but keep it Happy.
Marilyn

News From Flying Rock Road

Dave is doing as well as can be expected for what he has endured these past 8 months and especially the past few weeks. He sort of thought that once he was past the stem cell transplant hurdle, the rest would be a walk in the park, but it hasn't been a nicely paved road. The rash has still got the better of him and they were supposed to go to Dana Farber today for a check-up and hopefully some relief from this itchy thing. He is very tired and weak and cold and thin. It is going to take him a while to get to a 'more happy than not' place. But being home will move that process along a little quicker than being in the hospital. He is very susceptible to germs and needs to wear a mask and gloves when he has to go out. His little bald head was chilly, so Kathy bought him a nylon stocking cap that football players wear under their helmets. It sounds like the very latest fashion in mens headwear!! giggle. But it keeps him warm.
I'm sure that I don't have to tell you why you keep a happy thought for Kathy and Dave-you know.
Later,
Marilyn

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