Day 14 Admission Day 9 Chemo

Dear friends and family,

Well, when the cat's away.....I just phoned Bob(after phoning Deb and getting no answer), and he & Deb were visiting, sharing pizzelles and Russell Stovers. Seriously though, I am thrilled that Deb is able to go up to the 7th floor to see him. I spent the day running around Doylestown and Lansdale(car servicing, grocery store, post office, K-mart) w/ my parents, and I hate not seeing Bob for myself. But Deb says he looks good, a smidge more peaked and tired today. He had another infusion of platelets this morning, and he was pre-medicated w/ 50 mg. of benadryl b/c he had ONE hive the last time he got platelets. So he had a good sleep after lunch, so good that he missed Joe T.s' 3 attempted visits. He knew he was there though, b/c Joe left a PC magazine. And aren't you all so proud of Deb to blog from the family room PC on her floor. You go Deb, and you are funny too!

On a more serious note, Dr. Perle(the attending hem/onc now on rotation) told Bob today that he will probably have a BM bx(bone marrow biopsy) sometime next week. He said they are not expecting Bob to be in remission after this first induction round of chemo, that it very rarely happens when there is a history of underlying myelodysplasia syndrome(MDS). So as Bob says, we just have to gird our loins and expect a longer stay, which is really no surprise. Bob thought 4-6 weeks right from the beginning. Bobs' hgb was a tad higher today at 8.4, and his ANC is down to 150, the lowest so far. So we need to be very careful right now that he doesn't pick up any germs/infections. When he does his laps he now wears a mask and gloves. Bob still feels well enough for visitors, but please nobody who is sick or even has just a sniffle. The MDs say it's practically impossible to get away w/o any infections, but we want to prevent as much as we can.

Bob wanted me to thank everyone for all your kindnesses...blogs, cards, calls, visits, and gifts. He says they all make the stay more tolerable, and he is hangin' in there.

I wanted to say to Eileen...I can't believe you wrote that huge blog all over again(tho Deb says you're a fast typist). I would've said "fuged aboud id", and just said Hi. Thanks for the reminder about St. Peregrine. Gonna try to get to that, if I'm home tomorrow at a decent hour. And I'll see you Thursday.

I'm going to post Bobs' phone number and address again, since I've had some calls about that. Also please share this blog w/ anyone that you all think might want to write to Bob. I've a feeling we've only just begun a very long haul.

Room number_____7005 Rhoads Pavilion
Room phone____215-615-8116

Hospital of the University of Pa.
3400 Spruce St.
Philadelphia, Pa.
19104

As always, you have my thanks, as well as Bobs'. Please keep us in your prayers. So far, so good.

All our love,
Bob and Mo