Day 6

Dear friends and family,

Bob will be starting his chemotherapy tonight( we hope...or as Bob says, I'll believe it when I see it). All his doctors conferred, and we met with our hem/onc Dr. Luger and the attending hem/onc Dr. Maillard and they are all in agreement that the chemo should be started. The ID dr. and the oral surgeons do not feel that there is a great degree of infection in the gum at this point. Bob has been on ABX, and he has not had any fevers. They will closely monitor the site, and of course keep close tabs for other signs of infection. But at this point, they feel the need to treat the AML is the major priority. Also, at this time, since many of Bobs' white cells are abnormal, the drs. think Bob will respond to the ABX and heal better once the chemo starts attacking the leukemic cells. Soooo, the chemo is ordered, the consents are signed, and we are waiting. Bob was going to call me when it was started. They usually give the chemo at night, since the day shift is busier. There are 2 drugs....daunorubicin(mispelled I'm sure) is an IV push drug given once a day for 3 days. Cytaraben is a continuous IV infusion that will run 24/7 for one week. I will of course keep you updated on his response to these drugs, or poisons as Bob refers to them. He just has a way of cutting right to the heart of things doesn't he?

He continues to be in fine spirits, teasing all the young interns and fellows. Hasn't quizzed anyone that I know of, but he did ask the GI dr. if he'd done many endoscopies before Bobs'. He has had only high praise for the medical and nursing care so far. He even corrected me on the need for an endoscopy, saying they had to do it even though there was a suspicion it would be normal. We met a woman today named Marty McCartney(don't know if she's related to Paul), who is the director of guest relations. Unfortunately we didn't get much further than introductions when we were interrupted by a dr.'s visit. Hope to see her again.

Bobs' appetite remains in excellent condition, and he's not having any trouble with the HUP food so far, except getting it that is. The computer continues to list Bob as fasting, and all the nurses are very perplexed about it. However his lunch and dinner trays were delivered today, so p'raps that problem has finally been remedied. The lap nazi would be proud of Bob today. he's up to 4-5 laps at a go, and they are not "Debbie laps" he says. He plans on doing the requisite 17 per day which will equal one mile. And trust me when I say that is more exercise than he has been getting each day at home. I gave Bob a haircut today (I hear that snickering from you guys). I have been using an electric shaver for several years now....not quite sure on why we ever started that. Anyway, he also has to use an electric razor on his face now. So he looked real purdy today. We are not certain how much of Bobs' hair will fall out from the chemo, but he says he already looks like he's been a regular on this floor, so what will it matter. But I have to say that I have never seen Bob sans mustache. He has never shaved it off in over 20 years. He tells me there's a mole under it on the left. I'm getting a little frightened, to tell you the truth.

Okay, so that's the scoop for today. Sorry I've been posting so late, but I have been staying at the hospital later than I anticipated. Again, thank you to everyone for the calls, cards, e-mails and blogs. I'm sorry I haven't been able to return all the phone calls. Please know I truly appreciate your concern for my welfare, as well as Bobs'. Please keep us in your prayers, especially now, that Bob will have an uneventful course on the chemo.

All our love and thanks,
Bob and Mo