Report of Day 30 Admission Day 10 HiDAC

Good morning everyone,

Let me say right at the start, Bob is fine. I didn't post yesterday b/c I just needed a break...a day away from the computer. I didn't see Bob yesterday as I had several errands to run that had to be done during "business hours", but I talked to him frequently and he had several phone calls which helped to lift his spirits. I'm going down today, but will take the train as the Penn Relays are in progress, and we're told it's sheer bedlam in the U of P area now. So, I'm sorry if I frightened anyone, certainly not my intention. Now to Bob.

Wednesday afternoon Bob spiked a temp and was put through all the paces of the "checking for infection" routine. He had a CXR, blood cultures and urine culture...was given tylenol and the temp broke. He also started to have some lower Gi issues(read diarrhea) and is being given immodium for that problem. He's still eating, but not w/ his usual gusto. He had only a fair nights' sleep on Wed.

Yesterday he needed 2 units of blood(remember on Wednesday they didn't want to transfuse him for hgb 7.8 b/c they thought he was too fluid overloaded?) and platelets, so he went the way of the benadryl once again and had a sleepy kind of day. The GI issues settled down a bit, and he was able to rest. In the afternoon however, he had another fever and went through the whole culturing bit again. The temp came down after tylenol, and he he slept "pretty good" last night. Which probably means 3-4 uninterrupted hours at a time. When I talked to him yesterday he sounded out of sorts(i.e. grumpy). And who can blame him? I have to say that's truly the first time in over 4 weeks that I actually heard impatience in his voice. As I've said before he has been such a trooper...just amazing!

This morning he sounded like his "old' self. He was sitting up in a chair trying to read(his usual after breakfast routine). Unfortunately he now has conjunctivitis in his left eye and constant tearing which is making reading very difficult. He's on drops for that, but I think it's going to be a bit till they start working. It's such a shame, b/c reading has been a real saving grace for Bob. He's been so pleased that he's been able to concentrate...actually more than that...he says he's really able to focus on what he's reading and get a lot more meaning out of things than he usually does. So I hope that clears up soon. Any tips or input from my MSC pals would be most appreciated.Hint hint Holly, Deb, Dr.N.

Bob's still in the "nadir" as all the oncology professionals are so fond of saying...meaning that his white count is zero or barely above. He has no neutrophils(the white cells which fight infection), which makes him susceptible to all kinds of germs etc. He's due to have his bone marrow biopsy(BMB) repeated on Monday or Tuesday, and we'll learn the results of that a couple days later. In the meantime, we're just hangin' in, or maybe that should be hangin' on. This is beginning to feel like the long ordeal we expected. I know I shouldn't whine, especially with the two shining examples of stoicism I see every day...Bob and our good friend Deb T. Please remember Deb in your prayers too. She is still at HUP w/ high fevers from her chemotherapy.

As always I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for all the support. The cards, calls, blogs and visits are holding us up. Without them I'm sure we would be downward spiralling. Really, I can't explain how much it means to feel your love.

All our love and gratitude,
Bob and Mo

P.S. If anyone wants to visit Bob he is certainly up for that. Maybe I should've come out and said that before. Just please give Bob or me a call to make sure he'll be available.

• Bobs' room phone....215 615 8116
• Mos' cell.................610 322 7142
• Home phone...........215 855 9246

P.P.S Hi Mandi, just read your post, and this is probably strange writing to you on here, but Bob and I would love to meet you also. You are welcome to visit anytime at all. I know Bob would give a hearty seconding to that.