Dr. Bobs Adventure

We've created this blog for several reasons. First is to keep family and friends(including Bobs' pts.)informed of Bobs' condition while he undergoes treatment for Acute Myelogenous Leukemia(AML) at HUP. You may also write to Bob by posting a comment, which I'll print for him to read. Please feel free to pass this blog site on to anyone you think may want to join us.Instructions to blog are listed under day 12, and bobs' address etc are under day 14. Click on April Archives to find both.

Thursday, October 12, 2006

We've got matches!!!!!

Hi everybody,

Well, we received great news at Dr. L.'s office on Friday. Bob has more than one complete match on his bone marrow donors. There is one final blood test to do, and than they will decide. Depending on the donors schedule Bob could be admitted mid-November to early December. It takes about 2 weeks to prep the donor once they've agreed. We are beginning to get info in the mail, and we will have to take a class at HUP sometime before Bob goes in. There are very many restrictions placed on transplant pt.s that we need to know about. And it all sounds quite scary, truth be told. So, we're back to our "one day at a time" mantra.

There's a lot of pre-adm. testing that Bob has to have done...labs, heart scans, pulmonary function tests etc. He will also have another bone marrow biopsy done in early November, to make sure that he is still in remission. We thought that he was going to have it done last week, but it wasn't close enough, time-wise to the transplant. Bobs counts are hanging in there...low, but stable. He still battles muscle and joint pain, especially in this rainy weather. But overall he's a tough cookie and does his best to cope. So that's about it on the medical front.

I want to thank all the generous donors who have supported Megan in her Light the Night walk. She has raised over $1000 for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society so far. Meg and I have tried to thank most of you by e-mail, but I don't have everyones addresses, and some have given anonymously. So thank you from the bottom of our hearts. It means so much. And there's still time to give if you've just forgotten or put it on the back burner. Meg and her gang are walking this Saturday evening in W. Chester. the website and instructions are listed in the previous posts if anyone is interested. Sorry, I'm like a dog w/ a bone I know. But that will be my last plea!! And thank you, again!

I think that's about it for now. When Bob goes in for the sct, it will most likely be another long admission, and I'll be back to blogging more frequently w/ updates. It's also possible that he will spend Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years at HUP, so I'm counting on you guys to help keep Bob occupied w/ your blogs. You've all been so wonderful thus far, between calls, cards, blogs, meals and most importantly your prayers. We know we are blessed to have you all in our lives, and thank God for each and every one of you.

All our love,
Bob and Mo