Prayers Please 6/18/2012

Dear friends and family,

As has so often been the case over these last 7 years of  "Dr. Bobs' Adventure", here I am requesting you to remember Bob again in your prayers. Bob celebrated the 5 year anniversary of his stemcell transplant this past May 25th. I always had it in my head that the 5 year mark would be a sortof safe point, but alas that's not proving to be true. Although Bobs' counts are great and there is no sign of leukemia, the damned GVHD(graft vs. host disease) has been rearing it's ugly head the past few months. Despite having a decent appetite Bob has been dropping pounds like crazy and is down to 138 lbs. He has no meat whatsoever on his bones.
After the lung surgery in Dec. it was agreed that Bob would stop his anti-rejection meds, as they are immuno-suppressive and Bob is very fearful-rightfully so-of developing a 3rd cancer. However since he's been off these meds. the GVHD has escalated and affects his skin, eyes, and gi tract. He's given up driving too as he also has peripheral neuropathy in his feet from past chemo treatments.
Now on top of all that he has another lesion on his last chest CT which has grown a few mm.'s in 3 mos....nothing big enough to be biopsied, but big enough to be a worry. He did see Dr. Luger at HUP 2 weeks ago who put him back on his cellcept(anti-rejection med) right away after taking one look at him and he hasn't lost weight in 2 weeks. He hasn't gained either, but I'm not asking for another miracle. Just for him to hold where he's at now. Although he's extremely fatigued, Bob's enjoying his kindle and reads vigorously. He still plays on the computer and we still enjoy our weekly poker games.
So, I'll never be able to thank you all enough for always being there for us, for lifting us up in prayer and in your hearts. But, can we do it again please? We thank you and remember all of you in our prayers too.

All our love,
Bob and Mo