So the last time in Fresno, we decided it would be a great idea to stock up on some essentials in the candy isle, the rest is history.
Tuesday, 18 December 2007
And The Friends Came Down
Hello Samantha, Tom and Tessa. This was a great day. We watched movies and then Tom introduced a genius invention.
And add in a little Zoey, Kathy and Sarah, the perfect combo.
Let me introduce, my little friend, the air inator. 1 can of pressurized air, a quiver, and arrows? Just aim and pull down the trigger, instant person to person missile!!!!
And here is my little Christmas tree. Isn't she cute?
Here is a video of the festivities.
Then There Was Transfusion # 2
So on my second transfusion of platelets this week there was a bit of an allergic reaction. I began coughing and wheezing due to my chest and throat becoming tight and congested. To combat this I was given 4 times my normal dose of Benedryl and a heavy dose of Hydro Cortozone. After receiving all of this, you can see the side affects. Here I am trying to explain that I just received 4 times the amount... notice the number of fingers represented.
Then it was of course time for a little Albuteral induced video action.
So thanks again to my team for helping me not die, and look great doing it.
Transfusion 1
So lots of "goings on" this week. To begin with I had some transfusions. While I have had many these were especially important, with my counts being as low as they were.
This is Darcy and Elizabeth a couple of my nurses. Notice the smiling faces, this is in part due to the fact that they had just injected me with benedryl which makes me well a little loopy.
Notice that the platelets are the color of mango puree. You can really find no taste similarities between the two however. I have tried multiple times, really no comparison.
Wednesday, 12 December 2007
Did Someone Cry Wolf?
So I know many of you are wondering about the whereabouts of a certain wolf named Burgandy. He has been living with a wonderful family near Sequoia National Forest. I am not kidding when I tell you he is pampered, almost as much as me. Originally I had planned to take him to Hawaii in December but with my new plans, I was unable to do so. However I got a call from Darlene, his temporary guardian. She said if it would help that he could stay longer in the mountains with them. This is such a blessing, I really couldn't see finding him a place where he was treated better, as an option. So thanks to Darlene and her family, it is great to know Burgs is livin it up. (and don't worry, when i get him back, the spoiling will continue)
Here is a video of the Little Chief, right before I entered the hospital.
Monday, 10 December 2007
a little scrabble, and test results
So yesterday Tom came for a visit. Now Tom and I have been friends for years, and ever since our days on the debate team have played scrabble. I am happy to say that I must not be too sick, cause yesterday I still managed to take him in a wicked match.
Today I got really good news, my labs came back from the initial spinal tap. It showed that I do not have any bad cells in my brain and spine. This also means that I now only need 5 spinal taps and not the 11 projected. So thank you for the continued prayers, they are definatly working. Oh and also today my counts for neutriphils, or anc, hit .01. That basically means I have no immune system, which they were shooting for. The nice part is I dont feel too bad. Anyway they will keep dropping my counts till around wednesday. Until then- c
Saturday, 8 December 2007
UCSF AND BEYOND
Hello My Friends and Family-
First of all I just want to thank each of you for the wonderful support I have been receiving. Thank you for your concern and prayers, it is the energy I cannot always muster, that I feel from all of you, that gets me through this.
Now Before I begin I think it is imperative that I mention the birth of my Studly and Ruggedly Handsome Nephew Andrew George Boswell. He was born 11-21 and is a 7 and half pound healthy baby. Both Erin and the baby are doing well. Congratulations to them and their wonderful family.!
So the last we chatted I was at Stanford receiving my induction period of chemotherapy. The doctors said I was responding well to the treatment . I was released and able to go to my Moms for thanksgiving. It was a nice break from the hospital, and it was great to have a really wonderful home cooked Thanksgiving. Then for part of the weekend I was even able to head down to Fresno and see some of you, it was great.
Now during my stay at Stanford there were some issues with insurance and coverage. While I am in the middle of multiple state applications, I was to find a new hospital to finish my treatment at. With much slamming of feet, into closing doors and the help of my great social worker Anne I got into UCSF. The local doctors did not feel comfortable with my “progressive” treatment and thought I would be better suited where the technology is most competitive. Things at UCSF are a bit different with the protocol, but the outcome is the same. The main thing is that after my 6 months inpatient, I will have a 30 month outpatient regiment. But during the 30 months life does regain normalcy, well my version of it anyway.
It was scheduled for me to begin my treatment again the Monday following thanksgiving. But between insurances and doctors offices; getting clearance, by Wednesday I was still at home. Anyway my health was not great and so on Wednesday night I checked into the ER at UCSF. Within a couple of days I was on the right floor of the hospital and ready for round 2.
So round two is a more aggressive round, I am told it will be the most difficult round for some time. As the treatments are cumulative, I stand in position to be able to grow a garden on my stomach by spring. So the regiment for this round is 4 days of 2 big drugs Etoposide and Ara-C. They were administered starting last Friday and by Tuesday were completed. These drugs are causing my blood counts, specifically, the white blood count, Plateletes, and ANC levels to drop. The reason this round is deemed most difficult is because the levels drop from numbers like 5- 10 to .001 or .005. They will basically be killing all the bad cells inside my bones. It is here that mouth sores, infections, and a general sense of feeling like a very salted slug, kick in. Then they will see if my bone marrow will produce the right kind of cells. This process will keep me nutrapenic where I find myself now.
The other treatment that began is called Methotrexate. This is administered both with IV and through a series of 6-12 spinal taps. Micheal my NP did a spinal tap a few days ago. He and Mary were great with my obvious nervousness and discomfort. With this tap they will be able to determine whether the cancer is in my brain or not, this affects the amount of spinal taps as well. I will find out the results this week. And lets be honest, praying for a negative return, so I get less “sticky in the spinie”!!
So now I lay in wait so to speak. So far I feel alright, this round has defiantly hit me differently than the first, and harder I think. For the next week I will get more tired, sick and at risk for infection. Then next Saturday or so I will begin to receive nupagin injections, which promote the production of the cells again. Within about a week from that I should be feeling more “normal” again.
At that point it will be about the 20th and I should be able to head home for a little Christmas love. My beautiful sister Alicen is marrying Dallas on the 2
9th, and if my health permits, I will be heading to SLC for the wedding for a day.
So that is my treatment for now, kind of a heavy read I know. So let me give you the good news. First off, after testing my blood it appears that the cancer is in “remission”. This means the Induction process worked. It doesn’t mean I am out of the woods by any means, but it does mean that the drugs are working, and it does mean that I am smiling just a little wider. Secondly, I have the best healthcare, pretty much in the world. After leaving Stanford, I was a bit skeptical that I could be cared for as well. After being here for a week, I feel just as blessed. The nursing staff is not only compassionate but really fun to be around. The doctors, are great at explaining things to me, and are in daily to give me the Low Down on my Low Counts.
There are some definite perks to my current life. One of them is I am on the 11th floor with a huge window overlooking the golden gate bridge and the whole city of SF. If you are gonna feel not so swell, it is really nice. Also the staff here is a hoot. I find myself laughing a lot of the time, especially during dicey procedures… And I am really grateful that I do not have to do this treatment via outpatient. I would not want to drive in my silly sick condition. Ps, I am not going to lie, they give me lots of drugs to help with the pain, discomfort, and nausea. If you can imagine the goofy fun loving side of chad with this mixed in, well it’s a little ridiculous. (I love it)
I just want you each to know that there is a beautiful experience I have been having. On occasion I have found myself in mid treatment, to be a bit more sick than I have been before. In this place of feeling not great, there are many emotions, and feelings. But each time I feel this way, I find myself opening my emails. I just have to spend a few minutes reading and I find everything changing. The fear leaves, the discomfort is quieted, and I am left smiling. I just want you to know how grateful I am for your inspiration. Thank you for the stories about what is going on in your lives, I love the updates. Thank you for each of your individual ways of helping me get through this.
I hope that as this holiday season is underway, you all know how grateful I am to not only be alive, but to have in my life such amazing people. Please know of my deepest appreciation, and love for each of you. May this season bring all of the blessings you each stand in need of.
First of all I just want to thank each of you for the wonderful support I have been receiving. Thank you for your concern and prayers, it is the energy I cannot always muster, that I feel from all of you, that gets me through this.
Now Before I begin I think it is imperative that I mention the birth of my Studly and Ruggedly Handsome Nephew Andrew George Boswell. He was born 11-21 and is a 7 and half pound healthy baby. Both Erin and the baby are doing well. Congratulations to them and their wonderful family.!
So the last we chatted I was at Stanford receiving my induction period of chemotherapy. The doctors said I was responding well to the treatment . I was released and able to go to my Moms for thanksgiving. It was a nice break from the hospital, and it was great to have a really wonderful home cooked Thanksgiving. Then for part of the weekend I was even able to head down to Fresno and see some of you, it was great.
Now during my stay at Stanford there were some issues with insurance and coverage. While I am in the middle of multiple state applications, I was to find a new hospital to finish my treatment at. With much slamming of feet, into closing doors and the help of my great social worker Anne I got into UCSF. The local doctors did not feel comfortable with my “progressive” treatment and thought I would be better suited where the technology is most competitive. Things at UCSF are a bit different with the protocol, but the outcome is the same. The main thing is that after my 6 months inpatient, I will have a 30 month outpatient regiment. But during the 30 months life does regain normalcy, well my version of it anyway.
It was scheduled for me to begin my treatment again the Monday following thanksgiving. But between insurances and doctors offices; getting clearance, by Wednesday I was still at home. Anyway my health was not great and so on Wednesday night I checked into the ER at UCSF. Within a couple of days I was on the right floor of the hospital and ready for round 2.
So round two is a more aggressive round, I am told it will be the most difficult round for some time. As the treatments are cumulative, I stand in position to be able to grow a garden on my stomach by spring. So the regiment for this round is 4 days of 2 big drugs Etoposide and Ara-C. They were administered starting last Friday and by Tuesday were completed. These drugs are causing my blood counts, specifically, the white blood count, Plateletes, and ANC levels to drop. The reason this round is deemed most difficult is because the levels drop from numbers like 5- 10 to .001 or .005. They will basically be killing all the bad cells inside my bones. It is here that mouth sores, infections, and a general sense of feeling like a very salted slug, kick in. Then they will see if my bone marrow will produce the right kind of cells. This process will keep me nutrapenic where I find myself now.
The other treatment that began is called Methotrexate. This is administered both with IV and through a series of 6-12 spinal taps. Micheal my NP did a spinal tap a few days ago. He and Mary were great with my obvious nervousness and discomfort. With this tap they will be able to determine whether the cancer is in my brain or not, this affects the amount of spinal taps as well. I will find out the results this week. And lets be honest, praying for a negative return, so I get less “sticky in the spinie”!!
So now I lay in wait so to speak. So far I feel alright, this round has defiantly hit me differently than the first, and harder I think. For the next week I will get more tired, sick and at risk for infection. Then next Saturday or so I will begin to receive nupagin injections, which promote the production of the cells again. Within about a week from that I should be feeling more “normal” again.
At that point it will be about the 20th and I should be able to head home for a little Christmas love. My beautiful sister Alicen is marrying Dallas on the 2
9th, and if my health permits, I will be heading to SLC for the wedding for a day.
So that is my treatment for now, kind of a heavy read I know. So let me give you the good news. First off, after testing my blood it appears that the cancer is in “remission”. This means the Induction process worked. It doesn’t mean I am out of the woods by any means, but it does mean that the drugs are working, and it does mean that I am smiling just a little wider. Secondly, I have the best healthcare, pretty much in the world. After leaving Stanford, I was a bit skeptical that I could be cared for as well. After being here for a week, I feel just as blessed. The nursing staff is not only compassionate but really fun to be around. The doctors, are great at explaining things to me, and are in daily to give me the Low Down on my Low Counts.
There are some definite perks to my current life. One of them is I am on the 11th floor with a huge window overlooking the golden gate bridge and the whole city of SF. If you are gonna feel not so swell, it is really nice. Also the staff here is a hoot. I find myself laughing a lot of the time, especially during dicey procedures… And I am really grateful that I do not have to do this treatment via outpatient. I would not want to drive in my silly sick condition. Ps, I am not going to lie, they give me lots of drugs to help with the pain, discomfort, and nausea. If you can imagine the goofy fun loving side of chad with this mixed in, well it’s a little ridiculous. (I love it)
I just want you each to know that there is a beautiful experience I have been having. On occasion I have found myself in mid treatment, to be a bit more sick than I have been before. In this place of feeling not great, there are many emotions, and feelings. But each time I feel this way, I find myself opening my emails. I just have to spend a few minutes reading and I find everything changing. The fear leaves, the discomfort is quieted, and I am left smiling. I just want you to know how grateful I am for your inspiration. Thank you for the stories about what is going on in your lives, I love the updates. Thank you for each of your individual ways of helping me get through this.
I hope that as this holiday season is underway, you all know how grateful I am to not only be alive, but to have in my life such amazing people. Please know of my deepest appreciation, and love for each of you. May this season bring all of the blessings you each stand in need of.
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