April 27 2004

Main Page • John's Journal (2000-2003) • CLL Information • Contact John • Seattle Cancer Care Alliance • MD Anderson

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own
understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths
straight. Proverbs 3:5

Powerful verse. I will pray each morning that I can make it my focus.  What
lies ahead is bigger than me and I will need the Lord to carry me through
it.

As I laid my head on my pillow last night I turned to Michelle and said,
( This is my last weekend at home for at least three months.)  We were pretty
much silent after that.  The toughest challenge of the transplant won't be
the treatments and recovery.   I think it will be the distance from my boys.
I am fortunate they are only an hour's drive away, but it will be difficult
not seeing them everyday.

After a wonderful weekend of sunshine and fun with the family, including a
short fishing trip, it was time to head back up to Seattle for more
appointments.  I had about six hours between my two appointments. Since
Michelle and her mom weren't coming up until my late afternoon appointment I
decided I would head up on my own on my bike.  I figured I could do some
riding between appointments.  So at 5:45am I headed out into the beautiful
morning and down to the Puyallup Train Station to catch the Sounder to
Seattle.  The train dumped me off right by Seahawks stadium and I rode along
the Seattle waterfront and made my way up into the city and was at the SCCA
clinic by 7:30.   What a great way to start the day!



My first appointment of the day was a MUGA (Multiple Gated Acquisition)
test.   This test was to evaluate how much blood my heart pushes out during
a contraction as well as how quickly it pushes the blood out. The results of
the test are called an Ejection Fraction, or EF.  Prior to the test the
technician gave me an IV injection of a safe radioactive isotope.  The
isotope was then given about twenty minutes to travel throughout my body.

Before I went into the room with the nuclear camera the tech removed my IV.
Upon having the IV removed I grabbed the heavy courier bag I carry with me
and blood started pouring out of the hole left by the IV. After a short
panic and a thorough clean up we resumed the test.   Lesson learned:  Always
apply direct pressure for at least two minutes.

The nuclear camera is very quiet.  Basically, it has photo-sensors that pick
up the gamma rays coming from the radioactive isotope in the body and
convert them to a digital image.  The particular isotope I was given readily
attaches itself to red blood cells.  So organs such as the heart, which is
loaded with red blood cells, absorb a lot of the isotope. Using this test
doctors are able to get an excellent 3D image of my heart and accurately
calculate the pumping health of the heart.


After the MUGA test I had several hours to kill.  Fortunately, my friend
Brad came up around noon to spend some time with me riding around Seattle.
We had a great time riding the urban jungle.  A bike is a great way to see
downtown.


Michelle and her mom joined me at 4pm for my "Data Review" conference.  The
purpose of this conference was for the doctor to go over the results of all
the tests I've had over the past two weeks and determine my suitability for
transplant.  All the tests showed that with the exception of the cancer in
my bone marrow and some lymph nodes, I am extremely healthy.  Good news!!
We are clear for take off!  On Friday I will begin the first of four days of
chemotherapy treatments consisting of Fludara.  The Fludara will attempt to
reduce the disease still left my body. Tuesday, May 4th  is transplant day!!
On Tuesday morning I will have one dose of Total Body Radiation to suppress
my immune system.  Later that night my cells should arrive from my donor who
is located half way around the world.  As soon as the cells arrive they will
be infused into my body through my Hickman Port (I get this port Wednesday).
The only night I should be in the hospital is the night of the transplant.
Afterward, I should be able to stay in my downtown apartment and begin the
process of recovery.  I have been warned, however, that four weeks after
transplant is when I will really start feeling the effects of the
transplant. 
Well, I'm pretty tired and I have a big day tomorrow.   Time for bed.
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