June 7th, 2006

Here’s the latest. I went to OHSU today and had my weekly appointment regarding the experimental drug study I am doing. They do a bunch of blood tests and an EKG on these weekly visits.

There was some bad news today. I was really hoping that Linda, my sister, would be a stem cell donor match. The tests indicate that Linda’s blood type is not even close to mine. Therefore, please pray that the Red Cross will find a donor match for me. Several of you have expressed a desire to be tested for a match for me. There is only one way you can be tested to be a donor for me. You would have to go to the Red Cross and sign up for their donor program. You cannot sign up exclusively for Art Young. You would have to sign up as a donor for all people. If you are ever called by the Red Cross in the future to be a donor for someone else, you could at that time decline to be a donor for that situation. If anyone is still interested in being tested to be a donor for me, let me know and I’ll give you more information.

I still have rash, but it seems to be resolving itself slowly. The doctor was very happy with the progress, but he doesn’t have to live with the terrible itching. The rash is only on my forearms and around my knees. It used to be all over, but the majority is all gone now.

The doctor is very pleased with my response to the new drug. We discussed probable timing for my recovery. When I went to the hospital on May 12th, my bone marrow was putting out 93% leukemia (blast) cells into the blood. Now there are no blast cells in the blood. My good stem cells in my marrow are starting to produce good white cells. Good marrow always starts producing white cells first. In about two weeks my good white cell count (called ANC index) should be above 500. That is a good number because that means my immune system is no longer so weak that I have to keep taking anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral antibiotics.

Once the white cell count is above 500, then the marrow will start putting out red cells. It takes 10-14 days to produce a red cell. Red cells are able to collect oxygen from the lungs and distribute it through the body. After about 3 weeks from now my red cell count should stabilize so that I don’t need any more blood transfusions. The final blood cells to be made are the platelets. Platelets are the blood cells that cause your blood to clot and to be the right consistency. Without sufficient platelets you will bleed internally. My platelets will hopefully normalize in a couple of weeks after the red cells stabilize.

One of the blood tests today indicated that my pancreas is not operating within limits. This means that the daily dose of the experimental drug (107) will have to be adjusted. I received this message when I returned home so I don’t have a lot of information because OHSU was closed when I called back. I’ll know more tomorrow. Please pray that this is resolved and I can get back to normal again soon.

I love you all and again thanks for your prayers.