August 26, 2007

An incredible amount of medical “stuff” has happened in the last three days. I had a chest x-ray and a CT scan of my chest that has revealed areas in my upper lungs that could be pneumonia. They did a scope of my lungs to help determine further what might be happening.

While they had the scope in my lungs they pushed a cup of saline solution in each lung and then sucked as much out as they could – it is called lavage. The hope with the lavage is to suck out something that will give them an indication of what they are dealing with. As of now they are treating to cover everything it may be until they find out specifically what to treat.

Unfortunately on Friday it became necessary to remove my central line where all IV medication and transfusions were given. The line and area around it has become infected and until results show what is causing this infection I will not be able to have a new line placed. This means that all infusions must come through temporary lines in the back of my hand which need to be replaced every three to four days.

I can’t have a permanent PICC line put in until the infection in my blood is gone. Because the remove of my central line has not relieved my sensitivity and redness the surgeons are coming in to see if they need to cut small channels next to the areas and flush it out.

I have been developing red spots on my skin and a red rash around my elbows so the biopsy team came and took three biopsies two shallow and one deep. It wasn’t that big of a deal because they numbed the area first. The thought is that these areas indicate possible infection related to the same in the blood. Everyone here at OHSU is working diligently to help me.

I would like to recommend a good book. The title is HEAVEN written by Randy Alcorn. Because of my situation I have been more curious about what is heaven like and what will I look like there, and what I am going to do there and who am I going to do it with. I have not finished the book but Randy has a great way of looking at Scripture with different references to make his points.

For example he brings out the point that Adam and Eve were God creation to live for an eternity. But because they chose not follow God’s plan for mankind their bodies began to age and eventually die. It only makes sense that we will have physical bodies because that was God’s original plan for mankind. However, there are some of his ideas which use scripture but are his own interpretation. On those you need to pray God will give you discernment and fill in your own blanks.

If you have questions about where you will personally spend eternity e-mail me back and we can talk about it.

I thank you all for your kind words and especially for your prayers. You are warriors.

August 21, 2007

Today is August 21, 2007. I’ve been here in OHSU since August 2nd. The first week was a week of waiting, instead of getting chemo as previously planned. Looking back I’m glad they waited a week because I was really weak and needed the time to rebuild.

I started chemo the second week after all of the oncology doctors met to decide how I should be treated. I was planning on a leukocyte transplant from the same donor as the first transplant. However, the reason for the second transplant is to add to the donor immune system. This would result in an elevated dose of Graft verses Host Disease (GvHD) and also elevate the Graft verses Leukemia Effect. Doctors monitor the GvHD which is an indicator of how much Graft verses Leukemia Effect is present.

When I came here on the 2nd the doctors performed a scope and biopsies of my stomach. The biopsies showed I had a good case of GvHD. By giving me the second transplant there is a concern that I will have too much GvHD and that could be life threatening. The donor is on call if I need the transplant, but as for now I don’t need it.

I have been receiving TPN, a type of IV nutrition. It really helps. I’ve been able to walk 2 laps through the 5C wing. That is a huge improvement over where I was. I feel a lot stronger and my outlook has improved a great deal too.

I will probably be here another two weeks, until my blood counts rise after the chemo. I could go home earlier but Barbara would have to bring me here every day or two during rush hour. There is also the possibility of infections.

Thanks for your prayers.

August 11, 2007

This is Barbara for Art. Art is doing as well as can be for now and we are working together to send this to you as he is most comfortable in a reclining position. We are back at OHSU and today is day four of a five day round of Chemo. Originally the plan was to have this conditioning chemo and within days have a second transplant of the donor's white cells (leukocytes).

The object of the transplant was to heighten the level of GvHD. However, when he entered to hospital this time they did a biopsy on his stomach and the results showed that there is already GvH present. To give him the transplant now could elevate the GvH to a fatal level. So the consensus of his medical team was that they would continue with the conditioning chemo and save the collection from the donor for a later time. The reason they want GvHD is that it is a measuring tool for the level of graft versus leukemia affect.

Because Art was so ill when he came into the hospital he became depressed especially when it took so many days to come up with an alternate plan. It’s hard for both of us at this time since we were expecting to be so much further along than we are today. Art is very weak and it will take many days just to have the strength to get upstairs now when we get back home. There is no set date as to when he will be coming home but we are hoping for a day next week.

Hope you are all having a wonderful summer! It is certainly going by fast for us. Please remember to take the time to build memories with your family and friends – those who matter most and will always remember your name. Thanks for your prayers and kind words of encouragement.