Heather and I are sitting in "HIPOP", which is the out-patient center that she must visit daily. The good news is that this means she is out! Heather caught us all off guard yesterday when she announced her release. I picked her up around 6:00 PM (well, I got there at 2:00....but they are never on time).
The statistics are that her liver function has improved considerably and her abdomen has shrunk; meaning the VOD looks (to the layman) to be on the mend. Her white counts are up today, but they flucuate, and she is getting ready to recieve platelates (which are really low).
We are are happy to have her home, the kids and Maple reacted as you would expect. She is still really tired, and I am being a "quarantine nazi" with regard to even her time spent outside her room. Still it is great to have her back, a great Valentines Day present.
Dave
A journal to keep everyone up to date with my Primary Refractory Hodgkin’s, radiation myelitis, and the little Z’s.
Followers
A QUICK TIMELINE
2006
January
Conceived our third child
Began to display symptoms of Hodgkin's - night sweats, itching, swelling, shortness of breath
March
Diagnosed with Hodgkin's and began 6 cycles of ABVD
Pregnant with cancer - what luck
August
Delivered Alex on August 28
PET Scan on August 31 - results that the ABVD did not reduce my tumor
re-diagnosed with Primary Refractory Hodgkin's
September
Consultation with NIH and Hopkins - recommended that I have 2 cycles of ICE then Stem Cell Transplant (SCT).
October
PET Scan results that I could get the SCT
November
Had another cycle of ICE while waiting for transplant (3rd) Began SCT process
December
Final cycle (4th) of ICE
Unable to mobilize stem cells and waiting for bone marrow harvest
2007
January
Harvest bone marrow from bones under twilight meds Admitted into hospital for SCT; new birthday Jan. 16
February
Released from hospital - 2 days later back with VOD
Final release on Feb. 14 (happy v-day)
April - May
Radiation treatments
June
PET scan to see if treatment & SCT worked - it did and I am cancer free!
July
Hospitalized for pneumonia and missed Charlotte Marie's 4th bday.
On oxygen support
August
Alex's first birthday - can you believe it!
September
Returned to work part time
Lee started kindergarten
October
Diagnosed with BOOP - out of work again
Back on oxygen support and steroids
Resigned from job to focus on health
2008
Jan.
1 year anniversary of SCT - still cancer free
April
Diagnosed with radiation myelitis
July/August
Lost moblity in lower extremities - wheelchair bound.
Using Avastin to try to stop progression of myelitis to my arms and hands
January
Conceived our third child
Began to display symptoms of Hodgkin's - night sweats, itching, swelling, shortness of breath
March
Diagnosed with Hodgkin's and began 6 cycles of ABVD
Pregnant with cancer - what luck
August
Delivered Alex on August 28
PET Scan on August 31 - results that the ABVD did not reduce my tumor
re-diagnosed with Primary Refractory Hodgkin's
September
Consultation with NIH and Hopkins - recommended that I have 2 cycles of ICE then Stem Cell Transplant (SCT).
October
PET Scan results that I could get the SCT
November
Had another cycle of ICE while waiting for transplant (3rd) Began SCT process
December
Final cycle (4th) of ICE
Unable to mobilize stem cells and waiting for bone marrow harvest
2007
January
Harvest bone marrow from bones under twilight meds Admitted into hospital for SCT; new birthday Jan. 16
February
Released from hospital - 2 days later back with VOD
Final release on Feb. 14 (happy v-day)
April - May
Radiation treatments
June
PET scan to see if treatment & SCT worked - it did and I am cancer free!
July
Hospitalized for pneumonia and missed Charlotte Marie's 4th bday.
On oxygen support
August
Alex's first birthday - can you believe it!
September
Returned to work part time
Lee started kindergarten
October
Diagnosed with BOOP - out of work again
Back on oxygen support and steroids
Resigned from job to focus on health
2008
Jan.
1 year anniversary of SCT - still cancer free
April
Diagnosed with radiation myelitis
July/August
Lost moblity in lower extremities - wheelchair bound.
Using Avastin to try to stop progression of myelitis to my arms and hands
Good Links
Maple
10 comments:
Dear Heather
Happy Valentine's Day
We all are praying here in Montana for your speedy recovery. You have been through so much, we pray that you are over the worst. Stay stong!
Love Brenda
Happy Happy Valentines Day!!!!
I am THRILLED that you're home with yoru family!
i'm thinking about you daily, at least. you are such a strong and inspriring friend.
i love you very much.
libby
ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC NEWS!!!!!!!
Thank you Dave for finding time to keep us all updated as I can imagine how busy & exhausted you must be!!
Hope there is only GOOD NEWS from now on!?
Much love to all the Zeitlins from an X-Zeitlin Edna and Werner ("goo goo man")
Heather and Dave,
I am so happy for you! I hope you stay well and stay OUT of the hospital. What a great present for everyone!
We'll keep our prayers coming!
Hi Heather and Dave. So glad to hear you are home and you get to have the most precious gift for Valentines Day....hugs and kisses from your kids, husband, and Maple! Thinking of you daily...Dave, you are pretty darn incredible too!
Laura P. in Urbana
Yea, I am so glad you are home! Give the kids hugs and kisses from me. Happy Valentines day! Dave stay on her! I will be calling soon
Love
Aunt Linda
Heather, welcome home! I know you were as thrilled to see the kids and Maple as they were to see you. Keep up the quarantine, Dave, we want to keep her healthy.
You are both an inspiration to us all.
Lots of love,
Michele, Dave, Ryan, Charles and Michael
Dear Heather, Michelle, Dave, and Family:
Happy Valentine's Day!
We never cease to be amazed by your steadfast courage, and we most certainly never cease to marvel at God's healing power. We send prayers of thanksgiving for the progress you are making, and we pray daily for your continued improvement and strengthening.
We Love You,
Michael and Mary Jordan (Cousin Jessica and Matt's parents)
Ooorah!!
Thanks for the update Dave! There probably couldn't have been a better V-day present for you.
Heather, I second what Brenda said - hopefully the worst is behind you!
Now the biggest challenge is going to be staying off your feet - so I am happy to hear that Dave has become a tyrannical dictator.
I love you all BIG!
Michele
Dear Heather,
Hooray for you, you're home now, what a great way to spend Valentine's Day, at home with your wonderfully beautiful children, your very terrific husband (hey, I'm not proud, I'm his mom, I can say that!) and Maple ... who's a really great dog!! :o)
Now, all you have to do is listen to your doctors, and LISTEN to your husband, and improve each day ... one day at a time.
A day, an hour, a minute doesn't go by when you're not in our thoughts, Dan and I love you very, very much, as does everyone else who has posted on this blogg.
Love,
Louise and Dan
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