After several hours of waiting, Peter got his new stem cells today around 3:30. As Kim said, it was kinda anti-climactic - they just hung 2 more bags of stuff. As it turned out, Peter needed the blood from 2 different umbilical cords. One cord was from Duke, the other from a hospital in Texas; also one was from a boy and one from a girl. So depending on which one is more dominant, Peter may be getting more in touch with his feminine side (just kidding).
There happened to be 6 of us in the room when the nurse came in with the first bag. She was very good about explaining what was going on and what meds he got before and during the process. They checked his blood pressure and blood oxygen levels every 15 minutes and adjusted his meds as needed. The whole thing only took 30 minutes. Now we continue the waiting game, waiting for some signs that these new stem cells have engrafted themselves to his bones and are beginning to make marrow and new blood cells.
Hopefully he will only be at Duke another 4 weeks or so and will be ready to come here to the hotel to stay. Then we begin daily out patient treatment.
It means alot to both of us to get email and comments and cards from everyone. Peter loves to get cards in the mail. We may need to bring in another bulletin board to post the cards.
Thanks to you all for your thoughts and prayers. It is nice to know that there are others out there who are keeping us in their prayers.
Wendy
PS I walked for 25 minutes today - at least that is a start.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Counting down to transplant/infusion
Today was Peter's only day so far with no chemo or radiation. He seemed to be in better spirits but I'm sure the morphine drip he had going helped with that. He has had alot of leg pain and mouth pain and the morphine helps alleviate that. The morphine makes him sleep better also.
Not sure what the exact protocol for the transplant/infusion is tomorrow. At least we will now be starting the upward swing. I'm sure it will have it's ups and downs but overall it should be heading towards better health.
Peter and the girls have been trying to bribe me into exercising and I might actually start tomorrow. I'll start walking for 30 minutes and work up from there. Peter says he expects me to be in better shape than now when he is released from Duke. I'll give it a try.
Have a great day!
Wendy
Not sure what the exact protocol for the transplant/infusion is tomorrow. At least we will now be starting the upward swing. I'm sure it will have it's ups and downs but overall it should be heading towards better health.
Peter and the girls have been trying to bribe me into exercising and I might actually start tomorrow. I'll start walking for 30 minutes and work up from there. Peter says he expects me to be in better shape than now when he is released from Duke. I'll give it a try.
Have a great day!
Wendy
Monday, October 29, 2007
Chemo is finished!
Peter had the last chemo treatment today. Hopefully between the radiation & chemo there are no bone marrow cells or leukemia cells left alive. Tomorrow is his day off and then Wed. is the actual transfusion of stem cells. Thursday becomes day one and then we are off to the races!
Today was a good day! Peter was awake more than asleep, and even had pleasant conversations. He got to be a movie star today. Duke was filming a promo for the ABMT unit and Peter was out walking in the hallway. The filmed him doing that and also going into the kitchenette and helping himself to some food and drink.
Peter still has all his hair, so all is well.
Wendy
Today was a good day! Peter was awake more than asleep, and even had pleasant conversations. He got to be a movie star today. Duke was filming a promo for the ABMT unit and Peter was out walking in the hallway. The filmed him doing that and also going into the kitchenette and helping himself to some food and drink.
Peter still has all his hair, so all is well.
Wendy
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Side Effects Are Here
Yesterday and today are the first time that Peter has had very uncomfortable side effects. Even while his counts were very low, he could still work from home and only had minimal discomfort. He is now experiencing nausea, mouth sores, and pain in his legs. The doctors and nurses have assured us both that these are normal considering the amount of total body irradiation and the fact that he has gone through 3 days of very strong chemotherapy. He will probably feel much worse before he gets better. On the bright side, he still has all his hair, for now.
He really enjoys getting cards in the mail. The address is posted on this blog. If you live in the area and would like to visit, late morning and early afternoon are probably the best times to visit. Please call before visiting.
Wendy
He really enjoys getting cards in the mail. The address is posted on this blog. If you live in the area and would like to visit, late morning and early afternoon are probably the best times to visit. Please call before visiting.
Wendy
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Radiation day 4
Hi!
Be sure to check Peter's blog today www.peter-vampire.blogspot.com.
Only one more radiation treatment(Friday morning) and then chemo starts (Friday afternoon). Peter felt pretty good tonight although he did have 2 episodes of nausea today. He stayed awake for a good part of the day, and when he did sleep it was a deep, noisy sleep (oh, does he snore!). He walked up and down the unit this morning before Kim and I arrived and then did 15 minutes or .25 miles before we left tonight.
He has received cards from friends and really enjoys reading them. If we stick to the projected schedule he will get his transplant infusion on Halloween. At the bone marrow clinic they refer to this as his new birthday. It would be great if he got alot of birthday cards on that day - just a little hint here.
Peter had no adverse reactions to the chemo before and we are hoping it is the same this time. He still has his hair, one of the only patients on the unit who does. I think his thick head of white hair has a limited time left.
He would love to have visitors, just call first to see how his day is going. You can call my phone or Peter's phone, or the hospital.
Wendy
Be sure to check Peter's blog today www.peter-vampire.blogspot.com.
Only one more radiation treatment(Friday morning) and then chemo starts (Friday afternoon). Peter felt pretty good tonight although he did have 2 episodes of nausea today. He stayed awake for a good part of the day, and when he did sleep it was a deep, noisy sleep (oh, does he snore!). He walked up and down the unit this morning before Kim and I arrived and then did 15 minutes or .25 miles before we left tonight.
He has received cards from friends and really enjoys reading them. If we stick to the projected schedule he will get his transplant infusion on Halloween. At the bone marrow clinic they refer to this as his new birthday. It would be great if he got alot of birthday cards on that day - just a little hint here.
Peter had no adverse reactions to the chemo before and we are hoping it is the same this time. He still has his hair, one of the only patients on the unit who does. I think his thick head of white hair has a limited time left.
He would love to have visitors, just call first to see how his day is going. You can call my phone or Peter's phone, or the hospital.
Wendy
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Radiation
Radiation began Monday. After the morning session on Tuesday Peter felt a bit nauseaus (I know that is not spelled correctly) so he got some medication to help. Second sessionof radiation for Tuesday went well.
The area where the tubes were from the portacath is painful especially when he moves the right arm. Once he got some pain med it felt much better. His nurse and I are trying to get him to ask for meds before it gets to bad rather than wait until the pain or upset stomach are to bad. He thinks he can tough it out, but I think this is one area he needs to give in.
He spends much of his day napping. He says the radiation is making him more tired than he has ever been. At times he nods off when someone is speaking to him. He just can't stay awake. His attitude remains upbeat, and he is rolling with the punches.
If you would like to send him mail the address at Duke is:
DUMC
Erwin Road
Durham, NC 27710
Attn: Room 9202
Peter Yandow
In his room we hung the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society posters signed by his co-workers at GE. I know it gives him strength to know that everyone there is pulling for him.
I try to get to the hospital around 10 and stay until 7 or 8. I check with the nurses and Peter to find out how the evening went. He spiked a fever Monday night so they began to follow the fever protocol --several different labs, portable chest x-ray, and he started on antibiotics. So far nothing has shown up from the labs and the fever lasted for only 1-2 hours.
Kim is coming to visit for a few days. She and Heather will probably come to the hospital to visit with Peter. I'm sure Peter will enjoy seeing someone besides me.
Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.
Wendy
The area where the tubes were from the portacath is painful especially when he moves the right arm. Once he got some pain med it felt much better. His nurse and I are trying to get him to ask for meds before it gets to bad rather than wait until the pain or upset stomach are to bad. He thinks he can tough it out, but I think this is one area he needs to give in.
He spends much of his day napping. He says the radiation is making him more tired than he has ever been. At times he nods off when someone is speaking to him. He just can't stay awake. His attitude remains upbeat, and he is rolling with the punches.
If you would like to send him mail the address at Duke is:
DUMC
Erwin Road
Durham, NC 27710
Attn: Room 9202
Peter Yandow
In his room we hung the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society posters signed by his co-workers at GE. I know it gives him strength to know that everyone there is pulling for him.
I try to get to the hospital around 10 and stay until 7 or 8. I check with the nurses and Peter to find out how the evening went. He spiked a fever Monday night so they began to follow the fever protocol --several different labs, portable chest x-ray, and he started on antibiotics. So far nothing has shown up from the labs and the fever lasted for only 1-2 hours.
Kim is coming to visit for a few days. She and Heather will probably come to the hospital to visit with Peter. I'm sure Peter will enjoy seeing someone besides me.
Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.
Wendy
Monday, October 22, 2007
Dodged another bullet, but finally the treatment has begun!
Sorry it has taken so long for an update. I tried to get the laptop working using the wireless here at the hotel and of course it wouldn't work. Got it going tonight - totally by accident -- I did write down how I did it so hopefully I can reproduce it again tomorrow.
When we got to Duke last Thursday Peter had a chest xray and an ekg. When we met with the transplant team, they said there was a cloudy area on the chest xray that might be pneumonia, so to eliminate that Peter had a CAT scan that night.
Friday they said all was good - no pneumonia. Since he was supposed to have his old port removed and new port installed that day, he needed another bag of platelets so that his count would be above 50. Well, as far as we know, he has not been above 29 since July. Needless to say, it did not get that high so they decided to postpone the surgery until today.
Yesterday he moved into the Adult Bone Marrow Transplant (ABMT). He is in reverse isolation. That means that visitors must go through 3 sets of double doors, then wash hands for 15 seconds, and then go through another set of double doors. All doors to patient rooms are kept closed. Gone are the days of gowns and gloves. That is not necessary unless the patient is in contact isolation.
All the nurses are great - they are trying to make this ordeal as easy as possible. Peter says the food is good, but remember, I am not a great cook, and don't cook very often anyway.
So far we have met the social worker, nurse clinician, physician's asst., attending physician, physical therapist and the volunteer who is on the floor on Mondays.
I got to Duke about 10 this morning and Peter had had his first radiation treatment. He says you pretty much get into fetal position and hold that for 20 minutes while being irradiated. He will get this 2x/day for 3 more days.
He was not a happy camper today. He was scheduled to have his surgery at some point today, but no one was sure when. That meant he could not have anything to eat until after the surgery. He was just a bit grumpy without food. They finally took him at 4:30 and he became a nice person again after he ate at 6:15.
Thanks for your continued prayers and offers of assistance. We really appreciate it.
Wendy
When we got to Duke last Thursday Peter had a chest xray and an ekg. When we met with the transplant team, they said there was a cloudy area on the chest xray that might be pneumonia, so to eliminate that Peter had a CAT scan that night.
Friday they said all was good - no pneumonia. Since he was supposed to have his old port removed and new port installed that day, he needed another bag of platelets so that his count would be above 50. Well, as far as we know, he has not been above 29 since July. Needless to say, it did not get that high so they decided to postpone the surgery until today.
Yesterday he moved into the Adult Bone Marrow Transplant (ABMT). He is in reverse isolation. That means that visitors must go through 3 sets of double doors, then wash hands for 15 seconds, and then go through another set of double doors. All doors to patient rooms are kept closed. Gone are the days of gowns and gloves. That is not necessary unless the patient is in contact isolation.
All the nurses are great - they are trying to make this ordeal as easy as possible. Peter says the food is good, but remember, I am not a great cook, and don't cook very often anyway.
So far we have met the social worker, nurse clinician, physician's asst., attending physician, physical therapist and the volunteer who is on the floor on Mondays.
I got to Duke about 10 this morning and Peter had had his first radiation treatment. He says you pretty much get into fetal position and hold that for 20 minutes while being irradiated. He will get this 2x/day for 3 more days.
He was not a happy camper today. He was scheduled to have his surgery at some point today, but no one was sure when. That meant he could not have anything to eat until after the surgery. He was just a bit grumpy without food. They finally took him at 4:30 and he became a nice person again after he ate at 6:15.
Thanks for your continued prayers and offers of assistance. We really appreciate it.
Wendy
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
We're almost there!
It's 9:30pm on Wed. the 17th. Tomorrow is the beginning of the next phase of Peter's treatment. We'll move into the hotel/suite, go to Duke for testing and clinic appointments, and then Peter checks into Duke on Sunday. Radiation followed by chemo will begin next week and then the stem cell transplant and the road back to wellness begins!
We've talked about how we feel about what is going on, and we both agree that there is no other option and we will just have to make the best of the situation. It will be challenging but Peter and I are both so lucky to have the support of our families and our great friends!!!!
More will come later.
Wendy
PS - I had a great 3 days at the beach with my stitching buddies. It was good for both of us to be apart for a few days and I think we are both in better spirits because of it.
We've talked about how we feel about what is going on, and we both agree that there is no other option and we will just have to make the best of the situation. It will be challenging but Peter and I are both so lucky to have the support of our families and our great friends!!!!
More will come later.
Wendy
PS - I had a great 3 days at the beach with my stitching buddies. It was good for both of us to be apart for a few days and I think we are both in better spirits because of it.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Hurry up and wait!
Well, after we got the good news about stem cell donors (cord blood donors), and had all the dates set in our mind, we met with the radiologist and her lovely resident. (Ask Peter about his encounter with these two). And it seems that one of the radiation machines is broken so they cannot nuke as many people as before, so everything got pushed back a week.
That works out great for me because I can go to half of my stitcher's beach week. We have been going for 20+ years and if things were not changed, I would have gladly (sorta) missed the week. Peter wants me to go; I'll only be about 2 hours away, and he still feels fine. If he starts feeling funny, I will be home as fast as I can get the car loaded and drive back to Wilmington.
I've started to pack - two separate piles, one for the beach and one for Duke. It is not easy trying to decide what you might need for 3 months away. I plan on coming back to the house once a month to pick up/exchange clothes etc. I am also starting to pack Annie's (our cocker spaniel) bag. Thank goodness Heather has volunteered to keep her while we are away. When I dropped her off last week for the day and night, she was right at home and did not seem to be upset that I was leaving her.
Needless to say, the house looks like a bomb blew up in it. Hopefully it will look organized by the time I leave for the beach on Sunday. When I get home Wed. I will unload and drop off whatever I don't need. Then Thursday we will reload the car and head for Duke/Durham.
Peter gets his portacath out Friday the 19th and a Hickman catheter put in at the same time. From what we understand, this is a tube into one of the larger veins of the body. They can draw blood from it, and administer drugs and nutrients from it. After that we are free until Sunday at 11 when he gets admitted to Duke unit 9200.
I guess my writing is considered to be stream of consciousness, I'll try and do better.
If you want to receive notification of blog updates, the easiest way to sign up is go to http://www.rssfwd.com/ and then enter in the URL of the blog ( http://peter-vampire.blogspot.com/) or (http://wendy-thevampireswife.blogspot.com/). you then put in your email address and you are all set!
Hope everyone is having a great day!
Wendy
PS: If you know someone who is pregnant, ask them to consider donating the cord blood to the cord blood bank. Who knows who they may help!!
That works out great for me because I can go to half of my stitcher's beach week. We have been going for 20+ years and if things were not changed, I would have gladly (sorta) missed the week. Peter wants me to go; I'll only be about 2 hours away, and he still feels fine. If he starts feeling funny, I will be home as fast as I can get the car loaded and drive back to Wilmington.
I've started to pack - two separate piles, one for the beach and one for Duke. It is not easy trying to decide what you might need for 3 months away. I plan on coming back to the house once a month to pick up/exchange clothes etc. I am also starting to pack Annie's (our cocker spaniel) bag. Thank goodness Heather has volunteered to keep her while we are away. When I dropped her off last week for the day and night, she was right at home and did not seem to be upset that I was leaving her.
Needless to say, the house looks like a bomb blew up in it. Hopefully it will look organized by the time I leave for the beach on Sunday. When I get home Wed. I will unload and drop off whatever I don't need. Then Thursday we will reload the car and head for Duke/Durham.
Peter gets his portacath out Friday the 19th and a Hickman catheter put in at the same time. From what we understand, this is a tube into one of the larger veins of the body. They can draw blood from it, and administer drugs and nutrients from it. After that we are free until Sunday at 11 when he gets admitted to Duke unit 9200.
I guess my writing is considered to be stream of consciousness, I'll try and do better.
If you want to receive notification of blog updates, the easiest way to sign up is go to http://www.rssfwd.com/ and then enter in the URL of the blog ( http://peter-vampire.blogspot.com/) or (http://wendy-thevampireswife.blogspot.com/). you then put in your email address and you are all set!
Hope everyone is having a great day!
Wendy
PS: If you know someone who is pregnant, ask them to consider donating the cord blood to the cord blood bank. Who knows who they may help!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)