Sorry, but this is all getting to be a tedious exercise hanging out in isolation waiting on the next incremental step. Even going back to work, if possible, would be preferable to this daily drag. However, the goal is still the same: BEAT LEUKEMIA, so staying the course is the only option available. So a bit more news:
Initial results
I had hoped that we would have more results back by now but some tests are still in process.
Jeff had his follow-up appointment yesterday via Zoom. We chose not to make the trip to Rochester with the snowstorm coming through. The early news is that the aspirate portion of the biopsy shows no leukemia. We are awaiting the core results and the "chimerism", which is the test that tells us the % of Tuttle vs Jeff.
Jeff has had a pretty good week. Not sleeping the best at night so he has been a bit more tired but has also been able to do some 'normal' stuff like install the new dishwasher because our other decided it was done with this world 😊.
We're hoping that things will get settled this week to start some of his bloodwork here in town. Wow , what will we do without 2 trips a week? Lord willing, bloodwork this week will be at either Broome Oncology or Wilson. Woo Hoo!
Thank you, everyone, for your prayers and encouragement!
Biopsy Update
Praise God for great news!
Both bonemarrow results say that there is no sign of leukemia!!
Yesterday, the nurse said that the information she could see said that the percentage numbers were still at 98% Tuttle and 2% Jeff. She said that it did not concern them that the number hadn't changed. The expectation would be that once he is off of the immunosuppressant the donor cells would push out the rest of his cells. Now he gets to be free of biopsies for at least a little while. I cannot recall if there will be a 6-month biopsy but I believe it's just a 1 year.
Did I mention previously that we would be traveling much less? Wow! It's a little weird!
Prayers:
- Jeff has been having trouble with getting some good sleep at night.
- He's having some stomach trouble again. (Feels like he's full very quickly and like he's got a brick in his stomach)
- His medication level is much higher than it should be. That created a pause in taking it last night and this morning. Lowering dose more than planned for the coming week. It's not good to be too low, not good to be too high.
- His kidney function is off again. He seems to be drinking plenty. Not sure of the cause, however, the fact that they are off is what is causing the medication level to be high.
- The medication level being high is likely causing the stomach trouble which now brings back another medication. You know how that goes.
- So we need his system to get leveled out again.
Praise:
- Fabulous test results!!
- Permission to be out a LITTLE bit in the world. Doing a little visiting with family this week that hasn't happened in a looongg time.
