All Systems Go...

My last chemo treatment was in the first weeks of June.  A few weeks later I was back at St. Francis for an outpatient procedure to place an Apheresis Catheter in the jugular vein on the right side of my neck.  For the next few days they harvested the stem cells from my blood with this really cool machine that looked like something out of Back To The Future.

Amanda, my stem cell harvesting nurse, was wonderful.  Thank you Lord for great nurses!  My stem cells are now frozen in liquid nitrogen under lock and key at St. Francis awaiting my arrival for my Stem Cell Replacement Therapy.  

On August 29th I will begin this final phase of the treatment which will finish killing off any remaining cancer cells in my body. It gives me the best chance for a long remission of the cancer. I would be fine if it never came back but... it's a lymphoma that cannot be cured... just managed.  

I will be getting 4 days of chemotherapy at a dosage of about 10 times the amount I had been getting previous.  YIKES!  Then over the next 2 and a half days I will receive 5 total body radiation treatments.  The doc said they were low dose but I think I will put some un-popped popcorn in my pockets just to see what will happen.  After the 5th radiation treatment they will have hopefully killed all the remaining cancer causing cells in my body tissues, my blood, and my bone marrow.  Then on the afternoon of the 8th day in the hospital I get my harvested stem cells back in my blood.  

This is where the "coolness" happens!  My stem cells know they are back in MY body and begin to realize that I need some bone marrow to produce white blood cells since those doctors have killed them all.  So my stem cells head for the bones and dive in and begin manufacturing the blood cells I need. PRETTY COOL!  Over the course of the next few weeks my body will begin to repair and replace all the things lacking for my immune system to begin to be able to fight off infections again. Once my white blood count reaches a certain point they will tell me to "hit the road" and after 3 to 4 weeks in that hospital room and bed I am sure I won't be able to get out of there quick enough.  

Please pray that the therapy will accomplish its' purpose and that I will remain healthy during the treatment.  Also pray for Anna as she gets to sit by my side and watch all this happen to her husband... it ain't easy.

I thank God for your prayers.

THINGS I'VE LEARNED....

... God provides for and protects my family.  --  When I first was diagnosed with Lymphoma all I could think about was that God could not allow me to die because my wife and children needed me. I was the provider... I was the protector.  It took me a few days for the Lord to impress upon me that... He is the provider... He is the protector... of me and my family. He uses me in that way, but they would be provided for even if I weren't around. But... I would like to stay around.

... Going from 330 lbs down to 250 lbs is a good thing, not a bad thing.  --   I just wouldn't recommend cancer as a weight loss program.

... Thin folks have a whole different set of problems,  including trying to cross your legs without any "padding" over your bones.  --  Still not sure how is to be done without hurting.

... Never take your wife for granted.  --  Realize she is a gift from God and your helpmate in this world and you would be lost without her.

... Tell your family that you love them every time you can.

... NEVER, EVER, pass up an opportunity to have a cone of vanilla soft serve ice cream.  --  NOT ice milk or some low fat impostor version

... WhataBurger Fried Lemon pies make a trip to Tulsa worth it.

... Great Doctors are extremely important, and great nurses make your life easier.

... Compression hose and grippy socks make a fashion statement.  --  Just not sure what that statement is.

... Never trust a hospital menu that says it is a five star dining experience.

... Random acts of kindness just seem more special when you can't do things for yourself.

... more later...