update 2011

So a lot has gone on since I last posted. First of all, the MRI of keith's back showed that what we thought were 2 new fractures were not new at all. They are old ones that are healing. Good news! This means NEW Myeloma didn't cause them. I supposed OLD myeloma did, but at least they aren't new. Bad news is he can't get them fixed surgically. They recommended physical therapy which he has been doing and although it is brutal, it seems to be helping. He still has chronic pain every day, but he is coping well with it.

We went to UNC Dec. 16 for his recheck since the transplant. His CBC (complete blood count) looked fantastic. His other labwork was pending, but I assume it is ok since we haven't heard. They decided to wait until the 6 month mark to do the bone marrow biopsy, which will be March 17. It was bittersweet. Wanted to get it over with and find out results, but Keith was relieved that he didn't have to have the lightpole sized needled stuck in his hip! So we wait......Keith may have to take chemo again at a very low dose with no steroids depending on what the test results say. Doc says some people opt to do that and some people wait to see if myeloma pops up and then do something. We will just have to wait and see and weigh the pros and cons.

He goes back to Dr. Wehbie in Wakefield tomorrow for his monthly visit, then Wednesday for more PT and recheck with the Cary Spine Center.
Christmas was great. All of us except Ben had a horrible stomach bug, but we have all since bounced back. The kids had a great Christmas. It was great to have Keith here with us.

The kids are very happy to see Keith being more active with them every day and so am I. I wasn't sure we would ever get back to that, but it looks promising now.

Thanks to everyone for their continued prayers and support. Unfortunately since this blog, another Cary Officer has also been diagnosed with cancer and will be undergoing aggressive treatment. His name is Matt. Please pray for him and his family and they have a tough road to travel.

oncologist visit

Today we went to Keith's awesome oncologist at Wakefield. Bloodwork looked pretty good, still a little anemic, but can be caused by some meds, and his white cells are good, but has lots of immature ones still that can't fight off stuff. Doc asked that we forward the MRI scan results to him. He wants to make sure it's not myeloma again (new myeloma, not old, if that makes sense) He said that not everyone would be able to recognize myeloma for what it was and that he was very protective of keith like Keith was his "baby" (like special project). Now THAT is what a doctor should be. If they were all like that, more people would go get checked out sooner.

This doctor was my mom's doctor before she ever had cancer. He is also a hematologist. She had iron deficient anemia and he diagnosed her with that. We requested him to be keith's doctor before we knew he had cancer.

Please pray for us and that all will be in remission and his back will be healed. I know he wants to be normal again....well, as normal as he ever was....hahahaha!

it rears its ugly head again.....

it has been a while since i posted, but things here have been crazy. keith got a cold soon after being home from hospital, but has survived it without going back to UNC to stay. I have battled what we think is Vertigo for about 6 days now. Going back to ENT doc Thursday for some balancing tests to make sure it is nothing to worry about.
Ben and Bella are doing well, few minor issues, ben had a small asthmatic episode that kept him out of school for a day, but has bounced back without an ER visit, but did have to get steroids again at doc.
Bella is talking up a storm. No idea what she says most of the time, but she sure does.
We have found out during the last few months how wonderful our church family and how wonderful our friends really are. They have all come together and done things that I didn't think were possible. Our family has also been very supportive.
Keith was able to go out trick or treating for a bit on halloween! Getting out of the house certainly picked up his mood. His blood pressure has been really low but has seemed to finally be getting back to normal.
Today we went to the Cary Spine Center to get a second (or should I say, third?) opinion on his back pain. After reviewing his chart, MRI's, X-rays, bone scans, they did an exam, repeated his x-rays and found 2 NEW fractures in his back. This makes a total of 4. They are going to order a new MRI and then talk it over. There is a procedure that can be done that is a minor surgery and basically it injects cement into the damaged discs to for lack of a better word, lift them up, and it is supposed to take the pain away. I asked the doc what the recovery time was, he said, "cement dries in 24 minutes". WOW. He said he has had peeps come in riding in wheelchairs, and walking out when he was done. This is the only positive news we have heard about his back. Unfortunately, they have to be new fractures, it doesn't work on old ones, but old ones, once they are healed, do not cause pain. So it's a good thing we went. These have happened since March, so i guess they are considered new still (i hope!) Really, cancer, rear up your ugly head again, we will just beat it back down. Every. Single. Time.

Back to regular oncologist tomorrow. Will discuss all this in more detail with him
On a lighter note, the Multiple Mylemoa Reserach Foundation is having their 5k run in Washington DC this Sunday. We have some wonderful and cool friends heading up a team and are running in keith's honor. We are planning to go if doc says keith can handle that much riding.

Thanks to all of you for support and love and prayers. Our journey is no where near finished, but hopefully we have climbed the mountain and it will be a smooth sailing from now on out, so DON'T FORGET ABOUT US! The crisis is over (hopefully!) but we still need all the love and support and prayers we can get. We won't know for sure if he is in remission until after Dec. 16 when he will be re-staged.
Also, if there is anyone out there who doesn't have AFLAC or some sort of supplemental cancer insurance or if you think it is a crock, call me. I can change your mind. It can happen to ANYONE.
Also, a friend of ours has a new nanny. This nanny's sister was just diagnosed at 23 years of age, with some type of acute leukemia. she was airlifted to UNC where she is undergoing treatment (she isn't even fully concious). Please keep her in your prayers. Her name is Janessa Batchlor (not sure of spelling, but story is on my FB page) She is very very sick and her family lives out of state. She is a student in Wilmington.

port be gone!

Went back to UNC Tuesday. Blood counts are coming up!
Today we got the aphoresis catheter removed. What I thought was going to be a little more detailed, was actually a 5 minute gig. Took it out in the little cubby in the hospital. I thought they were going to wheel him to the Operating room, but nope, snipped it out right there. no, i didn't look. would have been at UNC for a different reason if i had.
He goes to his referring oncologist, Dr. Wehbie on the 18th or 19th and then returns to UNC on Dec. 16 for re-staging. This will tell us if he is in full remission!
Christmas should be great this year if all goes well!
Thanks everyone for the continued prayers and support! Keith continues to do well, but he gets very tired very quickly, but that is normal. Just have to be patient. We will explore how to fix his back fractures as soon as we get his reports back and get the ok!

home at last

Sunday keith came home! We are all very happy! the kids are so happy! Bella has been rubbing all over him and kissing on him and of course, ben is beside himself.
He has to go back to UNC Tuesday and i guess we will go from there. He cannot drive or be left alone for more than a few minutes for 2 weeks. I plan on working half days for the next 2 weeks and we actually need some fill ins if anyone has any time on wed and friday this week and wed, thurs, fri next week.
Thanks everyone for your continued prayers and support!
Will update after Tuesday!

homeward bound?

Keith spoke with the docs today. if all goes well, he will come home Sunday!
Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes! He had some blood and platelets, so he should be good by Sunday!
I will keep everyone posted!

update on keith

Today keith is still feeling quite yucky. Mouth and throat pain due to chemo. To only take 15 minutes for one dose, it sure does kick your butt.
He is now on a pain pump and is not eating. All of this is "normal". He has received platelets twice (the stuff that clots your blood). Thanks to all of you that have donated. You are AWESOME!
I haven't been able to speak with keith or skype because it is too painful for him to talk, so we have been texting. If he could get a ticket for texting while intoxicated, he surely would. TWI. Morphine is affecting his typing skills.
Anyway, we are hoping he will be well enough to come home by the end of the weekend. His counts have to go up, he has to be able to hydrate himself without IV fluids and he can't have a fever. He has had a fever all day today and off and on for the past several days. Makes him feel like crap. He is unable to eat due to his throat and mouth pain from the chemo.
Bella has been sick with high fevers at home since Sunday night. Doc says its a virus and will be over in a few days hopefully. If we are not all well at home, keith cannot come home! pray we will all stay well! Poor bella has been so sad.
Thanks for the continued prayers and support! Stay tuned! Will post soon!
Want to especially thank all my peeps at Crossroads Church for all the support and other stuff. you guys ROCK