One Year After Diagnosis

One Year After Diagnosis

It has been just over one year since the diagnosis of MM but what a difference that one year has made.

Chris could not even walk up our stairs at home without feeling winded. Now:

Adventuring up the narrows in Zions

Taking a stroll at Cascade Springs

Having fun at the cabin on her new swing

Hiking up to the Zion's overlook

How is her health? 

She went into UCS  for her periodic physical and blood work. She was given a good score card on her physical and her usual blood tests were in the normal ranges.

We called today and they told us that the M-spike is at point 5. This is just a tick higher than the last measurement but is still very good.

Great Blood Counts

Great Blood Counts!

Chris had a great visit with her oncologist. They took a blood sample and the results came back GREAT! Her red blood cells are well back in the normal range. 

Her next appointment will be in September when they will do Electophoresis and Immunofixation tests to measure her M-sike.

The Journey Continues

The Journey Continues

We may not know what is around the corner but we know that we will have a great ride.

We got wonderful news from our visit with the BMT doctor this week. He assured us that the BMT was successful even though there is still a small M-Spike measurement. Studies show that those go through BMT have a longer time before recurrence of M-Spike advancement.

Ten years ago treatments to extend life were not available for Multiple Myeloma. Today, there are wonderful maintenance drugs that help keep it in check for longer periods of time. Also, there may be other developments in the future that will do even more.

The VRD treatment received greatly reduced the bad proteins from the time of first diagnosis and may play a role in maintenance going forward.

Below are the M-Spike measurements:

September 2013 - Diagnosis

VRD Treatment

January 2014 - Before BMT

BMT

June 2014 - 100 Days After BMT

We will be keeping a positive attitude throughout the journey.

All Aboard!

All Aboard!

Chris enjoyed our trip to Durango Colorado to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary.

The journey continues as we came home to go in for her 100 day follow up tests. We went in and she had pulmonary tests, full body x-rays, and blood work. We will find out results next week in consultation with the doctor. However, looking at some of them online is very encouraging. 

Here are some more pics of our wonderful vacation:

Alta in April

We took what was to be a short ride to the bank to deposit some checks but it turned into a longer ride. Here's how the conversation went after leaving the bank:

Me: Do you want to take Wasatch Blvd to go home?

Chris: Sure

Chris: Oh look ... there is the road that goes to Alta

Me: Do you want to go up the canyon for a little bit?

Chris: Sure

We ended up at the top of the canyon.

A Selfie with the Wifie

Nice Outfit!

Hot Chocolate and a Cookie is a Must!

Counts on the Rise

A visit to the BMT clinic today. Chris's grades look like they are good enough to graduate. She may even be named valedictorian! 

Back in the Saddle

Back in the Saddle

If only for a short ride around the block

She even got back behind the wheel after over 5 months of not driving. We went for a trial trip around the neighborhood to test out her skills. She did AWESOME! 

We went out for lunch to our favorite Chinese restaurant, Joy Luck, and her fortune cookie was PERFECT!

HOME!

HOME!

Released for Good Behavior

They released Chris from the hospital yesterday and we were home by 6 pm. There is not too much more to add other than we are all very grateful to have her back home.

Daily blog posts will end but we will add to posts as important or interesting details come about.

Day Plus 12

Neutrophils Take Off

Rocket Neutrophil

Yesterday they said Chris may be able to come home on Sunday or Monday depending on how she is eating and how she reacts to reductions in antibiotics that she has been getting. More to come ...

Look Pa ... no bags or lines!

The physician assistant that came in and talked with us said he has never seen someone Chris's age do so well with the transplant and get to go home so soon.

He also said we can even go for a walk outside ... have to check  with nurse fist.

Day Plus 11

The Neutrophils Are Coming ...

The Neutrophils Are Coming

Day Plus 10

Chris Has Heart Attack Last Night

WBC adds another point ... neutrophils are waiting in the wings

Day Plus 9

Chris Impresses Doc!

The doc came in and told Chris that the overall white blood count (WBC) going from 0.1 to 0.2 shows that progress is being made. This is a sign he has seen in other patients that indicates that her other counts will be start coming up quickly. He was impressed with her progress. He also said that if things keep continuing that she will be able to come home the first of next week!

Come on neutrophils ... follow the overall WBC

Day Plus 8

Chris is feeling a bit blah today. Her blood counts continue to fall and therefore she has a very good excuse. She had a transfusion of platelets today. They say it will most likely be another 2 to 4 days before we see a rise in her counts.

Blah!

Day Plus 7

Passing the time crocheting. She is making headbands for the grand kids.

Day Plus 6

Enjoying the Sabbath

Chris is enjoying the Sabbath Day by watching church meetings and the Spoken Word on TV. We also enjoyed and are thankful for local ward members that came to the room this morning with the sacrament.

They gave her a card written by a young women named Abigail from a ward in Florida. This touched Chris very much.

Only direction is now UP

Day Plus 5

Go Neutrophils

Here is the number we will be watching, the absolute neutrophil count. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that fights against infection. When it starts going back up and reaches .5 we get to go home.

Day Plus 4

Shell and I had a fun night watching "The Croods". Feeling really good today!Went for two walks this morning and had a good breakfast and lunch. shell and I have watched talk shows all day and started making funny faces with the camera :-P

Day Plus 3

Today is sister day. Chris's sister Carol came down on the train from Ogden to be with Chris today. She waited in the cold for the next bus to the hospital because she just missed one. Call us Carol, we will come and get you! Carol is always very sweet and brought some See's suckers for Chris to suck on when nothing else may taste good.

Chris had a good night and morning. She was able to eat breakfast and get herself ready for the day. The medications that they are giving her are keeping the nausea away.

SISTERS!