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!