Update

Finally home as the place was an absolute  zoo today. Blood work--when it was finally done an hour late-- was okay so they eventually sent us on our way.

Chemo next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Cancer Update On Sandi

Unfortunately, the CT scan results are not done. They want to take some additional time to look at things a bit more. Whether that is good or bad we don't know.

Her blood work over all was decent today though her little kidneys are taking a beating. Because of that she is set up for a two hour at least hydration infusion Tuesday and Friday if needed. Most likely it will be. Also those two days she will see the doctor, have blood work, and the white blood cell boosting shot like she did today.

We also have a visit with her endocrinologist Monday. So we will be gracing the hospital's halls at least three times again next week.

Chemo: Round 3- Part 2---DONE

We are finally home after another long day. Round 3 is done.

Next up is Friday when she has a blood work, doctor visit, and a shot. Hopefully we will also learn the results of the CT scans.

Chemo: Round 3- Part 1

We are finally home after a long day.

Sandi's blood work was okay, the ct scan was done, and she had the first part of the chemo.

Tomorrow will be equally long as the second half of the chemo takes a very long time.

Chemo Round 2: Part 2--Done

We are finally home. Both of us are wiped out, but Sandi did better than expected today. Last couple of hours were very tough on her.

Next up is blood word, doctor visit, and a shot Friday morning. We absolutely have to get there so we really need the forecast of snow/ice not to happen.

Chemo 2: Part 1---Done

Today was a tough day and not just because the streets were dangerous from the ice. We had understood the CT Scan had shown the cancer in two spots. One being the middle of her chest in the wall and not lung related. The other being a pocket of stomach lymph nodes that were massively swollen and cutting off  return blood flow from her foot causing the massive swelling in her leg.

That is just partially the situation.

In fact, she has multiple sites throughout her stomach area and down into her legs that are cancerous. The most obvious one we knew about, but the cancer is pretty much everywhere else in the region. the obvious implication--though no one will go that far--is it is everywhere in her body.

As usual, Sandi took the news far better than I did. Her quiet comment when we got settled in the infusion room was, "I'm not surprised."

She has said since early last October that she thought it was back. Even after we were told otherwise  when she was in the hospital and they had determined it was back, she has been sure it was everywhere in her.  Why we just found this out today I don't know. I don't think we both had misunderstood what we had been told before.

While her leg had been slowly going down that reversed over the weekend and by yesterday the swelling was markedly pronounced again and obvious to one and all. This indicates that the stomach lymph nodes have again attained a size to start cutting off blood flow. The hope is that the chemo that started today will again knock them back down a bit.

Her blood work looked fairly decent today though the white blood cell count continues to decline at a slower rate. Her anemia is a little better so no transfusion. No drug changes at this point which helps.

The chemo today was on a drug she has extensive history with and handles well so they could do the infusion a little quicker than originally planned. It is back to the new stuff tomorrow so the pace will be very slow and it will take most of the day. While it would be far better to do part two tomorrow,  we could,  if the predicted winter weather event of tonight and tomorrow morning makes it necessary, push the second part back to Thursday.

The plan going forward is to do that tomorrow, doctor visit with blood work and a shot on Friday and again next Tuesday. Another CT Scan to make absolutely sure the chemo is working is going to be done before the next round of chemo in two weeks. That date will be determined later depending on how she handles this round.

In the meantime, we rest and try to recover from today.

The Cancer is Back

The stem cell transplant for Sandi has failed. One of the two very aggressive and advanced super mutated cancer versions she had before they did the stem cell transplant deal is now back. We were told that this absolutely could NEVER happen and yet it has. Of course, this one that is now back was the worst of the two she had before.

Sandi and I are both devastated by this news. We were braced for the confirmation of cancer. The idea that it would be one of the two that all involved here and at Mayo in Florida had sworn could not happen again is just unreal and inconceivable.

At least now we know.

They start the five day round the clock chemo in the morning. They are waiting till tomorrow as the chemo has steroids in it and if they start tonight they think it will agitate her too much. As it is it would not be surprising if she needs a sedative to sleep tonight.

Via (My Wife) Lady Sandra: Donations to Texas Oncology

Lady Sandra: Donations to Texas Oncology: Well, I got total of 18 hats done for my Oncologist Office finished. One is what we call “Whimsical” hat which was made out of the small...

Via (My Wife) Lady Sandra: More Breast Cancer applique Chemo Hats!

Lady Sandra: More Breast Cancer applique Chemo Hats!: I finished ten more chemo hats with the “Pink Garden” fabric. I did two different appliques and two different styles. Pictures are be...

Finally Back Home

This was supposed to be another infusion Friday but thinds did not go as planned. IVIG infusion was cancelled as they have some blood work questions and are doing additional blood work.

CT Scan came back with nearly identical results to the last time. Of course, that is fairly meaningless because those scans have never showed her cancer. AETNA has flatly refused to allow her to have a PET SCAN so we will remain in limbo with no idea if Sandi is in remission or not until some time next Spring or so when she goes on  Medicare.

CT Scan---Completed

We are finally home. Sandi did her CT Scan and  hydration deal with something else bags before and afterwards with no issues. The Doctor should have the results in 48 to 72 hours.

There are more than 200 e-mails in my inbox right now. I'm in very bad shape. So, if you sent me somehing and are awaiting a response please be patient.

Sandi Update

Finally back home as they were running way behind. At this point, things seem relatively stabale so they have cut back her dosages on the steroids and a couple of other things. By doing this, it should help with her diabetes numbers so that just maybe--assuming insurance does not cause more issues--she can finally have the much needed PET Scan.

Extra blood was taken from her today so they can run some extra tests to look at various issues. The IVIG infusion went well once it goits started so that was also a good sign.

As it stands right now, we wait to hear on the PET Scan and her next appointment is a month from now on October 17 when she will have another full workup and IVIG infusion.

Sandi also got a real kick out of the fact that all of her hats she donated have again been taken and according to the nurses they were a huge hit.

Back Home from Texas Oncology

We are back home from Texas Oncology down at Medical City Dallas Hospital. Sandi's IVIG infusion seems to have gone okay. The bloodwork that they do before they do anything came back a little wonky today so meds have been adjusted.

They plan on us being back down there Tuesday morning to do things again and make sure everything is okay. Assuming the numbers are better the plan is to just watch her and have another IVIG infusion on September 19.

Jenny's Booksigning

Jenny's booksigning today was a lot of fun. Warren of Barnes and Noble could not have been nicer. Good to see Earl, Janis, Shalanna, and Jenny and her family along with everyone else.

Sandi and I are wiped out and are going to bed, but we wanted everyone to know how much we appreciated today. It means a heck of a lot to us.

Thank you all.

Jenny Milchman LIVE in Plano, Texas Today --- 3PM Book Signing

I don't talk very much here anymore about how bad we need the help, because I hate asking. The plain truth is that we do need the help. On behalf of Sandi, the boys, and myself, thank you to Jenny, Earl, and Shalanna, as well as everyone else involved....


Hi everyone,

Most of you know Kevin Tipple, and what a valued member of the mystery community he is. A writer himself, Kevin also reviews books with insight, discretion, and novelty. Many of you probably also know that Kevin and his family have been burdened with more challenges in the last few years than any one person should have to face.

As part of the world's longest book tour, I'll be making a stop in Plano, TX, and getting together with local writers such as Earl Staggs and Shalanna Collins, in the hopes of holding a really great day to support Kevin. There will be giveaways, including a Book Club Bundle of new, signed books, and a Writer's Wish List that includes a query and chapter critique, plus a writer's coaching session. I'll be leading a talk about life on the road, this crazy writing life, and local writers at work in the area. And at the end, a donation will be made.

If you know people in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, I would greatly appreciate your spreading the word, sharing the info, and in general, encouraging them to come out for a really good time.

Here's an invite: http://jennymilchman.com/tour/invitation/2014-08-09/barnes-and-noble

To circle back around, most of you also know that my thirteen year publication journey took the support of one very special member of the writing community. The way we turn out to help one of our own, in ways from small to big, is inspiring, and I'd like to contribute a small piece for Kevin.

Finally, there is only one character inspired by real life in Ruin Falls, and it happens to be somebody whose name you see here often. On Saturday, I will read that section, and raise a cheer for he way DL marries real life and books together.

My best,


Jenny


COVER OF SNOW and RUIN FALLS
thrillers from Ballantine
http://www.suspenseyourdisbelief.com
http://www.takeyourchildtoabookstore.org

Back Home

Back home and the news was pretty much the usual--some things went up a little and others went down a little. Because Sandi's blood sugars are way to high and she seems to be breathing okay, they have decided that it is time to try again to cut back her steroids a bit. I'm very worried about this as each time it has been done it has massively backfired and she has been forced to go back on steroids to an even higher dose.

Having played this cutback game four or five times now the idea of trying again very much worries me. At the same time, the steroids have massive consequences long term and the blood sugars deal is just one small part of that. We do know the early warning signs of worsening breathing issues from the pneumonitis so if  that starts happening again we will be talking to them asap.

Assuming everything remains stable her next appointment down at Texas Oncology will be in a month and will be for another blood work/ doc/ IVIG infusion.

Update

Tomorrow is another very long day at Medical City Dallas Hospital as Sandi has an IVIG infusion that will take the majority of the day even if things go smoothly. She is doing okay.  her blood sugars are still too high and I suspect that the endocrinologist will be increasing her insulin doses even more when she is back in about two weeks. In the meantime, they will do the usual blood work deal tomorrow, meet with the doc, and then do the infusion thing.

If you have been around this blog a bit you may have noticed that there have not been very many posts and no reviews at all. I don't like talking about me, but the plain truth is I am having a very hard time of it. I took one of my tumbles Sunday morning and banged myself up pretty good. The Texas heat certainly does not help me. But, overall I am getting worse and that is not good for so many reasons.

It is all so frustrating. I simply would not wish any of this on my worst enemy.

Back Home From The Cancer Doctor

It was a zoo out there, but we are finally back home. The 30 minute blood tests all came back with their usual numbers. Now we await news on the ones that take several days even if there isn't a holiday. Everything looks about the same as last time so they went ahead and gave her the last round of childhood immunizations for now. Assuming things work right, her next round of those shots will be at 24 months post stem cell transplant which works out to next May.

In the meantime, we can't do the PET SCAN she needs to asses her cancer situation as her blood sugar numbers are too high. The max for such a test is 200 though they really prefer 180. She is seeing numbers between 300 and 550 which are very bad numbers.

Which is why she has a new endocrinologist and now is on insulin shots. As expected, the shots have made her way worse on her blood sugar numbers than the oral medications, but we are told to wait and be patient as the right dosage has to be found for her so they can work her numbers down.

As it stands now, she is back in bed having been worn out by all this today. We go back down there Monday for the endocrinologist appointment. Then, barring anything else, three weeks from tomorrow she will have another multi hour IVIG infusion.

Back Home

Back home and as usual some things went up, some things went down, and some other things stayed relatively stable. Additional blood work testing is being done to clarify a couple of issues. Depending on what happens with that, at this point, she is scheduled for another IVIG infusion in two weeks.

She also has to have a bone density scan  as soon as possible because of some of the meds she takes could be doing damage to bones.  This is especially true of the steroids and a couple of other things that she absolutely has to have to breathe.

They gave her another round of immunizations today so you know they felt she was stable enough to do that.

Finally Back Home

Things ran very far behind today for a variety of reasons. One of which being they decided we have to pay a lot more upfront than we have been each month as insurance is taking longer and longer to process payments while attempting to cut back on what they will cover and and arguing bills. I don't think this is a coincidence. I have no doubt these problems have been caused by Wal-Mart termianting her unpaid medical leave and Atnea handling  her COBRA coverage.

Sandi's blood work is not any worse than it was last week so the decision was made to go ahead and start with the first round of immunizations. Her immunizations are way late, but the delays have been caused because of the fragility of her immune system and everything that goes along with that. She received six injections for that. They also want to add another drug for her lung function deal and since it is very expensive that has to approved first by insurance.

Assuming nothing bad happens, we go back in two weeks for more blood work and a doctor visit.