Mid-summer update

I guess June was a busy month, too, since I haven't had time to post an update!  Where did the time go?!

My appointments at UCSF in June have provided some help with my back issues.  The orthopedist didn't find any additional problems with the 2 remaining unrepaired compression fractures nor any new ones.  He wrote an extensive Physical Therapy order to help me regain some strength and flexibility in my back.  The pain management clinic provided lots of options that could be explored to help with pain.  However, since I've begun P.T., I have had a great deal of improvement and am not wearing the back brace anymore!  Praise the Lord for that!  It has been difficult to keep on a regular schedule with appointments as I only have so much energy each day, but the exercises I do at home have improved my strength and flexibility, and the T.E.N.S. machine that has been prescribed for home use has helped break up the muscle spasms that will continue to plague me.  There are certain movements that will always set off the muscle spasms, but at least I am feeling much stronger and they are not as painful as they were all last year.

Just had chemo again yesterday after a 4 week break.  My white counts were too low and have been slow in recovering due to the fact that I have been having chemo for a year now.  Shots and blood tests for several days 2 weeks ago replaced my regularly scheduled chemo.  Other numbers are improving, for which we are thankful.  Immunoglobulin proteins will be checked again in the next few weeks to see if there is any improvement.  The last time they were checked they had not improved which has caused concern that my bone marrow is being supressed by the Cytoxan, one of my chemo drugs.  However, I am not in a position, as yet, to discontinue treatment for any length of time to see if there is recovery in this area.

Almost didn't get my gamma globulin infusion this month.  When I arrived at the hospital this week for my monthly infusion, the nurses discovered that there had been a mix-up in the date of my appointment and the pharmacy gave my allotment to another patient in the hospital thinking I was a "no-show".  However, they finally determined they could use the allotment for another patient who wasn't schedule until the end of July with the hope they could order more and if not, she would only have to wait a few days until the August allotment was received.  It's an involved process regarding allotments for specialty items such as this.  Was very thankful it all worked out as waiting until August with my bone marrow so supressed would have put me on "house arrest" until then! 

The summer is half over already and the days are going by more quickly than items are being crossed off the list of projects to be accomplished before the wedding in September. The girls were here for a week - Jen & family, Johanna & Titus - beginning on the 4th.  It was fun to have them here and to get better acquainted with our future son-in-law.  He seems to be a wonderful man and love was definitely in the air around here!  It was a fun, but busy time.

We have been saddened by the loss of two friends lately whose illnesses were diagnosed recently and have taken them already - pancreatic cancer and Lou Gehrig's disease.  It makes us pause and be thankful for the years the Lord has granted me since my diagnosis.  We continue to pray regarding the possibility of a stem cell transplant.  We know that the prayers of so many friends and our families sustain us in a way that we cannot adequately describe!