November 14, 2019
Off Week
-- Wednesday, Nov. 13 -- Didn’t sleep well last night. Feeling a little off. Kinda like in the old old days as a bachelor in the Army and the morning after we’d gone out the night before. Not hurting or…
November 14, 2019
November 11, 2019
Normal and The Port’s Back On
If all goes as planned, this will be another 'week off' from the chemo routine. Kinda back to 'normal', right? Well, if nothing else - it means I won't have to get up early to catch the DAV bus. I…
November 11, 2019
November 1, 2019
Halloween 2019
-- Thursday, Oct 31 -- Rolled the dice on another Thursday van ride. (I’ve been told that few people ride on this Thursday route). Fewer riders = better chance of getting out of there early. Not today. Two other riders…
November 1, 2019
October 28, 2019
Feeling a little foggy today
Finally slept through the night, woke up about 6:45 am - it’s 2:56 pm now, I’ve worked all day and still feel a little foggy like I just rolled out of bed. Maybe after another night’s rest, I can latch…
October 28, 2019
October 26, 2019
Keep’r Movin’
[gallery link="file" columns="5" ids="1726,1727,1724,1728,1729"] Well, I came to treatment on Thursday all masked up - thought I'd take one of the iconic bathroom selfies. Only this is the VA bathroom, probably cleaner than mine, lol! Labs came back and yay…
October 26, 2019
October 20, 2019
Newsletter update – Week of LOL
Tuesday, October 15, 2019. So I got to see Dr. Levin yesterday and got my labs taken care of. All the numbers came back good, the chemotherapy is working well, and we're going to drop one of my medications which…
October 20, 2019
October 14, 2019
PICC Predicament
So we talked last week about getting a PICC installed and that process went pretty well. I had an appointment in Green Bay to get the PICC line inspected and bandage removed and replaced because these things need to be…
October 14, 2019
October 4, 2019
A Little PICC Me Up
Thursday, October 3, 2019 Dictated to Google, please forgive the rambling - but an in-depth hand-written update - ain’t nobody got time for that! Well, today didn’t go quite as planned, but then does any day really go as planned?…
October 4, 2019
September 30, 2019
Fell off the wagon. Just a little.
I dictated this to Google. And I'm too lazy at the moment to do much in the way of editing, so please forgive any errata. I know it’s been some time since I’ve offered up a real update on what’s…
September 30, 2019
February 11, 2019
What do you do when you get knocked down?
You get back up again. ;) https://vimeo.com/316634464 So that’s what we’ve been doing. It’s been quite a while since an update - it’s been on my list for some time now and is quite overdue. So once again, thanks…
February 11, 2019
August 15, 2018
August 2018 update
Here's the latest on my treatment / condition: As you may know, I have monthly visits to the Milwaukee VA for treatment and tests. I'm currently getting a monthly IV for a bone-strengthening medication which is not chemo (I take…
August 15, 2018
April 18, 2018
Post-Transplant tests
So, in the recent past I've been going through another battery of tests (the 100 day mark) for post-transplant. Still waiting on an MRI, but all other tests have been A-OK and I'm still in remission. :) Soon, I'll start…
April 18, 2018
November 13, 2017
Transplant in Nashville
Good evening friends. Just thought I'd let you know that my bone marrow transplant process has been started. I'm in Nashville undergoing initial testing as we speak. The Nashville VA Medical Center recommended that I share information on this page:…
November 13, 2017
November 2, 2017
Transplant News?
A lot can happen in 15 days. I've been enjoying my status of "total remission", but honestly - I don't feel anything different. Still have the rib/back pain all. the. time. Was hoping it would go away or at least…
November 2, 2017
October 24, 2017
Keep on keepin’ on
Good morning, friends. Here's a quick update. This week was pretty smooth. Only one trip to Milwaukee, and that for chemo. I know, last update mentioned a biopsy, etc., but I was a week ahead of myself, so two trips…
October 24, 2017
October 17, 2017
Good News
Pretty good news yesterday. Doc reviewed MRI and biopsy, found no trace of cancer in my blood or bone marrow. He says I’m in “total remission”, and had the highest level of response to the treatment, a rarity given the…
October 17, 2017
October 16, 2017
Lots of appointments
I usually spend a few minutes each week checking and updating my VA appointment calendar in my phone - because I never want to miss an appointment or be late. My job, since being diagnosed, is this: Be the perfect…
October 16, 2017
October 10, 2017
Bone Marrow Biopsy II
Well, today marks the last 'test' prior to being approved for a transplant - another Bone Marrow Biopsy. The first one (as I was being diagnosed) was excruciating - because they couldn't give me anything to dampen the pain. It…
October 10, 2017
October 6, 2017
Chemo & Concrete
It’s been a bit since the last update, I’m thinking that’s a good thing. With cool weather approaching, I’m trying to take advantage of what’s left of my mobility to get some things done. Last weekend Robin & I poured…
October 6, 2017
August 29, 2017
Mental
As part of the 'qualification' process for a future transplant, I must undergo several systems tests to make sure everything's working as it should - cardiopulmonary, skeletal, etc. - Today was the Mental Health assessment - part two, actually. The…
August 29, 2017
August 23, 2017
Post-Dental age
Well, it's been just over a week since they pulled all my teeth, and the healing process has been grueling. Yesterday was especially aggravating. The pain meds described as "the good stuff" ran out a few days ago, so I've…
August 23, 2017
August 16, 2017
Ouch. Very much ouch.
Well, there you go. Tuesday was the procedure - to remove all of my teeth. Not fun. Not one bit.
August 16, 2017
August 4, 2017
Radioactive
And now I'm radioactive. At least until tomorrow. One of my tests required radioactive material be injected in my bloodstream in order to "take pictures". This is the "camera". My attendant was not so comely. :)
August 4, 2017
July 31, 2017
Nope, didn’t see that coming
I’m going to file this under “didn’t see that one coming”. :) So, Doc wants to put me on medicine to strengthen my bones. Before he can do that, I have to undergo a dental screening - during which they…
July 31, 2017
June 9, 2017
Freedom
Well, alrighty then! The powers that be have seen fit to release me into the wild, as it were. My "screw & glue" seems to be holding up well, and I'm shuffling along with a walker and only use the…
June 9, 2017
June 8, 2017
Radiation complete
Radiation complete! Today I received my last scheduled treatment, and can now resume chemotherapy. The radiation targeted the tumors in my hip area so that additional damage to the joints will be minimized or hopefully averted. Here’s a picture of…
June 8, 2017
June 6, 2017
Screw & Glue
Tomorrow I'm scheduled to undergo a procedure called "screw & glue" so that my hip joints (what's left of them) can be stabilized. Hopefully I'll be able to walk after that. (I'm currently relegated to a wheelchair). Prayers are appreciated.
June 6, 2017
June 6, 2017
Health Insurance Lamentations
There was a time when I had good health insurance. Unfortunately our healthcare system isn't what it used to be. I'm going to update the "goal" to reflect the costs that are not covered, so as the bills come in,…
June 6, 2017
June 5, 2017
I’m radiant.
Today I received radiation treatment #2 of 5. They're targeting my hip joints to stop the cancer from further damaging the area. You really don't feel anything when they're doing it, which is good. :) Three more treatments next week…
June 5, 2017
May 31, 2017
My Multiple Myeloma Journey
How to follow my Journey October 5, 2019 I'd originally posted an announcement of my diagnosis on a GoFundMe page on the advice of a friend who had gone through cancer and is still fighting now, praise God. (It's toward…
May 31, 2017
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