Patient: Ross Diagnosis: Multiple Myeloma

Since his diagnosis in February, Ross has received 30 rounds of radiation. He began taking Thalidomide and Dexamethasone in April. This resulted in a dramatic improvement. He has been scheduled for a stem cell replacement in July. In preparation for this, he has been given a Hickman catheter. This is tubing that is surgically inserted into the jugular vein in his chest. All blood is drawn from this port, now and most medications are administered through it. He has been given his first round of chemo. (Cytoxan) His blood counts have bottomed out. He has no immune system; so we are being very careful. We have virtually isolated ourselves, here, at home. It's not so bad, really. We enjoy each other's company. I write and do my housework, cook and knit. He putters around the house, doing what he can in the way of chores. He also loves his golf channel. We do lots of snuggling and giggling. Next week, if his blood counts have recovered sufficiently, we will go back to Duke for apheresis - which is the harvesting of his stem cells. They will collect enough for two transplants. We will come back home for a week. Then, on July 6th, we'll go back. He will receive high dose chemo on the 7th, rest for a day and then get his stem cell transplant on the 9th. We will stay in an apartment near the bone marrow transplant clinic and expect to be home by the end of July. Then, in September or October, he will go through the entire transplant procedure again. This is called "Tandem Transplants". Research has shown that performing the two procedures 60-120 days apart, dramatically improves survival rates. The transplants are "autologous" meaning they harvest and use his own stem cells - as opposed to using a donor's. We have received exceptional care from the doctors and staff at Duke and the ones, here, at home. We are very grateful. We also appreciate all the love and support from our wonderful family and friends. You keep us strong. That's all for my first report. I will write more when there is some change.

We have just returned from the oncologist's office in Charlotte. Unfortunately, Ross's blood counts are still bottomed out. His platelet count had actually gone down a little. He has no immune system. We had been hoping for an upturn. He can't go back to Duke for the apheresis (cell harvesting) until he actually grows some cells! We go back to Charlotte for tests on Monday. I am giving him shots of neupogen, everyday, to stimulate cell production. I have to stick him twice, in the abdomen. It's awful. Ross just takes it like a trouper. He is such a good man. Well, it looks like we will be recluse for a couple more days. The rain makes it good snuggling weather. We'll take advantage.

Ross had a difficult weekend - lots of pain and fatigue. He rested and I gave him his shots as prescribed. He gave us a little scare on Sunday, when he started to run a slight fever. I gave him tylenol and monitored him all night and his temperature returned to normal. Today, we went in to the oncologist's office to have his blood checked. On Friday, he had a white blood cell count of 400. We were hoping for a count of 1,000, today. He needed at least that in order to begin his apheresis (cell harvest). It was such a relief and a bit of a surprise to see that the count had risen to 3,400!! All of his other counts were up, too, indicating that his immune system has regenerated and he is well within the ranges needed to proceed. Tomorrow morning we will be at the Bone Marrow Transplant Clinic in Durham. Martha, our nurse there, says we should be able to get enough cells harvested in just one day. Thanks for the messages and the kind words of support. It means everything to us to have such a wonderful support system of friends and family. We love you. We're very strong because of you.

This morning, once we got to the transplant clinic in Durham, we had to wait on the test that indicates the percentage of stem cells in his blood. He needed a count of 10 to begin apheresis. The nurses were just thrilled to announce that his was a count of over 80! In just a little under 6 hours, they were able to harvest enough cells for the two transplants. We can relax for a week. No shots, no blood tests, just home. (Sigh) Kathleen has very kindly held off labor for us; so grandson (#3) will be born any day, now. (I'll let y`all know.) That's all for tonight. I am exhausted. Don't forget to be good to each other. Tell your family and friends you love them and take time to snuggle with your honey.

A baby brother for Henry and Campbell! Kathleen was amazing. He was born this afternoon, July 5th, at 3:35. Weight: 9lbs. Length: 22 inches Name: Ross Ernest (We will call him "Ernie")

We're in Durham, now. Ross received his Maphalan, today. It's supposed to be awful, terrible stuff; but Ross came back to the apartment and wanted something to eat! I'm following all of the doctor's orders to a T. I'm probably a little anal retentive. (But, so far, so good.) Keep us in your thoughts and prayers. This is supposed to be the hardest part. Linda

Ross is just amazing. The nurses are so impressed. He looks wonderful, too. I convinced him to let me shave his head bald. (Been wanting to do that for years.) He is a FOX. All the side effects of the chemo are yet to be seen. Our nurse tells us that this weekend will probably be tough. So far, though, he is eating and drinking and following Dr.'s orders to a T. (Dr. Linda, that is.) Tomorrow, he receives his stem cells. Then, he will be monitored, daily until the new cell are totally engrafted. Should take 2-3 weeks. I'll try to keep you posted. Thanks for caring. We appreciate our friends and family so much.

Ross received his stem cells, today. They simply injected two big seringes full, into his Hickman catheter. The stuff that they use to freeze the cells cannot be removed and when it is injected into a patient, it causes a bunch of nasty side effects. (Just what we need.) He remains in good spirits - though pretty fatigued and nauseated. He is still bravely trying to eat a little at a time. I know that one day - hopefully soon - researchers will come up with a gentler way to do this. We'll all look back on this era in medicine and say, "Do you believe that they used to do that to people?" In the meantime, we take what they offer and hope for the best. I will write again, soon. Thanks, again for caring. It really helps. Linda

Ross contiues to show the effects of the high dose chemo (nausea, vomiting, fatigue) but doesn't complain. He has not lost that wonderful sense of humor! His bloodwork is analysed daily. His numbers have to drop some more before they can come up. We are just waiting and following Dr's (numerous) orders. I hung two bird feeders outside the livingroom, on the patio. We watch the mourning doves, house finches cardinals and chickadees. Nice distraction. Thanks for the notes of love and encouragement. We know that we are blessed to have so many good people in our life.

Ross's treatments take less time, now; so our daily visits to the bone marrow transplant clinic usually end by noon. We return to our apartment, where he rests for a while. Today, he just needed some calcium. He's been dringking green tea and ginger ale (as per instructions from my sister, Maggie, the nurse). That seems to have made a significant improvement. There is a fitness center in the complex. I have been using it regularly. We have walkie talkies; so that I don't get too worried about him while I'm gone. There is also a "business center", with a computer and some other office and audio/visual equipment. I was using that to get online; but good ol' Charlie has hooked me up, here at the apartment. Now, I can read messages to Ross, as we sit together in the livingroom. It is the best medicine, yet, for him tohear from his good old friends and family members. I love my Ross so much. Thank you for caring about him.

Ross and I decided to get outside for a little while, yesterday evening. We took a wobbly walk along the edge of the woods and startled a big whitetail doe. She sprang gracefully back into the forest. It was a special moment. Ross is experiencing some pain as part of the chemo's side effects; however, we are getting a handle on the nausea. There are good drugs for everything. I am learning when to administer in order to prevent a lot of the discomfort. Tomorrow, he starts getting the neupogen shots - which stimulate the cell growth. Things should just keep improving from here, on. Keep the faith.

Today has been the hardest, so far. He is in a lot of pain and the nausea and vomiting are back - big time. He is weak and wobbly. I feel so helpless. Maybe the doctors and nurses can come up with something that will help. I'm going to insist. The other day, one doctor said that if we didn't get a handle on the nausea, then they might put him in the hospital for a couple of days and keep him on intravenous. Then, he improved for a day. Hospitalization may be what we need to do, now. He's still a sweetheart - amazingly strong; but this is getting to him. I suppose that is to be expected. Pray for improvement.

We arrived early, this morning, at the transplant clinic. Ross’s blood work showed that he has no white blood cells. Zero. This is the result of the Maphalan, or high dose chemo. Now, we have nowhere to go but up. He’s been suffering from the side effects. The most painful is the destruction of the mucous membrane in his mouth and throat. Swallowing is brutally painful; so he hasn’t been eating or drinking as he should. The first thing they did for him, today, was to begin an intravenous drip to get fluids and electrolytes into him. They also gave him some potassium as his blood work indicated. They decided to try morphine for the pain and some intravenous medication to battle the nausea. All those drugs zonked him out for several hours. When he started to wake up, I asked him how he felt. He said, “I’m fine. How are you doing?” He really wanted to know! Do you believe that? In the midst of this hell, he’s concerned about me. The nurse came in and helped him to sit up in the bed. There were tubes hanging from him and he could barely talk; but he says, “Ahhh, the spa life.” We are back at the apartment. Ross is pretty wobbly; but he has what he needs; so I feel a lot better. We are to be visited by someone from Home Infusion. Ross will get a morphine pump so he can self administer for pain. They will also hook him up to a bag of I.V. fluids to prevent dehydration. All this is routine. None of his problems are unusual. They’ve started the Neupogen shots; so he should begin growing new cells. We will continue to go back in to the clinic every morning. I’ll try to keep you posted. Thanks, again for the messages. I read each one to Ross. They really help both of us.

Ross received the morphine pump, as planned. It immediately improved his condition; however, he complained of a lack of energy. Yesterday, his blood work showed that the reason for his weakness was that he needed blood. After receiving a couple of units, he became animated and stronger. It was so good to see. Late in the afternoon, I realized that he was beginning to talk nonsense. Though much of what he said was humorous, it worried me. I called the charge nurse and she said that he was receiving a basal dose of morphine from his pump and it may be a little too much. Once corrected, it will leave his system quickly. No harm done. So, until we can get into the clinic, this morning, and turn down the dosage, I have the silliest husband on the planet. He started to get up off the couch and I asked him to please wait for me - not to walk by himself; because he’s a little wobbly. I said, “ Now, don’t do anything dangerous, Ross.” He said, “Like make a soufflé?” Today is Day 8 - after the transplant. He should be turning the corner, any day, now.

We are still trying to find what works for Ross in terms of pain and nausea relief. His mouth and throat are "denuded" of mucous membrane - very painful. He hates the morphine. We had it shut off, so he gets a shot only when he gives himself one, by pressing the little button - which is almost never. He hates the little cart that he has to haul behind him. The cart holds three tiny black bags containing pumps, bags of fluid and meds (including the morph). There are tubes running from the bags to the catheter in his chest. He calls the cart a little piece of s#*% and slings it around angrily. He was cramming the little piece of s#*% into the front of the truck on our way home, yesterday. I heard a familiar chirp coming from one of the bags. In his frustration, he had inadvertantly pressed the morphine button. I said "Bub bye". He fought it for a little while, then drifted into the arms of Morphious. I wake up if he gets hot at night. Last night, I took his temperature every hour or two as it was a little high. Today, we are concerned because he seems to be running a slight fever. My instructions are to keep an eye on it and get him into the hospital if it goes above (102.5F or 38.3C). Even so, Ross seems to be doing better. His attitude has improved measurabley, this evening. We've had a few laughs. I may be getting my old Wossi back. Keep your fingers crossed.

This morning, Ross's blood work shows a higher white blood cell count. This can only mean one thing - his cells have started to engraft. We have turned the corner. It should all be uphill from here. Thank God, thank God, thank God!

Ross's bloodwrok shows continuing improvement. His white cell count, yesterday, was .4. This morning, it was 1.6. He is eating a little and staying awake for longer periods of time during the day. He even looks much better. If he continues to improve at this rate, we may be going home next week! I'll try to keep you posted.

Ross's bloodwork shows continued improvement. The best thing that's happened in a long time - he was freed from the cart, today. I said, "Wossi, aren't you glad?" He said, "I hated that little piece of...." He is weak, tired and hurtin'; but getting better, everyday. He is eating and drinking a little more. It's all very encouraging. He is still running a fever; but blood cultures do not indicate any infection. I think it is his body's reaction to the cell growth. It was the same last month, remember? The nurse practitioner (doctor's assistant) that attended Ross, today, estimated that he might be ready to go home by next Wednesday or Thursday. It will be so good to be home. Meanwhile, we will concentrate on getting well. Thanks,again, for your kind words of encouragement and for your prayers and good wishes. With your help, we continue to be strong.

Ross' bloodwork shows continued improvement. However, he is still running a low grade fever and one of the blood cultures they did on him, shows that there is an infection somewhere. We are hoping that it is something simple that the antibiotics will take care of. He is also very weak and gets easily winded after only a few steps. Our doctor's assistant said that in some cases, the Cytoxan he got several weeks ago, can cause lung inflammation. He is scheduled to take a pulmonary test on Monday. He had a chest x-ray, today. If all the tests prove that he is fine, then we may be going home early in the week. If not - well it all depends on what they find. He ate some real food, today and is drinking lots of good fluids like he should. Keep your fingers crossed. I'll let you know what they find.

I wrote about it and Poof! Ross' fever ended abruptly. It was probably due to the cell accelerator shots that he was getting. They cause a fever-reaction in some patients. So, now we feel that the infection that was detected in the blood culture was insignificant and that the antibiotics that he's on has already taken care of it. He is scheduled for that pulmonary test in the morning and then his blood work will determine if he can go home. Home. That word sounds delicious. I'll let you know. By the way, my latest article is online - published today. It's about bird watching. If you'de like to read it, just go to charlotteobserver.com and look in the Cabarrus section.

Home. That's where we're going! Tomorrow morning, we'll go in to the clinic as usual, have his blood work done and if ieverything checks out - as I suspect it will - they'll remove the catheter from his chest and send us on our merry way. We also talked with the nurse practitioner, today, about scheduling the second transplant. It has to take place 60 - 120 days from the first one. (You can look up the CTN study on Multiple Myeloma, in which Ross is participating.) We would like to wait until after Paul and Kelley's wedding - Oct. 30th. Looks like that will be ok. So, barring something unusual, we'll be home tomorrow. Thanks, again, from the bottom of our hearts, for all the love and support. This should be my last report until November. I've got to go pack!!!!

We've been home for three weeks, now, and several people have asked for an update. I am grateful that so many of you are concerned about Ross. For a couple of weeks, his blood work was not showing any progress. On the contrary, his counts were going down instead of up! I was worried sick. Today, his counts showed some improvement in all but the platelets. This was encouraging - to say the least. He is still quite weak. He can't do too much - although he tries. He is eating fairly well. I'm cooking all of our old favorite meals. He's not allowed to drive. He has to avoid crowds, he shouldn't eat fast food or at restaurants. He is working, a little, from home. He has a wonderful group of co-workers. We couldn't ask for more love and support - that's for sure. Next week, we go back up to Duke for comprehensive testing and a consultation with his doctor, there. Maybe she'll lift some of the restrictions. Meanwhile, we are happy to be home. I'm back at work and the weekends are full of grandsons, sons and the most beautiful, sweet daughters-in-law on the planet. We are blessed.

We just returned from Duke. Ross's Dr. is pleased with his progress. She has lifted restrictions, though she cautioned him to be careful. His immuune system remains compromised. He is still in danger of infection and bleeding. He took over the driving a little, on the way back. His foot is as heavy as ever. (I should have had her check that.) There are a couple of test results that won't be in until the end of the week. I'm to email Friday for those. If everything checks out, we're to go back around the second week in October. Ross will undergo more tests and preparations for the second transplant. We'll go to Paul's wedding, October 30th, spend a couple of days walking on the beach and just relaxing in a nice place with an ocean view. Then, we'll drive to Durham to face another procedure. Meanwhile, all's well and there's no place like home.

For our visit to Duke, yesterday, the doctor asked Ross to bring in a 24 hour urine sample. It was quite a large container! When we woke up, in the morning, it was our 31st wedding anniversary. We held each other and Ross said, "Happy Anniversary, Cutie." Then, he said," A loaf of bread, a jug of pee and Thou......."

Ross's doctor has published a paper on the latest research and treatments for Multiple Myeloma. You can access it online: http://www.moffitt.usf.edu/pubs/ccj/v11n2/pdf/119.pdf

Ross has been going in to work everyday for the past week. He seems to know his limit and has been doing really well. However, the other day, when I got home from school, he looked so tired! I couldn't help but comment - I suggested he go lay down for a little while. It was then that he confessed - that afternoon, he'd played 9 holes of golf! Do you believe it? What a rascal! He and Charlie plan to go to the company golf tournament for the day, on Saturday. I guess he had to test the waters. He's made amazing progress. Please keep up in your prayers. Thanks.

We are busy getting ready for Paul's wedding and Ross's second bone marrow transplant. Life is a roller coaster ride. I have learned how to hang on tight. We are also looking forward to seeing our dear friend Risto! He arrives this evening on a direct flight from Toronto. He will stay with us until we leave for the wedding on Thursday. Paul and Kelley are getting married on a beautiful little island, called Ocracoke, off the coast of NC. Many of their friends and family - including Ross's sister's family and my sister, Janny's family - will be there. It will be really nice. At the inn, Janny's and her husband's room shares a veranda with Ross's and mine. It has been over a year since we've seen each other; so there should be no end to the giggling out there. Ross is to stand with Charlie as Paul's best men. They have been fitted for tuxes. I can't imagine a more handsome threesome. We will stay in our nice little room by the sea until Tuesday, the 2nd of November. Then, we will drive directly to the Duke Bone Marrow Transplant Center in Durham. Tuesday, Ross will receive a Hickman catheter. He is scheduled to receive the Maphalan (high dose chemo) on Wednesday. Thursday, they just monitor him and then, Friday, he receives his stem cell transplant. The good news is: we know what's going to happen. The bad news is: we know what's going to happen. We remain strong and positive - and very much in love. (God is good.) Thanks for caring. I will keep y'all posted. :)

We arrived, Monday, after spending the weekend on Ocracoke Island. The weather there was perfect - sunny and warm. Kelley and Paul were married and we had such a good time - fishing, swimming, swinging in the hammock and just relaxing. Ross and Walt chipped golf balls around on the beach. Tuesday, Ross began the day, here in Durham, with tests, a chest xray and a new catheter was inserted into his jugular. We returned to the apartment for dinner. While we were eating, Ross lifted his shirt to reveal a stream of blood running down his chest and belly. I was aware of the possibility. Although it doesn't happen often (Thank God.) sometimes, these catheters cause bleeding that is hard to stop. We called the vascular radiology specialist and followed her advice. We couldn't stop the bleeding; so I drove him into the emergency room at the hospital. They applied pressure to the site, took an xray and blood tests and watched him closely. Once I was sure he was going to be alright, I ran down the hall to check the results of the election. I continued to update Ross every half hour or so. We went home around 2:00am and slept like babies. Today, we went in to the clinic - a tad bit late - and Ross received his high dose chemo. We know from experience that he won't begin to feel the ill effects for several days - at which time I intend to keep him well medicated. I'm not going to be shy this time. He may as well float through the worst part. I will attempt to keep you up to date. Thanks for your love, your support and your prayers.

Ross's own stem cells were successfully infused today. The procedure made him nauseous - as expected. I gave him his medication, faithfully, all day. He and I just went for a 10 minute walk. He's doin' great. During the transplant, I asked the nurse how the idea had occurred to someone - to kill off the marrow and reintroduce stem cells. They are infused peripherally. How did they know that the cells would migrate to the marrow? She said a couple of things that made me wonder more. She said that they still don't know exactly how the blood cells get to the marrow. Some researchers suggest that they have a sort of "homing device", built in. Another nurse said that they discovered this tendency when they gave blood transfusions to mice whose marrow had been destroyed. (Essentially, that is what they do to these bone marrow patients, with the high dose chemo.) The use of stem cells is fairly recent. These are the baby cells that have yet to fully develop. They are more adaptable. Somehow they know to go to the center of the bone where they are needed. Pretty cool stuff. So, for the next few days, we will watch Ross's blood levels drop. Then, we hope the stem cells will find their place and start growing. Meanwhile, we are already looking forward to going home; but we have miles to go.........

Ross is doing very well. He's fatigued and nauseated; but at tolerable levels. He's eating fairly well and we take walks everyday. My new appraoch - that is to administer the anti-nausea drugs on schedule, before he gets sick - seems to be working, so far. He is showing the effects of being drugged, though. He is getting a little loopy. Today, during our visit to the clinic, Ross leaned back in his chair and the headrest quickly dropped way down, while his foot rest flew up in the air. It was comical; but I didn't laugh right out loud. Not until he looked at me and calmly said "Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic." He's so funny. Nothing much to report. His blood counts will just continue to drop for the next 5 - 7 days. We're hangin' in there - making the best of everyday and glad to be together. I'll try to keep you up to date. Love, Linda

Today is sunny and brisk. We arrived back from the clinic at noon. Ross ate a good lunch and is resting. There is a woman at the clinic, who had her second transplant on the same day as Ross did. Her first one was in late July. She has the same diagnosis of multiple myeloma; but hers presented quite differently. Her husband and her mom are here with her. (Seems to be a good idea to "tag team" as caregivers. That way, one can run errands while the other sits with the patient.) They are really good people - salt of the earth. Anyway, we all noted that this go round seems to be a lot easier than the first. Both patients are experiencing much less nausea and fatigue. I sure hope this trend continues. I am keeping track of Ross's meds on a chart, as before. There are quite a few. I noticed, the other day, that he always asks me, "What is this?" when I give him a pill. I always tell him - "prochlorparazine", or "levaquin" or "mycelex" - or whatever it happens to be. I didn't realize it at first; but he was pulling my leg. He has no idea what any of them are. So, now, I just make up a name. It amuses him. Today he had 250 mg. of "zeenalecadone" and then 500 mg. of "poopozeradine". Seems we're BOTH getting loopy. Thanks for the notes of encouragement. We are doin' great.

For the past couple of days, Ross's blood tests show that he has NO white blood cells. This is as planned. The Maphalan has destroyed his bone marrow. Now, we wait and pray for those stem cells to engraft. Ross's throat is pretty sore. This is probably due to the effect the chemo has on the mucous membranes. He had the same problem, last time. His blood pressure is a little low and he is fatigued - but this is NOTHING like the first transplant. He is so much stronger and happier, this time. He is eating three meals a day. I also have "Tea Time" every afternoon. Just before tea, we take a walk around the apartment complex. It's pretty, here. The development is surrounded by woods and the pond is very active with birds. Today, as we left for our walk, there were 14 Canada Geese right at our back door! We continue to go in to the clinic every morning. If there is any change, I will post the news, here. Keep the home fires burning. Love, Linda

This morning, Ross's bloodwork showed that his marrow has begun to produce cells! It is a modest beginning; but encouraging, nevertheless. We are doing everything possible to keep him healthy and stress-free - trying to provide optimum conditons for healing. He's napping, now. When anyone asks Ross what he does, he says, "I'm in cells." More news when it happens. Linda

Yesterday evening, Ross asked me to get his golf clubs out of the truck. He cleaned them and then he asked me where the telephone book was kept. I heard him talking on the phone. He hung up and said," There's a driving range just down the street. I want to go and hit some balls." I was so nervous! I was afraid he would hurt himself or get too tired or sick. He was determined to go and there is NO talking to him when he sets his mind to something. He took little rests, throughout; but he hit a whole bucket of balls! When he finished, he said,"That was fun!" I knew then, that he was improving rapidly. This morning, we are told that his white blood cell count is up over 6 - from zero, just two days ago. Even his platelets are increasing on their own. We are told that if all looks good, tomorrow, we can go HOME!!!!! I can't believe it! But just as soon as I get off this computer, I am going to start packing. Home for Thanksgiving. Thank God, thank God, thank God........

This morning, Ross's blood work showed a considerable improvement. Even his platelets and red blood cells are kickin' in! So they released him to go home. We just got back from a quick visit to see the grandchildren. Henry was all excited to show me the "Hocapontas" movie. Tomorrow, Bud and Mary will bring our dog, Lukey, home to us. Monday, we go to see our Charlotte oncologist. Ross's blood will be monitored closely for a while. We go back to Duke in 4 weeks. We're so glad to be home! Lots to be thankful for this year. I'll be in touch. Linda

We have been home for almost a week, now. Ross and I went to see his oncologist on Monday. The doctor said that Ross is who they'd point to as an example of how things are supposed to work. He's doing very well - still weak and he tires easily; but that's to be expected. We are looking forward to tomorrow and Thanksgiving. The whole family will get together. We are so blessed! I will write, again, if there is any big change. Otherwise, Happy Holidays!! And thanks for all the love, prayers and support!

Just a quick note to wish you the Merriest Christmas and all the best for a wonderful New Year. Thanks again, for all the love and support. Ross and Linda

We just got home from Ross's follow-up visit to Duke. They took blood, then took some more. Then they drilled into his hip to aspirate some bone marrow for testing - no fun. This time, though, he did opt for the premeds; so it wasn't quite so intense. The initial results from his bloodwork show everything continuing to slowly move towards the normal ranges. The results from the more comprehensive tests - including the urinalysis and marrow biopsy - will not be available for a few more days. The doctor made an interesting remark as we were about to leave. She said that whatever these tests show is not significant, in her opinion. The real measure comes in several months when we will return to do them all over again. It would take some time for any myeloma cells to show up. In the meantime, we will savor every moment together and with our family and friends. And shouldn't we all do that, anyway? Call us, come see us or write. We love to hear from you. Happy New Year to you and those you love!

Results from all of the tests show everything is clear. This establishes a baseline to be compared to future tests. Like the doctor said, it's too early -- these tests aren't really effective as a prognostic tool. Ross also received word that he was "randomized" into the group that is to take Thalidomide and Dexamethazone (a steroid) for these six months following the second transplant. The other possibility was that he would be "observed" for that time. He isn't thrilled with the idea. The drugs are not without side effects. I do hope that he won't have to take as much as he did last spring. He agreed last year, when he signed onto this study, that he would do whatever they wanted him to do. He is a man of his word. Slowly but surely, he is getting stronger. He played golf, last week and shot a 91! Today, he and Charlie are putting the finishing touches on a playhouse for the grandsons. (NOT a storage shed for Charlie.) Things are getting back to normal and that is looking pretty darn good to me. Keep in touch and thanks for caring. Linda

Ross and I went to Durham, NC, to see his doctor at Duke. He underwent a series of tests, there, and so far, they have all come back normal. It looks like he is in remission! What wonderful news! If anything changes, I will be sure to let you know. Thanks, again, for the kind words, thoughts and prayers. We continue to be strong because we love each other and because we have such good people in our life. As you may already know, my sister Maggie has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. She is in the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Charlottetown, PEI. I went to see her as soon as I heard. She is amazing! So strong and funny and always the nurse - comforting everyone around her. Please remember her and Dan in your prayers. Thanks, again. Linda Maggie passed away at about 2:00 pm on April 20th, 2005.

On Wednesday, June 1st, Ross went back to the Duke Bone Marrow Transplant Clinic. They ran the whole battery of tests - bone marrow biopsy, marrow aspiration, bone survey, urinalysis and a bunch of blood work. He has a slight M spike - which was revealed in a sophisticated blood test that determines if he has any abnormal proteins. These proteins are a by product of cancer cell activity. It is only very slight and has decreased since the last test. (from 0.62 to 0.47) His bone marrow biopsy and urinalysis were negative for myeloma. This is EXCELLENT news. He continues to get stronger - gaining muscle back in his arms and legs and growing hair. (He's back to his normal, hairy self.) Our next visit for the same tests, is in three months - first week of September. I'll let you know if there is anything to report, then. Thanks, again, for the support, good thoughts and prayers. It has made all the difference. Love, Linda

Ross and I went up to Duke Medical Center, today. His blood work had been looking a little suspicious; so they wanted to check him out. Good news - Ross is a-okay. Seems the Thalidomide and the Dexamethazone are giving him a bit of a hard time; but -according to the doctor - he is doing great. He only has to stay on that stuff for a few more months. She doesn't want to see him again until November. Halleluiah! Tomorrow, we celebrate our 32nd anniversary. I think I'll break out that bottle of Dom I've been saving. Keep in touch. We think of you often.

Merry Christmas from a happy family !   It has been a year since Ross's last bone marrow transplant. We went to Duke last week for the whole battery of tests - bone survey, chest xray, blood work, bone marrow aspiration, urinalysis, etc..... Although we don't yet have all of the results, most of them have come back and indicate that Ross remains in remission. We don't have to go back for tests until January. His bone marrow tested negative for myeloma. His blood has a very slight M spike. He remains a little anemic and we are trying to help with some adjustments to his diet. He still struggles with several side effects from the drugs he is on. He takes Thalidomide daily, and high dose steroids four days each month. He's been on antibiotics for a year. He has some numbness, pain and weakness in his legs and he fights fatigue. Some of this is also due to the damage to his spine. Overall, though, he's doing great - golfing and working and playing with his grandsons. He's the best Grandpa a kid could ever want. We are so relieved - needless to say. This will be another wonderful Thanksgiving. The whole family will be here. We'll be thinking of our old friends and wishing you all the best this Christmas. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. Love, Linda

Ross is doing really, really well. He works too much, plays golf regularly, takes time out for his grandsons, keeps my bird feeders filled and looks great. He goes to his oncologist on March 9th for the usual blood work and then, back to Duke in May for the whole battery of tests - pokings and proddings. He remains in complete remission and we are ever so grateful.

When we returned home from vacation, Ross had a lesion removed from his back. Turns out, he has at least, 3rd stage melanoma! My doctor explained to me that although this is not a result of the Mutiple Myeloma, it may be an indication of a flawed immune system. On August 29th, he will undergo surgery. The doctor will excise more tissue from around the site, and remove a pair of lymph nodes. This tissue will be tested to determine if the cancer has spread. We remain strong, knowing that we love each other, we have a wonderful, close-knit family, a legion of friends and a loving God. Thanks, again, for all of your good thoughts and prayers. I'll be in touch.

As these things go, Ross's procedure went well. I learned a lot. He went to nuclear medicine, first, where they injected the site with a radioactive dye. They watched the dye under a scanner to determine into which lymph nodes the site drained. You would think that they could just map out the body and say, "If the melanoma is located here, then it will drain to these lymph nodes over here." But the pattern is individual. Ross's melanoma site drained into his armpit. The technician told me that some patients' might drain to the neck or the groin or to more than one place! In the past, this made node extraction a scary guessing game. Did they remove too many? Not enough? Now, they can see exactly which lymph nodes to go after. The scan produced a picture of his body that looked a bit like pointillism - in shades of grays and black. The melanoma site was glowing brightly white, as was the lymph node under his arm. Once the doctor marked the location of the lymph nodes with a sharpie, he went into surgery. They used another dye for a more specific read and extracted lymph nodes from under his arm as well as a slab from around the melanoma site. Then, they grafted a patch of skin from his thigh to close the hole in his back. He suffered from nausea after surgery and it took some time and good drugs to get his stomach settled down. He received wonderful care at Carolina's Medical Center. The staff there regulary went above and beyond. I was impressed. I spoke with his surgeon who said that nothing looked suspicious. He is of the opinion that there is an 80% chance that the cancer has not spread. (From his lips to God's ears.) We got home in the late afternoon and he slept through the rest of Tuesday. He woke up early this morning and said something about going into work; but of course, that is out of the question at this time. I'm guarding the door. We are to go back to see the surgeon on Wednesday of next week. He'll have the pathology report by then and I'll let you know. Thanks for caring. Love, Linda

We talked to Ross's surgeon, this morning, and he told us that the pathology report showed cancer in a lymph node under Ross's arm. The cancer is still considered to be in 3rd stage at this point. They want to excise more lymph nodes from under his arm. That will be schedluled for within the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, he will have a body scan to look for anything suspicious, elsewhere. This next surgery will be more complicated, requiring an overnight hospital stay and a couple of weeks for recovery. We're hoping that the excised lymph nodes will all be free and clear of cancer. They are not proposing any other treatment options. Thanks, again, for your kind words, thoughts and prayers. We appreciate our friends and family, more than you can imagine.

Ross's oncologist's nurse called this afternoon, to report the findings from his PET CT scan. She told me that they found no evidence of melanoma! Yay!!! She said that there were a few spots that they determined to be the old myeloma sites which had already been treated. His surgery is still on for the 19th. They will remove as many lymph nodes as possible from under his arm and examine them for cancer cells. (As I understand it, the PET scan would not show activity on a microscopic level.) I will try to keep you informed. Thanks, again, for caring.

We saw Ross's surgeon, today, who informed us that none of the excised lymph nodes revealed any cancer. Ross had the two drains removed from under his arm - a big relief. On to the next problem: Ross has a mass growing on the left side of his jaw and enlarged lymph nodes, below that, in his neck. His cheek and mouth on that side are numb. He is scheduled for an MRI on Friday (Sept. 29th). I'll let you know what they find.

Ross's oncologist called yesterday, to report that the mass on his jaw is indeed, a malignancy. It was first thought to be a recurring Myeloma; but now, they are not sure. It may be the Melanoma or even some third kind of cancer! Ross hasn't exactly been typical. Today, he is to have a Fine Needle Aspiration to determine what cancer we are dealing with. Tomorrow, he is scheduled to see the oncology radiologist and start treatments. We're still in shock, I think. Please keep our family in your prayers - especially Ross. He is such a good man.

We went to see Dr. McInnis, today. He's the radiology oncologist at the Presbyterian Hospital. He told us that the tumor on Ross's jaw is Multiple Myeloma. The tumor has been growing quickly and causing considerable pain. The good news is that Multiple Myeloma tumors respond well to radiation. Ross will soon get some relief. Short term: Ross will begin radiation treatments on Wednesday. They anticipate that he will need ten rounds. Long term: We have not yet discussed a plan of action beyond the radiation. His oncologist - Dr. Taylor - did say that if it turned out to be Myeloma, then he would defer to the doctors at Duke. Lovely bright moon, tonight - almost full. We went for a nice, long walk. Ross is a rock. After all he's been through, he still makes me laugh and loves to talk about our grandkids. God love him. I'll write again when there is some news.

Ross is receiving daily radiation treatments. He gets a break on Saturday and Sunday. Dr. McInnis anticipates that these treatments will be continue through the 27th. During the preparations, they found another myeloma tumor on Ross's skull and are treating that, as well as the one on his jaw. After the radiation treatments are completed, Ross's oncologist here, and his physician at Duke will decide what further treatments are appropriate. Ross remains upbeat and undaunted. He calls the radiation treatments "going to the tanning booth". He played 9 holes of golf, the other day and shot a 41. What a guy! As always, your prayers are appreciated.

The past few days have been pretty difficult for Ross. The radiation treatments have left his mouth and throat very raw and painful. He is also suffering from fatigue and nausea. Yesterday, we met with his oncologist in Charlotte. Dr. Taylor ordered a bone scan and a bone marrow biopsy, as well as the usual blood tests. When all the results are in (in the next couple of days) there are two possibilities: The first, is that the tumors on his jaw and skull were isolated outbreaks of the myeloma. In that case, Ross would probably be put on a chemo regime utilizing the new drug, lenalidomide (called "Revlimid"). If the tests show that the disease is progressing, then he will probably be put on bortezomib ("Velcade"). This kind of chemo is more aggressive and therefore, there is a higher degree of toxidity resulting in adverse side effects. Ross's case is unique. His doctors must also remain watchful for the melanoma. Anything that they do to suppress the myeloma might diminish his resistance to melanoma. Next step: The test results will be gathered and sent to Dr. Gasparetto at Duke. Ross has a little time to let his mouth heal and to have his other cataract surgery - on election day. On November 15th, we'll go back up to Duke to hear what treatment options they have to offer. As always, thank you for your love and support. I'll try to keep you up to date.

Ross and I just got back from the oncologist who informed us that Ross's bone marrow aspiration showed NO sign of Myeloma!!! This is highly unusual and even surprised the doctor. He said that the cancer on Ross's skull, jaw and now on his ribs are not evidence of a systemic outbreak as they had suspected. They are plasma cytomas (malignant tomors) that can be treated with radiation. Ross will probably be put on the milder chemo which has little or no side effects. This could keep the disease at bay for another year or two. This morning, we were braced for the worst, possible. Now, we are giddy with hope. Thought you'd like to know.

For the past two years, we have been on a roller coaster ride. Seems that hasn't changed. We went to Duke, today, and the balloon from Monday's news has been somewhat deflated. Not completely; but somewhat. Dr. Gasparetto is a myeloma specialist. She was not surprised that the bone marrow tested clean. She is concerned that the plasmacytomae have been popping up so quickly (on his jaw, skull and ribs). She wants to first treat the spot on his ribs with radiation and then decide on a systemic treatment (chemo) to keep the myeloma from progressing. There are a couple of complications before we can proceed. Firstly, his platelet count is very low and will probably go lower with the radiation. That has to be watched carefully. Secondly, she does not want the treatments aimed at the myeloma to then make him vulnerable to the melanoma. She has referred him to a melanoma specialist at Duke. Her reasoning is that two heads are better than one. Together, they might be able to treat both diseases. Ross will begin with the radiation treatments for his ribs. On Monday, we will get the results from further bloodwork and urinalysis that will give Dr. Gasparetto a clearer picture of the disease's progress. Ross is a unique case. (I've known that for years.) We continue to hope for the best. Thanks for caring. Love, Linda

Yesterday, Ross had to have the catact surgery re-done in his left eye. He's experiencing quite a bit of pain and light sensitivity. I just wish he could catch a break. Monday, he is to begin the first of 10 rounds of radiation to treat that new spot on his ribs. They also found some spots on his arms and legs that are yet too small to treat with radiation. On Wednesday he has an appointment with a melanoma specialist at Duke. His sister, Muriel, her husband, Walt, their daughter, Tamara and her little boy, Aiden, came all the way from Canada to help us celebrate Thanksgiving. Paul and Kelley and their two dogs will arrive tomorrow. Of course, Charlie and (the pregnant!) Kathleen and their three little guys will walk down the road and spend the day with us as well. Our family and friends are remarkable. We are certainly blessed. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody. I'll be in touch.

We had an amazing Thanksgiving - probably the best ever. Everyone was here. Lots of laughs and good food - oh, my, goodness! Some time before Christmas, we're planning to drive up to Asheville with Charlie and Kathleen and the grandchildren so we can exchange gifts with Paul and Kelley. They go to Hyde County and spend Christmas with her family, there. We just got in from another trip up to Duke. This time, to see the melanoma specialist. Every physician we have seen has a different approach as far as how to deliver information and how much information to deliver. Dr. Gollob was a veritable fountain. He was very straight forward. For example, he said that Ross's melanoma - a stage 3B - gives Ross a 5 year survival expectancy of 50%. Even with that, the Multiple Myeloma trumps the melanoma. As far as he's concerned, when deciding what treatment to administer, there should be little or no consideration given to the melanoma at this time. He is, however, recommending a PET scan every 4 months to watch for the development of melanoma tumors. Ross began his radiation treatments this week, for the plasmacytoma on his ribs. He is a little more tired; but no significant side effects as yet. When the ten rounds of radiation are completed, we will go back to his oncologist in Charlotte and then, probably back to the Myeloma specialist at Duke for further, systemic, treatment. That will, most likely, take the form of some sort of chemo. Thank you, so much, for your love, support and prayers. I'll be in touch.

We went into Charlotte, yesterday, to speak with Ross's oncologist. Dr. Taylor is a kind, older gentleman. He has never failed to give us the most optimistic view. (I'm learning.) He said that except for some lab work (blood tests) in two weeks, Ross will get a break over the Christmas holidays. He will most likely begin chemotherapy in the new year. There are two kinds of chemo, possible. One is Velcade. It is highly effective; but results in more side effects. We would prefer to see him treated with the Revlimid - a new and very effective drug - as it is so much more easily tolerated. At any rate, his blood counts are too low, right now, to attempt any aggressive chemo. His white blood cells are low as are his platelets - the result of so much radiation. His last radiation treatment should be today. (I say "should" because these plasma cytomae are popping up so quickly! He goes in for another spinal MRI on Monday. Hopefully, they don't find any more.) The next few weeks - without radiation - should give his blood time to recover and we will settle on a plan with Dr. Taylor at our appointment, January 4th. Ross remains the sweetest, funniest, most focused man on the planet. He gets up early and goes to work, everyday. Somehow, he's managed to maintain that clever, quick, dry wit that has me lose all sense of composure and sends me into a fit of the giggles on a regular basis. God love him. If there is any news in the meantime, I will write. If not, then have a wonderful Christmas. Enjoy your family and friends and remember to be nice to each other. Talk to you in 2007! Love, Linda

Yesterday's MRI revealed another tumor on Ross's spine. He began radiation treatments, today. I'm not sure what this means, in terms of his low blood counts. We had hoped for some time so that they could recover before the chemo treatments began. It's hard not to be disappointed. At any rate, he should be able to wrap-up this series before Christmas day. I'll be in touch if there are any further developments. Linda

We just returned from an appointment with the oncologist. Ross's blood was drawn when we arrived and the tests showed that his platelet count has gone down even further. His white blood cell count is low but hasn't decreased since our last visit. Dr. Taylor said that he cannot administer chemo unless Ross's platelet count increases. Ross also complained of acute pain in his ribs - the left side, this time. Ross said it is some of the worst pain he's had, so far. (!) Dr. Taylor is quite sure that it is another tumor. He told Ross that the best way to get some relief from the pain is to radiate the area. He sent us directly for x-rays. Ross has an appointment with the radiology oncolgist, tomorrow morning. He will most likely undergo another series of 10 -12 radiation treatments. He has another appointment with Dr. Taylor - the oncologist - in two weeks. Ross continues to lose weight; so he is getting rather thin. He is suffering from pain and fatigue. Even so, you should know that he goes in to the office everyday and is still his sweet self - thoughtful and funny. I'll write again if there is any significant news.

Remember Arnold Shwarzenegger's line? "It's not a tumor!" Well, that's what the radiologist said. Ross has fractured a rib. This is a common complication with Multiple Myeloma. It results in a condition not unlike osteoporosis. He just has to be more careful. He has good pain medication; so he can get some relief that way. At least he won't be getting any radiation treatments for a while. We are still scheduled to see his oncologist on the 17th. If anything else happens, in the meantime, I'll let you know.

Ross and I met with Dr. Taylor, today. The results of today's blood work show an increase in his platelet count. However, it is still not high enough for the doctor to safely administer chemotherapy. Ross will go back next week for more blood tests and again the following week, if necessary. Once his platelet count is in the acceptable range(>80), Dr. Taylor intends to prescribe Revlimid. Hopefully, it won't be too long before this can occur. It's a tricky situation. Right now, his blood counts are recovering from the radiation. However, the cancer, itself, can cause the platelet count to decrease, if left unchecked for very long. So, we wait. Meanwhile, Ross has contracted some virus (nasal congestion, cough) and he also has conjunctivitis; but his fractured rib isn't bothering him so much, anymore. Thank you for all of your well wishes. We appreciate the good thoughts and prayers. I'll let you know if and when there is something new to report.

Results from Ross's blood work, yesterday, show a one point decrease in his platelets. Other numbers indicate that he is anemic as well. He has been suffering with this cold/flu for two weeks, now. The doctor prescribed an antibiotic and I was instructed to begin administering it at the first sign of fever. His temperature has remained normal; but just before we went to bed, last night , I checked and he had a low-grade fever. I ran out the door and drove to the drugstore in my pajamas. I managed to get the Rx filled just moments before they closed. Thank God for drive-thru windows! He was very fatigued, today, and spent a good part of it in bed - although he did manage to go in to the office for a few hours. He never ceases to amaze. His oncologist had a conference with the doctor at Duke and they have decided to go ahead with a low dose of the Revlimid - despite his critically low platelet counts. That should start Monday. As my dad would say, "I wonder what's on the wind". No sense worrying, though. It's all in God's hands. Thanks for listening. Keep in touch and I'll do the same.

We met with Dr. Taylor, in Charlotte, yesterday. Ross's platelets were slightly higher at 68. His white blood cell count had gone down to 2.5. Both the doctor from Duke and Dr. Taylor feel that a low dose of Revlimid might be beneficial. As it is a fairly new drug and a Thalidomide derivative, there are all kinds of required paperwork. That was completed, yesterday, so he should get started on the chemo today or tomorrow. It is taken as a daily pill. It's supposed to be well-tolerated - especially at this low dose; so hopefully, he won't suffer any awful side effects. Dr. Taylor said that they will discontinue administering the Revlimid if his counts drop too low. He said they can take him off and start back up again as often as they need to. He said that Ross will be on Revlimid for several months. He also said that they may have to radiate if or when more plasma cytoma pop up. So, Ross has to be less stoic and let him know if he gets a new pain that would indicate a tumor on a bone. He told us that, unfortunately, they can also develop in soft tissue, anywhere, and when they do there are few, if any symptoms. Hopefully, the Revlimid will keep the cancer at bay. Meanwhile, Ross continues to go to work everyday. He's tired when he gets home and ususally goes to bed for a while. He has gotten over that flu and his rib seems to have healed; so he feels a lot better, now. I will write again, when there's news.

Ross started on Revlimid, earlier this week. It's a pill that he takes once a day. It will lower his platelet count; so the doctor will take him off of it when necessary. He has his blood tested weekly. Wednesday's test results show that his platelet count came up a bit, to 68, and his white blood cell count is holding steady. He also needed x-rays, Wednesday. He complained of new pain in his right side. He has several newly fractured ribs and one in the process of healing. He still gets up every morning and goes in to the office! He is funny and sweet and thoughtful, as always, and remains undaunted. We just celebrated our 37th Valentine's Day together. Oooooh. Ain't love grand? Hope yours was sweet. Linda

Yesterday, Ross and I had an appointment with Dr. Taylor. It seemed to me that Dr. Taylor was most concerned with Ross's fractured ribs and the resulting pain and muscle spasms. Ross has trouble sleeping at night, as a result. The doctor had a few suggestions including a patch that is applied directly to the ribs in order to numb the area. Ross has pain on both sides, now and Dr. Taylor suggested that they may have to radiate the areas involved if they don't get better, soon. The nurse brought in the results from the blood tests. (Amazing what they can do - the blood is drawn and run through a computerized analysis and within minutes, the results are printed off!) The tests show that Ross's platelets have dropped to 60, his white blood cell count is down to 2.1 and his hemaglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell counts and a few others are also out of the normal ranges, now. Dr. Taylor decided that Ross will complete this round of chemo - five more days. Then, as is the normal routine for Revlimid, he will not take it for a week. Hopefully, his counts will recover enough so that he can resume therapy. Ross left for work, this morning, as usual. He has lost more weight and is easily fatigued; but he keeps on keepin' on. The rest of us could sure learn a lesson or two from this rock of a human being. Our little problems seem so petty in comparison. He never complains. He works everyday and remains as funny and kind and gentle as ever. I love him so much. I'm so lucky. Thanks for keeping us in your prayers. I'll write again, later, when there's news.

Ross had his follow-up visit with the dermatologist on Friday. They excised several suspicious spots. Yesterday, they called. His pathology report stated that the four excisions taken from his back were all melanoma - 3rd stage. The one from his face was just a squamous cell. They had already made an appointment for him with the surgeon for Wed. at 11:00. I got busy and had the oncologist's office make an appoinment for a PET scan. I figured the surgeon will order one, anyway; so I thought it would be better to get that information for him ahead of time. So, his PET scan is on Monday at 11:00. From that, we will be able to see if the cancer has metasticized to any vital organs. When I broke the news to him, last evening, he didn't seem surprised. He did say that he had suspected something. He said that he is in a lot of pain. Ross also said that he wants to have his head scanned - something that has to be done with an MRI. He never asks for anything; so I think this may be significant. He is concerned about his neck and jaw. He can ask Dr. Taylor to order an MRI when we see him on Friday (the 16th). Ross's blood will be drawn, then, and tested to see if his platelets have recovered enough so that he can tolerate more chemo - although with this latest development, those plans may change. I was reading about some fairly new research that linked a gene abnomality to a suseptibility to multiple myeloma AND melanoma. There were environmental factors involved as well; but it was the very first link I'd seen between the two cancers. I gather Ross's case is far from usual. We always knew he was special. This evening, Paul and Kelley and their two dogs are coming for the weekend. Charlie will be 31 on Monday. Where did the time go? This weekend will be fun - a whole pile of silly Dows. I'll let you know what happens this next week. Thanks for caring. Love, Linda

I am writing today in an attempt to dispel a misconception. It seems as though - from comments we've received - that some people are under the impression that we are wringing our hands and suffering through this trial. Not so. Although my reports to the outside world often only consist of the "cold facts", this is not what Ross and I are all about. We rarely discuss his cancer - only when necessary. We take care of business - attending appointments, blood tests, scans and x-rays and treat them a bit like a date. We talk and laugh and enjoy our time together. The lesson that we learned at the very beginning of this experience was to "live in the moment". Of course, that can't be accomplished 100% of the time; but to the extent that we do, we are much happier for it. Please don't think that we are not enjoying life. We smile and laugh all the time. (How can you help but laugh when you're with Ross?) Love is good. We appreciate your concern and as always, I will be in touch.

Ross had his PET scan, Monday, an appointment with the surgeon on Wednesday and his oncologist, today. On Monday, the 19th, he is also scheduled for a CT scan and x-rays. They will do a panoramic view of his shoulders, neck and head. The news this week is a mixed bag - not the best; but not the worst, either. So far, this is what we've learned: There were several spots (lytic lesions) on the bones in his torso area and on the bones in his pelvis, legs and arms. They also saw a nodule on his jugular area which is questionable. I learned that there is no sure fire way to determine if these lesions are multiple myeloma or metastatic melanoma. They would have to biopsy all of them to be sure - which is impossible. The doctors do feel, however, that these spots are more likely due to multiple myeloma. They have decided that Ross should refrain from his Revlimid and on the 27th of this month, he will undergo more surgery to excise the melanoma from his back. Then, after he has had a few days to recover, they will consider resuming the chemotherapy (Revlimid). Dr. Taylor also said that they will then discuss how best to treat both cancers. One option is, besides his Revlimid, to administer an immunotherapy which is fairly new and might help Ross's body produce more white blood cells. His white blood cell count was low, today; but his platelets have bounced back nicely - to 99. He is limping and in pain from a possible fracture to his hip. Dr. Taylor said that Ross may need radiation to help relieve the pain and to arrest the disease in that spot. He sent Ross for x-rays directly after our appointment; so we should hear the results, Monday. We are pluggin' ahead - one step at a time. No sense looking too far down the road. My faith in miracles was restored this evening when Ross came home with a batch of fresh smelts - wild caught - from Canada! I am quite sure that there is a God in heaven and that He is good. Peace. Out.