Dave Update-November 15, 2010

Hi all, just a short Dave update.  The good news is Dave's blood work continues to be normal as of last Thursday.  He has chemo today so we will possibly get another update then.  He will finish his third round of eight next week.  After that, they will check all his blood including his bone marrow to see where we are in terms of killing the myeloma.  The ultimate goal is to get Dave in remission and then we will go from there.  A consultation with Standford is next on the horizon where we can determine if stem cell transplantation is the best solution.  At a later date, I will update on stem cell trasplantation, but at this point we have a ways to go before those options are discussed.  Dave returned to work last week and business has been steady.  Thank you to Dave Benson and staff for holding down the fort and helping our family while we start this journey of healing.  As Thanksgiving is next week, I thought it would be nice if everyone shared what they are thankful for this year.  You can share by clicking on the comments section below.

I am thankful for God's grace.  I am thankful for my amazing family.  I am thankful for all the small treasures that we often take for granted.  Much love.  Jeana

November 4, 2010-Update

Hello all, where to begin?  First of all, as of Thursday, Dave's blood counts came back normal!  This is a good thing.  For the most part he had a good last week.  He gained a pound, yay!!  I bet he never thought he'd be excited about actually gaining weight, but eating has not been as issue since Dave's diagnosis.  He invited me to what I though was his chemo therapy on Thursday.  I wanted to go so I could be a part of everything, including his treatments.  When I got there, Dave was sleeping.  I guess they gave him so good drugs because they knocked him out.  It was not what I expected.  It was very homey, with reclining chairs.  There was three other patients hooked up getting chemo treatments.  It was hard not to stare because the room was not that big.  It's interesting.  When you are going through this, you feel so alone and then you see all these other patients going through the same thing.  Several of the women there were losing their hair or bald.  From what Dave has told me some of the women that he has met have breast cancer.  Dave has not lost any hair.  I know.  I know.  What hair?  But seriously, the hair he has-he has not lost.  What I thought was Dave's second weekly chemo treatment was in fact "replacement immunoglobulin therapy.  Ya, easy for me to say.  What was funny when I ask the nurse what Dave was having done, she couldn't even say it.  I guess from what I understand Dave had abnormal or inefficient immunoglobulins (IgG) which is needed to fight infections.  So, Dave's treatment is two weeks on chemo (twice a week-short office visit) and on he third week (which is his off chemo week) he has this replacement therapy which last 2-3 hours.  Because Dave was in the hospital they are a bit off schedule so in reality Dave has a full week of nothing next week, yay.  Depending on how he feels, he might get back to work on Monday.

I'd love to share a few "god" moments I had last week with you all.  On Thursday, before Dave's appointment I went in to have my very first mamogram.  This is one of the great benefits of turning 40!  I was putting it off until Dave shared his story about the women with breast cancer that he met.  Anyway, while I was waiting in the waiting room, this woman was called up.  I could overhear her telling the receptionist she had no insurance.  She was probably in her last 50's.  As she sat down across from me, I could see the stress and fear on her face.  I watched her.  I have a tendency to do this....  She had her eyes closed and I could see her lips moving.  As I looked closer, I could tell she was praying.  A friend gave me a prayer book that I keep with me.  It has the prayer that I placed at the bottom of this blog and is my special prayer for Dave.  I reached in my purse and wrapped my fingers around the book.  I told myself, when I get called for my appointment I am going to walk up to that lady and give her my special prayer book.  I was ready.  My heart raced a bit.  I heard my name being called.  I paused, got up....and walked right past the lady.  When I got into the examining room, I was so angry at myself.  I call myself spiritually shy.  That day I called myself a spiritual coward!  I missed a God moment.  I was being pushed by God to do something for someone else and I walked right on by. 

When I got home, I was still upset with myself.  I got on the computer and was looking through my emails when I saw I received a facebook message from a girl named Heather from Kentucky.  I facebooked Heather a day earlier when I saw that she had posted that her mom was just diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma on a Myeloma facebook page.  I sent her a message telling her that my dad has the same disease and that I would prayer for her family.  She sent me the sweetest email that I have to share with you.  First though, I must tell you that I believe this was another God moment.  When you read her message, she says that me contacting her was an act of God.  I must say to Heather, her sending me this beautiful note was the God moment I was seeking earlier in the day and passed by.  She gave to me what I wanted to give to that lady at the doctor's office.  I hope that this message touches your heart as much as it did mine.  Please send a special prayer to Heather, her mother, and her family.  She is now a part of the "Kiss It" Cancer club:  Heather's message below.

Re: Myeloma Friend

i just wanted to let you know that i was talking to my mother about the gift from god that i reacieved to day and she was stund she said you and your family was sent from the great lord above i want to let you know that we are also praying for you andn your family and it does not matter the time of day or the time of nite if you need someone to talkn to I WILL BE HERE everything goes straight to my phone so i will always know when you send me a message. i will never be able to thank you for becoming my friend i never knew that someone would need me just the same please let your father know that my mother ginny chestnut from ky is praying for him and my father said that you all was a touch from gods hand. here we are all the way across the country and out of millions of people you find us the ones whom are starting this long journey that you and your family has done began..... your myeloma friend forever, heather from ky

November 1, 2010 update

Happy November to everyone.  Dave finally got the tubes out of his neck last week.  The "tubes" were put in to hook him up for his plasmapheresis treatments that he had while he was in the hospital.  The doctor taking them out is a good sign that they don't believe he is in any need for any immediate treatments.  You can barely see the marking where it previously was, although I told him it kind of looks like a permanent hickey.  Dave is looking "fab" and I believe from what I can see he is feeling "pretty good".  We spend last night with Dave and my mom and Dave dressed up as...  Well, I really don't know what he was.  He had a donkey nose, but I don't want to be rude and say he was a "jack ass", but....wink, wink.  We had a great time.  It's been family tradition to go over to mom and Dave's with the kids on Halloween for years.  Typically, Dave and my husband take the kids trick or treating while my mom and I drink wine and give out candy.  This year, Dave wanted to hand out the candy (and scare unsuspecting children).  I believe it had something to do with the World Series playing, but... We had a great time anyway and these are memories I will always cherish.  It's funny how these little traditions gather so much meaning when a family member is hit with an illness.  Dave continues chemo this week; today and also Thursday.  Hopefully he will blog later this week and let you all know a little more about his numbers.  Much love and thanks for your continued support.  Family is precious...Don't let a day go by that you don't love, forgive, and feel hope.  Jeana