We didn't expect this!

Hello Everyone,

We got BAD news today, my tests from last Monday have shown that the Leukemia might have transformed into a more aggressive form.

So, around 2:45 pm today we were told to come down to OSU for surgery scheduled for earlier Friday morning. It appears that the transformed Leukemia has congregated in my right armpit lymph node. On Friday they are going to remove it.

Also, since the Leukemia appears to have transformed I will begin a very aggressive chemo next week.

We are upset but still have tremendous faith in GOD and I am confident that we will take control of the cancer and begin the Stem cell transplant.

We will keep you posted. We just ask that you continue to pray and ask for God to help my family deal with all this.

Thanks for checking in,

Gary

I am driving my wife CRAZY !!!!!

Hello Everyone,

Yes, I am one Royal Pain in the ___ and Tammy has to put up with me every step of the way.

I get cranky, loud, mad, angry, rude, mean and just plain not nice to the one person I LOVE THE MOST IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.

So, yes I am one Royal Pain in the ___.

Tammy is an Angel, she puts up with it 99% of time and on the occasion that I cross the line which lately is more frequently she reminds me that I am misbehaving in an ever so gentle way.

You know the people in life who we love make us better and Tammy has made me be the best I can be. She is truly an amazing woman.

OK, I think you all realize I love my wife! :)

On Monday we went to Ohio State University Medical Center for testing, I received the following tests:

- Blood Tests (14 tubes)
- EKG
- Physical Exam
- PET Scan (They put radioactive material in you that the cancer sucks up and then they scan you.)
- CT Scan (X-RAY of whole body, drank 2 bottles of barium then too much time passed made me drink a 3rd bottle, yuck)
- Bone Marrow Biopsy (They had to go in 3 times. Ouch!)

Of course on the way home all the stuff they put in me wanted to come out! We ended up stopping about every 40 miles!

I am now at UofM Hospital getting platelets but my hemoglobin was high enough that I do not need whole blood.

I start my next treatment next Monday and my mother is flying in from Denver to be with me during the first two weeks. I am looking forward to seeing her.

Well, that is it for now. Tammy is strong and hanging in there and she and I appreciate all of you who have been helping us so much lately.

Thanks for checking in,
Gary

Feeling Better!

Hello Everyone,

Yesterday, I was not feeling good. It turns out my Hemoglobin was the lowest it has ever been. I received 1 unit of blood last night and another this morning and a third bag of platelets.

Here is what happened to me when my body was low on oxygen:
- Severe leg pain (Sciatic Nerve)
- Joint Pain (Knees, Hands)
- Stiff Jaw
- Chest Pains
- Shortness of breath (just with walking)
- High Blood Pressure
- Moderate Head Ache
- Overall Weak and Tired

It turns out that I was at the Hospital until past 9:00 pm, so, our neighbor and friend Dan Welch came and picked me up from U of M, so Tammy could be with the kids. We did not expect any of this to occur yesterday.

I am feeling a lot better and very Thankful to Dan for helping us out.

Late Breaking News: I start my next clinical study Feb. 23, 2009 at Ohio State University Medical Center. It runs Monday, Wednesday, Friday for 4 weeks. It will be a scheduling nightmare but I got to do it. We will tell you more as we find out.

Thanks for checking in,

Gary

I am beginning to get worn down!

Hello Everyone,

Lately, I have been experiencing more problems and it is beginning to wear away at me. I know that most of my symptoms will go away with time and treatments but today I am tired of it all.

Yes, sometimes it just gets to be too much!

I don't want to bore everyone with what I am going through but rather ask you to ask God to give me his strength.

That is what I truly need.

Thanks for checking in,

Gary

Blood, who needs it!

Hello Everyone,

OK, my blood is starting to make me mad. It will just not behave. I have recently been struggling with low platelets and low hemoglobin (two components of blood). My doctors have been giving me weekly transfusions of platelets. We are concerned that my bone marrow is not replacing the platelets. The problem with having low platelets is that it makes doing treatments for Leukemia more complicated. I really don't need anymore complications.

So, what do I do now? Really, my options are limited.

SO, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ALL OF YOU TO FOCUS YOUR PRAYERS TO INCREASE MY PLATELETS AND HEMOGLOBIN.

The good news is that once we get to transplant all of the platelet issues will go away.

Currently, my doctors and I are focused on raising my platelets and eventually moving on to one more treatment to reduce the Leukemia even further.

That is the latest.

Thanks for checking in,
Gary

Brrrr....

Hello Everyone,

We made it back to Novi but it was cold. I had to rest a few days after taking the steroids but I am feeling better.

I must tell you, if you never have to take steroids be happy because they really mess you up. I took the steroids for 4 days and it literally has taken me an additional 4 days to feel normal. I have lost my sense of taste, felt tired, achy, light headed, etc. but with each day that passes it becomes less and less. I hope that by Sunday I am back to my old self.

Scott turned double digits on Friday! We cannot believe that our baby is 10 WOW!

Well, I am trying to stay warm so I am going to go get a hot cup of tea.

Thanks for checking in,

Gary

Another Clinical Trail

Hello Everyone,

Well, we just finished the steroids and my lymph nodes have responded well! :)

We are traveling back through another snow storm in Ohio, Tammy gets to drive this time! We have been traveling about 1 hour and haven't gotten out of Columbus.

So, here is the latest and greatest!

I will not be starting chemo next week!

My doctor wants my bone marrow to recover from my last treatment!

So, we will probably sometime in February begin the next treatment. (Another Clinical Study)

After which we will look to transplant! We were hoping for March on the transplant but that will be pushed out based on the latest treatment schedule.

The most consistent thing in medicine is the timing never is what you expect.

Anyways, I just wanted to give everyone a quick update.

Thanks

Gary

The Latest Plan!

Hello Everyone,

To keep everyone up to date here is the latest news! Hot Off The Press!

1) My doctor is taking me off the clinical study at Ohio State University, it seems the drugs do not agree with my platelets

2) I have started Steroid treatment for the next 4 days, this will help the platelets and reduce the lymph nodes

3) I will start chemo again in Mid - January, this will clean up my bone marrow so I go into transplant with the lowest amount of cancer. Better Success with less Cancer!

4) It looks like I will go in to the Stem Cell Transplant in March! :) The Cure!

We will post more on each topic as I progress!

I want to continue to thank everyone for all the support and prayers I have been receiving. I feel like I am rounding the 4th corner of a race with the last lap still ahead of me. At least I can start to get a feel for the finish line (Leukemia Free)!

My family and I know we have a hard six months ahead of us but know the reward is worth it!

I look forward to the day that I can face life without the prospect of Leukemia. :0)

Keep Checking In,

Gary

Transfusion Anyone!

Hello Everyone,

On Thursday, I got to experience and unscheduled Platelet transfusion.  I had blood work done in the morning on Thursday just to keep an eye on my numbers and received a call around 1:30 telling me to head to UofM for a platelet transfusion.  My platelets had dropped very low and were now at a point that I had to receive the transfusion.

Well, I went home and Tammy had arranged for her father to take me over to UofM hospital.  We arrived at 3:00 and got home at 9:30.  It was a long day and of course my body did not cooperate and I had a reaction to the transfusion which delayed us even further.

But, All is good my platelets are now at an acceptable level (still low) but acceptable and I feel ok.

Just thought I would let you know what is happening.

Stay Tuned for more I am sure it will get interesting...

Thanks for checking in,

Gary

Platelets Low, Not Going to OSU!

Hello Everyone,

Well, as you can tell from the title my platelets are not cooperating and are too low for me to get the next treatment in the clinical study at Ohio State University. My doctors want me to wait a week and then recheck my platelets. I have a feeling that I will not be much higher next week but time will tell.

The unfortunate thing about this is my mother flew in from Denver to be with me at OSU for the week and now it is not going to happen. Don't get me wrong I love having my mother visit us but when you plan on going somewhere and at the last moment you can't you kinda of feel cheated.

Anyway, I feel pretty good except for the occasional bruise (caused by low platelets). I am trying to get stronger by doing some mild exercise. Hopefully, I will be stronger when the doctor lets me go into transplant which could be any month.

We are hoping for March but you never know exactly until the doctors think I am ready.

Thanks for checking in,

Gary