1000 Cranes

I was recently given the gift of 1000 paper cranes from the foreign language students at Novi Meadows School (Hannah's school). They were given with a wish to make me well. It is a Japanese custom to give 1000 hand folded paper cranes to someone who is ill to wish a quick recovery. Our family feels very honored to receive this gift.
We have become friends with a Japanese family in our neighborhood the Nishigaki's. Etsuko has been working for many weeks to create 1000 paper cranes with the same wish of good health. She has made over 220 so far. Her circle of paper cranes hangs next to the cranes
from the Meadows students.
We are so appreciative of all of the support from the community!

The Steroids Are Working!

Hello Everyone,

Yes, the Steroids are working! I just got done taking 4 days worth and basically all my visible lymph nodes are normal size! It is simply amazing that these little pills can basically wipe out months of swelling.

I now get a few days off of the Steroids and then start back up for another 4 days worth. Our goal is simply to blast the cancer out of the lymph system. I will repeat this 4 day on/off cycle two more times.

We are making progress! And my overall health is improving! :)

I have to do this until mid July when we will evaluate my overall (Bone Marrow, Blood, Lymph Nodes) progress.

The ultimate goal is to get into the stem cell transplant process and cure this ugly beast of Leukemia.

I look normal and feel good! I am having a good start to summer and hope that each of you are enjoying yours!

Take care and thanks for checking in,

Gary

The Return of the "Incredible Hulk"

Hello Everyone,

Do I look Green like the "Incredible Hulk"!

You probably guessed it and yes I am now on Steroids!

Not your common garden variety but Heavy Duty Man Size Steroids for the next month!

The goal is to lower the lymph nodes swelling and raise the platelets. In the process I can become:

• Huge like the Hulk :)
• Jittery
• Not able to sleep
• Large not hulk variety but wide (fat)
• etc., etc.

I am happy to be on Steroids because they work and work fast!

We met with our OSU (phone) and UofM (visit) doctors and they want to do this for a month.

After that we are going to re-evaluate and decide what to do next...

This is all good news if you weren't sure. Also, we get to take our vacation in mid-July!

I am getting close to transplant time and speaking of that we have expanded the search, so a donor is probably within the next two months.

On the Family Front

Hannah had her 11th birthday today and is very excited about all her presents.

All the kids are out of school and Summer is here! :)

I will keep you posted on the "Hulk" process and the transplant stuff!

Thanks for checking in...

Gary

Still Waiting!

Hello Everyone,

You might have guessed but a big part of dealing with a disease is waiting.

• Wait for a Doctor's Appointment
• Wait for a Test / Procedure
• Wait for the results
• Wait for insurance
• Wait for your prayers to be answered

What I have been learning throughout this process is Patience!

It is very tough especially being the type of guy who goes nuts if my computer doesn't start fast enough. I live in a world where everything is fast and getting faster. So, it is very difficult to learn, let alone practice, patience from where I sit. But, that is exactly what I have to do.

So, here is the update!

We did not meet with the OSU doctor this week and we do not have an appointment for next week. He is in the process of putting together a plan for me which involves talking with the UofM doctor. We will learn more on Monday!

On the Stem Cell Donor Matching Process we have not found a match. We are still looking but at this point we have to wait for someone to join the registry who matches me. (Someone from Novi would be great!)

My Health, well it is not getting better but seems to have plateaued. Except for me platelets which keep setting new personal lows. Pray that I don't hit 10 or below or I will start getting infusions of platelets. Otherwise, from a way I feel I still go to work and go to the kids activities but I have to avoid large groups of people. (Immune system still low) I have been trying to get more exercise and have been riding my bike a few times each week. I really don't have a lot of extra energy but am able to do normal activities within reason.

My Mental Health, I feel happy and supported by God, Family, and Friends. It is really strange but this time around I have not been fearful but have trusted God throughout this whole process and he has really taken the burden off my shoulders. All of your prayers and help has made a world of difference.

So, I want to ask you to keep praying and to have a great weekend.

Thanks for checking in,

Gary

Back to OSU!

Hello Everyone,

Well, we got mixed news yesterday!

The Good News!

The bone marrow biopsy showed that cancer has been reduced from 70% to 10% in the bone marrow. Since, I have had only 2 chemo rounds to reduce the cancer in the marrow we are very happy!

The Not So Good News!

Although, the current chemo I am taking is working in the marrow it is not working in the lymph nodes. So, what to do! Go Back To OSU (Ohio State University).

We are being encouraged to participate in a clinical trial being conducted at OSU. We will be meeting with our old friend, Dr. Byrd within the next week to discuss it. So, good bye U of M hello OSU!

Overall I am still feeling OK! Over the past weekend I did experience some low grade fevers but it turned out to be nothing. Of course to be safe I was given chest x-ray, blood tests, and antibiotics. I did not realize that people who's immune system is completely screwed up, like mine, can have a low grade fever with no other symptoms and die because of a rampant infection. So, we take any type of fever pretty seriously now.

My platelets are still low but the bone marrow biopsy showed that due to the chemo my manufacturing capacity has been lowered. Over time I should start producing more. We just need to watch it.

I realize there is a lot here but I thought everyone would like to know what is going on!

My spirits are high, my sister, Patti, is in town visiting, and my family is doing well. Overall, I am a happy man and trust in God to provide.

Thanks for checking in,

Gary

Treatment Delayed! Numbers are low!

Hello Everyone,

Yesterday I was supposed to start Treatment but my numbers were to low. Specifically, my platelets were not high enough for me to start treatment. So, we are going to delay 1 week and try again next Monday.

The silver lining in all this is that I got to watch Scotty's 1st baseball game and unlike the Tigers they won 11-10.

Unfortunately, I have to get a bone marrow biopsy today to get data as to why the platelets are not bouncing back. The biopsy will also show if the treatments are reducing the disease in the marrow. Please, pray that the disease is being reduced!

We are still waiting for all of your donor registrations to be put into the database, so I can find a match. Patience is what I am learning in all of this.

It is Craig's birthday today! He is 13 years old!

Thanks for checking in,

Gary

Wow! Everyone Showed Up to the Donor Drive

Hello Everyone,

What a Great Success the Bone Marrow Drive was yesterday! If it wasn't for the leadership of Karen Welch, the support of all the volunteers, and the great response from the community we would not have had over 400 new Bone Marrow Registry's from this one drive.

Applause for Everyone!

So, in the next 4 to 6 weeks when you get called to donate for a 41 yr. old, male, married with 3 kids, you might be the miracle we are looking for. :)

Seriously, it was heart warming seeing so many friends and family support me and the other people in need.

We are very over whelmed and grateful for every one's support.

Thank You!

Gary & Tammy

Donor Drive for ME!!

Our friends have organized a marrow donor drive in my honor.

Sunday May 18th
2-5pm
St James Catholic Church
46325 10 Mile Road Between Taft & Beck Roads

Due to the Thanks Mom campaign it will be free to join the registry. To take part in it, you simply need to swab the inside of your cheek; no blood drawn at this time! Participation places your information on a registry as a potential marrow donor. For more information, please visit marrow.org. If you are unable to attend on Sunday a kit can be requested online just do it before 5/19 so it will be free.

If you are able to help out at the drive contact Karen Welch welch@twmi.rr.com

How can you help?

Hello Friends,

I get asked alot from friends like you "How can I help?" Well the answer is to become a Registered Bone Marrow Donor.

The Marrow Donation Program is running a special the next few weeks. The usual charge of $52 to join the registry will be waived due to the Thanks Mom campaign running May 5-19th.
Donors must be between the ages of 18-60.

Look to the left and you will see a link.

It is easy to become a donor and in 90% of all Bone Marrow Transplants the donor just has to give a pint of blood. So, if you have donated blood to the red cross it is basically the same thing!

We will keep posting Bone Marrow drives in the Detroit area for people to go to. Below are three that are friend Karen Welch has found:


LOCATIONS & DATES:
May 11 (8:30am-1:30 pm)- St, Aiden Catholic Church, 17500 Middlebelt Rd, Livonia. 734-425-5950
May 13 (2:00-8:00pm)- Antioch Lutheran Church, 33360 W. 13 Mile, Farmington Hills. 248-762-8480
May 18 (9:00am-2:00pm)- St. John NeumannChurch, 44800 Warren Rd., Canton. 734-455-7187


Thanks

Gary

Treatment 16, 17, & 18

Hello Friends,

We went to U of M on Monday and were there for 9 hours. No Fun! Nothing unusal they were just running slow.

We had a nice visit from our pastor, Dr. Miller, and enjoyed discussing many differnt items.

Tuesday and Wednesday were much quicker; we were in and out in 2 1/2 hours. I feel good and look forward to having another 25 days off.

I plan to attend Craig's track meet tonight and after I will probalby crash.

So far I have not experienced to much pain and hope to stay that way.

I would like to ask everyone to ask God to find a donor for me for a stem cell transplant. I know he will answer our prayers and just wanted everyone to realize that we are searching at this time.

Thanks for checking in,

Gary