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Latest News from Bart & Beth Hi and welcome to our web page. It has been provided to keep people updated. Thanks for visiting and leave a message if you'd like.
Journal
Thursday, October 13, 2005 9:41 AM CDT Hello everyone! I'm back...it's been a very long time since I last updated this journal. I thank you all for checking in regularly and posting those inspirational and touching messages. Please know just how much each message means to our family and how much strength you all provide us.
Last month we were able to enjoy a week away in LA-LA land (a/k/a Disney). It was just great getting away from all the dr. appointments, dr. emails, dr. phone calls. Don't get me wrong, these docs are nothing less than heros in my book. We are so fortunate to live in a city where we receive the best medical care and the doctors are compassionate and research is cutting edge, but a week away from it all was paradise.
We had an absoluately fabulous time, awesome hotel, no lines, lots of laughs (and screams), and most importantly, lots of great happy family time. It was Africa hot down there so we Warner's paced ourselves. (We're not a fast moving clan anyway...so 90 degrees set us back even farther). Bart did incredibly well keeping up the snail's pace that we set for ourselves. He even went so far as to risk going on some of the rides which were not meant for pregnant women - living on the edge.
Bart's stem cell transplant was due to take place on 10/11. However, due to increased cancer activity (more detectable plasma cells - not so good) the admission date has been postponed until 11/1, which means the transplant date will probably be 11/6 or 11/7. We found out that the cancer counts went up right before his 10/4 admission date and therefore his chemo treatments were increased. He's now taking the thal-dex combo but also doing the velcade infusion 2 times a week for 1 cycle.
We're hopeful that with the combined/increased chemo, his counts will come down to within a workable level in order to provide a better chance at a successful transplant. Basically, the cleaner you are going in, the better your chance at a successful transplant. Hopefully the next set of counts will be in on 10/14 and we'll know if the 11/1 admission date is still on. If so, Bart will be in the hospital for approx. 8 days. He's having the transplant through Dana Farber at the Brigham & Women's. Then we're talking a 12-month recovery period at the Inn & Spa @ 1 Prospect. Line forms at the door!
We have been told that Bart won't have to press his nose against the window but can actually go outside and walk around the neighborhood. Limitations include no raking, yardwork, visits to malls, movies, restaurants, etc. due to the fact that the immune system of the donor will be working overtime to get Bart's body back in working order and any germ (even a little sniffle) would not be a good thing.
So that's the latest. I promise to keep you all posted in a more timely fashion.
Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. With all the heartache and sadness going on in the world, and especially with what's going on in our great country, it is a constant reminder to me that we are a very blessed family to live where we do and to be surrounded by so many caring friends and family.
Live Strong,
Beth and co.
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