A CaringBridge Site was created for Bill. It’s a caring social network to help people stay connected with family and friends during a health event. Visit Bill’s site often to stay updated and share messages of encouragement and compassion.Visit onlineSite Link:
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/billanton-thejourneySite Name: billanton-The Journey
Hello, Friends
This site will be our conduit to you all in sharing the many steps, and battle ahead, on Bill’s journey through Amyloid AL. Amyloid appears in the plasma cells of the bone marrow, binding together to form Amyloid fibrils. These build up in the organs and tissues impairing the organ and tissue function. Bill’s issues arise in the kidney, heart, stomach, intestines and prostate. Bill was diagnosed by a random visit to Sharp Urgent Care about two months ago when they thought he was having a heart incident.
Our dear friend, Dr. Randy Hawkins came with thundering horses and, the best team of docs, to the rescue. Our naturopath, Dr. James Williams supported with alternative therapies and my nephew, Dr. Taylor Johnston at Columbia was our East coast connection.
The Sharp team put Bill on a fast medical roller coaster of biopsies and diagnosis. As many of you know, Bill is now in his fifth week of Chemotherapy at Sharp Memorial Hospital. He has another three weeks of chemo while UCSD’s Moores Cancer Center prepares a remarkable and Star Trek like, BONE MARROW/STEM CELL TRANSPLANT. The date of the transplant has not yet been set. We are hoping it will begin near the end of October.
It is a three to four week process for the transplant itself. Bill can have NO visitors, including myself, while in the hospital. It will be challenging, depressing, sometimes painful and lonely time for us both. After it hopefully all works, we will need to be completely quarantined for the first two weeks of his return home. COVID has given us a rehearsal process for this and, if for nothing else, I am grateful.
Bill will in an isolated atmosphere, at our home, for at least another two to three months for recovery. After his return from the hospital, Bill’s new, infant like, immune system will be growing stronger.
Those of you far and near can text or email him during his hospitals stay or send cards. All things funny will be appreciated. I will place the address here when I know more. I know how much all of you care for him and want him to come roaring back. I know, you know, I know, he does roar!!!!! So many of you have offered and performed such great acts of kindness and love in the last number of weeks, neither of us can stop crying. We consider all of you family. I know I have missed people because of my VAST set of computer skills.( where is that laughing emoji? ) Should you share this, please give them the site link and name. I will have many stories to share with you all in the next number of months. So from the bottom of our hearts, we love you so much.
On we go,
Bonnie and Bill
Bonnie Johnston
bonnie-johnston@cox.net
bill@meetingarc.com
