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Dear Family and Friends --
Well, after only three weeks of official retirement, it appears the the Fates did not want me to get too comfortable or bored. Instead, they sent me down a new path: that of a care giver and support partner for my husband, Harry.
After several weeks of not feeling well then a doctor appointment that turned into a hospital stay -- Harry was diagnosed with acute leukemia or AML on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 at 1 p.m. in the afternoon. It's that specific because that is the exact time our world stopped. And changed. We were stunned. (Apparently I was more stunned than Harry if you hear him tell it. But take it from me -- we were stunned.)
Without making everyone glassy-eyed with more medical details than you would ever want to know, suffice to say that right now -- as of Sunday evening, April 7 - Harry is stable an doing/looking better than before we checked into Shawnee Medical Center then KU. As we wait for the test results from his bone marrow biopsy, his oncology/hemotology team is working to get and keep him as healthy as possible before they begin a seven day chemotherapy treatment. Target for initiating this treatment is sometime the end of this week (April 7 - 13). After that treatment we are looking at a four week stay (at least!) -- at the" KU Hilton" -- as his immune system builds back up and we see how he responds to treatment.
The good news is that KU is a designated cancer center with some of the best doctors and cancer treatment available so we are very happy about that. We also love all the staff we have encountered so far. (Harry doesn't know it yet but we will be adopting SEVERAL of the nurses, aides and medical staff that are currently helping us.) The bad news is I will most likely be a very reluctant, but expert reviewer of hospital food before this is over.
For those of you who wish to send cards, we are in Room 225 of the KU's main hospital building for now. Think we will moving to another room once we begin chemo but still waiting for confirmation. For those of you who might wish to visit, please text or email me to see whether if and when that will be do-able. Harry's visitors will probably be very limited. Mine, however, will probably be very welcome depending on my availability at any given time.
In the meantime, we would appreciate your positive thoughts, prayers, hugs and any belly-shaking or dry/witty humor you can provide us as we move through this journey. Just knowing we have all your love and support holding us up makes us believe anything is possible.
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