Praise the Lord - REMISSION!

Well it is official, or at least semi official, Matt is in REMISSION!  He will have a bone biopsy April 1^st, but the doctor isn’t expecting anything different than a confirmation of remission.  The doctor did share that there really isn’t a ration anymore of the ARA-C but that there just isn’t anymore available in the US.  So there is none to be had for Matt.  Typically AML patients go through anywhere from 2-4 consolidation treatments, so with Matt have had three consolidations and with his young age the AML should be really in remission.

The plan is for the next two years Matt will have quarterly labs to keep a check on everything.  Then it will spread out to every four and then six months until he hits year five.  After that he will be considered truly healed.

Of course, the pessimist that Matt is, he is still worried that the leukemia will come back quickly and waiting three months will be too long.  After some discussion, that that would happen, Matt convinced the doctor to do labs in one month, then two then three months instead of three months.  I know Matt just needs reassurance, but hopefully he can let go of his fears and just trust.

I will have to write more at another time as a reflection of just how wonderful God has been and how He was in charge of every little part of this journey.  God’s timing was perfect. 

If Matt hadn’t been diagnosed in November, but later, there wouldn’t have been enough of the chemo drug.  Our understanding is the ARA-C is what works on AML.  So any other drug option wouldn’t have had as high of a cure rate.

Our family practice was able to see the rash Matt had and know it was a high possibility of being leukemia.  Thankful we referred that day to Dr. Kocs who specializes in blood cancers.

The first few nights in the hospital Matt was blessed with the most wonderful and understanding nurses.  They were able to speak frankly with him and help guide him through his fear (and grieving) processes.  Matt was blessed though out his treatment with wonderful hospital staff.  From the nurses, to the custodians that would reassure me they had Matt in their prayers, to the sweet gentleman who came by daily to scan all the equipment and always asked how Matt was.  At each moment when the situation would seem to be at its worst, there was always encouragement.

Our family has been blessed beyond belief by all the small acts of kindness from family and friends, to co-workers, to strangers.  There were nights that I could literally feel a calmness and peacefulness surround us in the hospital.  I know it was due to the prayers that were never ceasing.  We will never be able to thank everyone for that gift.

Some of the verse I have relied on during this are:

Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

Jeremiah 29:11-12 – “For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.”

James 1:12 – “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

Headaches???

So the dr. couldn't really figure out why Matt is getting and keeping the headaches.   Matt is going to try a new medication that shouldn't be additive or have too many side effects for the next two weeks.  After two weeks we should know if it is working and he can stick with it.  If it isn't working he will try another type of medicine....etc.  So here is to hoping this first round works.  It may take a few days to see what it does, but hopefully this will work. 

His blood counts were all great today. 

Matt has been feeling really good the past couple of days (again, counts are good so that makes a world of difference). 

Thanks to everyone for their continued prayers.

Matt Missed the Fevers!

The shot worked, we are now out of the time frame where Matt would have been going to the ER with fevers.  All his counts were up yesterday so everything is looking good, blood wise.  He has an appointment tomorrow to help figure out the headaches and what might work to stop them.

As I've said before, the chemo is on hold due to the shortage nation wide.  We will know more at his regular dr. appointment on the 22nd.

We are all home for Spring Break this week....most of the days are filled with dr. appointments, but I think we are going to try and enjoy some of this beautiful weather.  Hope you each enjoy your day!

Friday Headaches Are Back

This afternoon was a long dr. appt.  Matt started a headache around 3p.m.  It was getting so bad he couldn't drive himself to his appointment, so I left the office to get him.  By the time we got there at 4 p.m. he was sick to his stomach, sensitive to light and sound.  He could barely talk to the nurse or the physician assistant.  He ended up having and IV for fluids and meds to try and stop the headache.  He ending up throwing up as they tried to get the IV started.  He had three people trying to help him at the same time.  I felt so sorry for him, cause I know he was really feeling bad, yet he was trying to be nice to everyone helping him.  He was trying to tell them to be quite without being ugly, he was trying to be nice when he tried to tell them, but you could tell it was taking a lot of energy to just speak.

We are finally home at 5:40.  I'm to stay and watching him to see how his headache is.  He can have his pain pills every 4 hours to try and keep the pain down.  If it continues or gets worse through the night we will need to head to ER.  As the PA said, there is always the chance of brain bleeds.  They've told us that before and when test have been run, it doesn't show anything.  So I'm thinking it isn't bleeds.  Matt has an appointment with a Neurologist next week so maybe they can shed some light as to why the headaches are so bad.

He is wrapped up in his new quilt of "comfort and prayers" with a pillow over his head.  I can't tell the ladies of Central Baptist Church thank you enough!  Maybe the dark and quite will help.

Pray he feels better overnight and that we can get answers to why the headaches are so bad.

Have a beautiful and relaxingly weekend!  Love to you all.

Long Day Yesterday

I was to tired to update last night.  Matt had two bags of blood that took forever to get started.  He is running out of veins to use so it took almost an hour to get him ready for the first bag.  He finally finished around 12:30.  We then head over to the doctors office to get labs completed.  His platelets were already low, but not enough for another transfusion yet.  But the good news is his neutrophils that had been .1 on Tuesday were now up to 4.4.  So the shot is working and those are on the upward swing.  Maybe we do get to miss our monthly trip to the ER after all.  Praying he remains fever free this weekend.

I received a phone call the other day from my A&M suitemate & former Luby's wives, Debbie.  Keep her in your prayers.  She has had a rough past four months.  She had a chemical reaction to a hair product that just about killed her.  She sounds like she is still filled with toxins and is allergic to just about everything now.  She has lost a lot of weight and still has much recovery to go.  Pray for total healing and that she may follow God's plan for her life. 

Have a great day!

Lovingkindness

Matt's platelet transfusion went well.  We are head back this morning for him to get two units of blood.  Hopefully his counts will be on the upward swing afterwards.

Yesterday the ladies of Piece and Comfort Quilters @ Central Baptist Church gave Matt a beautiful quilt they had made for him.  When I gave him to him last night he was really impressed at how nice it was.  He couldn't believe that strangers had made it for him.  I explained how many people we don't know have him on their prayer list and how much those prayers have worked towards his recovery.  Anyway, I'll have to sneak a picture of him with it. I found him this morning with the quilt, so he did use it.  Thank you to each of the sweet ladies who had a part in making this for him.  May God continue to bless you.  I can truly say he was wrapped in prayers last night! 

Looking back at Matt journey, it is amazing how God placed just the right doctors, nurses, hospital staff and strangers in our path at just the right time.  Each day, one day at a time, we have been blessed by his experience.

Thanks for all your continued love and support of Matt.  The journey isn't over yet, but we are beginning to see the end of this path.

Love to you all and enjoy what looks like will be a beautiful day!

Time for P&B Again!

Matt's counts are down again.  He has no neutrophils right now so he is open to any little infection.  His shot was suppose to help with those counts, but it takes 7-10 days to work.  Today is day 8.

He goes in tomorrow morning (6:45 a.m.) to get two bags of platelets.  He will then get his blood typed for blood transfusions on Wednesday morning.  We are praying that he stays fever free and doesn't have to go into the ER this weekend, which is normally when he has to go in between chemo treatments.

He has appointment next week with a neurologist to see why his headaches are still bothering him so much.

His friend Kyle is home for spring break, so the two of them have probably been doing way too much.  Matt was very tired and dizzy when we were at the doctors today.  I took forever to get his labs done and transfusions scheduled.  At about 4:50 he then started to hiccups.  It is now 6:30 p.m. and the hiccups are still going strong.  If he keeps them up over night we have to call in the morning to get some medicine to stop them.

So praying the shot he got last Monday will kick in tomorrow to get his white counts up.  Pray that his "stupid" hiccups will stop so he can get some rest. 

Thanks to all for your support and prayers!  Love to you all!

White counts going down

Matt's white counts are heading downward.  The shot he got on Monday takes about 7-10 days to work, so keep praying that it kicks in and prevents the fevers he gets about two weeks after chemo ends.  This is the time he needs to be careful around anyone that might be even slightly sick. 

He has a lot of energy today after his transfusions.  It is amazing what a little blood can do.  His best friend Kyle is home this weekend so he is hanging out over there playing games and having fun.

We won't know if he has another chemo treatment, which would be his last, until March 21st.  There is still a shortage of Ara-C, so if blood workup shows everything is good, maybe he won't have to endure the last treatment.  He will have a bone biopsy the end of the month then just to confirm remission.  So praying what ever is suppose to happen, God will be in control.  So we need not worry.

Have a great weekend.  I'll be donating platelets on Sunday.  Thanks for everyone who has been donating.  I know someone and their family is blessed by your gift.

Love to you all!

2 B&Ps Today

Matt received two bags of blood and two of platelets today.  This seems the earliest after chemo that he has gone in to get double doses.  He had to pre-check in last night, to help speed things up today.  So it only took from 10:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. today.  All the sweet nurses came to say hi to him.  In and out they went.  Some of the nurses now know us for both Matt and for Terry's gall bladder surgery a couple of weekends ago.  So the new nurse must have really been trying to figure us out.  (Again, we may now have earned a room to be named after us at this point....if the number of visits counts for any votes.)

That seems to be what our crazy life is all about these days, waiting.  This month we will be waiting to see if he needs another chemo or not.  Waiting to see if the injections to boost his white count faster will work.  Waiting to confirm the past five months have been worth all the pain and that he is truly in remission.

Today, my little niece was wanting to see me.  She had come by my office with her mom to deliver Arbonne stuff but I was at the hospital with Matt.  So she pestered her mom to come up to the hospital.  I met them out in the waiting area.  She asked about Matt but wanted me to know that she didn't want to look at him.  It apparently has to do with his lack of hair.  The last time she saw him must have been around Christmas when he was completely bald.  So that is all she remembers of him.  When he finally came out to meet us she covered her eyes (but was peaking through her fingers) to take a good look at him.  She still didn't like it, even though his hair is coming in now.  His hair is coming in really black and course feeling.  I think I see some curls beginning.  That will be a very interesting look once it really starts to grow.

Tomorrow if a regular dr. visit and labs.  So praying all counts are back on the up swing. 

Thanks to everyone for all your prays.  I know they are working so please keep them up.

Love to you all.

Boosting White Counts

Matt received a shot yesterday to see if his white count can get boosted faster to help prevent the fevers and ER trip he usually has about the end of week two after chemo.  They gave us his monthly three times a week schedule for lab work and dr. visits for this month.  We will know later this month if Matt will do the fourth and final chemo consolidation.  All along the doctor said Matt would do between three and four consolidation treatments so we will see.  I know Matt is tired of all this routine and is ready to move on.  I guess they will take bone marrow the end of the month and test to confirm remission if they decide not to do any more treatments.  So this month will be a month filled with waiting.

Matt hasn't complained of headaches like he normally does after treatment.  His eyes are sensitive to light, so he has been wearing an eyemask to sleep in during the day and sunglasses when he is outside during the day.  I keep telling him he is turning in to a vampire.  (joke)

Hopefully the rest of this week goes smoothly at home.  Pray the shot works and his counts don't rock bottom out so we can prevent fevers. 

Thanks for all your continued prayers.  We love you!