Today is really Monday 10/25/10. Health update

Monday is the start of a new week and hopefully it would start brightly.

The day started with a stop at a fancy STARBUCKS that Joe wanted to try across from the Galleria. It was the biggest one that we ever have visited. Joe enjoyed his coffee but the two muffins were not fresh. A short stop at Target to get some more paper towels and Windex. The area around the Galleria is so pretty with manicured trees, bushes and gardens. The light poles are shiny chrome and the street signs are hung in a big circle with the crossing street's name. Also along the roads are double chrome arches that go from one side of the road to the other. The modern sparkling tall marble buildings along with so many upscale shops everywhere. Joe loves this area of town. Great choice! It is so pretty at night with all the lights ablaze!

We headed to the Brown Bag Deli again for their wonderful Roast Beef sandwiches before the 1:30 appointment at MDACC for the blood tests. Joe's next appointment was with Dr. Romaguera at 4PM to go over his progress. We had a bunch of time to kill so I just drove around and explored what was in Hermann Park and the Museum District. This area reminded me of the grand parks, statues, and fountains in Europe with majestic knobby oak trees adorning the area. Colorful flowers were everywhere where the public could enjoy.  We stopped at the Garden Club and walked around the gardens with rows and rows of all kinds of roses from the simple ones to the majestic ones. I loved the bare tan smooth bark of some trees that reminded me of mahogany. I saw a large preying mantis slowing making its way up the smooth trunk of the tree. Fascinating to watch every movement of this majestic green long legged bug. Joe sat on a bench under the shade of a large tree and a nearby fountain. I laid my head on his lap as he softly  stroked my head as the strong breeze kept us comfortable. It was a very special memorable moment that I will treasure in my dreams.

It was time to head back to the hospital to see Dr. Romaguera. We saw two medical personnel first who examine Joe and ask a hundred questions and confused us with their statements as if Joe was going to be admitted today for some more chemo a week early. Dr. Romaguera finally comes in and looks at Joe and has a concerned serious look. The vibes were not good since we both felt it. The Doc asked Joe how he was doing and Joe said he felt great and the best he felt in a very long time. He asked Joe if he thought his spleen shrunk and Joe and I thought it had since Joe had a healthy appetite and was able to eat full meals, three times a day. Dr Romaguera stated that Joe's White Blood Count had increased from 35 to 67 and that with the chemo, this is not suppose to happen. Chemo is suppose to make the WBC decrease and he felt that the Lymphoma was taken over his body. He felt that Joe should be admitted today for Part B of the chemotherapy and gave us the information about the two chemos that would be injected. I pointed out to Dr Romaguera to look at Joe's platelets at 165 which was in the normal range and that had not happen for a year or so. Also his hemacrit improved to almost 36 as well as his hemaglobin and that Joe felt great. We talked for over an hour with the doctor and he also conferred with another colleague for his opinion. We all agreed that while the spleen from the outside only deceased 3 cm that it seemed logical that the unseen width had decreased since Joe was able to eat more normal. We came to the conclusion that the stored white blood cells in Joe's spleen was leaving it and going into the blood stream thus causing the WBC to increase. It was agreed to wait till Thursday when another blood CBC test would be done and if it increased substantially that Joe would be admitted for 4 days of Part B chemo with two new chemicals which is the normal course. They would do it sooner rather than wait till next Monday when he would be re-admitted as an inpatient for four days of chemo. It is a wait and see. Dr R told me to stop injecting the Neupogin and stop the two supplements since they could distort the results. We agreed. We need your prayers to continue and pray that the lymphoma is not getting worse and taking more control of Joe's body.

We did  not  leave the hospital till about 6:15 and walked to the wrong parking garage when the coin did not work in the machine. We had a good laugh at that one trying to remember which of the huge garages we parked in. From now on I will park in the same parking garage so we do not screw up again.

On the way home we stopped at Randall's Supermarket to see if they had the apple juice that Joe craved but alas they did not have it either so Joe got a different brand so hopefully he will like it. He will need to drink a heck of a bunch of liquids for this next round of chemo since it can badly effect the kidneys and other vital organs. The side effects would scare everyone if you read them all but we are in the hands of God and MDACC

It was a tense day but when we arrived at the hotel there was a stack of cards waiting that picked up our spirit. Thank you everyone. There was a Get Well signed sheet from our church members where we enjoyed all the little get well notes from the people we love. What a great congregation! We are grateful for such a caring and loving group of church members. I will taped them to the wall with the others to keep remembering all the people's prayers and sweet words.

I can not believe that we have the next two full days off where we do not have to go to the hospital. I look forward to the new adventures and happenings that we will find in the Houston area.

CAUGHT UP! I still have the cough and congestion but it is better.

May the peace of the Lord be with you and your loved ones,

Ciao,
Bonnie