3/6/11 MAKING THE BEST OF IT!

Good Evening Everyone!

On Wednesday evening we picked up Randy and Angela Meador for dinner at the Rotary House which is directly across the street from MD Anderson Cancer Center. Randy is a 5 year Mantle Cell Lymphoma Survivor. We met via the ACOR on line support site for Mantle Cell Lymphoma which is the same way that I met Holli Baker at MDACC. It is amazing how we started talking like we had known each other for many years which is a real blessing of modern technology of the internet. Remarkably Randy has had three Stem Cell Transplants whose experiences could make a whole spell bounding book. He has been in remission since May 2010 after a Allo Stem Cell Transplant. He looks so healthy and happy. Angela had her own health issues that were terrifying which happened the same time Randy was in MDACC getting a transplant. She had heart issues that would have scared the heck out of me. Imagine the caregiver in one hospital and the MCL husband in another. How stressful was that for the both of them! Another time Angela's Mom who was 92 years old had kidney failure. Since Randy was doing great, she flew out to be with her Mom which turned out to be for several months. Thank God, their son and daughter took turns being with Randy who had to have a caregiver with him while waiting for his transplant to graft and grow.

We had dinner at an amazing cafeteria called Cleburne'ss on Bissonnet which is not that far from the Texas Medical Center Complex which was a favorite of the Meadors. Thank Goodness they warned us that the helpings were huge. Huge was not correct. They were GIGANTIC! Joe and I shared fresh roasted turkey, dressing, potatoes and gravy. It was fabulous tasting, I am sure that Joe and I will visit that place again since it is the BEST cafeteria that I ever had. Since we were still there near closing time, the staff was giving out free dessert. The dessert at Cleburne's is so large that it can easily feed four people. The four of us had a vigorous conversation that was informative and so interesting. It is so wonderful to be able to meet people whom you communicate on line and meet them in person. We are glued together with the same journey of fighting the Mantle Cell Lymphoma.

Early Thursday morning Joe had a draw for a blood test. We killed time for an hour and a half at Starbucks over at the Rotary House located on the Pedestrian Bridge. I read the paper and checked the emails. It was neat watching the medical staff come to work via the staff parking garage. We saw Goley, Dr Romaguera (reading his blackberry) and the ENT nurse pass by.

At 8:30 we headed back over the bridge back to MDACC to the Bone Marrow Biopsy department. Joe waited for about 30 minutes before he was called to the back for the procedure. Joe said there are two people to do the procedure. The tech gave him a shot of lanocaine (sic) to numb his hip. The first jab did not get any marrow so she moved it slightly and got a good specimen. She would give the other tech the marrow which she would smeared on about 12 slides. Joe walked out like nothing happened. He is so amazing that he can get this done without conscious sedation. There is no way that I could do that. We were both very tired when we got back to the studio apartment so we both crashed and did not wake up till 2PM.

Friday afternoon we took Max over to Memorial Park and stayed for about an hour. We just sat at the picnic table and enjoyed the sunshine and gentle breeze. Joe just was not up to walking Max was able to explore but he kept us in his eyesight. Joe is spitting up the nasty mucous in his lungs using Mucinex which a RN had recommended. He thinks the cough is getting better. I pray that it really is.

I drove around the area near our studio and we saw so many luscious homes with manicured gardens. On Yahoo news there was a story listing the ten most expensive neighborhoods in the USA. It was no surprise to me that this area is number 7 on the list.

Saturday turned out to be rainy and very windy so we postponed our day trip to Galveston which was a great idea since it rained 2.5 inches there that day. We decided that we would visit the Houston Natural Sciences Museum. Parking was not bad with finding a pot on the street and put coins in the meter that would give us an hour. We walked around the building and there was a parking garage attached to the museum. There was a guard there who asked us where we were going. He reluctantly told us that the museum was closed since there was to be a Grand Gala that night. Phooey! We got back in the car and headed down Museum Row and went to see the Medical and Health Sciences Museum. It was really geared to grade school patrons but it was well done but not very interesting to adults. Even the 4-D movie was poor quality. We have been spoiled by 3D movies and the amazing 4D movie at Stone Mountain Park near our home.

Our next event was to see the movie, "The Fighter" at Regal Theaters. I had a free movie award ticket. The movie was terrific. Joe and I stayed interested the entire time. I could see why Christian Bale and Melissa Leo won Best Supporting Role Oscars. It is a true story that will leave you floored on the family dynamics. Go see it but no kids.

Saturday night we had dinner at Frank's Chop House on Westheimer. My rib eye steak was served perfectly the way I love it which is Pittsburgh style. The steak was charred on the outside and medium inside with it being very juicy and tasty. The broccoli was served crunchy which I hate particular when I told the waiter I wanted them soft but it did not matter since the steak was the feast. Joe had fried gulf shrimp and oysters which he ate pretty good.

Sunday we had planned to go to church at St Martin's Episcopal Church at 11:15 AM. When we were driving around exploring neighborhoods we saw this magnificent Gothic Cathedral, we wanted to see the inside of it so what better way than to attend the service. One does not see grand new cathedrals like this anymore. It was so beautiful with manicured lawns and pray areas. The stained glass windows were spectacular. My dear high school buddy, Stephanie Gasior, would gaze at these art pieces with awe. Stephanie is an excellent stained glass artist in West Virgina. The service is very traditional with a huge choir all dressed in white and black cloths who paraded up the long aisle to the choir stands in back of the altar. The Altar had a very large and tall hand carved intricate wooden separator where the choir was behind and the altar was in front. The sermon pulpit was also hand carved and another piece of great artistry. There is a bunch of kneeling so thankfully the kneel planks had very soft cushions. Today was World Communion Sunday so communion was held at the altar where one kneel down and open your palms to receive the communion wafer then dip the wafer in the wine. I believe they used real wine since it sure tasted like real red wine. I goofed by putting the wafer in my mouth after I received it then I realized the congregation was dipping it in the chalice. Whoops! I tried to take the wafer out of my mouth as graciously as possible and I slightly dipped the wafer into the chalice. I hope God has a sense of humor.

After church we headed to Kenny and Ziggy's Deli where we split a chicken salad sandwich and some creamy delectable macaroni salad which is the best I have had in 35 years. The sky was bright blue and the temperatures in the 60's so I drove to Galveston which is about 55 miles from our studio apartment. You should see the line of oil refineries at Texas City on Galveston Bay. It is quite a complex of huge gas or oil retaining tanks. There was a long train with oil cars that seem to last forever. Crossing the Bay takes one to Galveston Island. By the time we packed the children's Mardi Gras Parade was just ending. Lots of families smiling everywhere. There were people actually sunbathing on the beach with bikinis. To our amazement there were people swimming in the Gulf of Mexico. They must be from Canada or Alaska. We walked out on one of the many stone piers. We enjoyed people watching. So many people and kids came over to pet Max and they all asked first. One guy put a strand of beads on Max. It was so cute. There is a picture of Max on the blog over to the right with his beads. So many kids had 50 to 100 beads wrapped around their necks from the parade throwing them out to the crowd. Joe enjoyed felt so great since he escaped the confines of our studio and got in the open fresh air. He was one happy guy and that made Bonnie, one happy wife.

Tomorrow is a rest day with no medical appointments until Tuesday which is great. On Wednesday we plan on going to the Rodeo when the crowds are usually less. It will be an interesting experience for both Joe and me.

This morning I read the sad news that Karl has passed away that morning. Karl has Myelofibrosis which is the other incurable bone marrow disease that Joe has. Karl got to a point where his platelets could not recover. He could no longer breathe. Karl held on till his son and daughter were there till he passed away. He got his wish that he would not die alone. His kids were there with him when he took his last breaths. Karl gave a very hard fight against this insidious disease. Karl kept helping and educating people until he could breathe no more. Lord, please grant Karl his angel winds and bring peace to his children. I will miss Karl's warmth and his giving nature. The MPD on line community were with him during his last days on this earth. Karl, you taught us so much and you taught us how it was for you when you were dying. You broke our hearts and so many of us shed tears for you, a man we never met in person. We were there holding you in our hearts and will continue to do so. God bless Karl. Grant him everlasting peace and love of our Savior .

Peace be with you.

Ciao!