Post #62

It has been a couple of months since my last update.  A lot has transpired so I will do my best to put it all in print.

The one year bone marrow biopsy results came back good.  The CD 33 is 100% donor, CD 3 is 97% donor and the bone marrow is 95% donor.  The only item that is still in the low range is the lymphocytes and specifically the CD4 T cell helper/inducer cells.  The current level is 0.034 and bottom end of the normal range is 2.0.  The Campath does a number on the lymphocytes and it could be a bit longer before they come back to the normal range.  In the mean while Bill will continue to stay on Bactrim and Acyclovir.

The thyroid issue has been brought under control with medication.  It took about two and a half months for the medicine to do its job and to get the correct dosing.  At the time it seemed like an eternity for the pills to take effect.

Bill and I took our first vacation in almost two years during the December holidays.  We went camping in the keys from December 23rd until January 2nd.   We camped out at the KOA at mile marker 20 in sugarloaf key.  The campground sites were a little tight but we managed to have a really great time.  Bill's son William (Billy) and his wife Johanna and their boys Adrian and Alex joined us for a few days.  We really enjoyed the beautiful blue water and the wonderful views.  While they were with us we rented a boat for half a day and had a wonderful time, Bill's grandson  Adrian did most of the driving.  Sookie (our dog) came for the boat ride as well. Bill and I had dinner at a wonderful restaurant called Manga Manga in Key West and would highly recommend it to anyone traveling to the Keys.

I did a 40 mile bicycle ride from mile marker 20 to zero and back to 20.  On the way back, 30 miles into the ride I had an accident with a women who was talking on her cell phone and did not see me.  Fortunately I was able to avoid her hitting me or me hitting her car.  Unfortunately I went down and broke the fall with my hands and fractured the radial head in my left elbow.

After three weeks in a cast and three and half weeks of physical therapy I am doing much better.  My first trip to the gym since the fall was last week.

After our vacation Bill was feeling great and started to do things around the house.  He is cooking again and I am in heaven.  He is the best cook in the world and I love what ever he makes. The last two weeks have been slow for him.  His strength has diminished a little and he has some fatigue.  His blood work showed lower platelets and lower hemoglobin which would explain the fatigue.  Two weeks ago Bill went and redid his blood work and the levels came up so hopefully he will start to have his strenght back.  The Platelets were 36.70 and the last test came back at 71.90.  Normal range is 161.00 and transfusion is required at 10.00.

Today was Bill's appointment at Moffitt.  First blood work and then an appointment with the doctor.  The doctor examined Bill and reviewed his blood work and then said "Bill is my miracle patient".  His nurse Denise said that her file on bill is bigger than any file she has on a patient that is five years plus post transplant.  He has been through the mill.  The next appointment will be in May when Bill gets his 18 month immunization.  The appointment after that will be three months later (November) when he will get his two year immunizations and have his next and most likely last bone marrow biopsy!!

Since November, Bill has had an appointment at Moffitt every other month and on the off month visits with the local oncologist.  The main reason he has the visit with the local oncologist is to get his power port flushed.  The port needs to be flushed every 30 days.  We are at a point where Bill can have the port removed as he really hasn't used it in a while.  At today's appointment the doctor indicated that he should have it removed when he is ready.

That is it for now.