Hello Everyone:
In terms of the "big picture" of Marcia's bone marrow transplant process she is doing very well. They will not know for about another week to 10 days how the marrow is taking. She has not felt very well however her doctors tell her that she has been progressing normally for the process.
Unfortunately, along with everything else, she has developed pleurisy, which is an inflammation of the membranes around the lungs. She has had this several times before in the past however the medication with which it is treated can't be used for her now due to the chemo and the transplant. And it is very, very painful... excruciatingly so. All they have been able to do for it right now is treat the pain with some heavy duty medication which has made her feel even more unwell. She has a medication pump for that which is timed and she can add an extra dose if she needs it.
In addition she has a little nasal / respiratory virus which should not be a problem for her but which requires everyone who enters the room to "suit up" for the visit and remove the gowns and gloves and etc. when they leave so as not to carry anything out into the rest of the hospital environment and the other patients there. For that reason and the fact that she is feeling so unwell we are continuing to limit visits to family and very close friends only for now. You may call and speak to her, however even those telephone conversations should be kept short as she is groggy and very, very tired.
All in all everything is progressing just fine, but this sure has not been an easy path. Needless to say we will be having a very joyous celebration about a year from now when all is well and this is all behind us, and we're looking forward to everyones' participation in that!!
Thanks as always! Keep up the good thoughts and good wishes!
Marcia's Family
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Marcia's news for October 14th
Hello Everyone:
Well Marcia now officially has two birthdays! And she's already informed Pat that there will be parties for both!
Yesterday - October 13th is her second birthday - day zero per Fred Hutch and today is day 1. Starting at 2:00 am yesterday morning (yes, AM!) she received the first of 3 bags of donor bone marrow. Each bag took about 5 hours and she finished up just after 4:00 PM. She is not feeling very well, which the doctors tell her is fine and normal for the process. She looks great - good color! - and has been eating OK however she is fighting the expected nausea and they are giving her lots of medication to counteract that. She is not having visitors except close family right now so we'll just keep everyone updated here.
As usual, lots of prayers and positive thoughts are wonderful and welcomed.
Thanks,
Marcia's Family
Well Marcia now officially has two birthdays! And she's already informed Pat that there will be parties for both!
Yesterday - October 13th is her second birthday - day zero per Fred Hutch and today is day 1. Starting at 2:00 am yesterday morning (yes, AM!) she received the first of 3 bags of donor bone marrow. Each bag took about 5 hours and she finished up just after 4:00 PM. She is not feeling very well, which the doctors tell her is fine and normal for the process. She looks great - good color! - and has been eating OK however she is fighting the expected nausea and they are giving her lots of medication to counteract that. She is not having visitors except close family right now so we'll just keep everyone updated here.
As usual, lots of prayers and positive thoughts are wonderful and welcomed.
Thanks,
Marcia's Family
Saturday, October 10, 2009
October 10th ~ Marcia's news
Hello everyone!
Well, we're back with our updates! Since our last entry Marcia (and Pat and Tina and Shawna) have been through a LOT! As we told you in our last entry, she came home at the end of August and had a couple of "normal" weeks just catching up with people and places and tasks and of course The Store. She still had to be very careful of crowds and bugs and NO HUGS, however she was able to drive and go places and do things on her own... a wonderful, as we said NORMAL, respite.
Then, on September 22nd, the process of preparing for the transplant began at Fred Hutchinson on Lake Union. She had appointments there almost every single day for two weeks with only a couple of days off. They checked everything, and we do mean everything. At every single stage and level of the process Marcia aced the tests. Her heart and lungs are great, in fact her pulmonary (lung) function tested so high that they had to redo it because they thought there might have been a mistake in the test! She met with all different kinds of specialists and even ended up having some last minute dental work that they wanted fixed before the process. We just can't say enough about the process and the people down at Fred Hutch. It is like a big giant factory and the organization and communication among all the different elements is unbelievable. One time something changed at one station and when we got to the next appointment, a couple of floors away, everything had been updated to show the change. The people have been great too. And they really, really know their jobs!
So, last Monday October 5th Marcia met with the doctor there one more time and then checked into the University of Washington Hospital to begin the countdown process to the transplant. She has started the chemo which runs on a "days on/days off" schedule and right now she is right on target for the bone marrow transplant on Monday the 12th. The process will continue with other chemo after the transplant to prevent rejection and she will probably be in the hospital another few weeks. But one thing we've learned with all of this - and we've learned A LOT! - is that it is a process. Everything is subject to change on a daily - no make that an hourly - basis, depending on what they are finding and seeing, so there are almost never any absolutes.
Just a note as to the donor... somewhere in Northern Europe (but, surprisingly, not Scandinavia) is a very generous person who is a perfect 10 point match for Marcia. We know nothing else about them except their blood type, not even their gender, but those of you who have been praying for Marcia might want to add a little prayer of thanks for them too. And some of you who had considered becoming a donor for Marcia might want to consider going onto the registry anyway (see our previous article on the process) because somewhere there is a stranger - maybe halfway around the world - praying for your help right now.
Thanks and keep up the positive thoughts and prayers!
Marcia's Family
Well, we're back with our updates! Since our last entry Marcia (and Pat and Tina and Shawna) have been through a LOT! As we told you in our last entry, she came home at the end of August and had a couple of "normal" weeks just catching up with people and places and tasks and of course The Store. She still had to be very careful of crowds and bugs and NO HUGS, however she was able to drive and go places and do things on her own... a wonderful, as we said NORMAL, respite.
Then, on September 22nd, the process of preparing for the transplant began at Fred Hutchinson on Lake Union. She had appointments there almost every single day for two weeks with only a couple of days off. They checked everything, and we do mean everything. At every single stage and level of the process Marcia aced the tests. Her heart and lungs are great, in fact her pulmonary (lung) function tested so high that they had to redo it because they thought there might have been a mistake in the test! She met with all different kinds of specialists and even ended up having some last minute dental work that they wanted fixed before the process. We just can't say enough about the process and the people down at Fred Hutch. It is like a big giant factory and the organization and communication among all the different elements is unbelievable. One time something changed at one station and when we got to the next appointment, a couple of floors away, everything had been updated to show the change. The people have been great too. And they really, really know their jobs!
So, last Monday October 5th Marcia met with the doctor there one more time and then checked into the University of Washington Hospital to begin the countdown process to the transplant. She has started the chemo which runs on a "days on/days off" schedule and right now she is right on target for the bone marrow transplant on Monday the 12th. The process will continue with other chemo after the transplant to prevent rejection and she will probably be in the hospital another few weeks. But one thing we've learned with all of this - and we've learned A LOT! - is that it is a process. Everything is subject to change on a daily - no make that an hourly - basis, depending on what they are finding and seeing, so there are almost never any absolutes.
Just a note as to the donor... somewhere in Northern Europe (but, surprisingly, not Scandinavia) is a very generous person who is a perfect 10 point match for Marcia. We know nothing else about them except their blood type, not even their gender, but those of you who have been praying for Marcia might want to add a little prayer of thanks for them too. And some of you who had considered becoming a donor for Marcia might want to consider going onto the registry anyway (see our previous article on the process) because somewhere there is a stranger - maybe halfway around the world - praying for your help right now.
Thanks and keep up the positive thoughts and prayers!
Marcia's Family
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
MESSAGE FROM MARCIA!
Hi everyone, I really miss the store and all my scrapbook friends. I am right now in University Hosp. preparing for my transplant. I checked in Monday the 5th and after massive chemo and lots of preparing they will do the transplant on the 12th. I will be here at least 5 weeks or longer. They started the chemo this morning. feeling pretty good so far, but have 3 more days of it. It will pretty much wipe out all my blood cells so I cannot have visitors for awhile. Please say a prayer that it all works and I can go on with life. I may be away from the store as long as a year. Hopefully everything goes perfect and I can come back to the store sooner.
I want to send a special thanks to a lot of people who have come to visit and helped out in the store.
Kathie Crozier - a very special friend who has been updating this blog (this is the only one I have written).
My husband Pat who has been driving me every day to all my appointments and taking good care of me.
My two girls Tina and Shawna. Tina has been coordinating all my appointments and attending most of my appointments to be one of my caregivers during my recovery. Shawna has been doing a great job running our store. It has been a big job especially being she still has two little ones to get off to school every day and then drive from Lk Stevens to Shoreline every day. I raised a couple of good kids. Also Linda Brush who we love like our own (our foster daughter), who came from Alaska and spent a week with Pat and visited every day at the hospital.
My good friends Janis Wells, Judi Reed, Patty Schmauder, Kathy Cunningham, Diane Voiland, Dave and Margie Booth, and Loretta Jackson who works at NW Hosp and came to visit me everyday and who brought me cute litte stuffed puppies to keep me company.
My soccer kids: Torry, Dianne, Deana, Christy, Jane and her mom Carol who came to visit. Also all of the girls who called or sent cards, Maya Erin, and Carol. It is really nice hearing from everyone.
My favorite and only hair dresser TROY (who I have been going to for 18 yrs and love alot) who came to the hospital and shaved my head when my hair started to come out.
My Favorite boss Dave Clark and all my work friends at King County. Steve Boyce, Bill and Mary Eckel, Stan Unger, Steve Johnson and his wife Bev who has had this same kind of transplant and is doing wonderful. Elenore and Bernie Griffen.
My store friends - who have gotten to be my good friends also. If I forget someone please forgive me as I have had my first series of chemo and I understand there is something called chemo brain.
Janet Parks, Patty Austin, Nan Peterson, Sandy Wiley, and Marilyn Savage (who organized Scrap Pink this year) Thanks again ladies you did a great job!
Cathy Cornwell, Barb Harwood, Min Hunt, Kathy Kelly, Ginny Lebeck, Shay Thoelke, Judy Rieke, and all my store friends that sent cards or prayers.
Als0, thanks to Pats great cousins for coming by and sending cards - it was great seeing everyone. Special thanks to kristy for keeping in contact with everyone and arranging for someone to come to the hospital to do my nails. It was really nice to see Mardy and Vickie and Sally and Mike. Keep in contact guys.
I have more chemo tomorrow so Kathie will probably be updating the blog.
I love you all. Keep the prayers going.
Marcia
I want to send a special thanks to a lot of people who have come to visit and helped out in the store.
Kathie Crozier - a very special friend who has been updating this blog (this is the only one I have written).
My husband Pat who has been driving me every day to all my appointments and taking good care of me.
My two girls Tina and Shawna. Tina has been coordinating all my appointments and attending most of my appointments to be one of my caregivers during my recovery. Shawna has been doing a great job running our store. It has been a big job especially being she still has two little ones to get off to school every day and then drive from Lk Stevens to Shoreline every day. I raised a couple of good kids. Also Linda Brush who we love like our own (our foster daughter), who came from Alaska and spent a week with Pat and visited every day at the hospital.
My good friends Janis Wells, Judi Reed, Patty Schmauder, Kathy Cunningham, Diane Voiland, Dave and Margie Booth, and Loretta Jackson who works at NW Hosp and came to visit me everyday and who brought me cute litte stuffed puppies to keep me company.
My soccer kids: Torry, Dianne, Deana, Christy, Jane and her mom Carol who came to visit. Also all of the girls who called or sent cards, Maya Erin, and Carol. It is really nice hearing from everyone.
My favorite and only hair dresser TROY (who I have been going to for 18 yrs and love alot) who came to the hospital and shaved my head when my hair started to come out.
My Favorite boss Dave Clark and all my work friends at King County. Steve Boyce, Bill and Mary Eckel, Stan Unger, Steve Johnson and his wife Bev who has had this same kind of transplant and is doing wonderful. Elenore and Bernie Griffen.
My store friends - who have gotten to be my good friends also. If I forget someone please forgive me as I have had my first series of chemo and I understand there is something called chemo brain.
Janet Parks, Patty Austin, Nan Peterson, Sandy Wiley, and Marilyn Savage (who organized Scrap Pink this year) Thanks again ladies you did a great job!
Cathy Cornwell, Barb Harwood, Min Hunt, Kathy Kelly, Ginny Lebeck, Shay Thoelke, Judy Rieke, and all my store friends that sent cards or prayers.
Als0, thanks to Pats great cousins for coming by and sending cards - it was great seeing everyone. Special thanks to kristy for keeping in contact with everyone and arranging for someone to come to the hospital to do my nails. It was really nice to see Mardy and Vickie and Sally and Mike. Keep in contact guys.
I have more chemo tomorrow so Kathie will probably be updating the blog.
I love you all. Keep the prayers going.
Marcia
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