Waiting Game

Since my discharge on 3/20/09 I have had to report to the outpatient clinic almost daily for blood work. My white blood count and platelets have not rebounded as they should so the doctor has delayed my re-admission for cycle 2 part b scheduled to begin yesterday. It is nice to be home and to spend time with my aunt Barbara who has been in town from Jersey since last Wednesday. I am sad to see her leave tomorrow, but she has stocked the freezer with yummy foods and been a real trooper with all my unexpected clinic visits this past week. Kylee will miss her silly bath time games and new bedtime books, and will now insist on entering me in her daily "horse show" for entertainment!
Thanks for the continued prayers and support. I enjoy receiving your calls, e-mails, and cards; they really keep my spirits up. Ali and I will post an update once I get settled at the hospital next week for treatment.

Thanks
Kancho

Visits from family!

Yesterday family came to visit (3/20). Robyn, who is Alison's younger sister came up from Charleston, SC with her daughter Lily. As you can see everyone was excited to see each other. Kylee enjoys playing with Lily when visit.

March Madness

Got back home from the hospital today....just in time to watch March Madness!!! Looks like I'll be home for a while. I don't have to be back in the hospital until March 31. At that point, I will cycle 2 part B and that will put me at the halfway point of my chemo treatment. It's nice to be home again, and I look forward to my aunt Barara coming visit from jersey next week. Thanks for everyone's support, miss and love you!!!

Home for the weekend

Hello again this is Alison with an update. Kancho has been in the hospital since Saturday evening and, after several blood and platelet transfusions, he has gained strength to return home this weekend. He is scheduled for readmission to the hospital for cycle 2 part B chemo regimen early next week, and we are grateful for any time he can be home with us. He will post some new photos and comments this weekend.

Thanks for your support,
Alison

3-14-09 re-hospitalization

Hello everyone. This is Alison entering an update on Kancho's behalf. He has had a difficult time with nausea and pain since last Wednesday and received fluids in the outpatient clinic several times due to dehydration. These symptoms were not improving and on top of that he developed a fever last night. We consulted with the on-call doctor and he was readmitted to the hospital last night. His pain and nausea are now under control and he is comfortably resting in the hospital (room #3452). Thanks again for all the prayers and support for Kancho and our family.

Luv
Ali

Cycle 2 part A completed!

Wow!! Do I love this little girl. She's the best daughter ever. I have the best wife ever as well.

I enjoy/crave a special treat while undergoing

chemo and it is a raspberry collider from Smoothie King! I have been known to down a couple in one day. Expensive habit, but oh well. I also have named my IV poll "George" because he has to go everywhere with me so I might as well name him right? Kylee, George, Ali and I take many walks up and down the hall while I am in the hospital. Kylee thinks one of the chemo meds is soooooo cool because it is red like koolaid. I think I left the hospital in 5 days compared to 17 last trip in, I wanted to get home so bad, I think I fooled myself as well.

Here's the chemo Kylee thinks is a big bag of Koolaid!! Trust me it isn't!!! Today, isn't too bad, so hopefully it will stay that way. Again, I couldn't be healing without all the help, support, strength and love!!

Thanks!!!

Shrinking Masses

3-7-09

Today I received my ct scan results from yesterday. The mass in my left pelvis shrunk 2 cm in diameter and the one in my abdomen shrunk 1 cm in diameter from the initial ct scan on 1-8-09.
So far so good!!!! Thanks to everyone who has been following my progress!!

Kancho

Back in "Hotel 3J"

3/5/09 -Back in hospital ...........we call it "Hotel 3J" because the medical oncology unit is located on 3rd floor of hospital wing J.

As you can see from the picture in the hospital parking lot, I'm real excited to go back. Not! Who's gotta big lip???

I was a little chilly when I first got in my room(#3442....hint, hint..... visitors welcome). 3/6/09- Chemo is going well so far I cleared the "test dose" of the chemo medicine they thought I had an allergic reaction to the first time. I am now on my second dose of it and the other chemo meds are going fine. They will be taking another CT scan today so they can re-evaluate my cancer's response to the chemo regimen (in addition to conducting blood tests to gage number of cancer cells in my blood stream). I am really hoping this hospitalization is shorter than my last two admissions.

Finally done with chemo cycle 1

My uncle John came in town for several weeks to provide support and is a sports fanatic like me. We spent hours discussing sports and was s great way to pass the time. Once home I felt much better and full of energy! Kylee and I played "climbing mount BaBa" and I got to pick her up from school a couple times. I am now preparing for a clinic appointment on 3/2/09 where Dr Williams will evaluate my readiness to re-enter the hospital for chemotherapy part A of cycle 2 on 3/5/09.

Back in the hospital

I began part b on 2/5/09 and was somewhat comforted to see familiar faces on the oncology unit. My doctor Richard Williams and one of my nurses, Cindy. They take great care of me during what can be a scary time for everyone. This chemo treatment was much more difficult for me as I developed several fevers and infection that delayed my release. I had to dig deep for patience and trust for the "process". I was only suppose to be in the hospital for 5 days and it ended up being 17 days..ugh! I was able to share Valentine's Day with my daughter and wife and read almost daily to Kylee. I was finally released on 2/22/09, and was more that eager to get some time at home in my bed. It is impossible to sleep at the hospital!

2009 Snow Storm

I was so excited to be home for snow. Unfortunitey I did not experience the full value since I did not "officially" miss school due to the snow. It was nice anyway! I will be out of work for at least 6 months to undergo the four cycles of chem called Hyper CVAD. I go back into the hospital tomorrow to begin chemotherapy part B of cycle 1.

Back home- losing my hair!

I arrived back home on 22nd and began resting up for my next chemo treatment. I soon noticed my hair was falling out so Ali buzzed me prior to the superbowl game on 1-31-09. As you can see Kylee thought is was super cool to see BaBa bald! I visited the oncology clinic almost daily due to dropping white blood cell counts and to receive outpatient chemo medicines. Ali's reassurance that I still look cute is comforting.....even bald! lol