The calm before the storm...

It is Friday night, and I am hitting some golf balls on the range here at Lake Forest and enjoying a beer with one of my golf buddies. Feels good to be out and about because come Monday, June 1, the second round of chemo will begin and I will be in the hospital for 7 days or so...yuck. But it's hard to beat this weather tonight.

 I didn't even come close to hitting into that water in the background!!

Thursday, May 28th, I met with Dr. William Tse at the James Graham Brown Cancer Center for a monthly follow-up and to discuss additional options going forward. Dr. Tse is very satisfied with how I tolerated the chemo this month and is pleased that there no longer were plasma cells seen circulating in my peripheral blood . . . "a good sign" is what he said. Yeah, I'll second that!!!

But there is still a long road ahead as we have to get rid of all the leukemic cells in the bone marrow before we can harvest stem cells for the anticipated stem cell transplant later this summer. And speaking of summer, there's nothing better than an hour on the river at dusk.

Sunset over the Ohio River, and the water was SOOO calm tonight.

How Low Can it Go?

Friday, May 15, I went to the CBC group to get my daily injection of Neupogen plus a side of Valcade (chemo drug), and to have blood drawn. The day before, they told me my white blood cell count couldn't get much lower -- it was 0.04. However, I've never been an underachiever, so I met their challenge, and on Friday, the WBC count was 0.01. I had 10 white blood cells in my body. They warned me to stay away from crowds and anyone who had the slightest inkling that they were sick.

My temperature at the doctor's office that morning was 99.8 -- the first time it had been over 98. It steadily rose as the day went on, and at 7:00 pm it was 100.1. At 8:00 it was 101.4. As instructed, I called the doc on call that night. And as expected, he told me to go directly to the emergency room. I was checked into Baptist Hospital again on Friday night, around midnight, where I've been ever since. 

The white blood count is on the rise, and my temperature has returned to normal. I'm thinking positive here that I should be home in the next 48 hours. It's Memorial weekend, so I will be ready for some sun and fun!!

I'll Take White Blood Cells for a Thousand, Alex

I haven't posted an update in a few days because things have been pretty quiet. However, today, during a routine blood test, it was discovered that my white blood cell count is .04 -- almost zilch. So I'm voluntarily under house arrest to lower the risk of being exposed to someone who's sick.

I go in daily for an injection of Neupogen, which is supposed to stimulate my bone marrow to produce more white blood cells. I also got one chemo shot Tuesday and will get one tomorrow, and I'm taking a chemo pill every day. So far, I'm feeling pretty good. A little tired and puny, but no nausea or vomiting like they predicted. It's a little tough to go from moving at 100 mph to 10-15, but I know it's necessary.

 Waiting for the pharmacy to finish concocting the Velcade that I will take as an injection in my tummy. I'd like to say that's a Bloody Mary I am drinking, but ginger ale is probably more like it!!

Still waiting . . . you know, there's a lot of old and sick people that come through this area . . . I don't need to catch anything, not with my white count so low now.

She's so covert, trying to hide that needle from my view.

Tell Mr. Allen I want him to buy 500 shares each of Procter & Gamble, Exxon, and Walmart.

I so hate needles.

These silly daytime TV shows could put anybody to sleep.

Firing off an email to a client, this is my comfort zone and elixir. I LOVE what I do and I am blessed to have earned their confidence and trust for the past 29 years.

Mother's Day

Being able to go home after 5 1/2 days in the hospital was a bonus vs. the 7 to 10 days they predicted. Feeling fatigued and kind of puny today, but that was to be expected. Keith and Cyndy had everyone over for a Mother's Day cookout, and I got to spend some time with Mom. Monday I report back to the CBC office for blood work and a daily injection of Neupogen, which will boost my white blood count and help fight off infection.

I came home to the tree in my backyard in full bloom and the soothing sounds of the waterfall in my pond and the frogs singing. It's good to be home.

GOING HOME!

I finished bag number 4 at 12:30 pm, and at 2:30 the doctor was satisfied enough with my progress that he's sending me home today. Time to pack the bags.

Just like Maxwell House, good to the last drop. Chemo bag 4 of 4 is down to the last few drops.

Nurse Marcia removes the chemo line. No longer tethered to a pole.



Goodbye, PICC line.

My daughter Christina and her husband Jon stopped by this morning.



And my brother Bruce was here for the good news.

Bags are packed . . .

 . . . Now I'm just waiting for the discharge papers to be done. Then...freedom, baby!

Four of Four

Thursday was a busy and tiring day, with friends dropping by and nurses taking vitals for what seemed like every 15 minutes.  Ha.  So I thought I would just consolidate Thursday and Friday's developments into one update here, along with a few new photos. The doctor is pleased with my progress so far. I've been able to escape each day for a 10-minute sit on the outdoor patio. And with this nice weather this week, it's been nice to sit in the sun. I'm walking the floor several times a day talking with the nurses and aides and trying to stay out of trouble. Overall, I am feeling pretty good, just a little tired, but the doctors said that was to be expected anyway.  

I've tried to get pictures of my visitors and include them in these updates, but sometimes they get away before we get a chance to snap a photo. I appreciate all my friends and visitors who have stopped in. Most of all, THANK YOU for your continued thoughts and prayers. They are invaluable and much appreciated!!

Melanie Wood, stopping by to make sure I'm still listening to my Spanish music and memorizing it for the Cuban National Choir program on July 1!!!

Fraternity brother Jack Martin, no doubt wondering if I was going to share my pumpkin pie that they brought for lunchtime dessert.

Holding court. Too bad it's not the tennis court.

Another in a long line of investment advisor friends who've brightened my day . . . Shaun Chelf of Hilliard Lyons. A great friend and fierce competitor.

Michael, a very competent and friendly aide here on the 3rd floor is from Cuba. He will help me with some of these tough Spanish translations and dialect for our Cuban National Choir program at Southeast Christian on July 1. He and his wife are bringing their children to the concert and are excited to be going. 

Friday

It's Friday May 8, and I'm just chilling on the blanket Christina and Ashley made for me.

The nice flowers were sent by my mom . . . Thank you, Mom!!
And my favorite hat from my favorite South Carolina tennis facility, The Litchfield Racquet Club in Pawleys Island, South Carolina.

Nurse Julie starts the fourth bag of chemo cocktail. Just 24 more hours of being tethered, and then freedom, baby!

Tennis buddy and St. Louis Cardinal fan extraordinaire, Ed Farmer.

Day 3

No side effects whatsoever yet. Resting in between visitors now. Enjoying the park view but wishing I could be out on the boat or on the golf course enjoying this nice weather. I got a taste of it for 7 minutes today when the doctor gave me a hall pass between chemo bags.

1st bag of chemo is done.  Wish it could be a"one and done," but not to be!

Hello, bag 2 of 4

Checking messages back at the office...

Visitors

Business partners Brian and Linda Marcukaitis

Tennis ace and PI attorney extraordinaire Nick Stein







Jessica . . . the cutest and sweetest aide I've ever met . . .

P.S., guys - She's single too

Fellow Southeast member and Masters Men baritone, Zach Coblens.

Zach is a bass-section wannabe because he's known what I've know for years and that is that the bass section is the FUN section!

Let the Chemo Begin

Sarah starts the first of four twenty-four-hour drips

Still feeling great. Enjoyed a lot of visitors, take out food, and M&Ms

Visitors

Corky Klingenfus, Minister of Pastoral Care at Southeast Christian Church

My brother Keith, long-time tennis friend, E.C. Thirlwell and me

SAGA Corp. CEO Steve Aronson and me

My fellow investment team members Angie Kelly and Scot Hutcheson

Kosair PICU nurse and oldest daughter Christina

Youngest daughter and soon-to-be bride Ashley

A thorn between two roses

Ski aficionado and oldest child Brandon

Christina, Ashley, and Keith trying to teach my 85-year-old mother how to text or respond to my medical updates

Catching up on Facebook

I'd rather be fishing

Note: I am in the Park Tower, behind Baptist on the far east side of their campus. If you come to visit, turn onto the road immediately adjacent to Brown Park, which my room overlooks. The best place to park is the garage down that road just a bit and on the right. Parking is free. I'm in room 386.

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