A Caregiver's Inspirational Journey Through Cancer
Posted in Abecma Car T, Caregiver Thoughts, Misc, MM Chrono Journey, Multiple Myeloma on Sep 23rd, 2021
“Turn off the news and get out in the world. It is full of wonderfulness and humanity.” – Lori Puente What a whirlwind this particular episode in our reluctant Myelomaville adventures. Our original plan was that Dave would come out and get his T Cells collected on September 13th. (Well really mid-August, but the pharma […]
Posted in Abecma Car T, Caregiver Thoughts, MM Chrono Journey on Sep 21st, 2021
“My heart gives thanks…” – Willam Stanley Braithwaite We had another productive day here today. The VW Dealership sent over a guy to sign the papers on the new car we purchased. I’ll share that fantastic story later. Then we headed in to get some labs but were late, so we asked if we […]
Posted in MM Chrono Journey, Multiple Myeloma on Mar 27th, 2016
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” – Robert Collier Well, it’s Easter Sunday and we are at the infusion center getting the second darzalex infusion, and honestly, I couldn’t be happier about it. Two down before he leaves for his business trip tomorrow morning and a short visit […]
Posted in Caregiver Thoughts, MM Chrono Journey on Mar 21st, 2016
Tomorrow Dave begins his new therapy with Darzalex. We have to premed with Allegra, Singular, Benadryl and Tylenol. Dave is nervous, understandably so. Basically what I’ve learned is this side effects are infusion related. That means that the infusion itself is where the side effects will present. Other than that, he should be fine. So […]
Posted in MM Chrono Journey on Mar 21st, 2016
“Lori! Your voice is missed! – Pat Killingsworth Before I launch into what is happening with Dave and I, I have to spew my pain at the loss of Pat Killingsworth. OMG! How can this happen? Pat and I had a very tumultuous beginning in our friendship. He was anti SCT and very ANTI LITTLE […]
Posted in CB (CaringBridge), MM Chrono Journey on Dec 6th, 2010
“To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there.” ~Barbara Bush What can I say? Dave’s parents are amazing. When Dave was diagnosed and we called them it was brutal for us. This is not a call you want to make. But to ask them NOT to come was even more […]
Posted in CB (CaringBridge), Misc, MM Chrono Journey, Our Life on Jul 17th, 2010
CB #27 Originally, Dave and I were to pack up the Brookeville house and Kip and I would stay with my neighbor Gail. I would keep working and then take vacation and head off to Egypt with a group of folks, primarily my friend Paula, who owns Rosehaven in Lexington, Kentucky. 0
Posted in MM Chrono Journey on Mar 18th, 2010
CB #26 July 2008 Oh god! Dave has been having uncontrollable and violent hiccups. We think its tied in with him being so profoundly constipated. But we aren’t totally sure, except that when he can have a bowel movement the hiccups seem to go away for a couple days. So we “think” its gas building […]
Posted in MM Chrono Journey on Mar 15th, 2010
CB #25 July 3, 2008 “It is so good to have the office come to life again! It felt like a house with a clogged drain on holiday with a lot of visitors, when you were gone… ” My wonderful boss’ email to me upon my return. So I’ve been home now for about a […]
Posted in MM Chrono Journey on Mar 14th, 2010
CB #24 Sat & Sun, June 28 & 29, 2008 Well Hudson made it in from the east coast to take over the care of his father so I can leave the west coast and head back to close on the house, resign formally from my job (set a date), work out the details with […]
Posted in MM Chrono Journey on Mar 13th, 2010
CB #23 Saturday, June 28, 2008 Dave slept and slept after our trip out to see the house. I was a little concerned he would have trouble sleeping in the night, but he didn’t. It was really good for him to be able to rest so thoroughly. Our wonderful friend Mari sent Dave some of […]
Posted in MM Chrono Journey on Mar 13th, 2010
CB #22 Friday, June 27, 2008 Today we got Dave’s meds from the Specialty Pharmacy. When you have highly controlled substances like Thalidomide, it can’t be carried or dispensed by a regular pharmacy. Dave has to do an interview each time a prescription is filled. 0
Posted in MM Chrono Journey on Mar 13th, 2010
CB #21 Wednesday, June 25, 2008 Today the Cancer Center seemed to be having some scheduling issues, I think the machine was “down” and needed some repairs. So after rescheduling us twice we finally made it over there around 3pm. It screwed up my day a bit with plans to go to the grocery store […]
Posted in MM Chrono Journey on Mar 13th, 2010
CB #20 While Dave was in the hospital they started radiation treatments to his T8 vertebrae area. Because Dave couldn’t move hardly at all without tremendous pain and effort, “people” were sent to get him. “People” turned out to be an ambulance crew. Ok, so we are across the street from the Cancer Center and […]
Posted in MM Chrono Journey on Nov 15th, 2009
CB #19 Its daunting when you sit back and realize that in the midst of all this turmoil, I’m trying to keep many plates in the air regarding housing, moving, job resignation, the children, etc. In our house searching in California, we learned that homes here are not sold with refrigerators! In Maryland you are […]
Posted in MM Chrono Journey on Jul 22nd, 2009
In Little Rock, they simply commence treatment. If however, you are like most of us, and you have a general oncologist treating you at diagnosis, and your doc doesn’t refer patients to Little Rock, you are put on some sort of “oral” chemotherapy in the interim before SCT. (Stem Cell Transplant) Thalidomide is the drug […]
Posted in CB (CaringBridge), MM Chrono Journey on Jul 22nd, 2009
Image via Wikipedia CB #18 Wednesday, June 25, 2008 I made my first of many “narcotics runs” to the pharmacy. Each time the pharmacist would want to meet with me. Each time, I would explain that I understood that he had “other” narcotics and that we needed to be careful, and so on and so […]
Posted in CB (CaringBridge), MM Chrono Journey on Jul 16th, 2009
CB #17 June 26, 2008 Oh man! Well we went for the radiation treatment for Dave’s ribs and we got hit with a bunch of stuff that needs to be done for his treatment to start on Monday for the Myeloma. The upshot is that it was my first moment of frustration and anger given […]
Posted in CB (CaringBridge), MM Chrono Journey on Jul 14th, 2009
CB #16 June 23 & 24, 2008 So I called Diane and got the skinny on Dr. Creep. I discovered he is not well thought of by the staff or colleagues, but “he’s much better now.” Oh God! I felt better though having been validated about my instincts. This further spurred my desire to get […]
Posted in CB (CaringBridge), MM Chrono Journey on Jul 14th, 2009
CB #15 Monday, June 23, 2008 (evening) Before we left Rideout, we had a couple of visits from doctors. Dave came through the emergency room and was admitted and it wasn’t until the following day that the Oncologist, Dr. N, became involved. Of course I wasn’t there, so I didn’t know these guys. But one […]
