Riding The Wave – Multiple Myeloma

Dave, South Yuba River Summer 2010

“There is good news tonight” – Gabriel Heatter

Well, we have completed our tests and consultations in Little Rock. What should have been a 6 month check was an 8th month check due to some moving around of the schedule as our doctor was unexpectedly called away. Dave continues in Complete Remission with all lesions disappeared except one on his T7 which is stable. We thought they were all gone, he had so many, but we are fine that if only one is left, that is good news.

Dave’s pace walking is excellent. He kept looking back calling me a slow poke. The fatigue has abated greatly since we started this journey in Myelomaville. There was a time I think when we wondered if it would ever get better. I have vague recollections and impressions now of just how bad it was, but the specifics of it all have disappeared from my memory, and I’m quite OK with that.

We managed to get in early enough to go see Bruce & Jan. It was great. Bruce seemed to perk right up, and Dave enjoyed sitting and talking with him. Bruce is doing quite well at this point and we are extremely hopeful for some good news for him shortly. One more test result to come in.

We ran into two of our APNs who cared for us, Nadine and Dina. Nadine has had run ins with us before, but we had not seen Dina since early on in our treatment and she was over the top happy to see us. Of course she recognized me, but not Dave. Last time she saw him, he was frail and had no hair, and shuffling very slowly anywhere he went. She was consulting with a new patient about their care and we were able to offer them inspiration and hope as they begin their journey. She was just beaming with pride in Dave. It was very touching.

Dave and I try to stop by the infusion/transplant center when we come to Little Rock. We like to let them see how well he is doing and sometimes we are able to have conversations with other new patients and we hope that it encourages them. We remember that it was encouraging to us when we were where they are now.

We met some new folks hanging around  here and there and enjoyed getting to know them. One of the most comforting things about going to a place like Little Rock is the people you meet, from all over the country and sometimes abroad. You find yourself feeling an instantaneous kinship with your fellow Myeloma Warriors that is hard to describe. It is just one of those things – as Jan says, “A Myeloma Blessing”. Dave’s most favorite thing is that new folks don’t know who has Myeloma, him or me. He thinks that is just way cool. And you know what? It is – way cool.

My flight was cancelled with a phone call at the crack of dawn this morning. Maintenance issues. I could not get another flight out to Maryland today and still go with Dave to his doctor consultation. So I will fly out at O’ DARK THIRTY, as my friend Jude says, tomorrow morning. Dave got me a hotel at the airport and we stopped by to get me all checked in and then I drove with him to drop of the car and have dinner at the airport before he flies home. I miss him already.

Nicole & Hud @ Disney Summer '10

We got a fabulous phone call from our son, Hudson. He had a very important meeting with his senior management boss, who hired him out of college and “hand picked” him for the job he is in now for the company. He has been having some problems and they had a fabulous meeting and he sounded as if the world had been lifted off his shoulders. We are very happy for him and very proud of him. He has been working so hard he has had little to no time to make new friends, something his senior boss was not happy to hear. But it looks like some things got squared around and while I think he will still be working hard, I think he will feel better about the work he is doing at this point.

“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”  – World Health Organization, 1948

Tags: check up, Dave, Little Rock