Family and Friends,
Not alot of new news yet...but wanted to give a quick update. Ray continues to feel good and his blood counts remain up. He had a second bone marrow biopsy on Monday...we are awaiting results and I will update as soon as we receive. Should be in next 5-7 days. Results will tell us what % blasts he has now after 4 rounds of chemo....he started his chemo again this week as well. He is not tolerating this week's chemo as well as in the past...quite a bit of nausea this week, unfortunately. He continues to work everyday and just push through. He is amazing! I was out of town on a critical business meeting Sun - Wed this week, so was unable to be there for his biopsy. I felt really bad, but we thought it would be pretty uneventful, based on his first one back in August. However, this one was quite painful, as they explained they had to go much deeper in the bone marrow, for which there's no way to anesthetize the bone marrow. They wouldn't have allowed me in the room during the biopsy, but still, I wish I had been there with him. It was not pleasant and I hate that he was there by himself!
In any case, only one more day this week of chemo and then he's off until after the holidays in early Jan. By then we'll know what the biopsy results are and that will help determine the timing of his transplant and if there will be further chemo treatments before the transplant. I will update as soon as we know something...should definitely be before Christmas that we'll know something. As a reminder, Ray's blasts (basically leukemia cells) were at 5% initially; 20% = acute leukemia, which he has to avoid!! We have to do the transplant before he progresses into full acute leukemia. The dr did say that with his blood counts all up from the chemo, he doesn't expect the blasts to have increased. There's a direct correlation. So, we're not too worried about it, but will feel better once we know for sure what his blast count is.
We did have a relatively successful local move the weekend before Thanksgiving...still settling in. We had a lot of friends and family help...which was so wonderful. I had two 'estate sales' in the former house and we were able to make enough money to cover the cost of the move (we hired movers for the 'big stuff'), so that was a huge answer to prayer! On a sadder note, I never did find my wedding ring before we packed and moved...so I have very little hope of ever finding it now. I honestly don't think it's 'lost', as I mentioned on my previous post. Regardless, it is gone and as I said, even though its just a material thing, it represents Ray's love and our wedding day 24 yrs ago and so of course, I'm very sad, as would anyone be. Perhaps it will still turn up as we continue our unpacking, but not too much hope of that now that we've moved. I'm keeping it all in perspective and know there are much bigger, more important things to worry about and pray about and ask God's blessing on....but I do believe in miracles and so I haven't given up!!
We hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful holiday season and we are hoping to do the same! We have much to be thankful for....God is Good!
Love to all; we covet your prayers for Ray's transplant and full recovery!
Teri
