The worst part today has been severe diarrhea. The nausea has been coming and going, and the fatigue is ever present. By the time we get back to the apartment, Mary Jo is totally wiped out, to the point, that she is too tired to eat anything even if she wanted to. She eats after a nap.
Tomorrow the chemo changes to the one that completely wipes out her bone marrow before the transplant on Monday. Saturday will be a shorter day, 5-6 hours. We go to the stem cell center for awhile on Sunday morning. Then, rest up for Monday.
The chemo that she has had so far has lived up to it's terrible reputation, much worse than the CHOP and DHAP that she had back home. It will be a relief when she she gets her stem cells back on Monday, and her body can begin the long process of recovery and getting back to normal.
One good thing happened today. We were able to visit with Mary Jo's nephew, Billy, and his friend and caregiver, Rita. Billy was at Vanderbilt for a CT Scan and other tests. The clinical trial using the formerly experimental drug, Ibrutinib, has ended. But, the FDA has given Ibrutinib a breakthrough status which makes the drug available to patients with Chronic Lyphocytic Leukemia (CLL) which Billy has, Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) which Mary Jo has, and Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) which is another type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). It is anticipated that the drug will be generally available to these patients by the Fall of this year.
It hasn't been determined how long Billy will be taking the Ibrutinib capsules. At some point, he may be in line for an allogeneic stem cell transplant using his sister, Amy's, stem cells. Please keep Billy in your prayers as he continues his own battle with cancer.
I thought that one of the Louisville TV stations would be streaming Kentucky Oaks coverage online today, but none of them were. Wow! 47 year old jock, Mike Smith, wins on 39 to 1 Princess of Sylmar. We didn't get to the apartment until after the Oaks was ran. I watched a replay. Maybe, 50 year old Gary Stevens will win the Derby tomorrow on Oxbow for us old timers. Oxbows odds are only 33 to 1. They said that we would get out of the clinic before 2pm tomorrow. So, we shouldn't miss any of the Derby.
Here's another inspirational video with Kelly Clarkson's song. This one is from Seattle Children's Hospital:
The little guy on the dune buggie vehicle reminded me of little Cole here at Vanderbilt. Cole finished his second of five weeks of radiation. Keep Cole and his Mom in your prayers, too.
Here's another inspirational video with Kelly Clarkson's song. This one is from Seattle Children's Hospital:
The little guy on the dune buggie vehicle reminded me of little Cole here at Vanderbilt. Cole finished his second of five weeks of radiation. Keep Cole and his Mom in your prayers, too.
Good morning. Happy Derby day. Hope that Mary is feeling better. Anne and I are in Pittsburgh for the Half that is running Sunday. We are planning to go to Mass tonight at St. Mary. You all will be in our thoughts and prayers at Church and on the course. We saw a group of nuns who are running in their habits. They are known as the running nuns. It looks like they are young and very traditional, but they look fast. Keep your spirits up. Love, John and Anne
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