Almost Through Round 2

2/4/07 Day 25

Here we are more than half way through the 2nd round of chemo and a quarter of a hundred days since Ann was diagnosed. We have been told that Ann will be getting out of the hospital around lunch time on Monday. This is good news as I have been missing her terribly and having trouble sleeping without her.

Taking care of her when we leave the hospital will be a challenge as I expect her WBC count to continue to drop after this round of chemo, until she is at or almost at zero. I am paranoid about her catching some small and stupid disease that will finish her off even before we get to the bone marrow transplant.

Speaking of we have been scheduled to take an EKG on the 8th for the insurance company. I guess this is for them to verify that Ann will be strong enough going into a transplant that she has a chance to survive. The NMDP (Nation Marrow Donor Program) also mailed some information to our house in Baton Rouge about grants and financial assistance for the procedure. I hope that we will not need to pursue that road, but I have started getting information together just in case.













Tina and Joe stopped by again for a visit before Tina had to go back to NYC. Its a shame that Ann was in protective environment and they had to wear masks while visiting. Ann had a good bit of energy and was pretty animated while they were here.

Both of us were very touched by their very generous gifts. I'm ashamed that we have not kept in closer contact with them since Tina left Baton Rouge. Ann was also tickled by the books from Caroline that they dropped off.

Ann started her thrid bag of Cytarabine after Tina and Joe left and the medicine really started to take a toll on her. She is going through hot and cold flashes and having trouble finding a temperature she can tolerate in the room.

She is also more than a little tired because she is only able to grab catnaps in between the staff coming to check on her or get her to take medicine. We counted today and she is taking 23 pills a day. We also got the word from the pharmacy that she will be restarting the Neupogen shots after she is discharged for this round.

Ann doesn't mind though she is just looking forward to getting to go back to the apartment.