Round 4

Day 62

My apologies for not continuing to update yesterday. Ann's laptop crashed just as we entered the hospital for round 4 and I spent lots of time yesterday getting it working again. At our appointment yesterday with Dr. Thomas, she decided to get Ann into the hospital early. Which was nice because we normally have to sit and wait two or three hours for admissions to process her paperwork and find her a room. This time was great, no waiting and Ann was in just after lunch time.

This round she is getting methotrexate and cytarabine again. The course starts with two bags of methotrexate, one infused over 2 hours and the other over 22 hours. Then comes the cytarabine and this time thee are some precautions in place. Ann is on high does steroid eye drops now, instead of after the cytarabine begins.

Later tonight we are going to try to link up a video feed to Ann's family in California specially for her Grandmother. This will be the first time in two years that either of us have seen her and we are both really looking forward to it.

Until then Ann is trying to rest as comfortably as she can. Her CBC numbers are beginning to fall as the methotrexate begins to take effect and they have started her on a new medicine to reduce the increasing numbness in her fingers.

I have been badgering her to try to remain as active, or as active as she can be while tethered to a 6 foot IV pole. Recently I got her a 2 lbs bar bell at Target so that she could try to do some upper body work in addition to taking short walks around the hospital floor. I'm not sure how "into it" Ann is, before this she was much more of a walking/treadmilly type of girl. But it's good to at least see her try.

We still have no word on the status of the BMT, apart from the fact that it must happen. The Stem Cell Transplant Clinic staff all know me by sight now and are all able to discuss Ann's case without referring to files or notes. I'm positive that they are as dialed in as they can be and will let us know the very moment they know something important.

Ann is fighting to beat this disease and get a second chance at life but, you can help. If you can make a donation please do. The link on the side of the page will take you to her NTAF medical fund. Just follow the link at the bottom of her patient site and look for "Ann Gregory" in the list of patient names. It's non-profit and taxdeductable and you are helping to save her life.

If you can't afford a donation then please tell someone about her and her struggle. Tell your Church, tell your Family, tell your Friends.

If you are or know someone who is mixed race Asian, please ask them if they are a marrow donor. Heck, even if you don't know them, walk up to them and ask. If they aren't then ask then to give the gift of life. Asians are only 6% of the overall marrow donor database and there are lots and lots of people who are in situations just like Ann who are fighting with everything they can to live!