AML: Round 6 - Day 23, Neupogen

So yesterday we saw a slight "flicker" in my ANC counts. If you recall, ANC is my ability to fight infections and is once of the earlier indicators that I am starting to recover. Yesterday I went from and ANC of 0, to an ANC of 8 today. I need to be at least 500 before the think about letting me go home.

Yesterday my platelets were low (12,000) as was my hemoglobin (8.7). Since I was potentially looking at needing both platelets and red blood in the same day, I asked if we could do one of them a day early. When I get blood products, I have to be attached to blood pressure monitors. Red blood takes about 6 hours. Platelets about 3. It's a long day if I have to get both.

So I got 2 units of red blood yesterday. Today, my platelets actually increased on their own from 12,000 to 17,000. This is a very good sign as platelets tend to recover the fastest. SO today all my blood counts increased slightly.

Still, I'm looking at maybe 4-5 more days in here. The doctors know of my desire to be out of here before the 4th. So they have elected to give me a Neupogen shot. This shot will stimulate my bone marrow stem cells to grow faster. I am told it will make a big difference in how fast my white counts recover. It should cut a few days off this trip.

So I got my shot this afternoon, they give it under the skin on my belly. Not a big deal at all. They said I may experience some bone pain as it starts working. We'll see. Hopefully I'll see some movement as soon as tomorrow.

Thanks for all your prayers. They are working. If you don't mind, I'd ask you to direct your prayers to a fellow AML patient. He's just a little guy, 2 years old, his name is Davis. I met him a few months ago on his first round of chemo. He mother used to work at Daktronics with me. He has since had a bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately, Davis is already relapsing. He has had a much tougher road then I. His little body has struggled to handle the treatment. The family needs a miracle, so please add them (JoAnn & Jeff, and brothers Jasper & Andy) to your prayers.

AML: Round 6 - Day 16

I am done with week 2 of my final round of chemo.

My blood counts bottomed on day 14. This is very consistant with all 4 rounds of my consolidation chemo. I received platelets on Tuesday (day 14) and hemoglobin today (day 16).

I have felt fine the whole time. Cough has gone away. So now we are just waiting. I hope to be out of here in just over a week, before the 4th of July.

I've been getting strong antibiotics most of the time. Levaquin and Vancomycin. So I have hope hope I won't get sick this time. The doctor started antibiotics a lot earlier this time quite earlier then other times.

Overall this time is going fine. I am working remotely so my days pass quickly. Andrea is able to come visit fairly often. Still, I am itching to be done and move on. Everything up until now has just been focused on getting to the next treatment. Now we actually get to move on.

As always, thanks for the good vibes and prayers... it's all working.

AML: Chemo - Round 6

Wed 6/8 I started my 6th round of chemo for my AML. Same type of chemo (high dose cyterabene). So far so good. I came in with a bit of a cold, virus or something like that. Along with it is a nasty cough and some sinus issues. They have me on steroids and antibiotics to get that under control. Day 5 & it seems to be helping a bit... Cough is sticking around.

I suppose it's the steroids doing it, but my numbers (white cells and ANC) have actually been climbing since I got here. Hemoglobin and platelets are holding steady. The last time we started treatment and my numbers climbed like this, it was my shortest trip. Here's hoping...

This should be my final round of chemo. Then we wait and see if I relapse. The good news is I feel well. The bad news, since this is my last trip, I am fairly certain it will feel like the longest.

I hope to be out of here before the 4th of July holiday. I will be celebrating both my 33rd birthday and Father's Day here this week.

The kids are growing fast. Nevaeh and Alivia are home with a sitter (Alex) this summer. Jonah and Layla are still in daycare. Jonah just cut his first tooth and before long he will be crawling. Nevaeh starts kindergarten this fall. Kids are growing so fast.

Thanks for the prayers. We are nearing the end of this...