Transplant

I have a new birthday! On October 23 I recieved my stem cell transplant. This is the point that I hopefully killed off all the cancer cells in my body and am rebuilding new healthy cells. I think I was lucky to have all the prayers from so many people. It was not as bad as all the doctors and nurses were telling me. I was never nauseated, just did not have much of an appitite. I was tired, and they had to put me in the hospital for two days to give me some blood and platelets. They had me go in everyday for lab work and IV fluids. It sure was better to sleep in my bed than a hospital bed. My mother came up to take care of me and Lynda, because Lynda fell off a ladder and broke her knee. Mothers are wonderful to have when you are sick and needing some TLC. It has been four weeks now and my hunger is getting lots better. I feel stronger but am out of shape after months of nothing but going to the doctors office. The love prayers and support of all my friends and family have helped get me thru a rough patch in my life, but it has shown me how wonderful life with those you love can be. The pics are of me with no hair and Jennifer Potter, the PA who has been looking out for me.

Well, I finally got started with the transplant process. I had all the chemo that was needed to get me here, so they gave me medicine to help my bones to start producing more cells they needed to collect. They thought it would be Monday before they collected, but after my blood test came back on Saturday, I was ready. I had gone to Noah's new house for his and mother's birthday party when they called. I had to eat fast and was sorry to miss getting to see everyone. They hooked me up to the machine that takes blood out, spins it down to extract the plasma cells they want and give me back my blood. I takes about four hours and is not uncomfortable at all. They had me come in for two days in a row to get all the cells they need. The nurses told me they needed 10 million cells, but were able to get over 14 million. The extra will be good for many years if I need more transplants in the future. Hopefully there will be a cure before I need all those cells. I just hope my beard grows back so you don't see that double chin in my picture. Thanks for all the preyers.

Labor day weekend was full of family. Mother came to stay while nephew Paul had surgery on his ankle Friday. He was so doped up the whole weekend I'm not sure if he will remember our visit. He is doing fine and went back to college Monday. My other nephew Noah got his house finally, so his mom and dad were here to help move in and furnish it. They spent the weekend shoping for couches tables and a bed for the guest bedroom. I got to vollenter my pickup to haul lawnmowers and beds to his house. It was my pleasure to help. I promised Noah I would get him a gas grill when he move in so I delivered it Monday. His girlfriend Kayla was more excited about it than anybody. I then went to see where Lynda rides her horses. It is only about five minutes from Noah's. It turned out to be a great weekend with family. I did freak out sister Beth when I started pulling my hair out. This weekend my hair began to fall out from the chemo, so I got the clippers out and cut what was left. Now I look like my name sake. Call me Curly Bob...curtanly, nuk nuk nuk.

friends come to town

When you have friends like this.... It is an old saying, but until you have friends like I have you can not appreciate the love of good friends. Johnny Wommack and Pat Dupont were my anesthesia classmates, that means 29 years of freindships. It was Johnny's twin daughters 16th birthday. Pat introduced his new wife. Hopefully his Linda will stick around as long as my Lynda. Joel and his wife Leslie were able to join us. Joel is Johnny's son, that has his PHD and teaches reserch to nurses in Austin. We ate well at Matito's then came to our house to visit some more.

I am starting the next round of treatment, with IV chemo this week. I have a backpack to carry around with a liter bag and IV pump. I don't know how well I will be able to sleep with this thing straped to my back. They give me all sorts of meds for nausea prevention, so far so good. I am not sure if my hair will fall out with these drugs of just thin. I may not be able to tell if it just thins, since I don't have much to thin. Thanks to all my friends and family. I try to post these blogs for them and anyone interested or those who are praying for me. The prayers are felt, and heard, since I feel good heading into the next phase of what God has planned for me.

Love you all, Bob

Last weekend was the second part of my birthday. We had four other couples over for dinner. These are friends I have had for 20 to 30 years. I am lucky to have friends like these people. We get together too seldom for my taste. I wish we all got together more often, because I feel so comfortable around them all. It is not many times you can be yourself and not worry how the people around you. These are my freinds that make me feel comfortable, loved, appreciated, wanted and liked. They make me feel this way and I hope I am returning the same to them. I love them all.

We had a wonderful time eating good food,drinking fine wine and catching up on good times. I am a lucky man that got to have two birthday parties, one with loving family and one with best friends. Life is all about family and friends, I am proud to say I have the best of life.

birthday part 1

Last weekend I had a birthday

party at sister Beth's house. Neilla, Mother Sue, and my nephews with some girl friends thrown in, were all there. Doug grilled some great steaks and we all ate well. It is always a wonderful time to get to spend with family I love so dearly. What could you ask for for a birthday present than to get to spend time with loved ones. This weekend I will spend time with some of my friends at our house. Friends and family is the joy of life.

pirates

Lynda and I went to a party put on by one of her doctors whom she works for. They sent out invitations for a pirate party, so we went and rented pirate costumes. Well, guess what, we were the only ones dressed as pirates. They all thought it was neat we were dressed up. We had a good time, especially with some of the little kids that thought I was a real pirate.