Free at last, Free at last

Saturday, after three very long weeks, I was finally released from the hospital. The autologous stem cell transplant was performed on Aug. 25. Despite some minor setbacks things generally went quite well. I feel good, and I fell even better now that I am out of the hospital. I saw the doctor again on Wednesday and was told that after some more blood tests next week I can go home to Louisville. My blood counts look good, and all further testing can be done at home. All I can say to that is Alleluia!!! God is good indeed. I know this journey is not over, in many ways it is just beginning. I am more convinced than ever that our gracious God is with me every step of the way.
Deacon John
Sept. 19, 2008
St. Peregrine, Pray for us

It's Time

As I write this I am back in Chicago. Tomorrow morning the hospital will call, telling me they are ready for me to come in and begin the chemo in preparation for the autologous stem cell transplant. This treatment is the best hope for putting this cancer into remission. It's been a long journey to this point, since being diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in Dec. I have to admit, even knowing that this is the best treatment available, and that I am receiving this treatment in one of the best places possible, it is still a frightening prospect. I am prepared, however, ready to do what is necessary to get this as behind me as possible. My trust is that God has led me to this point, and I keep my faith in God, believing that I am indeed in God's hands. This may be the last update for a while, I don't know how much access I will have to a computer after entering the hospital tomorrow, or if I will bewell enough to post anything. I will get back on here as soon as I can. Thank you for you prayers, know that you are in my prayers as well.
St. Peregrine, Pray for us.
Deacon John
Aug. 21, 2008

Down the Home Stretch

As Dorothy said in the Wizard of Oz, there's no place like home. Stem cells were harvested on Wed. Aug. 13th. Thankfully enough were collected that I don't have to go through that experience again. Since the transplant can't happen right away, we were told we could go home. It is good to be home even if it is only for a few days. This is a week of rest, to give my body a break before continuing with the transplant process. The schedule has been finalized. I will be admitted to the hospital on Friday Aug. 22. The super chemo will be administered on that day and Saturday the 23rd. Sunday, appropriately, will be a day of rest. The transplant, the re-infusion of the collected stem cells, will occur on Monday Aug. 25th. I know I will be in the hospital for at least 3 weeks. I do not know how much of that time will be in isolation. It is good just to know precisely what will happen next. My job this week is to prepare myself mentally and spiritually for the transplant and the recovery period to follow. This will be a week of prayer and contemplation, working to be prepared for what will be a difficult time. No matter the difficulty, this must happen if remission is to be achieved. So this week I pray, read, and get ready, reminding myself that even in these difficult times God is with me. We will leave to return to Chicago on Thursday the 21st.
St. Peregrine, Pray for Us
Deacon John
Saturday Aug 16, 2008

Getting Started

Today I received the first injections of neupogen, a drug designed to stimulate stem cell production. The only draw back to neupogen is that the main side affect is severe bone pain. So if we are going to see any of Chicago, I guess we shoud do it today or over the weekend, before the pain starts. I will receive this drug twice a day for 5 days. The pain should not begin, if it does, until late in the process. So I should be ok until Monday or Tuesday. On Wednesday the harvesting of the stem cells should begin. After a small fight with the insurance company about covering these injections, things were worked out so the transplant process would not be delayed. Thanks to God for answering our prayers that this insurance difficulty be resolved quickly. So, we are well on our way and will hopefully have the transplant as scheduled on Aug. 22. We are relying on God now to guide through this process. So far we have done well following God's lead. All we need now is the grace to continue to do so.
Deacon John
The Feast of St. Dominic
Aug. 8, 2008
St. Peregrine and St. Dominic,
Pray for us

Getting on With It

The date for getting on with the transplant has been set, and I am looking forward to it, but it is frightening as well. For some strange reason, the nearness of this procedure makes everything seem more real. Yes, I’ve been through several rounds of chemo, thought a lot about what is happening, cried, screamed, gotten angry, and prayed. Yet this event, this transplant, makes everything seem, I don’t know, like it is really happening to me. This is serious, I could die, not from the procedure, but from this disease, cancer. Cancer is always something that happens to someone else. Maybe this transplant is making it really sink in, I am that someone else. This is really happening to ME. Why, I don’t know. Am I happy about it? Absolutely not. Can I change it? Absolutely not. What I can do is accept where I am, what is happening, and pray that God can use this for good. All a lot easier said than done. Especially when you realize that you are the someone else.
St. Peregrine, Pray for us
Deacon John
Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola
July 31, 2008

At Long Awaited Last

I haven't reported anything for a while, mainly because there just wasn't anything to report. Well now there is. At long last the transplant has been scheduled. We are due to be in Chicago on Aug. 8 to begin the injections to promote stem cell growth. The stem cells will be harvested between Aug. 13 and 15, with the actual transplant scheduled for Aug. 22. In a slight change of plans, they asked that we remain in Chicago for the entire process, so we will be living in Chicago until about mid Sept. All we have to do now is find a place to live. All the prayers are about to pay off. I do realize that this is not the end of this journey, but the beginning. There is a long road ahead, but with your continued prayers I am sure the journey will be easier. I am slowly learning more and more to place my trust in God, and to allow God to guide this journey.
Thanks for your prayers and support.

Deacon John
July 24, 2008
St. Peregrine, Pray for Us.

Getting Closer (maybe)

On Tuesday I had my second to (probably, hopefully) last round of chemo prior to preparation for the transplant. We also had an appointment with the oncologist. He agreed that with the disappearance of Poindexter the tumor there shouldn’t be any need for more chemo before moving ahead with the autologous stem cell transplant. Later on Tuesday I received a call from the transplant coordinator in Chicago. We spoke about what is happening, Poindexter’s disappearance and failure to return, the probability that three rounds of Velcade is enough, and moving forward with the transplant. She said that she was going into a meeting in half an hour and that my case would be discussed. The only drawback is the need to repeat all of the qualifying testing that had been done previously in May. She said she would fax a list of those tests to my oncologist. I am going to follow up and make sure they have hat list and get the tests scheduled by Monday. If they don’t get the list, I plan on having it faxed to me, and I will hand carry it in to the doctor on Friday when I go for my (probably, hopefully) last round of chemo prior to transplant preparation. Even with this haste, it still looks like the end of July is the best case scenario for getting started. But, we may be getting closer!!As I have said before, I’ve never looked so forward to feeling bad, but if remission is the result, I am ready to feel as bad as necessary. I thank God for helping me through this, I know God is leading this journey, at least when I am smart enough to get out of the way.
Deacon John
June 25, 2008
St. Peregrine, Pray for Us