Status 6/19/08

I was admitted into Northwestern Memorial Hospital on 6/16/08. Day 1 consisted of having to wait 4.5 hours in admissions before being assigned a bed. Get this. NWM just opened the Prentice Women's Center last October, which also houses 3 dedicated floors for cancer treatment and stem cell transplant center. The demand for beds is full. I finally got into an overflow room and was there for a day.

NWM hospital is a teaching hospital with excellent care. I get plenty of attention from the doctors, doctors in residency, nurses, technicians, etc. When I met the team of nine Tuesday morning, I couldn't help myself but to call a 2 minute business meeting with a discussion of key milestones and results expected. Those who have worked with me will find this to be no surprise. In fact, the rumor at my office is that there are bets as to when the hospital staff throw me out. My perspective is more focused on what will be needed on this turnaround and transformation project. Besides, they really enjoyed the meeting and I am being really nice to them. I make look stupid, but I am not dumb. The most important short term goal for all of the team is to have me feeling well and attending my daughter, Jackie's wedding in Wichita, KS on October 18, 2008. There are shorter term milestones like a party for Ed Thompson at Wrigley on July 13, 2008. Ed, that one is touch and go, but I will give it my best.

Monday afternoon consisted of who knows how many tests, x-rays, installation of a PICC line, lab work, etc to get ready for first induction of chemo. BTW, the PICC line is the equivalent of temporary port with a catheter inserted about 37 cm in through the vein. Once in, they draw all of the blood, induce the chemo, insert the medicines, etc., without having to constantly stick you with a needle. Great technology advancement.

Back to chemo, I finally had my first chemo treatment at 1 AM Tuesday morning. Naturally, that meant that the induction of DNR and a new bag of AraC happens 24 hours later, preceded with the medicine induction. That is why I haven't slept much. I simply have people in my room all hours of the night. I should also mention that my two bags of sodium biocarbonate being administered to hydrate me results in a run to the bathroom about once per hour. I have never peed so much in 24 hours in my life. I guess when they are inducting targeted poisons into my body and killing the leukemic cells, they want my kidneys to work really well and flow everything out. Aren't you glad I share details like this?

I have now completed the first 3 days of chemo. Maybe I will be able to get some sleep. I am on a regimen of 3 days of one drug labled daunorubicine ("DNR") and 7 days of a second drug labeled cytarabine ("AraC"). The induction of AraC occurs 24/7 in a slow drip form, while the induction of DNR is pushed in through a syringe inserted into the PICC line over a 15 - 20 minute time frame. I am now done with the DNR induction and will continue the AraC induction for another 4 days.

So far I feel very well. I have tried to stay busy with work stuff, telephone calls, reading, studying scripture, meditating and enjoying when my wife and daughters are able to visit. We occasionally get a few games in. I also have a great view of Lake Michigan from my new room. Hope they don't move me. I watch the boats come in and out of the harbor, watch softball games on the field below, and admire some of the condos. I pray for Jackie as I know that it bothers her that she is in Wichita and unable to visit me much. Her surprise visit last weekend was very special.

I am exercising on a stationary bike and trying to walk around and stay active and positive. My blood sugar is one area that has jumped due to the steroids the first three days. Please pray that my blood sugar gets more under control. My already borderline hypertensive state just went over the line with these drugs. They are using insulin temporarily to try and get it under control. They tell me not to worry about it. It is not easy. I have to remind myself of Psalm 59:16.

I will have another bone marrow biopsy in another 7 days and they will be able to tell whether the disease is visible or not. Please pray that the drugs are effective and do the job. That tells you how fast the drugs are supposed to kill off the leukemic cells in my bone marrow. Of course, by doing this, the drugs also kill off the good cells which means that I won't have much of an immune system in another 7 days. So all the symptoms of being anemic, feeling tired, achey, like I have the flu are ahead of me. The biggest risk is the risk of infection because of the low immune system. I can have visitors, but they will need to wear masks and gowns in another week.

Prayer requests:
1. For Gail and the girls; Prays specifically for Jackie as she is living in Wichita, KS
2 That I continue to feel relatively well
3. The anxiety level is high; I need help here
4. That God will continue use me as an inspiration to others here in the hospital. There are some really sick people here.


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