*update* 2nd round of chemo

Hi Folks,

I thought it might be time to set up email updates to let you know how David's doing. We are finding it very difficult to call/email/see everyone we'd like to and we don't want to leave you wondering how we are doing. I'm hoping to keep up with this update about once a week, but we'll see how it goes. Some of you I talked to recently, so this is kind of a review, but at least we'll all be on the same page from here out. For those of you out of the loop - we haven't forgotten about you! and we appreicate all the messages that keep coming even though we haven't reponded to say thanks.



Trip to the eye specialist to keep him from going blind.

 David's going through his second round of chemo now. They call it reconsolidation therapy. After a number of very difficult moments (stomach and eye infections, fevers, weight loss) during the first round, it was difficult to agree to a second but we know it's for the best. A second round is actually good news - it means the first round did the trick - David is considered in temporary remission now and if all goes well a bone marrow transplant will be in his future.

As for his current round, we expect the chemo to really kick in over the next week. He's currently on outpatient status which is great because it means he's not trapped in the hospital overnight and he can eat normal real food that doesn't look like it's been pre-digested (hospital food's not going to make anyone 'better'). We hope that he'll be able to stay on outpatient status for the full cycle (6 days chemo, 30 days no immune system, 7 days of bone marrow recovery) which will mean daily trips to the hospital for blood, medications, tests etc. If he starts to show sign of infection they'll take him back in - we're hoping to avoid this, but we know it might not be possible. Right now he's doing ok - a bit nauseated, slowly losing his appetite, napping a lot, but still up and around, walking when he can, playing a little rock band now and then :)

As for our last few weeks - David recovered well from round 1 of chemo and we were able to go home together for the first time since we left in January. We were home for almost a week and it was wonderful (ok, there were 3 trips back to VGH in that week, but we didn't mind). David relaxed and I desperately tried to get the yard and house into a more manageable 'away' state. I may just have to embrace blackberry jam this year. We even had Easter dinner at home in Nanaimo with my family, and David's mom flew in at the last minute as well. We definitely weren't expecting to have time at home so we were very happy that the doctors could rearrange David's treatment for a few days so that we could get a break. Mentally the trip back helped us a lot and we now feel like we have the energy to keep going.

So, a rough couple of months to say the least - but we're doing ok. We're very happy to have each other and we know that what we're going though will make us stronger eventually. Until then, thanks to all of you guys for pulling us through :)

Time for a glass of wine in the sun...

Cindy (and David)