Treatment time

Curt is coming every day now for treatment.  He has labs drawn, gets an antibiotic and usually another neupogen shot.  The neupogen is supposed to increase white blood cells in the body.  It is the one that makes his bones ache all over.  Sort of like have a very bad flu.  The girl in the picture is Malene.  She has been the most help in explaining every treatment. 

Sunday

  When he did his infusion I didn't know that I would have a worse reaction than him.  I have been itching and my tongue was orange and covered with yuck.  It was really bad yesterday.  I took some allergy meds and that seemed to help a little. I think I slept as much as Curt.   On Sunday we took a ride and went the back road to Woods Cross then up the hill behind the capitol and saw the trailhead for Ensign Peak.  Some day we will hike it.  On our way back to the trailer we were in a huge downpour.  I love rain.

Today, Monday we came to the clinic and he got antibiotics and a Nutlasta shot.  Thats the one that makes his bones ache.  Last time he didn't want me to even drive over a crack in the road.  Hope he does better this time.  We will be coming to the clinic every day now for awhile untill the cells implant.  His white blood count is at  0  so he will need to be on lock down.  No company.

The computers here at Huntsman still are not running very well.  I haven't been able to see the blog since the 4th.  I hope all the entries are O.K. I can send pictures with my phone and I can add text with my email but I haven't been able to get to the blog. 

Backtracking

Well the computers here at Huntsman have been down since July 4th.  I have sent several pictures for your enjoyment but haven't been able to tell you what or who they are.  Here goes:  Starting with Curt fishing, Daniel took this one while we were still at home.  Next is Curt back at Huntsman  on July 2nd. Curt actually had a test and blood work then met with Dr. Zangari.  On Friday the  3rd he started back with Chemo and Erlene has double gloved so she can give the Chemo.  The dark headed girl is Andrea.  She is our PA and we like her a lot.  She is very easy to talk to and so so smart! Andrea said that Curt might tolerate the Chemo O.K. this time because he is so healthy. She said that the bad stuff will most likely start next week. He had the 4th off and we came up to Huntsman to watch fireworks from the hospital.  We were not alone and so we didn't stay long.  We got back to our trailer just in time to see the fireworks from Sugar House park. On Monday the 6th we came to HCH and started with more Chemo. (Curt with girl in blue)  On Tuesday the 7th we came in and they started the replacement of stem cells.  The picture with a round container is what they transport the stem cells in.  They keep them frozen in liquid nitrogen.  The place where they are stored is monitored 24/7 to keep everything at a certain temperature. The man holding a red package is the technician who brought the stem cells and un-thawed them and gave them to the nurse.  They gave Curt 4 bags of stem cells and it took about 3 hours. I think there is a picture with Curt and his nurse, Malene giving his stem cells back. On July 8th we were back a HCH for labs and check with Andrea. (Happy Birthday Clint!!!) He has had to use pain meds only twice and nausea meds once.  He really is doing good.  We had Friday and Saturday off.  On Friday it was very hot and we took a drive and toured all the D.I.s in Salt Lake.  Yes Curt wore his mask!  He found some very nice books.  Then we went to Geralyn and Wayne's for a a quick lunch.  When we got back to the trailer Curt got his tools out and started to fix the cooler. It is installed in the window and works very well for that small area.  We sat out on the lawn for a while and we both had a bottle of water.  Curt got me wet then the water fight was on!  We both ended up wet but cooler.  We laughed a lot.  Sure felt good.

Tonight, Saturday I will be going out to dinner with my manager and regional manager in CETUSA.  Curt can't go because they want him to stay away from crowds.  I will try to bring him something good home.  I don't like leaving him.  Wish one of the kids were here. Well hope this brings the blog up to date.  I will try to enter something every day if possible.  We do come up to HCH tomorrow, Sunday, and then every day for about 12 days.

Back to SLC

We came up to Salt Lake on July second.  Curt had a test, then we were scheduled to see the Doctor.  His Chemo was started on Friday  He is really feeling O.K. for now  but to be prepared for the bad stuff next week. The nurse in the blue is Erlene and she had to double glove just to handle the Chemo.  Harsh stuff!  The woman with black hair is his PA Andrea.  He sees her whenever we are here.  She really keeps track of Curt very well.  We don't see Dr. Zangari very often. Just when we are starting a new program,  Then  Andrea is there.  She said that Curt might tolerate this treatment better than most because he is pretty healthy,  except for the cancer.

We had the 4th off and Sunday too.  On the third we went to the genealogy  Library and Curt found some information about his family that he didn't know.  He was excited about that.  Then on the 4th we just stayed around the trailer for most of the day.  At 2:30 we came to the media room here at HCH but the computers were not connecting well.  At  3:oo Huntsman was having a 4th of July party where they had food and games.  We went and had some food but then went back to the trailer.  That night we came up to Huntsman and watched fireworks from the fourth floor out on the back patio.  We had a pretty good view of the valley but went back to the VA and got there just in time for the finale  at Sugar House park.  Sunday we took a drive and just relaxed.  Today is Monday and he will be done here by 11:00 AM  He wants to go to the Library but I don't know just how he will feel.  This stuff today could make him very sick.  Guess we will play it by ear.

Getting back to old routine

Well, I haven't added anything to the blog in a few days because there is really nothing to add.  We are back to our old routine probably just in time to leave and go to Salt Lake.  Home health has come twice to change the dressing on the Hickman port.  Curt has been feeling really good these last few days and has even gone out looking for rocks and took Tishanna.  He and I made two Parowan churches yesterday.  He is finishing them up today.  Yes, he lost his hair but is not ready to have me take a picture yet.  He will sometime soon when he is used to having no hair. We are just enjoying being home and not looking forward to going to Salt Lake, althought we would like to hurry this up and just be done with the Chemo.

Good Boy

Well yesterday was a long one for Curt.  He was at Huntsman collecting stem cells again.  The first day he collected 4 million,  the second day 9 million!  the Dr. said that he was a good boy.  He saw Zangari after collecting and he said that we might get to go home earlier than we thought.  If he collects 7 million today then we will head back to Parowan for a two week rest.  Daniel and Kira are still here and we have enjoyed them a lot.   I will be getting ready to go back home and I promised Kira that I would take her to the park.  She is having a good time watching our wild life around the trailer. 

Collection Day 2

We came up to HCH at 7:00 A.M. and they started another day of collecting stem cells.  He did excellent yesterday collecting over 3 Million at least.  We will have a better count later today.  He is settled in and watching TV.  Daniel and Kira are still with us and we are having a great visit.  I took Kira to Geralyns house on Tuesday and she got to play with Tristin.  We may get to go home for two weeks a little earlier than we thought.  Curt is happy for that except Tishanna called yesterday and she had been to the doctor and she tested positive for type B flu.  Oh Yeah!  I think she felt worse than Curt.  We don't know what to do but will work on a solution so that Curt won't catch the bug!Thanks to everyone who has been there for us and for the prayers.  He is doing very well and we hope he will continue to do good. 

Collection Day 1

Collections. They will be collecting 20 Million stem cells! We will get to go home when he is done with that. We are enjoying Daniel and Kira being here.

Tuesday 26Th Curt went to have labs done and his count was so good that they started collection of his stem cells one day early! He will do this for 3-4 days.

Sunday 24Th Took Curt to have labs to see when they will do a stem cell collection. They think it will happen on Tuesday. Matt went with us on Saturday.

This is Curt's PA. we see her everyday. Matt was there with us on Saturday too.

Low Energy

Friday. dressing change today. Energy is very low.

That's our Curt

When we got home last night (VA RV hookups) Curt noticed that a better spot was open. We were set up on pavement and wasn't very level. He said that he would move the trailer in the morning. He was too tired right then. Jeff Johnson came over to check out our hot water heater to see if it can be fixed. He noticed that our truck wasn't there. I had parked it in the vacant space so no one could move in there. He told Curt that he would move it NOW. I was sure glad but of course Curt didn't want him to have to move it. We made Curt stay out of the way and Jeff and I got it moved and set up. It was so nice to wake up and have lawn, a tree and a level place to have the trailer! We put the table and chairs outside so we have a much bigger kitchen.

We are here at Huntsman Cancer Hospital ( HCH) this morning. Curt got his meds changed for the day and I came to the media room to finish my reports for my exchange students. He is getting used to having a backpack with him constantly. We are going home in a few to just rest. Most of the days here have been spent here at HCH. It will be good to have a day that we don't have classes, or meetings! Curt is very positive and happy. He is an inspiration to me and helps me when I get frustrated or sad. What a guy. He also keeps the nurses entertained. Yesterday was his first time in the infusion room. It has windows but the blinds are always down. The windows only go to the hall way so people can look in when they walk by if the blinds are up. Of course we had them up. He doesn't care who sees him. A doctor walked by and came in and complained to the head nurse that there was a patient in there and everyone could see what was going on! The nurse came and talked to Curt and then put up a sign."This patient is aware that he can be seen" It really was pretty funny and Curt was just waving at everyone as they walked by. That's our Curt!

We came to HCH this morning at 10:00 A.M. to start Chemo. So much to learn! I will be giving Curt a shot every night for the duration of the treatment. Maybe as long as a year. They gave him a little back pack with two different drug packs and it runs through a pump. So for the next four days, 24 hours a day he will be carrying his new friend (backpack) with him. He is slowly getting used to it. It will be interesting to see how he does at night.

At 2:00P.M. We came for an information/class. We first saw Patrick who is the physical therapy specialist. He told us about exercising and the facilities that Huntsman has. They even have acupuncture, massage, exercise classes, etc. Then we saw dietician who told us all the foods that Curt can and cannot have.

The social worker came in next to give us information on coping and groups to go to. Yuck! Then an RN came in to talk to us about the whole process of the chemo, retrieval of stem cells, when Curt would feel good and when he wouldn't. This could be a long process. He actually will go through 2 transplants. When I know more about the process I will write it all down. Right now I am on circut overload! Curt is being very positive and up about the whole thing so we are just going with the flow. Everyone we have talked to says that Curt is a very good candidate for this type of treatment. Thats good news so off we go!

Well curt started his chemo today. he has to carry a back pack for four days with a pump. it will take some getting used to. We have a class right now.

We are here at Huntsman Cancer Hospital in a media room. This is a great place and Curt is really optimistic about this journey. We see Dr. Zangari at 2:00P.M. today. He will start the Chemo tomorrow. I love that I can keep a record of this journey and everyone can see his progress too. Thanks to everyone who has helped. We so appreciate everything!

Well i'm going to try this out. monday curt had tri pic line put in. It has line straight to his heart. it leaked last night so we made quick trip back.

Port was put in today. Basically a small backpack that will deliver the chemo therapy doses. They are now resting. More testing over the next two days and the chemo doses start on thursday.