Here's a detailed update of what Allison has been going through recently. I'm pleased that, even though energy-robbing, she was able to write this update for us. We all hope the process she is going through will have the desired affect.
Thanks, Allison! kaw
May 23, 2012
I haven’t meant to leave everyone in the dark as to what is happening with Tony and Allison--just too tired! Anyway, here goes.
I am very fortunate to have two amazing physicians: Dr. Seghal in Corpus Christi and Dr. Oki at MD Anderson in Houston. They work very closely together to save my life. I was diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkins and NonHodgkins Lymphoma, which is EBV positive with skin lesion cropping up even as we watched! So, this was/is a unusual challenge. When I went to the hospital in Corpus Christi I was running a temperature of 101.5 and I was near collapse. I was transferred via ambulance to MDA. I
experience 2 respiratory crises and the respiratory team wanted to
insert a tracheotomy—I was alert enough at the point of question to
say,”NO!” In the emergency room,
during one of these episodes, a Leukemia physician told Tony not to
expect to have me alive more than 2 weeks. Tony immediately called prayer chains and trusted prayer warriors. I
have been so grateful for those who are constant in prayer and care for
me—both on the park, off the park, family and friends--& many I
don’t even know! I am so grateful to our Faithful God who answers those prayers. Your prayers, truly are powerful and effective (James 5).
I
underwent 2 sessions of CHOP chemotherapy for Stage IV Lymphoma—after a
PET Scan—at the urging of Dr. Segha--doctors found the Chemo wasn’t
working. So Dr. Oki chose to admit me to MDA for 4 days/24 hours per day Chemo—a different Chemo nt prescription : RICE. If this failed to work, the only alternative would be an experimental drug, which he said, “We really don’t want to do that.” One week Chemo, 2 weeks off, 3rd week more Chemo. After the first round the doctor said, “It doesn’t appear to be working.” I almost had to beg him to continue with the second round: “You said you would do two rounds and THEN do the PET scan…” so it was agreed that the second round would be done. After the second round, my doctor—and each of his staff, in turn—came in saying, “REMARKABLE!” A remarkable response to RICE—thanks be to God! And thanks be to each of you for your prayers!
I
want to tell you that Tony has been constant to care for me, Connie and
Ron have been responsible (and volunteered) to take care of the office.
The office hours are 1-5 Monday through Saturday. Kathy
Swanson puts the mail out each day, Carol Dietrich ensures the
chemicals get into the pool and spa, Chet keeps the flowers beautiful
and the drip water system working well, Ryan keeps the weeds and the
lawn under control. Those who
attend church are helping Mackie keep services on time each week, Mackie
is leading Men’s Ministry, Betsy is delighted to do the Bible Study at
Gulf Point Plaza—you see, it really DOES take a village and we are so
grateful to everyone who is helping. There are others, not named here
who help from time-to-time when they see a need arise. Last thing, Connie and Ron are leaving for 3 months on June 5—they gracioiusly chose to stay through the June Billing cycle. Don and Janet Placek will be at the park on June 11 to take over. So, in the meantime….
I
am preparing for Stem Cell harvest and an auto transplant—that means
taking my own stem cells whe immature, freezing them and eventually
giving them back to me—the hope, the plan and the confidence is
remission. We are so grateful for God giving us this American Eagle MH. I
underwent 4days/24 hours chemo, ending on May 18, to prepare for stem
cell collection. Now we are at Lakeview RV Park in Houston (4 miles from
MDA). We go to the hospital daily for labwork, Nupogen injections (to cause the stem cells to exit the bone marrow). When there are 400,000 stem cells available collection will begin. Today, I had a port placed into my left upper chest (kind of like for dialysis) into the subclavian vein. It hurt and I cried. I
think I cried more for everything, rather than just that stick! Anyway,
the plan is, as blood is withdrawn it will go through a machine to
separate the stem cells and the blood is re-introduced into my vein. This all happens out-patient. We have Malakai and Sapphira with us so Tony does a lot of being with me and running to potty puppies.
Once
the stem cell harvest is complete—which may be 4 days—I will be
re-hospitalized and receive Chemo until my white counts drop to 0 and I
am more tired than I’ve ever been. At just the right time, my stem cells will be re-infused into me. I will be hospitalized for 3-4 weeks. During
this hospitalized time, Tony can leave me if absolutely necessary (when
I’m out-patient, he has to be with me 24 hrs x 7 days) in order to get
me to the emergency room, in the event of reaction. He was actually suppose to have me for the 30-days; but the insurance company insisted I be in-hospital for 3-4 weeks, instead When I’m in-hosp, MDA wants him to be present for doctor rounds and whatever else comes up. BUT, he is hoping I will be in-hospital between the time Connie and Ron leave the park and Don and Janet arrive (June 5-11). That way, he can keep the office going and oversee some of the park necessities.
In
the meantime, he pushes me all over MDA in a wheelchair (can you
believe it?!), changes my PIC line dressings and flushes the lines—well
today we changed from the PIC line in the upper right arm; to the stem cell harvesting line in my chest. He has gone through chemo side effect: constipation leading to nausea and vomiting to diarrhea out of control! No appetite, weight loss, extreme tiredness, baldness—I mean not one strand of hair anywhere. There are many warnings about safety with razors; but there is really no need for one—anywhere. Do you know how fearfully and wonderfully we are made?! God thought of everything. I asked at clinic the other day, “Why does my nose run constantly?!” Because you have no hair to stop it. Ordinarily, the hair catches the mucous and it evaporates. How much we take for granted.
Well, I haven’t written before because I just did not have enough energy! Now, I’ve probably written too much. We
are praying for all of you and so glad that Helen Fahlsing is
recuperating from her stint and on her way today to see her sister! We’re
praying for Gayle and Jeanetta and so glad Gayle is tolerating his
chemo—we’re praying for God’s blessings and healing to him. We
are so glad that Sonia Enmen is under a good doctor’s care and
progressing toward health—and Dave, too, as he deals with peripheral
neuropathies in his feet. We’re
so glad to have Bob and Kathy with us—I miss seeing Bob; but I know he
knows he’s loved by me and the Lord Jesus. We’re praying for Dick
Carlson’s health; these blood infections and then the tumor in his
liver—Nothing is impossible with God.
I pray God is blessing all of you REAL good and look forward to seeing all of you this fall. We just thank God SO much for the beautiful friendswith which He has graced our lives.
Allison.
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