Alta Bates Nitty Gritty

Day +65 As far as Dr. Wolf is concerned, John is doing great. His platelets are continuing to fall from 126 to 92, but Dr. Wolf said for me not to freak out. It most likely is the medication causing the drop. He also said it could be the beginning of possibly a small amount of GVH, which of course we want to keep the leukemia away, but I hope it is the medication. John is getting stronger everyday, doing more, being careful not to let anyone breathe on him. The cardiology appointment went very well, the nurse practitioner who saw John said she could not hear the mitrovalve prolapse which means that the medication he has been on has allowed his heart to begin to rejuvenate itself. Amazing what the body of a 21 can do. Dr. Wolf also is cutting back the amount of prednisone he has to take. So before we know it John's face will be less swollen.

Not really much to report, John is boring which of course is our goal.

Day + 61 Great to have John finally writing about his personal experience. Today I am writing a quick update at our first visit back to Alta Bates Comprehensive Cancer Center!!! It was so great to see Alicia (Dr. Wolf's practice nurse) and all the other familiar faces. Of course it almost goes without mentioning seeing Dr. Wolf was truely a sight for sore eyes. Having him the "boss" of John's care again is very comfortable. It was quite busy at the center, but they sure do know how to do the right touchy feely stuff that makes a person feel special.

John's blood test were fine, his platelets dropped a bunch from 176 to 126, but I bet most of us have 50 point drops since the normal ranges from 150-400, that gives a lot of room to drop up and down. Since John does not have a lot of wiggle room, yet, I am sure it just seems like an enormous drop...and I will not worry. His hemoglobin was down a bit too, and again John had a big weekend, should of rested a bit more, but they are having him begin once weekly Epogen shots (injected of course by nurse Mom).

John has been given permission to not have to wear the mask outside. He now only has to wear it at the clinic and when he is in crowds. Yesterday he wore it during Scott's graduation, but a few other of us put one on too so he didn't feel awkward. To tell the truth I don't know how he puts up with having to wear the mask. I had a light duty mask on and after the two hour graduation I felt like I could hardly breath. John's tolerance to all of this treatment is amazing.

The graduation was really nice, Scott walked across the stage, keeping upright and making all who came to cheer him on proud. We had a nice little party for him afterwards, and John finished baking his half-baked Zachary's and it went down well, stayed down, in fact stayed down so well he put on a couple pounds.

Hello All this is John takeing a shot at writeing one of these goofy things because im sure you would rather hear from me then my my mom for once sense i guess this is suppose to be all about me. so ill try and write more on this to keep people posted about what im up to. well sense i have been back from the city of hope i have visited with a couple friends my best friend james who now currently headed for santiago chile i beleave and plans to stay there till january 13th the day be for he has to go back to school which is really going to suck for him i think. but any ways he is traveling with his girl friend to visit some of her famely down there. i just tell him dont get in trouble and to think hey would john do this. sense im his voice of reason and keep him out of trouble but for only seeing him for 2 days i think he missed me but he will have a good time down in chile. better weather down there then up here right now i tell you. so i was hanging out with him on thursday and friday night. Finaly got my car back from the shop. runs good. so im no longer stressing about my car being outside in the cold and now has a garage to keep it warm and coverd. LOL. saw my Girl friend on thursday and friday night also she came over to help me unpack. friday night i was suppose to have friends over but they all cut out on me last min. which kinda botherd me but its ok i had enough people around to eat my food i made. sense i made a big lasagna. me, james , pop and scott and cynthia my girlfriend were able to take a good chunk out of the lasagna. so i didnt feel it went to waste still got some in the freezer for later. tommarow night on scotts graduation i plan on haveing some pizza so im kinda takeing a chance there not eating my own food and all. but we are getting a special pizza just for me that ill be able to bake the rest of the way when it gets to our place. so i make sure i get a pipeing hot pizza. and i know the place so im not 2 worried about it i know they get alot of turn over and run a tip top place. finaly was able to see my buddy toney's brand new house. that was on friday afternoon. its a pretty nice place just needs a little bit of work on the inside and some rearrangeing of furniture to make the rooms flow better but other then that its all good. I got no plans really for next week yet. other then to just rest up. and watch movies. might go out to stockton on saterday to mustangsplus to get my core charge back for this part i bought.and then go hang out with cynthia but thats about it. still planing on seeing some famely for xmas eve. over at my aunt annets house and then after if im not beat which i shouldent be because i have no day plans i was gong to go out and see some of cynthia's famely. nothing big. my goal is to try and hopefully be able to start working again by late feb. just one or two days a week till school starts. which im hopefully planing on starting in early march if i have the energy but we will see. i should be able to work things out with work. to maybe start out slow and work a couple hours just to get my feet wet. but we will see. well every one take care and merry xmas and happy new years.
JOHN