Good Start

Today was a moving day for Florence. The surgery team and BMT team came by her ICU room to visit. She had her chest tube removed but kept the PCA (patient controlled analgesic). The senior BMT physician talked to us about the referral doctor we were to see in Corvallis. He told us that Dr. Neville in Corvallis is top notch and that he has agreed to work with us for blood draws and infusions if they become necessary in the future.

As for now, with remission (no Leukemia in the marrow) that means we now can move on to consolidation therapy. So, as it stands now, we will be home for a week then return to OHSU on Monday July 23rd for the first day of 2 consolidation Chemo treatments (one in the am; one in the pm) and return on Wednesday and Friday for the same. Then some time off again to recuperate and then return two more times for the same.

As for transplant, none of Florence’s siblings are a match. So that will leave getting Florence to the point where the team can harvest her stem cells or to look for an unrelated donor.

So for now Florence needs to get stronger. She is spending Saturday night, Sunday, and Monday morning in 7C until she is discharged. Her nurse tonight is Lisa whom she has had caring for her while on 5C, so that is nice. I am sleeping in the 5C sleeping room again and Lisa said she would roam the halls tonight in an effort to find a cot so I can stay in Florence’s room tomorrow night.

So, if all goes well we will see you in Albany Monday evening.
Thank you again for the prayers, thoughts, and wishes.

Our journey isn’t over, but it has a good start.
Larry