Friday doctor visit

Ok, first and foremost, MAD props and thanks for all the prayer over the last two weeks for the negative result on that Flat 3 ligand test.  Got the results today and once again the prayer warriors dedication paid off!  We are free and clear of THAT obstacle!  Thanks everyone!

First thing Dr. Caton said to Mark today was, "Wow, you look GOOD!".  Gotta love hearing that from an oncologist ey??  And yes, I gotta agree, my man does look good!  And he FEELS good!  It's gonna be a great week this week feeling and BEING normal!  We're even gonna get out and weed this weekend AND we're gonna do a date on Tuesday!  It's the little things.

All of Mark's blood counts are back to normal.  COMPLETELY NORMAL!  Praise God.  We were a little confused on the plan for the next four months so let me clarify for y'all.

Mark starts his "consolodation chemo" on Monday 4-13.  He will be getting HEAVY doeses of the chemo Monday, Wednesday and Friday of that week then will be release on Saturday.  This is week ONE.   The next week, or week TWO, is rest time.  Dr. Caton said he expects Mark's blood counts to be down by Thursday or Friday of week two and that's when the trouble starts.  He will be Neutropenic and will start having fevers again.  Once those fevers start he will be readmitted for antibiotics and 24 hour care.  Sometime near the end week THREE his counts should be coming back and will be released back home to rest up the rest of that week then for all of week FOUR (God willing).    We will then start again with week ONE the following Monday.  It is a four week cycle instead of a two week cycle like we'd thought before.  We had assumed when the doc said "week in week out" of the hospital he meant that we'd be doing the chemo every other week...not that he expects Mark to be SO SICK that he'll be back in.  Oy.  He also said by the end Mark will be wrecked.  It's gonna be harder and harder on his body and for him to recover.  BUT...it could be worse!!

We go in early on 4-13 to have Mark's blood drawn to HLA match him for blood marrow.  At this time we aren't planning for a transplant, but the chances of the Leukemia coming back in the first two years are 65%...so Dr. Caton wants to get the match going so IF he has a relapse we won't have to wait as long or even at all.  BUT, we all know that's not going to happen because God is so good and will get Mark through these odds as he has all the rest.  Just another step we have to take to make us all worry!  hehe!  But yes, please add this to the prayer.

Don't forget about the bbq on the 10th!!  We are excited about it and want lots of people here so get on the phone and RSVP!!  :)

~B~