October 21st

So, today, I come home from work. Jackie, the super nurse/bone marrow coordinator of Dr Strair's.. she calls and tells Chris that Strair should have preliminaries on the biopsy by end of day.. holy shit...

Well, a few hours later... she calls back

It is leukemia. It has comes back

This is exactly why he needed the bone marrow transplant from Day 1 when they first diagnosed him.... because this leukemia can come back THIS fast... and with a vengence...

So... Dr Strair is ready to move him right into bone marrow transplant.

Jackie is working on scheduling a date. We will see the doc on Thursday for final information...

Its disappointing that the leukemia is back before transplant... but the transplant goal is to get rid of the leukemia... and leading up to transplant, he is getting major strong chemo to get rid of a lot before the new bone marrow gets put in...

The good news, is we are getting ready to take care of this nasty disease... its overwhelming.. we had a very overwhelming summer, a more overwhelming few weeks with the leg issues and lumps, and a very very ridiculously overwhelming day. Today was the reality we were ready for, but you never really are totally ready. Shit.. no one thinks they will get hit with this at 28, out of no where.. I am so proud of Chris... he is so strong.. even though he thinks he isnt sometimes...

We are trying as best we can to mentally prepare for this 4-6 week stay in the hospital for transplant... We arent sure how soon Chris will be admitted. Thursday we will most likely know.. it could be as soon as Friday.. it all depends on how fast the donor can be ready to donate his goods... 10 days before transplant day (Day "0") is when they start the chemo for Chris... 6-8 days of chemo and then 2 days of rest.. and then on DAY ZERO is when they transfuse the new bone marrow into Chris....

Let me tell you, this leukemia coming back so damn fast after 3 rounds of chemo and a clean petscan (or almost clean petscan) in July is a reality check... this is exactly why a transplant is necessary to fix him.. and this is also a time to realize how lucky and blessed we are that in the midst of this terrible disease.. this unfair time in our lives.. how great it is that Jackie and the National Database was able to find a donor.. and so soon...

This, is definitely helping us keep the faith.. faith that God is looking out for Chris and me and all of us.. that He has a plan... and we just pray that he is on our side in all of this...

So... on that note... my blog is officially current.. I really wish I thought of starting this blog back in June.. but nonetheless its caught up, it exists and I will update frequently... I will write more in a couple days when we have more information from Roger (Dr. Strair)

Please keep us in your prayers... and feel free to contact us, comment, email, etc..

love you all, Jenn and Chris

October 13-October 20 - Petscan & Spinal Tap Happen

Ok... So Monday October 13th comes. They schedule Chris to go down to down to petscan and to radiology for the spinal tap.
The reason they do spinal tap down there (when they are not successful at bed-side) is because they can see exactly where they need to poke to get to the spinal fluid. A neuroradiologist does the spinal tap... and then a fellow (From Dr Strair's team) does the push of chemo into the spine.

Well ,listen to this...
Remember the fellow that told us on October 10th that her brain was not efficient? Yea, well she was the one down in radiology who was to push the chemo... She was not there at first... She walks in, and immediately his blood pressure and heart rate went up. When it was time for her to do her part, the neuroradiologist actually tells her to assist him and he takes over. Chris said she looked like a fish out of water.... So spinal is all over... the fellow leaves.. and the neuroradiologist basically agrees with Chris that he has no confidence in her.

Chris is sent back to his room. I come back to the hospital. We spend the night hanging out...
I go to work the next day (Tuesday Oct 14) The team of doctors comes around.. still no petscan results... ugh...
Finally Chris is frustrated waiting for results. they usually rush to get his results
He calls Dr Strair and immediately he is like "why havent the petscans been read yet?"
40 minutes later he calls Chris and tells him there is new activity on the petscan. He tells Chris he can go home and come see him in 2 days...
October 16th, we go see Dr Strair. They tell us about the new activity. Dr Strair needs to find out if these 5 new lumps/growths on Chris's thighs, belly, and elbow are leukemia or not. We have an x-ray after the appointment to make sure that there are no growths on bones that might cause a fracture. And, we have the biopsy of a bump on the right thigh scheduled for Monday the 20th
The 20th comes.. Dr Partridge- who we love- removes the growth... Chris feels good.. they used a local.. so he can go home almost immediately... we go home and await the results... it shouldnt take more than a few days...