Wednesday Oct 29th Updates- More Chemo

Ok... well...
Dr Strair came to see us yesterday (Tuesday) around 6pm
There is now leukemia in his bone marrow.. it had not been there before ...
He is saying its about in 30% of his bone marrow... calls it a "fair" amount...
We definitely did not want to have this be the case, because if there was none in the marrow, we could be moving into transplant now...
But the good news, all things considered, is that Dr Strair has a plan... I guess the 30% is low enough that they can treat it... They are starting him on a round of chemo. The donor is on hold... he is ready for Chris when we are ready.... whoever this wonderful guy is...
Dr Strair's hope/goal is that this chemo reduces the leukemia in his marrow to 10% or less. If that happens (they will re-do the bone marrow biopsy in about 2 weeks) they will go ahead with the transplant. They will literally call the donor (the database people coordinate that since we dont "know" who the donor is) and get him scheduled. As soon as Chris's counts come up after this chemo, they will move him into transplant...
So, Dr Strair has come through with a plan... this is why he is the MAN...
Let me go back a bit...While we we waiting bone marrow biopsy results yesterday, Chris and I were both quite on edge, emotional, unsettled.. we prayed a lot... Sharon the chaplain came and prayed with us.. (oops I think I told you all this yesterday)
Anyways, my point in telling you this is because when Strair left the room yesterday evening, I felt God's presence.... I have never felt this before... and although I have always believed in God, in miracles, always had faith, etc... I had never ever seen or felt anything this real.... very weird but very calming...
I think God is telling us He hears us and He is with us.... He isnt letting us down... Just giving us, giving Chris another obstacle... I normally would ask WHY WHY WHY... he has been through so much already but Chris says "dont ask why" he says "ask what next?" Chris is amazing ... so strong ... so I go with it when I can...
So... Matt came last night... so did Christine Rapach (see recent blogs on who these people are if you do not know) and my brother.. My brother brought my new cell phone with him...Fed Ex had delivered it (Chris ordered me a new cell phone) its awesome the LG Voyager Titanium
Electronics always make Chris happy... Seeing Matt made Chris very happy
Christine brought Chris pizza.. and Starbucks.. and she brought me dinner too... she always brightens up the place and Chris loves being her shrink (sorry Christine)

OK. so today I went to work... I had a job fair so it was not an office day...
Chris called me and told me they are moving him from 5 North to 4 North (the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit) His platelets are low... and they will transfuse him... he is quite emotional because its new news and we are still trying to deal with the fact that he has more chemo coming...
Also he loves 5 North nurses... but we will get to know the bone marrow nurses and love them too I hope... They transfuse him with platelets and i text him from the job fair and he calls me... i am so busy at the job fair that i cannot answer.. I try texting and he is so out of it from the drugs and groggy meds that he cannot find the right keys to text me... poor Chris...
My parents go visit him for a bit.. I go home and crash.. i needed a nap.. so me and Rex napped...
Chris is neutrapenic... He cannot have fresh flowers in the room, cannot have fresh veggies, fruit, cold cuts, etc... If you visit, be clean and wash hands... wear mask if you are sick... blah blah blah..
this is part of why they moved him to the 4th floor
He is in a sterile, HEPA filter environment...
Poor Chris's appetite is all funky... he doesnt know what he wants to eat...
My brother is gonna go see him and get there before me... Chris wants Starbucks and all he feels like eating is Houlihans Potato Soup and he asks me to get it... but I just cannot do it...
I do not want him getting food poisoning at this point... there is always risk of bacteria with take out and who knows how many waiters ladel that soup.. i feel terrible... he is sooo bummed cus thats all he wants
I go to the grocery store... i buy canned soup... I get to hospital with soup and starbucks
The soup isnt yummy :( The nurse finds him a turkey sandwich... he also eats some graham crackers and it does the trick... whewwwww
Chris was informed that this chemo can be as ugly as what he went through in June... but Chris is strong.. he is healthy other than this freakin leukemia... so we will be ok...
Chris is scared.... I am scared.. but I am confident that God is on our side... but we have to keep asking Him for strength and blessings and all that...
So, we still pray... I thank you all for your prayers... and I ask that you all still pray
For those of you who dont pray, please trust me here... God has shown me he is here and Chris needs as much prayers as anyone right now...
Here is the plan... get Chris to that "less than 10%" level so that we move to transplant...
Oh, yesterday, I got a beautiful vase of flowers from Christine, Mike, and Ben to bring me sunshine.. they definitely did.. they are pretty.. thanks guys
Lew is flying up Monday... for a week I think.. and Chris is soo excited.. this will be good to have some more support up here
Matt- if you are reading this, I hope to see you up here more often while Chris is in here... I cannot tell you how happy I know Chris is to see more than just my face around here... :)
Lastly, I got home today, and there was a Fed Ex package for Chris.. I brought it here with the mail and Chris opened it and then gave me the contents.. its a gorgeous ring... He wanted to make things official...
We have been attached at the hip, going through a lot together, functioning like a married couple... and we knew we were soulmates when we first met.. Some nurses assume we are married.. others think we are engaged, etc etc... We are way more than just boyfriend/girlfriend so Chris wanted to put something on my finger to end all the confusion..
Of course, he couldnt get down on one knee.. i think the doctors woulda been a little mad
And, we cant exactly have a party right now...BUT.... we are happy...
When all is better, there will be a party to celebrate everything, including this official engagement... and I know Chris has a plan on re-popping the question when he isnt in the hospital... but for now, this is all that matters...
ok.. well Chris is dosing.. i should get rest..
thank you everyone again for the love and prayers
remember, we welcome visitors... and calls and all that..

love jenn