Day +94

Bill is still doing GREAT!

Hair is growing back and needs to shave!   Taking a little rest on the couch (probably watching a game show or 2)



He and I went to a small par 3 golf course Wednesday to see how he would do!  It was not a smart day to go out given that the heat index was so high!  But non the less we took out a cart, I drove and he play about 10 holes.

Thursday he went out on his own and played the short course again this time 18 holes, of course, with a cart!  His goal is to play 18 on a more challenging course without the cart!  I know he will attain his goal,  may be not this season but in many to come!

Monday he will get his first round of the targeted drug Rituxan and hopefully the insurance has approved his oral drug.  These together will keep the monster at bay! 

He has decided to make some fleece blankets to take to the Chemo Center.  He always took one that Molly made him because he always got so cold.   It was very fun to see him working with fabric and it turned out great!




He is still planning on returning to work on August 13th.  His first trip out, to Atlanta, at the end of the month I will go along. 

Update on other issues:

Our newest friends we met at Northwestern:

Scott is home in Wisconsin, just celebrated his 50th Birthday, Leukemia free and doing great!

Don is also doing great! He, like Bill, received his own stem cells and  his test results are showing he is in complete remission!  We met him and his wife, Sue, for Coffee last week to catch up and compare notes!

Aimee is home in Chicago.  We met her at the clinic last week for a real hug and to catch up in person!  She was struggling with severe fatigue but they adjusted some of her meds and she is doing much MUCH better!  She had her Biopsy this week so we are anxiously awaiting some good news!

House still on the market with not much activity!  We have lowered the price as much as possible and St. Joseph is buried!  Not much else we can do!

Molly is studying 6-8 hours per day getting ready for the MCAT on August 16th.   Please keep her in your prayers!  Her nails are getting shorter and shorter!

I am still looking for employment, enjoying being home with Bill and Molly and trying to loose a few pounds!

Our very dear friends from California are setting out tomorrow driving Route 66 to see us!!!!  Can't wait!!!!!!!

We continue to be so so BLESSED!  

Thanks for keeping up with this crazy Journey and please know that ALL of you remain in our prayers!

Day +87

Progress.................Progress......................Progress!!!!!!!!!!!!

Each day Bill gets a little bit stronger, a little less tired and a little more like his old self! 

Yesterday Molly and I took him out to the driving range and we all shared a bucket of balls!  He did Great, Molly did Amazing and well........ we won't talk about my results!   haha   It finally cooled off a bit so it was a very nice time!

Today we made the full circle back to Bill's original oncologist!  He will be handling his after transplant followup!   We are waiting for the insurance company to approve a new oral drug that will continue to target the little bit of cancer still left in his bone marrow.    Since his type of cancer is very VERY rare there are very few drug protocols for Waldenstrom.  This drug is extremely expensive because it is still considered  new on the market and currently used for a similar cancer to his so our doctor may have to convince them.  We are not concerned as the insurance so far has been fabulous!

So the plan is:

Oral drug Revlimid 3 times per week
Infusion of Rituxan 1 time per month  (takes about 4-5 hours)

He will do this for the next six months.  At that point his two doctors will evaluate and then we see where we go from there!!!.

Bill is planning to return to work on August 13th.  We are still trying to sell the house and planning to move more toward retirement at least for him,  Insurance right now is what is dictating some of our decisions.   

Each day it seems more and more  things continue to move in the right direction and we are so thankful for God's continued blessings!

Day + 69 A Day to Celebrate

A Day to Celebrate.


We received the results of Bill's biopsy.  His cancer is now detected in less than 5 % of his bone marrow!!!!!!!!!


   YAY!!!!!!!!!!! 


When this Journey began is bone marrow was 90 % cancer.  The intensive chemo knocked out a huge portion of it and the transplant took care of almost all of it.  So YES he is now considered in REMISSION!

He now begins the maintenance part of the journey to keep him in this state of remission for a long LONG time.  

Thank you Thank you Thank you for all the positive vibes and prayers!!!!

I have felt such a strong connection as a result of keeping this blog. You reading it has and continues to give us all strength in so many many ways.   I plan on continuing  to post updates but PLEASE bear with me as they may be simply what we had for dinner!