Hurry-Up and Wait

After Seattle, Michael's doctors put him on a second chemo regiment and told him to get some exercise and sunshine. Anchorage in early spring is OK for exercise but not sunshine. Storms roll in from the northwest on a frequent basis. Sunshine, when found, last only a few hours and is, at best, anemic.
Solution, head home to Georgia for a month of visiting with friends, camping in the Smokies, a road trip to North Carolina, some work, Sue's cooking and sunshine in abundance. We are having another hot and dry spring.
Back in Anchorage for more blood testing and doctors probing and measuring what ever needed such actions. Michael will continue the origional chemo treatment of thylidamid, which is one pill a day, every day. The new chemo treatment will be administered IV, twice a week, and is to reduce ( the level of mutated white blood cells. In plain terms, kill the Bad-WBC. A bout with puneumonia delayed this but all was underway by mid-May.
With both types of chemo in progress we are at the Hurry-Up and Wait stage. This is an old saying from the Army, you were always made to hurry-up in preparation for training, mass movement or some event that was to take place. After hurrying, as required, one could wait endless hours in line, formation or the field for "something to happen".
We are now at this point! All initial testing is complete, a donor has been selected, the clinic is providing us with instructions for Michael's care and needs, post bone marrow transplant patient. Housing is available, we think, and we are making preperations for three to four months in Seattle, which is the normal recovery period. Plans for the pets and house are still unsettled but will come into focus. Friends are working several types of fund rasing events that are doing well. A note of thanks here, friends and strangers have been most generous with their help and prayers.
Waiting. Waiting for the correct blood count of Bad-WBC. Then we will shift to the hurry-up mode!

Seattle Road Trip

Michael, with Sue in tow, flew to Seattle last week. They spent two days at the University of Washington Medical Center-Seattle. They were the guest of Sean, and wife, Laura McCann and Mike McCann. The McCanns, boyhood friends of Michael, made the visit much easier and getting around a snap.

The purpose of all this was to meet the doctors and staff at the Medical Center and prepare for the bone morrow transplant and recovery. There was bad news and good news that came out of the session. The bad news is that the cancer is very aggressive. This will require additional chemotherapy, pre-transplant, and then the use a donor for the transplant. This procedure is more complex and has more variables than using Michael's own cells for the transplant.

Now the good news, the donor transplant produces better results and the expectations for the duration of a state of remission is much longer! The recovery time, post transplant, will be extended to four months, about twice the time as we initially thought. So time in Seattle will be extended for Michael's outpatient treatments and recovery.

The Social Services from the Medical Center provided a tour of housing options and Sue was impressed with the facilities, their location and choices . There is a Shuttle Bus service that loops from the Medical Center to housing units and will make stops at shopping locations.

Michael experienced two full days medical exams, process explanations, facilities visitation and his required activities and contributions that will be needed for a successful transplant and recovery. Sue was on the same schedule and then added the housing tour.At this time Sue jumped on a plane and went back to Anchorage for a rest. Michael will spend some quiet time with the McCanns and take in some of Seattle and the local area.

The Medical Center has started the search for a donor match. It will take at least six weeks to get to a point where the transplant will be scheduled. This will allow time for Michael to take the stronger chemo and get his blood count down to acceptable levels.

Grandpa Bob

Bob Kattness, of McGregor, TX, had 13 grandchildern at the time of his death January 28th, 2008. Michael was the second oldest by a few months and, as usual withl granddads, Bob was very special to Michael. Due to his condition, Michael was not able to make the trip to Texas for Grandpa Bob's services. That did not prevent Michael from taking part and being involved in the proceedings. He was an Honorary Pallbearer, along with two younger grandsons, and his cell phone kept him in touch with everyone and brought his presence to all functions.

The Holiday Season

Christmas and New Years by long distance was the mode for this year's holidays. Michael spent this time in Anchorage with family and friends. While he is doing well and could travel, too many holiday travelers make their flights with a cough, fever, cold, virus, flu or a combination of all of these ailments. Since Michael's immune system is not up to par, 15 hours of flight time and exposure to all those traveling germ generators, was not something to undertake and see what happens.

Once again Aunt Jamie comes to the rescue. Christmas dinner with Bill, Jamie and their family provided Michael the opportunity to over eat, just like all the rest of us. Gifts were exchanged by mail but next time I'm going to write a letter to Santa. Have you ever mailed or shipped something to Alaska? Shipping charges can make one turn into a Scrooge!

New Years Eve was rather tame for a young person. Just thinking back through the years, I'm not sure why I ever took part in that organized, at times bordering on pagan, mayhem. Maybe it was an annual reminder not to partake in such activities. Now back to Michael, a quiet evening with friends and home to bed at a reasonable hour.

2008 is upon us and well under way. Every thing is normal, there is a lot of snow and it's cold in Anchorage. Once again, I missed the spread on nearly every bowl game but that is only a little tarnish on my pride since I have lost my Sports Wagering, Inc. phone number. I think it was 1-800-LOOSEIT.

There is progress to report on the medical front. Michael's doctors have given him the OK to make a trip to Seattle for tests and a walk through in preparation for the bone marrow transplant. His current chemo therapy continues to work and the transplant is the next step. Target for Seattle is early February.

Updates to follow!

Merry Christmas to One and All

A personal thank you to each of you who responded to the call to support Bobby, Sue and their family whether it was your time, money or prayer.

For the past weeks, I have felt almost as thought time had been turned back. Wanda, Diane and Beverly once again became an active part of my world as we joined hands in the effort to let you know about Michael. Many of you sent notes, and they were so appreciated. It's been a long time since 1960, but that time vanished in the joy of being in contact with you.

By the way, when the McGregor Mirror was contacted to print a copy of the note that went to you, they graciously did so without charge.

And, finally, a special thank you to Bobby and to Sue for allowing us the opportunity to help.

Best regards,

Barbara

Thanksgiving

While Thanksgiving is our most traveled holiday, Michael did not get involved in the mad rush of trains, planes and automobiles. He spent Thanksgiving in Anchorage. With his immune system severely repressed, contact with the masses, while traveling, is not in his best interest.
Before you rush out to UPS with a CARE package, Michael did not miss out on all the goodies that come with Thanksgiving. Uncle Bill and Aunt Jamie included Michael in their family get-to-gather. Roast turkey, candied sweet potatoes, green bean casserole and Texas style cornbread dressing with gravy and pecan pie. I think I'll check out the left overs here, a cold turkey sandwich sound inviting.

Thanksgiving is not just about a meal, family and friends. It is true basis of the celebration and our annual opportunity to reflect and give thanks for our blessings. We have experienced many over this last year:

• Friends old and new who have provided prayers and support in more ways than we can count. Friends have offered so much they would have to take a number to be recognized.
  
• Classmates from school in McGregor get a special heading. The reason, because 12 years or so plus 47 years has not lessened the bond we developed while growing up together. I have a stack of Emails, cards and notes 18 inches to my left that will verify this statement!
• Providence Hospital and their tremendous staff. These folks have done things for Michael that I thought had been lost in our current social setting.
• Alaska Oncology with special notice to Dr. Max and Nurse Margie (she is a retired Air Force Lt. Col. and has a unique ability to motivate people).
• Celgen, a "big" pharmacological company, that responded in mere hours to the hospital's request to supply Michael's chemo Rx, free. That was for the first month and Nurse Margie has encouraged them to continue this practice for and they have for six months and counting.
• Mindy Exline and her boundless energy and friends that have established a Fund and are working to raise money, in Georgia, to help with the cost of a bone marrow transplant.
• A wonderful group of girls, from MHS Class of 1960, that have established a Fund for Michael, in Texas and all over the world. I'm not sure of their reach but it is expansive.
• Alaska Social Services.
• Social Security representatives that, contrary to their reputation, have handled Michael's filing in just several weeks and with an unexpected personal touch!
• Michael's spirit and drive to, "beat this cancer".
• The Good Lord and his many blessings.
  

Michael's Travels

As noted in the last update, Michael is felling better, a lot better. This may be short term because a change in chemo is forthcoming. That said, he has been very active of late. In late October Michael flew home to Georgia for a five day weekend. This was a trip that had been planned for some time, he was to attend a close friends wedding. Between wedding functions and activities ( a limo was sent to meet him at the airport and whisk him, directly, to an ongoing Bachelor Party) he spent time with many of his friends. His activities were enough to have him looking forward to the long flights to Anchorage and sleep on the plane. Now this is a personal opinion, having flown my share of commercial flights, but you have to be partied out to look forward to sleeping on an airplane!

The important aspect of all this is that Michael's condition has improved to the point he was able to make the trip and enjoy the rapid paced activities with his friends.

Michael is traveling another road as well. This road leads to Seattle, WA with increased intensity and aggressiveness on his chemo-therapy. This will be a prelude to a bone marrow transplant, which is the major phase of his treatments for multiple myeloma. All current medical activities and personal health steps are in preparation for the road and travel to Seattle!

Michael had not yet qualified for health insurance, at his job in Anchorage, when diagnosed with cancer. His medical community "team" includes a Social Worker and a personal Financial Aid staff member. Their efforts and rapid actions are now producing results. Michael has received some benefits from the State of Alaska, Social Security was quick to respond (hard to believe but true) and granted him disability status. This status only makes sense Michael has bone weakening and deterioration and is not able to work due to concerns with breaking bones. With the SS classification Alaska will provide some health care benefits through Medicade.

Along with Michael's medical treatments and progress, his personal health regimentation and the benefits that have become available, the Road to Seattle is now shorter, straighter and smoother.