Inching my way to when my team tells me I will begin to feel better. Having said that, we are still on the nominal curve. It’s not that I am feeling so terrible, it’s just that the fatigue and GI symptoms such as nausea tend to wear me down as it is pretty unrelenting. Today I did walk one-tenth of a mile around the halls.

In some ways I feel as if I am in the story Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and in that I am falling down the rabbit hole. I know there will be a bottom, just can’t see my way to that yet.

That is it for now. Take care,

Larry and Sharon

Another day and another report from my team that I continue on a nominal course. Yes, I have some issues, fatigue, GI upset, cough, and if you can believe it hiccups.

My appetite has been problematic. The dietician comes in almost every day and gives me advice about what to order for my meals and snacks. I try most of them and can’t stand the taste. So I do the best I can. The threats are that if I don’t have enough intake I could be a candidate for a feeding tube or total IV feedings. Neither of these is preferred by me but I can’t fight what needs to be done.

I am told my condition will continue to slide a bit before the new cells kick in. One hour, one day at a time.

I am being supplemented and received my 2nd platelet transfusion last night. Everything here is being monitored.

Take care,

Larry and Sharon

I am told that my course continues to be as expected. Although today I was quite fatigued and spent a fair amount of time glued to my mattress. I hope to get some rest tonight although for anyone who has had inpatient hospital experience knows that has its challenges.

Short and sweet tonight.

Be well,

Larry and Sharon

As we approach the turn of the clock to midnight, I approach Day +7. My team continues its positive evaluation that I am proceeding according to plan. Over the next few days to a week I look forward to my new cells “engrafting.” I am told until that time I will continue to feel a bit off my usual.

Every evening at about 11pm my daily blood tests are drawn. Last night I was found to have a low platelet count and received my first platelet transfusion. I am told this will not be the last blood product transfusion I will need. I am so grateful to those who donate blood. It is a selfless act that helps so many people.

I did take my walking laps around the floor today and passed the 3-mile mark of walking since my arrival 1-week ago. I used to be able to run 5k in under 30-minutes. In my current situation, achieving that in a week doesn’t seem so shabby. So I will keep on trucking

Thanks again for all the support we receive.

Larry and Sharon

Yesterday I began the medication to help in the new cells not rejecting me. I will receive that twice daily via IV in the hospital and will change to oral when I am released. Otherwise not too many changes in my treatment today. Having said that, as is a common theme going from day to day, my own cells that are to be produced in my bone marrow are decreasing. This morning my white cells were still hanging around but too few to count. My platelet counts are getting close to needing a transfusion and same for my red cell counts.Testing is done at 11pm each night so the next days treatment plan can be made.

My clinical team told me this morning that I continue to follow a usual course. In my head the word that popped in was “nominal.”

Those who know me understand that I am a bit of a space cadet. I follow rocket launches to this day. I think what has been created lately with SpaceX able to soft land their booster rockets is amazing. I also like space fiction – Star Wars, Star Trek and so on.

The word nominal is used frequently in rocket launches whether with or without astronauts. Here comes my point. When an astronaut is rocketed from the launching pad, and the ascent is deemed nominal, they are not telling us what the astronauts are feeling with all the extra “G” forces. They have to be impactful and nominal may refer to the trajectory, and it may refer to the vital signs of the people in the capsule’s. I can imagine that there are very physical effects although very little mention is made. Of course these effects are temporary.

When I am told, my course in nominal, that implies I am following the curves based on what is expected. And like an astronaut pulling G forces, I can tell you the nominal is not without physical stress. I am told these stresses, like G forces will accelerate over the several days and then I will somewhat feel better. I am hanging in there. Taking what is thrown at me. Your support is palpable. Thanks,

Larry and Sharon