Okay, we can count the bottles left in our countdown on one hand. Definitely getting closer to home.

Today began very early this morning with lab testing and an injection for my osteoporosis to protect me from future hip fractures. The lab results for my scorecard were stable. I am still anemic as before, my ANC count is stable at 800, and my platelets are very happy at 135,000. My kidney functions are still squeezed as they have been. One interesting and somewhat fascinating piece of data that came back today, is that although my CLL is nonexistent, my bone marrow has consistently shown a small clone of plasma cells. These plasma cells are seen in Myeloma or a precurser called MGUS. My team has analyzed my blood and urine for the proteins that indicate the myeloma precursor and the final results in today show that although there are these scant cells in my bone marrow my blood and urine are clear of these light chain proteins. That allows us to cross off another potential problem.

Sharon and I did a lot if packing today. Boxes are piling up for UPS who will receive them on Thursday. After that we can concentrate on our luggage. Tomorrow is a day off from the clinic and we will wait for Apria to come pickup all my oxygen equipment. It will also be a joyous day as Sharon and I will quietly celebrate our 47th wedding anniversary.

Larry and Sharon

The bottle countdown is back on. Heading toward an end of the week have a beer day.

A pretty laid back Sunday today. We took our usual walk. I had my usual nap. In between I started packing. It is interesting that on planning to arrive in Seattle, packing was more difficult as I needed to choose what to bring. Turned out, way too much stuff. For packing on the way back, all I need is mostly to empty drawers and fit everything into boxes to ship, which will be done this Thursday, and items to check or carry on the plane on Saturday.

We had visitors today as Phillip and his family paid us a visit. Luckily, I woke up from my nap in time to see everybody.

As I have noted, tomorrow is a day for lab testing, and a treatment for my osteoporosis. And then more packing.

Larry and Sharon

I made it to day +100. When I began this journey, first time last September, and this time in early May the 100 day marker seemed so far away. It is hard to believe that this day has arrived. It means I have passed the point of most likely mortality from the transplant, although I am not totally in the clear as GVHD can raise its ugly head at any time.

I am not in the same great shape that I was prior to beginning of chemo now 105 days ago. I have lost weight. My stamina is not what it was. I don’t feel as if I can multitask as I have been able to do for most of my life.

Having said that, I am here and barring any surprises this week will be home one week from today. I look forward to visiting with friends and family although will need to pace myself and hope everybody understands there is still a 9-month road ahead for recovery.

I have to thank my brother Dave who donated his cells and essentially saved my life. I have to thank my spouse, best bud, Sharon for her diligence in making sure the environment I have been living in is clean and for noticing every little change in me that could be meaningful. Of course the clinicians here ar Fred Hutch are heros who have been dedicated to my cure over the last 4-years.

The bottle countdown will be restarted tomorrow. Cheers to you.

Larry and Sharon

A laid back day, all things considered. I took a walk up the clinic to drop off a 24-hour urine collection and then stayed pretty close to our apartment. I have been putting in a lot of steps this week and felt like a day off was needed.

Next week is all set for my final appointments. I have the weekend off from clinic visits and will quietly celebrate day +100 tomorrow. That is a big deal. Some things in the last 100 days are a blur and with Sharon’s help and caring I made it through.

Next week I will have an infusion on Monday for my osteoporosis as well as a set of labs. On Wed we will have our discharge conference with the recommendations for my follow up in Sacramento. Thursday will bring my last set of lab tests here as well as the removal of my central line chest catheter. Friday we will have our last clinical team visit and then home on Saturday the 16th.

Our bottle countdown will begin this Sunday. Get your beer ready.

Larry and Sharon

The bottle countdown has restarted as we got one step closer to our journey home. Today I had a visit with the oral health team and was released noting no oral problems. They suggested I use a fluoride enhance toothpaste at bedtime and am cleared for the treatment for osteoporosis. Of interest is that unless I have a dental emergency, when I return home, I am to have no dental work or even a hygienist appointment until I am 1-year out from transplant.

In meeting with my clinical team today they also said I am cleared to go with final visits and staging next week. I have been taking a medication to combat CMV virus and that will end this coming Monday. I also take an antifungal medication to prevent fungal lung infections. As of tomorrow that will end. Next week my immunosuppressive drug cyclosporine will be placed on a taper schedule over the next 6-weeks, barring any incidence of GVHD. I can also cut back on my magnesium pills and it will be good to lessen the number of pills I take.

My scorecard is good today with the exception that my Hb/Hct dropped a bit to 9.9/29. That puts me squarely into an anemia state. This has not impacted my walking as I took two trips up the hill to the clinic and a total of 12,000 steps. Otherwise my platelets and wbc counts are stable. My kidneys are still squeezed although not as bad as earlier this week.

We have not yet begun to pack up, although after today’s visits we are motivated and will be packing and contact Apria home health to come pick up all of our oxygen equipment.

We will have one more hold in our bottle count to synch up to our last day here next week.

Larry and Sharon