Mark has been a little sick with this transplant, but that is to be expected and nothing like the last one. His white blood cells have started to drop so he is going into the neutropenic stage. This means highly susceptible to bacterial infections.
Starting Sunday we will be going into the clinic everyday to start watching for infection and for engraftment to take place.
Engraftment is the point at which the body starts to reproduce the white blood cells and platelets it needs and can once again fight infection.
Once again on the weeekends I have been giving Mark medication at home to save him the trips everyday into the Huntsman. This is the Dexamethasone which is helping him from getting so nauseated. He did not receive this medication with the last transplant because of the air in the belly.
Mark is very weak and tired and sleeps a lot that is to be expected.
Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Transplant #2
Hello Everyone, I am happy to say Mark went through chemo very well. Last time Mark was given one dose of Melphalan and was very sick one hour after that and didn’t let up for 16 days. This time Mark got the extra drugs to help prevent the sickening side effects and has done very well. Mark has not been sick at all yet.
.
Mark eating ice before and during the melphalan. Eating ice prevents mouth sores.
Look he has hair again, not for long.
Mark has been eating so well that the Doctor even teases him about his weight. He has gained back most of what he lost the first time.
Today was transplant and Mark has done so well with this also. Dr. Zangari signed the orders to proceed with the transplant, giving him four bags of stem cells. Again the frozen stem cells were brought in a capsule and then warmed up prior to injecting them back into Mark. He was then given two bags of saline. This took about four hours.
Again from the preservatives they store the cells with he smells like burnt corn. Thank goodness that only lasts a few days
.
This is Marny hooking mark up.
Mark giving Marny a bad time. Not a good idea when Marny hold the needles.
Much better than last time.
His next appointment is Thursday. Let's all hope for no infections.
.
Mark eating ice before and during the melphalan. Eating ice prevents mouth sores.
Look he has hair again, not for long.
Mark has been eating so well that the Doctor even teases him about his weight. He has gained back most of what he lost the first time.
Today was transplant and Mark has done so well with this also. Dr. Zangari signed the orders to proceed with the transplant, giving him four bags of stem cells. Again the frozen stem cells were brought in a capsule and then warmed up prior to injecting them back into Mark. He was then given two bags of saline. This took about four hours.
Again from the preservatives they store the cells with he smells like burnt corn. Thank goodness that only lasts a few days
.
This is Marny hooking mark up.
Mark giving Marny a bad time. Not a good idea when Marny hold the needles.
Much better than last time.
His next appointment is Thursday. Let's all hope for no infections.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Ready for Transplant #2
Mark & I met with Dr. Zangari today. All his test came back great, so he gave Mark the go-ahead to start the second transplant. However, last time Mark was given just the double dose of Melphalan. This time Mark will be doing the Chemo drugs starting Friday. On Friday he will get them at the Huntsman, Saturday & Sunday he will take pills at home and Monday he will go in to the Huntsman again. He is scheduled for the stem cell transplant on Tuesday, June 16th.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Wow on to High School
Well Shane graduated last Wednesday afternoon from the Grantsville JR high school. We are proud, way to go Shane!
Just another 8 months and Shane can have a learners permit for driving. I am not ready for this.
He started his new job only a day after school let out. He likes it so far.
As for Mark, he is dreading the time getting closer to the second transplant. He has done most of the testing and will meet with Dr. Zangari on the 10th.
Just another 8 months and Shane can have a learners permit for driving. I am not ready for this.
He started his new job only a day after school let out. He likes it so far.
As for Mark, he is dreading the time getting closer to the second transplant. He has done most of the testing and will meet with Dr. Zangari on the 10th.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
The change
Okay everybody, Steph has got so busy building a new company for her job and trying to spend some quality time with her family we have decided to let me take over the blog for a little while tell Steph can come back.
First we would like to thank Steph so much for all she has done with this page and hope that I don’t mess up all her hard work. Thank you Steph we love you.
So I would like to let everyone know I am not as great as Steph at this stuff. So if you will bear with me I will try to keep you up to date as things happen with Mark and his treatments.
Any questions or advice please e-mail or comment me, I will take any I can get.
So let’s back up to Memorial weekend.
Mark was given the okay to go to the dunes. That made him real happy sense he missed Easter weekend. Three of his brother’s and their families came out. Even his Dad & mom came for a day. A lot of our friends were there to help him out.
Mark took his rail to Delta on Saturday to some sand drags that were in town just to see what it would do. He said he heard the Doc say “no riding” he didn’t hear “no driving”. He was careful though.
Mark said he was happier to be driving his semi down there than to be going to the dunes.
This is how Mark likes to travel
This is what friends and family have to do when you brake your toy's
Okay funs over.
Mark has his schedule for the second transplant. He had his new port put in last week and know he is doing all the testing before transplant. He did labs, pulmonary and ECHO today. Thursday is MRI and CT’s. Friday is the bone biopsy. We meet Dr Zangari on Wednesday the 10th .On the 12 he will start the chemo for four days. If all goes according to schedule then he should transplant on June 16th.
Again Thank you Steph and bear with me everyone.
Also thank you to all of you who do watch Marks blog page.
Okay everybody, Steph has got so busy building a new company for her job and trying to spend some quality time with her family we have decided to let me take over the blog for a little while tell Steph can come back.
First we would like to thank Steph so much for all she has done with this page and hope that I don’t mess up all her hard work. Thank you Steph we love you.
So I would like to let everyone know I am not as great as Steph at this stuff. So if you will bear with me I will try to keep you up to date as things happen with Mark and his treatments.
Any questions or advice please e-mail or comment me, I will take any I can get.
So let’s back up to Memorial weekend.
Mark was given the okay to go to the dunes. That made him real happy sense he missed Easter weekend. Three of his brother’s and their families came out. Even his Dad & mom came for a day. A lot of our friends were there to help him out.
Mark took his rail to Delta on Saturday to some sand drags that were in town just to see what it would do. He said he heard the Doc say “no riding” he didn’t hear “no driving”. He was careful though.
Mark said he was happier to be driving his semi down there than to be going to the dunes.
This is how Mark likes to travel
This is what friends and family have to do when you brake your toy's
Okay funs over.
Mark has his schedule for the second transplant. He had his new port put in last week and know he is doing all the testing before transplant. He did labs, pulmonary and ECHO today. Thursday is MRI and CT’s. Friday is the bone biopsy. We meet Dr Zangari on Wednesday the 10th .On the 12 he will start the chemo for four days. If all goes according to schedule then he should transplant on June 16th.
Again Thank you Steph and bear with me everyone.
Also thank you to all of you who do watch Marks blog page.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Ready for the Dunes!
Things continue to go great for Mark. As of yesterday, he is no longer taking the Dexamethasone and Velcade, and the good doctor gave him permission to go have some fun.
Mark spent the past week packing up his trailer -- something that usually only takes a couple of days. He is so excited to be going to the Dunes with his brothers and friends.
He's had an issue with his knee and has been using a cane. They will look into it further after Memorial Day. According to the doctor, it's nothing that should stop him from heading out for the weekend. Dianna has been questioning the doctor about a medication that Mark has been taking called Levaquin as it can cause weak and ruptured tendons. However the doc says he is not taking a strong enough dose to cause any harm. Just cross your fingers that it's not the Myeloma that's attacking a weak spot.
The next appointment is on Tuesday with Dr. Zangari. They will also go over the treatment schedule then but it looks as though the second transplant could take place on June 1st. Mark will have his port put back in on Wedneday.
Mark and Dianna are very optimistic and looking forward to a summer of car shows and playing at the Dunes.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Kim and Denese. Kim has been very sick and in the hospital after having his second transplant.
Also, good luck to Kevin and Jackie with his transplant.
Hope you all have a great Memorial Weekend.
Mark spent the past week packing up his trailer -- something that usually only takes a couple of days. He is so excited to be going to the Dunes with his brothers and friends.
He's had an issue with his knee and has been using a cane. They will look into it further after Memorial Day. According to the doctor, it's nothing that should stop him from heading out for the weekend. Dianna has been questioning the doctor about a medication that Mark has been taking called Levaquin as it can cause weak and ruptured tendons. However the doc says he is not taking a strong enough dose to cause any harm. Just cross your fingers that it's not the Myeloma that's attacking a weak spot.
The next appointment is on Tuesday with Dr. Zangari. They will also go over the treatment schedule then but it looks as though the second transplant could take place on June 1st. Mark will have his port put back in on Wedneday.
Mark and Dianna are very optimistic and looking forward to a summer of car shows and playing at the Dunes.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Kim and Denese. Kim has been very sick and in the hospital after having his second transplant.
Also, good luck to Kevin and Jackie with his transplant.
Hope you all have a great Memorial Weekend.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Gaining Weight!
Mark had an appointment on Wednesday at the hospital and everything went well. Besides being a little grumpy, Mark is doing great. His appetite has come back with a vengeance and he has gained 11 pounds in a week! Blame it on Mexican food, ice cream and chocolate donuts.
Mark, Wes, Shane and Colton went to the Dunes last weekend for about 4 hours and it sure got Mark juiced up for Memorial weekend. We're told he was a good boy and stayed off all the toys.
Good luck to Kim. His second transplant is today.
A note to John & Evelyn Montoya -- If you see this post, please contact Mark & Dianna.
Happy Mother's Day to all you "mamas" out there.
Mark, Wes, Shane and Colton went to the Dunes last weekend for about 4 hours and it sure got Mark juiced up for Memorial weekend. We're told he was a good boy and stayed off all the toys.
Good luck to Kim. His second transplant is today.
A note to John & Evelyn Montoya -- If you see this post, please contact Mark & Dianna.
Happy Mother's Day to all you "mamas" out there.
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