Sept. 5th, 2007

First day of testing and all went fairly well. I had a bone marrow biopsy first thing with sedation. That took only about an hour total. I was still a bit groggy from that while I headed off to my PET scan, where they give you a Zanax. So, I was a little loopy most of the afternnoon. We got home around 4:00 and I slept until 9:00. The worst thing about all of it today was before the PET scan the nurse blew a vien in my hand while accessing my IV. I don't know if any of you have ever had that happen before, but it hurts like a SOB! So, they had to pull that IV and start a new one on the opposite arm. That was my first experience with that. OOOWEEEE! I hope it is my last!
One a lighter (and so much bettter) note, we are flying Raisa and Larson here tomorrow night! I can't wait (Kevin either!)! They will stay through Sunday. It will be both of their first time flying solo. They have flown many times with us, just never alone. I am so excited to see them (and it hasn't even been a week yet!). We decided to do this because when we visited with the stem cell Doctor today, he didn't think it was a good idea for us to leave next weekend. I guess they are going to start the Neupegen (may be spelled wrong!) shots next week which will start to increase my stem cells and push them from the marrow into the blood. There are a few side effects from that that they want me here to be able to monitor me. If they wait until the following Monday, we may still be able to come home, but we won't know until next week when we see the Dr. again.
I was talking with the Doctor about the trial I am in. There are only 40 people that will be accepted into this trial. I am #1 to start. I was not aware of this before. There were 2 previous ones that were to start and I would have been #3, but they were both kicked out of the trial for disease progression. I had actually met one of the 2 online. She was do to start right before me (they are only doing one at a time), but had progression (it was in her liver). She passed away the first part of August. It just makes me so mad that there is no cure for cancer.
Tomorrow, I have xrays and an anthesiologist consult and that's it. I will proably not post tomorrow night, as we will be picking up our kids from the airport and enjoying time with them!
Take care!
~Kasey