A journey in life - musings of a doctor, husband, dad, grandad, brother, and friend

I was recently contacted by the AAFP News (from the American Academy of Family Practice) about my story and how other physicians stepped 'up to the plate' to help me out during the time I will be away from Skyline Family Practice. See my other post on those doctors who have started helping or will soon help us. Here is the link to the guest editorial: https://www.aafp.org/news/opinion/20180326guested-cancer.html I hope you enjoy reading it.  On another note, the financial help many have given on the GoFundMe page continues to help and is so appreciated.  The community and my church have continued to pour out blessings for Jan and I.  A community spaghetti dinner was done to help us last weekend. Provided by the Adult Sunday School classes at Riverton United Methodist Church and attended by many in the community, the event netted over $3700.  God is good!

I've been stuck at home recovering from this pericarditis as I wait to start the reassessments and testing to see if I can proceed with the rescheduled chemotherapy, radiation and stem cell transplant which will start again (prayerfully hoped for) on April 4th. A movie opened on 3/16 (which I was able to attend behind a surgical mask) - "I Can Only Imagine" whose title is based on the break-out best selling song by MercyMe.  What a great movie; no matter where you are in your personal faith journey!  The movie is about Bart Millard (lead singer for MercyMe) and his tough life as a child and his abusive father (played well by Dennis Quaid) - you'll have to watch the movie to see what happens!  The song itself, if you have never heard it, is great (the song linked to the image above.)  This song is inspiring, humbling and so hopeful. Yesterday, the Adult Sunday School class (Larry Moore's class) hosted a Spaghetti Luncheon Dinner at Riverton United Metho...

"Helen" (the Hickman catheter)* and I were having issues with each other. Jan, a great nurse, has been doing a 'bang up' job of taking care of flushing the catheter and changing the dressing.  However, 2 days ago, one of the lumens decided not to flush well at all.  Yesterday, that lumen would not flush at all.  Calls to Johns Hopkins and they suggested we get to our local hospital.  Warren Memorial Hospital was great from registration to XRAY (to check the placement of the catheter - thanks Beth) to going to Same Day Surgery.  Our nurse, Matt got the orders for CATHFLO (he did a great JOB!).  The CATHFLO was injected into the catheter and was allowed to work over 30 minutes.  This drug is alteplase which is a protein that dissolves clots (used with acute stroke and heart attacks as well).  I kept thinking of PACMAN 'chomping' away at the clot in the tip of this catheter which was preventing flow. After 30 minutes, reflow was established an...

First a big thank you!  Many of you have contributed through the GoFundMe page and it has been nothing short of humbling and miraculous.  Thanks so much. I am sorry that I haven't been as timely as I have in the past but I was pretty sick.  As previously stated, I threw Johns Hopkins a curve ball.  The IDHIFA, great drug that it was, caused me to have what I believe is a variation of the differentiation syndrome ( technical explanation ) that IDHIFA can cause.  Coming off the ibuprofen let it blossom into the pericarditis (with the associated atrial fibrillation).  I am getting better but I am as weak as a kitten. Good news is we are BACK ON for another attempt for stem cell transplant!  So, the prior mission was 'scubbed' (using the NASA analogy) and now the pre-launch sequence starts again on 4/4 with launch (stem cell transplant) on 4/10 at Johns Hopkins.   That is... if all systems are 'nominal'.  Please pray that all the ret...

Here is what I hope you'll find interesting but it sure wasn't fun! [Note I did revise it to explain some medical terms and lingo ... sorry about that!] Two days before chemo (March 1), Dr Luznik told me to stop the ibuprofen (it would mask fever in the BM transplant) and the IDHIFA (Thursday).  Friday, the Hickman catheter was, not a problem. Went out to eat with Jan and Justin and Aaron (our two sons who helped us) and I could barely walk (IDHIFA bone ache off the ibuprofen - noted side effect of IDHFIA).  Saturday, got the chemo without a hitch.  The aches and pains of the MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome) (and IDHIFA) came back.  I spoke with the attending on service, Dr Imus. How gave me OXYIR 5 (a low dose oxycodone since I can use Ibuprofen or tylenol).  I had a vague chest ache at the time but thought it was the bone ache. Through Saturday afternoon, the vague chest ache got slowly worse.  By the evening, I could NOT even watch a basketball game...

Friday - Sitting in the pre-waiting area of the Sayed Hospital OR.  In just a little bit, I'll be called back for my Hickman catheter.... That was at 10AM- tonight is the eve of my chemotherapy to wipe out my bone marrow.  My Hickman catheter's name is "Helen" - Helen Hickman Bradd was my grandmother - a great woman. Saturday - This AM - rather sleepless night.  Can't use Ibuprofen for my multiple injuries (ibuprofen would mask a fever).  Bummer since I'm moving around like a 90+ year old with arthritis. At 1pm the first day of chemo starts (Cytarabine and Cytoxin).  Oh boy!