Baby and Blood

Our daughter Julye had a baby girl yesterday... all is well. Kelsie Lee arrived in this world without much fuss at almost 7lbs and 19".
I received 2-units of platelets Wednesday morning and will have bone marrow extracted on Friday morning. Results of BMA won't be known until next week. Then we'll see if I qualify for the clinical trial. Meanwhile, my hair is returning and I work every day until noon or so. I even make it around the grocery store with Kathy most of the time. More next week. JW

Clinicial Trial Update

Thanks very much to Gail, Roger and Hutch for your comments.
I'm in the hospital today for my weekly blood transfusions. Lunch will be served soon and I expect we'll be done by supper time! We invited ourselves to the Roth's for supper.
The clinical trial will start with a bone marrow aspiration next week and based on my numbers, we will schedule the trial shortly thereafter. Huntsman said I would do the 5-day stay here in LV if my hospital can handle the process - yeah! Any time I can stay close to home is a wonderful thing.
All our family is very well and our daughter Julye, in Denver, has already dilated to 4-centimeters - can she hold on until July? JW

Clofarabine and Beyond!

We're still exploring the clinical trial research study. That means I'm still learning what it is and it's side effects and if I can take it here rather than in SLC. The treatment is a more aggressive form of clinical trial than I've had in the past while in Houston. It is administered by infusion as an inpatient for 5-days. If we can get the drug and if my hospital can do it then staying here in LV would certainly work better for Kathy and me. I'm meeting with both doctors early next week to answer questions and schedule the clinical trial. JW

Back from Huntsman

We (Joe and I ) completed our round trip to Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City last night after arriving late in Mesquite. We spent the night there before coming back home this morning (Saturday).
Salt Lake City is very lush, green and clean...just a wonderful place for the summer.
We even had breakfast Friday morning driving up Immigration Canyon at Ruth's Diner and her famous Mile-High biscuits!
The best news is that Dr. Shami has 3-clinical trials he would like me to consider. So, Kathy and I will explore these options with Dr. Sanatinia on Thursday during our visit.
Both of my doctors have a long friendship and are comparing notes in preparation for our meeting on Thursday. The Huntsman Center does do stem cell transplants should I decide on that later.
Driving for 12-hours is not something I would do again as an overnight trip. Flights today only costs about $150-round trip with half-dozen airlines listed.
Tuesday will be blood transfusions and Thursday will be decision time. More on that next weekend. JW

Prep for SLC

I finished a couple units of platelets last evening and will be preparing for our trip to Salt Lake City, The Huntsman Cancer Institute to visit with Dr. Paul Shami who specializes in myelodyplastic syndromes and leukemias. Dr. Shami has a new clinical trial that might just work for me and has ask us to come visit him this Friday afternoon. Kathy and I will make a mini-vacation out of the trip and leave on Thursday. More on that this weekend when we return. JW