A late breaking report….!!!

5 p.m….

I just got off the telephone with UCSF.  Irene’s Primary Amyloidosis blood test results are as follows:

Kappa 46.3
Landa 65.8
Ratio: .7

Interpretation?  The results are BETTER than last time!  The Amyloid remains in REMISSION...!!! 

Certainly a silver lining in what has been a pretty rough week for Irene!

Thanks for caring,
Dave

7 a.m.

Thanks for checking in.  Irene had a very rough night...not getting any sleep at all despite the Vicodin.  The wrist pain, nausea and inability to find a comfortable place to rest has been an ongoing challenge.

We’re hoping that relief will come later today when she’s scheduled for the CASTING.  Perhaps the wrist splint is causing some of her discomfort. 

Thanks for caring,
Dave

6.45 p.m.

Late breaking development…

Today at dialysis Irene experienced pain at a range of 20 on a scale of 1-10…!!! 

She has never reported such agony.  The unrelenting disruption was focused in the thumb/wrist area.  Dialysis technicians termed the matter as “stealing” fluid from the painful region to the other parts of her body.  It wasn’t until the last 8 minutes on the dialysis machine that the pain subsided and it was only because they radically reduced the amount of dialyzing.  If this occurs regularly (reducing the amount of fluid removed) she may need dialysis 4 days a week instead of 3…until the wrist is healed.

She’s now resting comfortably (somewhat) at home.  It’s amazing what Vicodin can do!!!

Thanks for caring and stay tuned,
Dave

Irene rested this last weekend, elevating her wrist and navigating the discomfort.  She’s at dialysis treatment this afternoon and tomorrow, Tuesday, July 6, she is scheduled for CASTING.

Stay tuned and thanks for caring. 

The Kappa Light Chain (Amyloid) test results will be available late next week.

Irene is scheduled for a wrist CAST next Tuesday afternoon.  She is taking no prisoners .... and is like a Timex Watch, that takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’ ....

.... she certainly inspires me.

One day at a time .... thanks for caring,

Dave

Well ....

Yesterday morning I had just barely arrived at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, literally taxiing to the gate, when Irene called and informed me that she was in the Dominican Hospital Emergency Room with a compound right wrist fracture ....!!!  Her RADIUS and ULNA are both broken.  She had slipped and fallen while exiting the shower.  After concluding that she had broken her wrist, and it wasn’t pretty, she drove herself to the hospital.  Speaking to me while heavily sedated (slurred speech and all!), she said that they reset the bones but cannot cast it until the swelling subsides which will probably be sometime next week.  Her left wrist is bruised and very sore but not broken.

Irene was released from the hospital late Tuesday afternoon.  Her sister, Jane, spent last night with Irene and took her to dialysis today.  Jocelyn and Jordan brought her home.  The nausea is raging and she’s running a low grade fever.  She’s taking a heavy duty pain medication but the region is still very painful.

Tomorrow we leave at 7 am for UCSF related to her previously scheduled 3 month checkup (Primary Amyloidosis).  We’re confident that they’ll put her through a battery of tests and examinations!

The personal photograph depicts the wrist “wrap” and bandages from today’s dialysis treatment.

The emotional pendulum continues to swing as far as the east is from the west on this surreal journey.

Irene and I are grateful for the many expressions of support!!!

6 p.m.

Thanks for checking in.

Irene’s dialysis was uneventful today except for the inconvenience of fighting off typical cold symptoms, i.e., coughing, sneezing, discomfort, etc.  She’s still running a low grade fever and has scheduled an appointment with her primary care physician tomorrow afternoon.

Her attitude is amazing.  Referring to the challenges she faces, today she said this, “when I ask “WHY?”, I simply ask “WHY NOT”?  Certainly words to ponder…

Thanks for caring,
Dave

9 p.m.

Thanks for checking in. 

Irene RESTED all day, battling an on and off again low grade fever…..ranging between 99.1 - 101.0….

Coughing, muscle soreness, fatigue, etc…all “cold” symptoms…

She’s making slow progress…and hoping tomorrow she’ll be on the rebound!

Thanks for caring,
Dave

6.15 p.m…

Thanks for checking in.

Irene’s NAUSEA is RAGING at 9+...

She’s running a low grade fever with “cold” symptoms…and very fatigued.  Dialysis treatment today was delayed so it’s been a LONG day…

Thanks for caring,
Dave

http://www.irenedias.com/index.php/site/comments/update_from_dave11/

June 15, 2007

Yes, that’s’ no typo… June 15, 2007, is Irene’s Stem Cell Transplant date.

3 years ago, June 15, 2007, is when this occurred:

http://www.irenedias.com/index.php/site/comments/update_from_dave10/

Happy Birthday, Irene…thanks to God FIRST and UCSF’s amazing medical team which includes the STEM CELL TRANSPLANT, you are alive today!!! 

Yes, life is diminished amd Irene faces dialysis 3 days a week because the hideous Primary Amyloidosis destroyed her kidney function, and yes, she faces chronic, 24/7 NAUSEA.

Diminished but ALIVE....thanks be go God.

Thanks for caring,
Dave

7 p.m.

Thanks for checking in.

Irene’s having a rough evening.  The nausea is RAGING;  her FATIQUE is chronic.  The dialysis center administered EPO today in order to boost her energy. They did the same last Friday.

Hoping for a strong recovery tomorrow.

Thanks for caring,
Dave

9 p.m.

Thanks for checking in.

Irene had a minor needle infiltration at dialysis today.  She was taken off the machine 20 minutes early, drove home icing the wounded arm and handling the steering wheel with the other. 

Shirley Churchill, who had driven to the dialysis center after a huge traffic delay on Highway 17, was only able to work with Irene for about 15 minutes…instead of the usual 2 hours…before Irene was taken off the machine.  What sacrifice Shirley’s consistently made, serving Irene weekly for more than 2 years…!!!  Simply amazing.  Thanks, Shirley…!!!

Hoping for a better tomorrow…thanks for caring,
Dave

Howard and Carol Kazanjian’s 40th Wedding Anniversary in San Marino, CA

Irene did well all weekend; the quick jaunt down south was fun and the nausea remained at bay.  Perhaps it was the encouragement of seeing so many friends.

Thanks for caring,

Dave

Thanks for checking in and I hope you’re having a GREAT Memorial Day Weekend...!!!

Irene never ceases to amaze me.  She prepared all week with anticipation and enthusiasm for what we hoped to be a really fun weekend at the coast hosting my brother, Greg, and his bride, Colleen. 

Well…...we had a great time at lunch on Saturday but I had a slight medical emergency develop where I eventually ended up in the hospital ER.  Needless to say, I’m beyond the matter now but Irene really sprang into action.  She went from patient to CareGiver in seconds.  She sprang into action, setting aside her own physical challenges, and served me with a rigor that would cause Florence Nightingale, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Nightingale, to be proud.  Greg and Colleen were also there, ready to set aside their plans for the weekend to serve my needs.  Wow…nothing compares to being surrounded by GREAT people when the going gets tough!!!

It’s 2 p.m….Irene is at dialysis for the typical Monday afternoon routine, I’m resting comfortably at home, Greg and Colleen had an abbreviated weekend and are currently enjoying their beautiful home and swimming pool in Modesto.  Not the weekend we had planned and hoped for, but sometimes life does take us on a circuitous route. 

Thanks for checking in…and for caring,
Dave