Cycle 11 has begun

Nothing snaps you back to reality like a milestone being declared. Cycle 11 of 30. So we are just past a third of the way done. When you start to feel fully normal, the disease reminds you. Or should I say the treatment.

Down to 1 day a month

Let’s celebrate the positive! We are down to only one day a month of spending the day at MD Anderson. Considering that in the previous months we were doing blood work once to twice a week at the League City Campus… this is progress.

This time was also a bone marrow aspiration. This is where they check for residual disease hiding in the bone marrow. I am liking this part of the process. Michele get’s hit with some anesthesia and is a bit chatty as she wakes up. She must really like me as the nurse says she was telling her how awesome her husband is. We take the wins where we can.

Standard cycle

The Standard cycle is a dose of vincristine and a suite of pills, including steroids to follow. Michele has managed these doses well. There is one pill that is normal for these cycles that she is still not taking. It may be considered in the future, but for now we are good.

Marching towards Cycle 18.

Cycle 18 is another 5 days inpatient heavy dose round. We can expect some hair loss on that one. It looks like she will make it past the next Birthday just in time to lose hair again. She is rocking the short hair and will rock the bald head again if it happens.

Traveling

It is an ongoing joke with the Doctor that we are happy to fulfill. We have a couple of trips in December and January that will keep us on the move. It seemed like we were never going to travel again, but we are blessed that we have more days ahead of us.

We recently got back from Memphis TN with our great friends Phyllis and Kevin Domingue. This was a fly-in for the SNAG group for Navion Airplane owners. Before being sick, we were regular “friends” of the group. Too many people to name here, but it was great to be with good friends again. Every one of these folks are just examples of success, class, and caring. We look forward to the next stop.

AND… we got to get out in Memphis to “Lafayette Bar and Grill”. It seems a fitting name for a place to visit and on many Friday nights there is a band called “Almost Elton” that was a truly exceptional time for food, drinks, and sing-a-long dancing.

Sunday we visited Graceland. My generation is one of the last to have “known” Elvis. None of us had ever been before. We laughed because it is a “time-capsule” of the 70s and so many little things around the house, I remember as being in our house our similar. There are a lot of things that stand out as simply being “A man with a lot of money, spent on crazy things, and with few people to tell him that wasn’t a good idea”. Maybe for that time he was ahead of the game. He had TVs in every room!

And then there were simple things like the swing set and the personal racquetball court which showed his human side. There are some interesting movies now about his and his family life. He was so young to be gone at 42. We also found it peaceful for his resting place with his father, grand mother, and wife. As well as Lisa Marie and Benjamin, his grandson.

In reflecting on the displays and the house and artifacts. It reminds me that we are all here for a brief moment.

More prayers.

My Brother-in-Law Raymond is continuing to respond well to his treatments. Continue to keep him and the family in your prayers.

We also have learned that two other close friends are on the “Prostate” Cancer journey. Both are outstanding men and are early enough in the stages that it is all very treatable. The tough part is that it requires treatment. We love you men and know you both got this!

Holidays are upon us.

We home everyone will have time to spend with their families for Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you don’t hear from us on the blog then assume all is good. There has been great therapy for everyone on these digital pages.

Happy Birthday to Aubrey Bell Kinney!

The first grand-daughter turned 14 this week. Her and family are in Las Vegas to experience the sites and sounds of Vegas. Dustin is a fanatical poker player, but this week they are there to see the world of odd and neat things! Last night was the Sphere and today will be filled with Area 15 and Meow Wolf. Look those up! Last year we saw Boys to Men perform at area 15. I love the webs we weave in our lives. Hopefully they will get out to see other parts of family friendly Vegas and the Hoover Dam! Enjoy your time there!