August 24 Health Update

A few weeks ago my friend Dick (better know by some of you as Santa) called me to say he was going to be interviewed on the National News. Apparently his story has caught the attention of NBC, not so much for his heart transplant, but what occurred prior to transplant. He was part of an experiment to use his own stem cells and surgically place them along his failing heart. The hope was that these cells would begin to make new vessels for blood to flow. For those familiar with bypass surgery, generally the patient has heart failure because the vessels feeding the heart muscle are failing and restricted. The placement of patches of stem cells on the heart would hopefully allow these cells to create new vessels for blood flow. Dick received a heart transplant back in October 2009 because his heart was too far gone to sustain life. When his old heart was removed, there was evidence that the planted stem cells were forming the much needed new vessels for his heart. This evening before I posted this blog, my brother called from Las Vegas to say he saw Dick on TV during a segment on a Federal Ruling on Stem cells. Dick's part is unfortunately less than 5 seconds. If you missed this segment on TV, here it is http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#38840203

My buddy Greg has been pushing his recovery harder then he should and it has caused a series of small set backs. Last week Greg attempted to walk two ½ mile walks. He spent the next three days on the couch recovering. The recovery stuff is slow and many patients get frustrated with the time it takes to recover. My first year anniversary date for my heart is coming up in a few weeks (September 11). I am just now at the point that I can walk ¾ mile on flat ground. I have not ventured to do a mile, but if I push it, I am sure I can. Greg’s recovery is amazing that after a month he is pushing some of these areas.

This past weekend I was feeling very strong. I ventured to Church which was something I looked forward to. I must have visited with the wrong guy because Monday evening I was running a temperature and I had a mild cold. By Tuesday morning the temperature was back down to normal levels, but I am very very tired. Rest and fluids are what the doctors told me I needed. This came as a surprise to us as this is not flue season and very few colds are out there. I just finished a series of chemotherapy and possibly my defenses are a little low now. I will need to watch things closer. Currently I am on my second cycle of chemo for the month. I had my first infusion on Monday (August 22). My last infusion will be on Thursday (September 2) in Seattle. The day will start out at the UW Medical Center for a visit with the cardiology team, then a heart biopsy. I then go over to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance for a clinic visit followed with a bone marrow biopsy and my last infusion of chemotherapy for the cycle. I may resemble the Thanksgiving turkey carcass at the end of dinner when this day is over. Over all I am doing fine with the chemotherapy. I am doing more and more all the time. Today I washed my truck from all the summer dust. I have a friend who has had a heart transplant for more that 18 years. He told me the first time he tried to wash his car he got half done and was too tired to finish. He did the second half the following day. Also I am walking around more with control of my balance. No running yet. There is more recovery time for that.