The Old Dog

I keep in touch with a friend who has also had a heart transplant.  We were waiting for a heart the same time at the University of Washington Hospital back in 2009.  We would leave our hospital beds and go visit each other.  Today we will visit on the phone and occasionally at the hospital during scheduled check-ups with the cardiology department.  This past week he called to see how I was doing.  He knew that I was struggling with the medical insurance.  He told me a story on the news reminded him of my predicament.  The story was about a lady who had an older dog.  She had a health insurance policy for her dog (I was unaware there is such a thing).  Apparently her old dog wandered out near the highway and was struck by a car and injured badly.  The insurance company was willing only to settle with the woman for $50, the price of a new puppy because her pet was just too old to give extensive medical attention too.  I told my friend I hope my wife is not aware of this.  She may be more willing to take the insurance company up on an offer to get a new puppy (a younger model) instead of going through all the headaches and expense to treat her “old dog.”  It is better not to ask her.  The temptation may be too great to pass up.

I was started on a new regiment of chemo; a triple play of Cytoxin, Velcade and Dexamethazone .   This has shown promise with patients who are suffering from Multiple Myeloma, the “cancer cousin” to AL Amyloidosis.  The first week the doctors gave me a reduced dose to see how I tolerated the chemo.  So far the only impact I am experiencing is tiredness.  Also the doctors wanted to make sure the pneumonia I had was cleared up.  The next three weeks, the infusions will likely be at the full dose.  This will go on for a total of four weeks.  At the end of the treatment I hope all the details for my second stem cell transplant are lined up so I can get on with this.  I keep telling myself, “the sooner in, the sooner out.”  There are potentially some very serious physical consequences from this procedure.  But this is the road to getting this disease behind me.  The hope of getting back to a “normal” life keeps me going.