The next seven days

I have told the doctors I want to get on with my next, and hopefully last, phase of my treatment to stop this disease, AL Amyloidosis.  They have been listening.  SO this week, starting Monday I will have three procedures that require anesthesia and ending the week getting started with the chemotherapy, which will be the start of my transplant.  On Monday, I am scheduled for a Bronchoscopy (camera down the wind pipe and into the lungs).  I still am showing some shadows on my lungs that change over time.  Some areas show improvements, some are getting worse.  There are no symptoms of pneumonia but the doctors need to make sure I am not fighting an infection before they destroy all of my immune defenses scheduled at the end of the week.  On Tuesday, I go in for a heart catheterization, a procedure where a small instrument measures the volume of blood that is flowing through my heart.  The instrument is on a long wire that is guided through a major artery.  The cardiology team does this for every heart transplant patient.  It has been over two years that I have had my new heart and I am overdue for this test.  There is nothing they are concerned with other than this has not been done yet.   The third procedure that requires anesthesia is the placement of a Hickman Line, a catheter placed in the chest directly into the heart.  It is used for the rapid deployment of the medications I will be on for the next six weeks or so.  The chemo that will destroy everything in my bone marrow will flow through this tube.  Also my stem cells that have been in the freezer for 22 months will be thawed and returned to my body through this tube.  The cells will recolonize the bone marrow and begin to produce the red, white and platelet cells I need.  I will check into the University of Washington Hospital on Saturday and start the process with the chemo.  On Monday my stem cells will be returned to me.  This will be day 1 of the transplant.  I will be in isolation for up to three weeks in the hospital and then for months after back at our Seattle apartment and then eventually back home.  I hope I am out of the hospital for Christmas.  I have no problems with being in the hospital for Christmas, it is just that getting to go to our apartment means I am doing fine.  As I have stated here before, my attitude is “early in - early out.”  I am more than ready to have this disease stop damaging me and so I can return to somewhat of a normal life. 

Having a goal beyond any big hurdle is good to keep one moving forward.  Some of my goals are part of a Bucket List I have developed.  Nice vacations and the ability to snorkel dive again are things that keep me motivated.  Then there are the BIG DREAMS.  I am looking at Craig’s List at a few toys to consider when I am well again.  Starting with a sail boat (27 – 35 feet) is something I have thought about for many years. Or a Porsche 911 or the classic 912’s.  Every old guy should have a hot car to run to the drug store and pick up his medication for the month.  The pharmacist greats me by my first name now.  Not a good sign. In addition to this silliness to get me through the next six months, your prayers would be most appreciated.