Had my follow up appointment with the kidney Dr on Monday and he said see ya in 3 months! Creatinine is 2.3 and kidneys are working. my BP was a a little higher than the Dr liked so i am back on meds to keep it low.
No the really big news! My first post transplant blood work came back with everything in the normal range, including the Kappa and Lambda light chains! That means no cancer in my blood!
Sometime in June I will get a follow up bone marrow biopsy to see where things are in my bone marrow. We are winning the fight!
I returned to the office this week and did really well. still get a little tired in the afternoon, but even old guys with no cancer need a nap. I continue to get stronger with time.
Mothers Day is Sunday and it will be special! Although my mom is out of town and missed, Chrystal and I will see our girls and grandchildren, including new grandson Gunner. My mom's love has a lot to do with my strength and for that I thank her. Chrystal is a great and loving mom to our three kids and she still has time to care for me. That is pretty darn special.
God bless you all and thanks for your on going thoughts and prayers.
mike
ps. in case you didn't see the Everett Herald, here is a story they did about my return to work.
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100506/NEWS01/705069853&news01ad=1#Cooper.back.still.battling
Friday, May 7, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
time to catch up
It has been a busy couple weeks, so we have some catching up to do. things have gone remarkably well. I got my hickman out, I am no longer on IV fluid, and my appetite has returned to normal. On April 19th day 37 I was "discharged" from the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance" system and returned to my home Dr for follow up. My blood counts are very good and I am getting stronger every day. The SCCA folks are the best and the treatment is cutting edge. I feel blessed that I live in a place where so many advances are being made.
In the middle of all the excitement of finishing up at SCCA our daughter Rebecca gave birth on April 15th to Gunner Thor Chrisofferson an 8lb 2oz bundle of joy. He was born with more hair then me.
I took a few hours and went to the office so I could attend a hearing and vote on an important set of land use decisions. It was challenging to my strength and while i was tired after, I felt energized and healthy. I was a little tricky avoiding contact with the crowd in the lobby and hearing room, but that is what back doors and stairs are for. My plan is to start keeping limited hours the first week of May.
Yesterday I saw Dr Rosenshein for the first time since Jan and he was encouraged by how well I was feeling. Next week I see the kidney Dr for follow up. I can't wait for him to see how my kidneys have healed. My creatinine is down to 2! That's about 40% function. I thank God for healing my Kidneys. I have been off dialysis since feb.
I look forward to seeing all of you from time to time. Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers.
In the middle of all the excitement of finishing up at SCCA our daughter Rebecca gave birth on April 15th to Gunner Thor Chrisofferson an 8lb 2oz bundle of joy. He was born with more hair then me.
I took a few hours and went to the office so I could attend a hearing and vote on an important set of land use decisions. It was challenging to my strength and while i was tired after, I felt energized and healthy. I was a little tricky avoiding contact with the crowd in the lobby and hearing room, but that is what back doors and stairs are for. My plan is to start keeping limited hours the first week of May.
Yesterday I saw Dr Rosenshein for the first time since Jan and he was encouraged by how well I was feeling. Next week I see the kidney Dr for follow up. I can't wait for him to see how my kidneys have healed. My creatinine is down to 2! That's about 40% function. I thank God for healing my Kidneys. I have been off dialysis since feb.
I look forward to seeing all of you from time to time. Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Day 28
today is day 28. Yesterday my appointments went well. I am off IV fluid as long as I can maintain 87 oz of fluid a day on my own. That is a lot of pee! the reason so much fluid is to flush the toxic meds and to make sure my kidneys are clear. I am hear to tell all that fluid is ""flushing" fine and the kidneys just keep getting better.
If all goes well next week, I will be discharged back to my dr at home for follow up o the 19th. My appetite needs to continue to improve and we need to have the nausea under control. those things are happening.
I am hoping to be back in my office first week of May, at least part time. I can't wait to be back in the grind. I don't worry much about over work, because between Chrystal at home and Kimberly at the office I have a conspiracy against me.
Anyway, I am feeling good,, time to get out and about. the Dr warned that when deciding what to do and where to go to think of my immune system as one of an infant. go and do what you would with a newborn. lots of germs out there, so i got to be careful. if ya see me, virtual hand shakes work.
If all goes well next week, I will be discharged back to my dr at home for follow up o the 19th. My appetite needs to continue to improve and we need to have the nausea under control. those things are happening.
I am hoping to be back in my office first week of May, at least part time. I can't wait to be back in the grind. I don't worry much about over work, because between Chrystal at home and Kimberly at the office I have a conspiracy against me.
Anyway, I am feeling good,, time to get out and about. the Dr warned that when deciding what to do and where to go to think of my immune system as one of an infant. go and do what you would with a newborn. lots of germs out there, so i got to be careful. if ya see me, virtual hand shakes work.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
resting and healing
My days since coming home from the hospital have been spent resting and healing. I did have one minor set back and had to go to the UW for a few hours of fluid and antibiotics because my fever got too high, but all is well.
My focus is getting my food intake back up where it belongs and getting off of IV fluid. the food issue is tough because I still deal with nausea and my tummy doesn't always like what I put in it, but we are getting there. I am down to 1/2 liter a day of iv fluid and am hoping to be off that by next week.
Yes I can have visitors,as long as you don't have a runny nose, cough or fever. My biggest risk is infection and that will come from the germ filled world we live in.
thank you all again for your prayers and support. It means a lot too us.
My focus is getting my food intake back up where it belongs and getting off of IV fluid. the food issue is tough because I still deal with nausea and my tummy doesn't always like what I put in it, but we are getting there. I am down to 1/2 liter a day of iv fluid and am hoping to be off that by next week.
Yes I can have visitors,as long as you don't have a runny nose, cough or fever. My biggest risk is infection and that will come from the germ filled world we live in.
thank you all again for your prayers and support. It means a lot too us.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Hospital Stay Part 2
Gradualy things started getting better, Marsha and Rebecca came by and Pastor Dennis stopped in.
When my blood reports started coming back mid week, things were looking up. My cells were reproducing on thier own. By the time I left we had engraftmeent. whites were near normal for a not sick person. plaltelets and reds were gooing up each day.
7 days at Udub Club med was plenty.
When my blood reports started coming back mid week, things were looking up. My cells were reproducing on thier own. By the time I left we had engraftmeent. whites were near normal for a not sick person. plaltelets and reds were gooing up each day.
7 days at Udub Club med was plenty.
Hospital stay part 1
Hi ya’ll! Bet you thought I wasn’t coming back. Well. I’m Baaack! Anyway, I thought when I went in for my hospital stay I would be a bloging fool, turns out I was a fool too sick to blog.
On March 19th the Dr’s finally decided that that I need some time in the Hospital. In addition to the pooping and puking, I was receiving platelets and red cells to keep counts up, plus my whites were low. Oh and I decided to have a temp of 102. So off I went to UDub Club Med.
The first couple days, I was loaded with antibiotics, fluids and more platelets and red cells. In addition, they added nutrition in a bag. I looked a lot like a giant margarita.
The whole week was a blur, but Chrystal was by my side day and night. Jim Came up from Oly a couple times so she run home for a hot shower and a break from the delirious guy with a fever. I am not sure how much of my life I rambled about but I kept my poor wife awake while I talked to my self. Something triggered me to start chatting about calls I had been on with Dan Smith. Dan was a guy I worked many years and was a great partner both on aid car and engine.
Speaking of ff’s word got out that I was at UW so someone from shoreline who new someone from Seattle made a call and I get a surprise visit from E17 and L 9. A visit in class B uniforms no less. Lt Mc Lennon is a friend a I owe her crew a special thanks. They brought a smile to our faces and hearts that only sister and brother ff bring each other. The crew also brought me a winter hat which was perfect because I had lost my hair.
The hair loss saga was another kind of fun part of being sick. I wake one morning and my pillow is matted with hair, my hair! so I run my fingers though my locks and come out with a hand full. My nurse Geoff says we have clippers for that and set up a barbershop in the room. the rest is history.
Geoff was a great nurse by the way. He walks in the first day he is assigned my room and says, “the nurses are all saying you are a tough guy and wait to long to ask for meds, so here’s the deal ya won’t better that way, I am your tough guy I am like your holigan tool you need something You get it.”
On March 19th the Dr’s finally decided that that I need some time in the Hospital. In addition to the pooping and puking, I was receiving platelets and red cells to keep counts up, plus my whites were low. Oh and I decided to have a temp of 102. So off I went to UDub Club Med.
The first couple days, I was loaded with antibiotics, fluids and more platelets and red cells. In addition, they added nutrition in a bag. I looked a lot like a giant margarita.
The whole week was a blur, but Chrystal was by my side day and night. Jim Came up from Oly a couple times so she run home for a hot shower and a break from the delirious guy with a fever. I am not sure how much of my life I rambled about but I kept my poor wife awake while I talked to my self. Something triggered me to start chatting about calls I had been on with Dan Smith. Dan was a guy I worked many years and was a great partner both on aid car and engine.
Speaking of ff’s word got out that I was at UW so someone from shoreline who new someone from Seattle made a call and I get a surprise visit from E17 and L 9. A visit in class B uniforms no less. Lt Mc Lennon is a friend a I owe her crew a special thanks. They brought a smile to our faces and hearts that only sister and brother ff bring each other. The crew also brought me a winter hat which was perfect because I had lost my hair.
The hair loss saga was another kind of fun part of being sick. I wake one morning and my pillow is matted with hair, my hair! so I run my fingers though my locks and come out with a hand full. My nurse Geoff says we have clippers for that and set up a barbershop in the room. the rest is history.
Geoff was a great nurse by the way. He walks in the first day he is assigned my room and says, “the nurses are all saying you are a tough guy and wait to long to ask for meds, so here’s the deal ya won’t better that way, I am your tough guy I am like your holigan tool you need something You get it.”
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
dealing with the uncomfortable stuff
well it's the end of day 5 and the last couple days have been a challenge. most of my time been spend dealing with two words that start with p or if you are the less graphic type words that start with d and v. Anyway those little discomforts were expected and will last a few days. i gotta say the last time i vomited as much as yesterday was many years ago and involved irish whiskey and firefighters.
anyway my blood counts continue to drop and will until about day 10 so then things begin to improve. my weight has dropped a little from low fluid and barfing so i now get 2 liters of iv fluid a day at how. still better then the hospital. at home i sleep next to my care giver. in addition to fluid my red cells and crit were low so yesterday and today i got some fresh red stuff. my whites are low enough that i am now on super high dose antibiotics and need to stay out of the germ filled world as much as possible. my platelets are not yet low enough for platelets but the soon will be.
Other than feeling like crap today was a happy st paddy's day. i still have my red hair chrystal cooked a corned beef. i had a little slice and we froze the rest for a day when i can enjoy with a guiness. Guiness has to wait for immune system rebound. I only get pasteurized beer.
finally yesterday my loving wife cared for me and cleaned up after me on her birthday. we had planned pizza and a movie At home but sometimes stuff happens. I felt guilty all day because i couldn't do for her, but at least i wished her a happy birthday first thing in the morning. the Lord has blessed me with her.
anyway my blood counts continue to drop and will until about day 10 so then things begin to improve. my weight has dropped a little from low fluid and barfing so i now get 2 liters of iv fluid a day at how. still better then the hospital. at home i sleep next to my care giver. in addition to fluid my red cells and crit were low so yesterday and today i got some fresh red stuff. my whites are low enough that i am now on super high dose antibiotics and need to stay out of the germ filled world as much as possible. my platelets are not yet low enough for platelets but the soon will be.
Other than feeling like crap today was a happy st paddy's day. i still have my red hair chrystal cooked a corned beef. i had a little slice and we froze the rest for a day when i can enjoy with a guiness. Guiness has to wait for immune system rebound. I only get pasteurized beer.
finally yesterday my loving wife cared for me and cleaned up after me on her birthday. we had planned pizza and a movie At home but sometimes stuff happens. I felt guilty all day because i couldn't do for her, but at least i wished her a happy birthday first thing in the morning. the Lord has blessed me with her.
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