Here we go...

Hello all. I realize that it has been quite a while since I checked in. That is mostly because we have been very busy trying to have a normal life for the last few weeks. Pam has not had any treatments since radiation ended and has been feeling great lately. This has resulted in many dinner get togethers, a trip to Boston with the kids for the Big Apple Circus, and moving many shrubs around in the yard!

Unfortunetly that is all about to change.

Pam starts the high dose of Chemo. tomorrow morning. She will have chemo. for 6 straight days, this is the most so far. We will be doing it as outpatient as long as everything goes well. She gets one drug tomorrow (last roughly 4hrs), then two a day twelve or so hours apart (8:30am and 7:30pm) Tues-Fri., and then another long dose on Saturday. We need to stay close to the hospital during these days so they can monitor her if anything comes up. We will come home next Saturday and Pam gets to have Sunday "off", (meaning only a trip to Fletcher Allen for blood tests.

Next Monday, she will get 1/2 of her stem cells re-infused, and the second 1/2 done on Tuesday. On Wednesday (5/9) Dr. Unger predicts she will have a White Blood cell count of .01, which means she will more than likely run a fever and need to be admitted to the hospital. She will then stay there until her counts are high enough and she is feeling well enough (i.e no mouth sores, diarrhea, or fever) to come home, about two more weeks. It will then take a few more weeks, after coming home, to get feeling well and get her strength back.

Obviously this is going to be a rough month, and we look forward to Memorial Day weekend as a date of moving into wellness and feeling better. Pam and I are obviously quite anxious and nervous about this whole process. We know you are all supporting us and we thank you for that.

That being said, here is what we need you to do: check the Blog. I will be updating every day or two for the next few weeks. Don't visit Pam unless you have been given the OK from me (Troy), I will let people know if she is up for visitors and when good times are. I might be seeking some of you out to be a visitor if needed. E-mails are great because we can read and that is it.

Pam's sisters and parents will be heading up the boys for the next few weeks. They might need a break, pat on the back or a glass of wine! The boys know what is ahead and we feel like they are pretty prepared, but they will certainly be missing mom and dad. They should be getting some extra attention if possible (distractions are great). They are quite busy with little league and soccer so they should have little time to think about things (mostly bedtime).

We are charging into this with the belief that this will be the final push we need to rid Pam of this awful disease that has forever changed our lives. Please continue to send positive thoughts and prayers our way.

Troy