Relapsed High Risk Myeloma - Update July 28 2013

Slept well through a night of, rain, thunder and lightning. Woke to a brand new baby colt in the field behind my house. Blue, the mare, probably had Thunder about an hour earlier and was still with afterbirth. Baby Thunder looks just like mom Blue and is very tall.

I called the owner and Blue let her right up to check the colt and afterbirth progress.

I feel much better this morning. My legs are stronger and my mobility not so rigid.

My sore throat is much better too.

I drove Bart (2006 Honda Pilot) to get gas at Sammy's. Rarely do we have different gas prices between our locally owned Sammy's and the national chain Chevron gas stations... but we did today. I ALWAYS go with Sammy's no matter the price. Was going to stop at Ivies (groceries) but it was very crowded and my ANC is less than 1.00 at 0.66 - so, without a mask, I didn't stop. My sore throat is some better - well, a lot better today.

We went to visit Gretchen Lawrence - our dogs really were interested in her cats.

The B Family with my favorite "B's" came by for a short visit as they headed up the Mine Hill on their 4-wheelers.

Kobe, Helen, and Andrea Marinac brought their brand new puppy, Mocha, over today - she is so cute and will be so loved. A day with a new colt and new puppy!

More iphone apps via Jani and her imagination.

2nd ASCT - Day 101 - August 27 2012

Drove 55 miles north of Mackay, Idaho to Challis, Idaho to see Tom McGowan, DDS. They were so nice to fit me in to a full day of appointments. The x-rays don't show any pockets of infection nor necrosis of my jaw which is good, but Dr. McGowan said I need a root canal on tooth number 18 (my last tooth on the bottom left). I could be at risk for necrosis of the jaw since I've had several doses of Zometa and Aredia in the last 15 months since I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma.

They made me an appointment for a root canal to be done on the tooth with Bart B. Morrison, DDS, an endodontist in Idaho Falls, Idaho for Wednesday, 9/28/2012. I was advised to continue the Augmentin twice a day and to contact my transplant coordinator to make sure I'll be covered with appropriate antibiotics for the root canal procedure and healing period.

Pretty drive to Challis and back. The forest fire smoke has abated for awhile due to high winds last night. Here is the real time air quality monitor from this morning that has temporarily been installed in Challis.

Mackay Dam from Highway 93 August 27, 2012

Barton Flat from Highway 93 August 27 2012

Three Sisters from Highway 93 August 27 2012

Mt. Borah from Willow Creek Summit August 27 2012

Walked Kemmer to the Big Lost River Smelter Bridge just before sunset.

 Saw baby mule deer in the Palmer field.

2nd ASCT - Day 76 - August 2 2012

Hallelujah, I finally heard from my transplant coordinator today that Dr. Wolfel (cardiologist) has determined the blood clot (thrombus) in the right atrium of my heart has resolved and I DO NOT have to daily inject myself with FRAGMIN any more...Hallelujah!!!!

I've been well and happy of late. Entered my first crop of apricots from my new apricot trees planted April of 2011 in the Custer County Fair this week and earned a blue ribbon with a lavender rosette (extra merit).

Now, I'll tell you...I was the only one to enter apricots....but, I was judged against all other fruits like apples and cherries. The cherries won FIRST PLACE in the FRUITS. Below is a Shauna Nelson photo showing Jani and I watching the pig show.

My hair is growing slowly. I've been bald for 9 out of the last 14 months, so I'm used to it.

I'm still waiting for insurance approval of my continuing chemotherapy from St. Luke's Hospital MSTI, Twin Falls, Idaho. They have approval for the Velcade, but are waiting on Zolinza (vorinostat). When, they call me with an appointment, I'll start my ongoing chemotherapy. These drugs are VERY EXPENSIVE.

Day 73 - November 25 2011

The hole left behind after pulling my Trifusion Hickman Catheter is still leaking a bit of slightly bloody fluid - but, it is alot less sore today.

Busy organizing South Custer Historical Society (Mackay, Idaho) computer files on a new 2 TB external hard drive. Finally, my stomach is good and I can pretty much eat anything now.