Gene's update: 2-15-10

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Gene’s update: 2-15-10

More watch and wait: Chemo round 2 ended on Friday. Gene again tolerated it very well, according to docs. He has a good appetite, he still takes his daily, or two, 15-minute power walks. Now that he is off chemo and can be unhooked from the IV for periods of time, we can walk a longer perimeter of the floor, about a one-minute loop, 15 or so times, so he gets some blood pumping and seems to have good energy.

Toward the end of this week, middle of next we should get some more news. We will find out about the success of this round in achieving remission, and we hope to have sibling results from the blood tests in anticipation of the bone marrow transplant. And hopefully see the good white blood cells coming back so that he can be sent home. He is thinking that should happen within two weeks. He has been incredibly tolerant of this going-on-five weeks in the hospital, really only getting grumpy a few times.

We had a nice Valentine celebration….Bobbie his neice contributed some great room decorations, Ann and Chuck brought more balloons (mylar), and Gene gave valentines to all his nurses…and me, of course! Mine was the best ;-) we have a tradition of Gene making my birthday and valentine cards and he did not disappoint…..his creativity is alive and well!

He continues to read lots and lots on his kindle, but hasn’t watched any movies yet…says he is waiting until he comes home for that. He’s received a lot of gifts of great hats. My sister Esther knitted him three, in his natural hair color, out of soft baby blanket material. Regina, one of his SDSU colleagues, brought him two of the kufia or kufi hats that he likes. She has a great story to go with it. She found them at a store in Las Vegas. When she went to pay for them, the clerk/store owner told her that she could just have them (not knowing anything about the story of Gene). When she asked why, he told her that in his morning prayers, the message came to him to share blessings and this gift to her was a way to share blessings. (Regina, hope I got that story right.) That story just one of the many things that bring tears to our eyes. Attached should be pics of some of his hats.

This four day weekend I thought I’d get so many of those little things on the list done….I spent two days at the hospital and two days at home trying not to take a nap and finally succumbing to a deep afternoon sleep. A combination of exhaustion and escape I suppose, but I am finding it difficult to be motivated to do much of anything.

Visitors are starting to trickle back in. We haven’t really been scheduling, but Gene says his best time is 1:30-2:30, and a bit in the evening. Weekends were a bit busier. Let us know if you can, if you want to come. Everyone reports feeling better once they see him, as he really does look good and strong. We really better go home soon, as the walls are almost completely filled with cards and wishes, and now valentines too!

Will update when there is any news, but we expect another long wait. Docs are very pleased, “good, good, excellent, excellent” and say we are in a period of “stasis” (not sure if that is the spelling).

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