Update 2-8-10

Gene’s update: 2-8-10
Get ‘er done!: Once the news was absorbed and the new course of action undertaken, Gene has been revved up and rarin’ to go. They started the second round of chemo on Friday night, so we are already almost halfway through this seven-day course. Gene is in great spirits. He is once again tolerating the chemo really well, no nausea, no major side effects, and this time, all the troubles with his chest seem to have abated, as well as the yucky rashes. And no fevers at all. He sounds and looks strong, and is still doing his laps, doing morning exercises…..as he says, he is doing his part.

The docs are really, really positive about how well he looks and sounds. And that makes Gene feel really happy and positive, and that helps me feel really happy and positive. Yesterday doc told Gene that they probably would not need to do another bone marrow biopsy at this time, or at the end of this round, because they’d be able to get the data they need just from watching his blood counts. They are expected to go up 7-10 days after the end of the chemo. So this chemo ends 2-12, so somewhere around 2-20, we should see new, good, blood cells growing….and Gene gets to go home shortly after that.

We are still waiting to hear on the results from the blood work from his sisters. If there is a match it means they can get to the bone marrow transplant sooner, and if they have to go to the world-wide registry, it will just take a little longer. But for right now, we are really feeling like things are looking up, we’re climbing out of a hole. We both know that there can, and probably will be, more bumps and potholes…but for now, we are feeling, and looking good.

Gene has been trying on lots of hats, and seems to have settled on a few that he likes. He still has a bit of hair, and it isn’t falling out at the same rate as it was last week. That constantly falling out hair was a drag. But now we are used to his new look, and he is hanging on to some facial fur for now. The rasta cap with dreads attached arrived today for a good chuckle, Mike and Eileen….thanks…now we’ll see if he’ll actually wear it out in public!

Other gifts and cards continue to arrive. Your notes are so appreciated, and usually bring tears to our eyes, and sometimes chuckles. We have a beautiful prayer quilt that was made by a quilting mission that Jim’s sister Lynn Greer works with here in San Diego, at the Point Loma Presbyterian Church. The quilt, was I think, just randomly selected based maybe on colors Gene likes. The basic quilt is made and then as they “quilt” it the prayers are said for Gene’s recovery. Two really cool things about the quilt, besides all the love and care and prayers that went in to it, and all the energy it holds, is that the fabric pattern is horses. And Gene is the son of a cowboy who grew up with horse décor, so that is quite perfect. MP would love it! The other neat thing happened today. A former colleague of Gene’s who has long since retired, was actually not in his exact department at SDSU, but had a friendly relationship with Gene when Gene first started at SDSU back in 1993, sent a card today. Apparently he is a member of the same church, saw the quilt and/or prayer list, and was dismayed to discover that it was the same Gene Valles….so he sent along a card with his best wishes….one of the many unexpected but small yet positive outcomes of this process. I spend a lot of time in gratitude for the outpouring of support we are receiving. It helps me through the more challenging days, which do crop up, sometimes unexpectedly.

Speaking of support, I had to get by without Patty for a few days while she flew back to ABQ for Robyn’s shower. Jim stayed behind, kept me company at home, watched the Super Bowl with Gene at the hospital, while I actually relaxed a bit at home, got a few (very few) things done. We did okay without Patty (no home cooked meals, but Jim made his first guacamole!)…..but the pajama wash and return cycle got messed up…somehow Gene ended up without a top to one set. When he asked how that happened, all I could say was, “Patty”….not blaming her, just that laundry was one of the many, many things she has just taken over….and Jim and I just didn’t have the whole program as together as she does. She wasn’t home 10 minutes before she was already doing things for me. I’m not just lucky…I’m becoming spoiled!

So, time for our walk around the unit…we are famous in these parts for them. Gene does the afternoon walk with Jim or Patty and the evening one with me. We’ve figured out that he can get homemade brownies as long as they are frozen immediately in individual packages. So we’ve got the “gain weight in the hospital” going on.

We feel all of your love, energy, prayers and good thoughts and it’s workin!
g



gail.moriarty@me.com