Richard had 3 appointments this morning at LGH. He got his Neulasta shot (white blood cell booster), another intrathecal dose of the chemo drug, Ara-C, and regular bloodwork. His white blood cell count is slightly lower than normal, but not too low yet. The Neulasta should help that level increase.
He is continuing to feel very tired and sleeps for the majority of the day and night. He has not had too many issues with nausea; at least, nothing that drugs can't handle. Right now is his "down time," and hopefully, next week he'll have more energy to be awake for more hours in the day.
Love,
Daphne
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"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
...Always Smiling
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- Success With Bloodwork!
- Platelet Transfusion
- LGH - Bloodwork
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- Richard is home! :)
- Monday
- Not Much Going On So I Decided To Write
- New room!
- Chemo Boy Says Hi from H.U.P.
- 1st day at HUP
- Richard to HUP #2
- Daphne says, "Dr. Seuss Isn't Just For Kids..."
- Hi Everyone! Last Update For a Couple Of Days!
- Rules For Families Affected By Cancer...
- Cancer Boy Giving A New Update
- Hello to all again!
- Greetings to my growing fan club!
- Hi, to all - from Richard
- Day after chemo
- Brain Chemo #2
- Home from HUP
- Monday Night, February 26th
- Saturday, Feb. 24th
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March
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"If you're going through hell, keep going." ~Winston Churchill
11 comments:
Dear Rich,
What can be said at times like these? Please take comfort in the fact you are loved, cared for , and prayed for by so many people. Your well being is of interest to all around you and far beyond what you can even think. Rest, rest, rest & continue to fight this thing.
We love you,
Carl & Darlene
Hey Rich,
My name is John Lomire and I am Kathy ( Culley ) Risko’s cousin. Unfortunately I am not familiar with the bloggin concept so I am forwarding this to Kathy and she can in turn get it to you. In February of 2006 I took the same shower I have taken every morning for 53 years except this one caused me to discover a bump here and there. I am not a Doctor but realized straight on that these bumps were all located near lymph nodes. I immediately went to Penn Dermatology and Oncology ( Dr. Steve Goldstein ) and had appointments immediately and was diagnosed with Anaplastic Large T-Cell Lymphoma. Keep in mind I had never been in a hospital as a patient in my entire life. In fact I was born on the kitchen table in my parents house with Kathy & my Grandmother Ida as the midwife. The hospital experience was an absolute trip and something that took an amazing amount of immediate adaptation. My first night in the hospital caused me to get admitted to the psycho ward because the hospital was so full. By the way, this was an admission via the Emergency Room with a blood clot in my left leg on top of the cancer. I was just getting the staging tests for the cancer when the clot happened. Anyway, I get paired up in a room with an absolute crackpot who was a drug addict, a diabetic, had breathing problems, and a whole host of other maladies. He had an Oxygen tank with a punnel up his nose to help his breathing issues. Through all of this trauma, this guy decides he needs a cigarette and drags his oxygen tank in the bathroom with him to have a smoke. Needless to say I went berserk and demanded to be moved to an entirely different wing of the hospital. As luck would have it, the only place they had available was a new section called the Pavilion. Unfortunately it costs about $ 500 per day over and above what insurance covers but was worth every cent. Throughout the entire chemo process which was ( March 27 to August 24 ) I returned to the Pavilion and it was a pleasure to be there. To the extent that one can enjoy chemo-therapy, I have to tell you I did not get sick or nauseous one time. My treatment regimen was Hyper CVAD ( Cytoxin, Vincristin, Adrianmycin, & Decadron ) I did lose my hair and got that ashen look that comes with having a very low cell rate. Apart from that, I read nearly 12 novels, worked thru numerous crossword puzzle books, ate like a king, made some new friends, and found out who the people are that really love me. I also went to work almost every day unless my butt was dragging too low. I never sat around and felt sorry for myself and almost treated the cancer as an inconvenience rather than a life threatening event. I do feel sorry for people who have to sit at home and endure the poor quality of programming on the television in the daytime.
So lets fast forward to today. If I may say so myself, I am back to my handsome self feeling better than I have in the last 15 years. I shed some weight that I probably did not need in the first place, got an attitude change, changed my diet, new thicker hair, and an all around better perspective on what life is really, really all about. I also had a re-staging last week with a complete PET / CT scan and they found no bugs. So this is my story of turning lemons into lemonade. If I can give you or anyone who has this nasty stuff darken your doorstep any advice, it would be that a positive attitude wins the day every time. My attitude from the start was that if this is all the harder you can hit me Mr. Cancer, you are in a whole heap of trouble because I am going to kick your ……………….
Have a good day and kiss your friends & family
John Lomire
jlomire@bbmtechnicians.com
Hi Richard, et al
So glad to hear some news today. I was getting worried that I did not read anything and I did not want to call you thinking you may be resting. I just read the note from
John Lomire - what a story -
I know you have a positive attitude and we will help you to keep it that way! Hang in there-prayers constantly coming your way! Love, hugs and kisses -
Aunt Paula
PS: Can't wait until I get over this cold so I can come see you!
Hi Richard. I am right now on the phone with grandmom and she wants me to let you know that you have been in her constant prayers and daily thoughts. She understands that it is not easy for you to get back to her when she phones and she wants to tell you that with your optimistic attitude she is certain that you will pull through! Grandmom will keep using all of us to commmunicate with you through this blog. As for me, just saying hello again and to give you encouragement to keep up the good fight! The children, Chris and I pray together for you daily. You'll get through it!
Both grandmom and I send our love.
Aunt Angela
One more thing, Richard. Before hanging up with Grandmom, I just now read to her John Lomire's wonderful story! Needless to say, we are quite moved by it. So to John, we say "GOD BLESS YOU", and to you, Richard, we say "GOD BLESS YOU, TOO!" LOVE AGAIN, G'mom and Aunt Angela
Thought this was cute and you might like it:
"Everyone has a photographic memory. Some, like me, just don't have any film."
Love,
Aunt Paula
Yo Richie! My sister Cathy (at Country Knives) gave me your news and your blogsite address. Don't make me come back from NM just to kick your butt into wellness! It's a good thing you're not a baritone -- you'd be harmonizing to the hum of your various machinery! =o) (I sometimes take a tonic off the sound of my tires on the highway ... not TOO bari of me, is it?) PLease keep me in the loop with all your news. I miss you guys immensly!
Best wishes and continued success in your treatments!
Jean Hanson (formerly of RRCC SAI and Country Knives)
Duh! You can email me at Lilgenie33@yahoo.com, or check for me on AIM at Genies42now or Yahoo!Messenger at Lilgenie33.
(lack of coffee and a 2-hour time difference will tell)
Jean =o)
Hello, Richard. It is a beautiful day in Virginia today. Sun is shining and reminding us that there is a real rebirth on the way. Spring is the time for that, and so it will be for you, dude! Get through the medicines that you've got to get through and then onward and upward. As we can tell from what you write and what you are doing, your good attitude is going to be one of your strongest assets. Hug that cutie, Daphne, for us. Tell Mom, Dad and Peter that we send love and hugs to the whole gang! Aunt Dolores and Uncle Michael
Hi Richard!
I am at work today (ugh) and wanted to put my two cents in! The West Coast Chapter of Team Taraborelli is thinking of you often. Don't you think a trip to San Francisco would be a great way to celebrate once this is all behind you? I thought so too, I am glad we agree! I can even arrange for free room and board, I am sooo connected. Wishing you all the best! Rachel
Hey Richard.... Glad to read you are home again. Joe and I continue to pray for your recovery.
Nothing exciting is happening in Russellton. Life continues as is - Abby loves preschool and Katie is refusing to go! Twins can be a challenge.
Last weekend we were told our new church won't be ready until Christmas time...which is a far cry from the original date of Spring 2007 we were given. Nonetheless, we have grown accustomed to having Mass in the Gym. Our new priest says this is the mission work he never did!
Hope Spring has found its way to Lancaster county. Stay strong!
Love,
Laura, Joe, Abby & Katie (the preschool drop-out) Smagala
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