Round 2

Nonnie is finally all situated in her new room. The PICC line procedure yesterday went very well, and only took about 20 minutes to put in. The nurse that put it in has been working there for 30 years! Dr. Paquette took a bone marrow biopsy and they are still waiting for the results from yesterday.

She is currently halfway through the second dose of chemotherapy, which changes out at approximately 11:00 P.M. each night. Nonnie took a bath this morning and is feeling good. She tells me it is quite the process because she is connected to all types of tubing and machines. I bet it feels good to be in her fresh jammies!

Papa is on his way to pick up Blaine and Kylie to go back to Riverside. They are going to see a movie with a group of friends this afternoon. Nonnie plans on spending most of her time catching up on thank you cards and getting her rest.

Back At It

As you can imagine, this Christmas was a bitter-sweet time for our family. We all got together and went to Disneyland for the day on Christmas eve, and spent Christmas in Riverside. It was particularly difficult for Nonnie, knowing that she had to return to the hospital for another treatment.

This morning, Nonnie and Papa brought Blaine and Kylie to our house so they could get checked in at UCLA. There were several patients being discharged this afternoon, which delayed Nonnie from getting into her room until late this afternoon. She is becoming an old pro at this routine!

Within minutes, she was in a hospital gown and giving blood to check her admission levels. The team that inserts the PICC line will return tomorrow to give one to Nonnie. Until then, she has an IV that will be used for the first dose of Cytarabine starting tonight.

Nonnie told me that there have been so many hospital personnel stopping by and offering their condolences and words of encouragement. I think of them as additional "support crew members" that we all know she needs! Her direct telephone number is (310) 267-6148.

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

757 Westwood Plaza

C/O Linda Asam, Room 6137

Los Angeles, CA 90095

December Update

There are no words to describe the loss and depth of sadness that our family has endured over the past 4 weeks. We give thanks to all of our friends that have overwhelmingly given their support and prayers. You will never know how much we appreciate knowing that you are with us, and appreciate all that you have done.

We are anticipating a difficult holiday season, but we know that God will give us the strength to move on. Blaine and Kylie are living with Nonnie and Papa and have returned to school. They are blessed by a huge support group in Riverside from their school and church.

Nonnie is going back to UCLA on December 28, 2009 to continue her treatment, with one more remaining afterwards. We wish you all a Merry Christmas.

Thank You

On behalf of our entire family, we would like to thank each of you for everything you have done to show your love and support to us at this difficult time. There have been countless phone calls, flowers and personal visits along with an unlimited supply of food and beverages. It has been especially comforting knowing that we are included in your prayers! Our family is relying heavily on our faith in God, and we are confident that He will help us through these next days, weeks, months and years.

The services for Mike, Shannon and Brennen are scheduled for Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 10:00 A.M. The Grove Community Church is located at 19900 Grove Community Drive Riverside, CA 92508. A reception for our guests will be provided immediately after the service.

If you wish to make a donation for the benefit of Blaine and Kylie, contributions may be made to:

Blaine and Kylie Asam Family Fund

c/o Varner & Brandt LLP

3750 University Avenue, Suite 610

Riverside, CA 92501

Message From Nonnie

Nonnie and Papa went up to Oregon on Thursday to open up the house for our annual Thanksgiving week trip. Lisa and I arrived late Saturday evening with the kids. We received a phone call on early Sunday morning learning that Mike and his family were involved in a tragic car crash on their way up to be with our family. Sadly, I must inform our family and friends that Mike (41), Shannon (40) and Brennen (14) were called home to be with the Lord yesterday morning. Blaine (11) and Kylie (9) were able to extricate themselves from the vehicle and waited with "Patrick", a Good Samaritan until rescue crews arrived.

Blaine and Kylie were briefly hospitalized with minor injuries and were picked up by Shannon's brother Derek. We all drove home through the night last night until Nonnie and Papa picked up the kids last night. We are safe and well at Nonnie and Papa's house in Riverside. We want to thank all of our family and friends for their support and countless prayers during this difficult time. The services will be held at Grove Church in Riverside on December 5, 2009. More information to follow regarding further details. Our family asks that this information gets disseminated to all pertinent persons. Thank you.

Thanksgiving In Oregon

The timing of all of the recent treatments could not have been any better! Nonnie and Papa are driving north to Oregon as I sit and write this entry. Dr. Paquette removed the PICC line yesterday and gave the "thumbs up" to them leaving town for Thanksgiving. She is feeling absolutely great since being home, and is looking forward to having all of the grandkids together for the holiday.

Nonnie and Papa are going up a couple days early to get the yards trimmed and the refrigerator full. Even though the weather forecast is calling for rain, rain and more rain, all of us boys are bringing our motorcycles to go explore the best trails on Earth! Thanks to everyone for their continued prayers and have a happy Thanksgiving. I will try to post some pictures next week.

She Did It Again

This morning, the doctors reviewed Nonnie's blood tests, and confirmed that her counts have risen above the level that is required for her to be released from the hospital. In fact, her counts are at their highest levels upon discharge since undergoing the initial treatment in April. Her platelet levels were at 95,000! Of course, it took a while for Nonnie to say all of her goodbyes to the staff, but they finally got on the road just after noon.

This is the second consolidation treatment that was just completed. As you could imagine, it takes Nonnie a little while to adjust from being in the hospital room for so long, to being out on the freeways, etc. Papa took Nonnie to Miguel's on the way home to satisfy the her craving for Mexican food. He then went to the store to get a few things for the house, while Nonnie picked up Brennen and took him to Blockbuster to get a movie. Those are the things she misses the most!

The plan is to meet with Dr. Paquette on Wednesday of next week, and then pack up to head to Oregon for Thanksgiving. This will be the first time since August of 2008 that we have all been up there together. This year will be so special because we all have so much to be thankful for!

Happy Birthday

When you spend as much time in the hospital as Nonnie has over the last year, it is very likely that some of those days will be holidays or other special days. Today is Nonnie's birthday, and she actually had a very nice day today! She was moved back to the 6th floor last night, and she is feeling very well. Her counts are on the rise now, and she received both units of Mike's platelets this morning. By tomorrow morning, her platelets will be higher than they have in about a year!

Nonnie received tons of birthday cards and phone calls wishing her well today. In fact, she had to charge her cell phone 3 times because of all the activity! I forgot a cool story from last week....Chuck and Kathy Reid visited the hospital last week. While the girls talked, the boys went to the world famous Jerry's Deli for lunch. Papa always jokes about what famous person he is going to see every time he takes us there. This time, they saw Jerry West.... a Lakers basketball player and coach who is now in the Hall of Fame. Only in L.A!

Nonnie is now in room # 6143 and the phone number is (310) 267-6151. Nonnie and Papa think they should be discharged no later than this Friday. How is that for a sweet birthday present?

Goal Setting

It is hard to believe that 3 weeks have already gone by since Nonnie has been back in the hospital. The last several days have been quite busy. After her move to the 7th floor on Wednesday night, she received blood on the following day. Her platelets have been hanging in there around 15,000 up until Saturday. Unfortunately, she started a fever early yesterday morning which usually affects those numbers significantly.

I shared some bad information last week regarding the lifespan of platelets. The actual time frame they need to be used by is 5 days, not 7-10. Since Nonnie's platelets were not low at that time frame, Mike's platelets were given to another patient. At least they did not have to go to waste! Mike went back to UCLA yesterday to give more platelets that should be ready by Tuesday for Nonnie. In the meantime, she is receiving platelets from a different donor as I write this entry.

Regarding the room change, Papa learned that the old hospital had 80 hospital beds in the cancer wing. The new hospital has 41 beds, which is why the demand is so high for a room. Since her fever started yesterday, she is on a list of 10 people waiting to get back on the 6th floor. She spoke with a friend who just came back for treatment, and he is in the maternity ward waiting for a room! I wonder who is getting more rest?

The goal today is to get the fever under control, and then get Mike's platelets in a couple of days. If all goes the same as the past, she might be able to come home later in the week! She would then go back to Dr. Paquette after being home for a week. At that point, she will ask about going to Oregon for Thanksgiving with the family. Is that too much to ask? Only HE knows!

Room Change

Nonnie was informed last night that she will be changing rooms. The reason for the move, is that there are other sick persons waiting to get a room and she was the most well person on the floor. It was encouraging to her and Papa to know that she is doing well and that another patient can be treated by the awesome staff at UCLA! Her new phone number is (310) 267-6249.

Platelets 101

As a refresher, Nonnie receives platelets when her counts drop below 10,000. When she has a fever, she will get platelets when that number drops below 20,000. That is also when the "fire drill" is conducted. This weekend, she did not have a fever, but the donor platelets only raised up to 15,000 and then dropped the next day to around 8,000.

Yesterday, the doctors decided to give Nonnie the platelets that Mike had donated last week. Within an hour of the infusion, her numbers jumped from 8,000 to 44,000. Even crazier, the sores she developed in her mouth were gone before lunch! It is likely that she will need the second and last unit of Mike's platelets by the end of the week, which only have a 7-10 day shelf life. Mike is very excited that he was able to help his mom, and will likely be called on again in the near future.

Kenny and Kathy Winkler came by today for a really nice visit, and they brought a bag filled with activities to pass the time. It included coloring books, UNO, playing cards and a dice game. What great friends!

Speaking of old friends, Judge Ward stopped by the house last week and gave Papa 2 photo albums from his summer trip to Africa to share with Nonnie. Judge Ward is a long-time family friend and is the person who Papa credits his photo album expertise to. Nonnie told me she spent 2 days looking at all of the beautiful pictures and it helped take her mind elsewhere.

Nonnie has had continual support and encouragement from the staff, in fact, they have been giving her the "thumbs up" indicating that they heard about the successful platelet transfusion.

Calling All Platelets!

Last week, Nonnie and Papa were in the waiting mode, watching her counts drop throughout the week. They did not have to wait long...... on Thursday, she received her first blood transfusion, which she did not have any negative reaction to. Starting on Friday, she has received platelets daily through Sunday. Unfortunately, the donor platelets are only slowly raising her levels. The staff has put in a request to the blood bank to find the same compatible donor from last time.

Mike went up to UCLA on Friday morning to give platelets. This is a 2 hour procedure that takes the donor blood and filters the platelets, then re-infuses the blood back into the donor. I hear the time actually goes by pretty quick, because they set Mike up with a movie to watch during the procedure! Papa also sat with Mike and donated his blood that will be used for someone else in the future. What a team!

They plan on using the platelets from Mike as soon as tomorrow, and they generally know within a day how compatible they will be. Lisa is tentatively scheduled to do the same later in the week. For now, Nonnie is feeling quite well and her only complaint are the uncomfortable mouth sores called "Petechia". These are small broken capillary blood vessels caused from low platelet counts.

Nonnie and Papa spent Halloween in the hospital, but the weekend was topped off by a nice visit from the whole Asam clan!

One Of Those Days

After being in the hospital for nearly a week, Nonnie had one of those days yesterday. It began all too familiar with a poor night sleep, followed by general weakness and lack of appetite throughout the day. Fortunately, the fever that began to spike broke quickly and she did not have to do the "fire drill"!

Mike and Mary Carpenter went by this morning for a visit, and they were glad to hear that Nonnie had a great night sleep and she was able to eat her breakfast! Close one. They all had a meeting with Dr. Paquette, and it was decided to have Nonnie stay at UCLA for the rest of this treatment. Her counts are continuing their slow decent, but she has proven that she can handle anything that comes her way!

4 Down, 1 To Go!

It is Friday night, and Nonnie is almost due to get her last chemotherapy bag hung! She will be done with her treatment in just over 24 hours. If you remember prior to her going back to the hospital, her counts were higher than they have ever been throughout this process. The current treatment has lowered her counts to about half of what they were since Tuesday. What this means for her, is that her counts may not be low enough for her to stay in the hospital after the treatment (insurance issue). Usually, her counts are so low that she stays in the hospital until they come back up to an acceptable level.

This time, she may have to go home for a few days until they start to drop, or until she gets a fever. This sounds alright, but she would rather stay in the hospital for the entire time for a couple of reasons. First, there is the likelihood that there will not be a room available for her, so they would need to go to the UCLA in Santa Monica. This would be a matter of getting used to a new routine at another facility. Secondly, she is anxious about being at home and away from doctors should she have a fever or not feel well. I can certainly understand her concern!

So far, she has not had any significant issues, and she has not needed any blood products. Mike and Lisa are getting prescriptions next week to see if they might be a match.

Typical Tuesday

The kids wanted to call and talk to Nonnie this evening to get her up to date on their school work for the week. It was so cute to hear them talk to her as if she was here in person! She is doing very well, and things are going as expected. Papa went out to see a movie this afternoon, while Nonnie took her daily walk. Nonnie starts her 3rd treatment tonight and will finish on Saturday night. What an incredible woman!

Here We Go Again

Nonnie and Papa made their way back to UCLA yesterday, and were greeted by many of the same familiar faces they have become so accustomed to. They love their new room.... first of all, it is larger than the last room and it has new curtains and a freshly polished floor. The best part is the ocean view overlooking the Pacific Ocean! The weather was so clear today, that they were able to see Catalina Island from their room.

The nurse that started Nonnie's PICC line did so with precision. She started her first round of Cytarabine at 10:00 P.M. last night, and will continue each 24 hour dose for a total of 5 times. When I spoke to her this afternoon, she had just returned from a 30 minute walk while Papa was doing his loop around the campus.

Her spirits remain high and she appreciates all of the cards, phone calls and especially those prayers! She can be reached at (310) 267-6154 or at the address below.

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

757 Westwood Plaza

C/O Linda Asam, Room 6149

Los Angeles, CA 90095

Sources of Strength

The road trip up to Oregon is just what Nonnie and Papa needed! They returned last week feeling rested and re-energized in preparation for the upcoming weeks. Her blood counts remain strong, and she feels great.

When they were in Oregon, they visited the new cancer center that recently opened. A friend of the family works there, and asked if Nonnie would meet with the volunteers at the American Cancer Society office that opened that week. As you would imagine, she made a lasting impression with the staff! The volunteers directed her to several bins of reconditioned or donated wigs for cancer patients. She took advantage of a couple that look really cute on her.

The whole family spent the day together at their house yesterday for the first time since early summer. We celebrated Blaine's 11th birthday and the girls entertained us with their dance routines and cute antics. In typical Papa fashion, he made us a BBQ dinner that rivaled any restaurant!

The timing of being able to get everyone together this weekend was perfect! Spending time with all of her grand kids is what N0nnie needed to get the strength she needs to fight her next battle. Nonnie and Papa are going back to UCLA in the morning to start the next round of treatment.

Just Like Old TImes

Last Tuesday, Nonnie and Papa made it safely up to Oregon by early evening. It has been nearly a year since they were up there, when Nonnie actually started feeling some of her early symptoms. I can just imagine their emotions driving over the covered bridge and rounding the corner by the swimming hole, as their house came into view!

As if waiting, the house had all of the lights on, with the smell of home cooking as they walked in the door. Aunt Kathy (Dave's sister) went up to the house to do some dusting and light cleaning in preparation of their arrival. The crock pot was on the counter with a yummy vegetable soup and a loaf of Trader Joe's bread. The air outside was chilly, but the floorboard heaters were also on prior to their arrival. What an awesome sister!

Jack had the yard mowed before they got there and the grass is green as ever! Papa has been putzin' in the yard....which has always been his therapy. The wildlife is in full form up there. Just the other day, there were 7 wild turkeys and a mommy deer with her 2 babies that make their daily appearances. When I was on the phone with Nonnie, the 3 deer came out from the creek and before we got off of the phone, there were 8 deer in the yard as she looked out of her kitchen window. No wonder they love to spend time there with family and friends!

Exciting Results

Nonnie has been home for a whole week already, and she is doing extremely well! Besides the obvious of being in her own home and sleeping in her own bed, she has been able to get out to watch the grandkids sports. Papa went fishing on Wednesday with his buddies and will return on Sunday. Yesterday, Shannon took Nonnie to her doctor appointment, and they received some awesome news! When she left the hospital last week, her platelets were approximately 60,000. Her red and white blood counts were lower than normal, but that was to be expected at this point in the game.

Her results from yesterday have brought a complete joy to our family, that is nothing short of a miracle! Her platelets have climbed to 116,000....her red blood count is within the normal range, and her white counts are still a little low, but still gradually rising. The doctor removed her PICC line and gave the "thumbs up" for Nonnie and Papa to go to Oregon. On Tuesday, as they have for decades, they will make the 800+ mile drive back to the place where they call their second home......"The Oregon House".

She Did It!

It is hard to believe that just last week, Nonnie had the doctors baffled about her platelets. As usual, she remained strong and steadfast in her battle against the leukemia! After 26 days in the hospital, Papa was able to take Nonnie home again yesterday afternoon. As you can imagine, they are extremely happy to be home, and Nonnie is catching up on some much needed rest.

She has another doctors appointment late next week, and if she is feeling well, Papa is going fishing in the Sierras with his buddies for the weekend. On the following Monday, a home health nurse will stop by to take her blood and check her PICC line. On Tuesday, they are going to take their long awaited road trip to Oregon! Papa had a little in-service on how to maintain her PICC line while they are away. What a team!

Side note: Dustin's class is having a contest to see how many states they can get a postcard from. If anyone out there is able to help out, please send a post card to our home address. Thank you!

Dustin Nelson

19712 Ditmar Lane

Huntington Beach, CA 92646

Mr. Inventor

Today marks a full 3 weeks since Nonnie has been back at UCLA for her consolidation treatment. Fortunately, there have been many more up than down days! She is still having her low-grade fevers, but not nearly as bad as last time. Because of the fevers, her platelet counts have dropped from 39,000 on Friday, to as low as 17,000 on Sunday.

Starting yesterday, both her platelets and white blood counts have been increasing on their own! This was the case again today...... looks like her body is kicking this leukemia's booty! The doctors told Nonnie and Papa that she will likely not be in the hospital this weekend, which means she will be able to go home.

Nonnie was just thinking of putting a little color into her hair, when suddenly, it has began to fall out again. This time, Papa is her hair dresser. How is this for a visual? Papa uses a rolling lint brush over Nonnie's head to persuade the hair to come out on the tape, instead of on her pillow or into her food. I think he is on to something......don't be surprised if you him on a late-night advertising his new invention!

Some Gave All!

Over the last week, Nonnie's doctors have continued in their quest to get her platelets under control. She received platelets again on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The first 2 days were unsuccessful...... in fact, I learned a new word that explains why this is happening. This occurs most often in people who have had many blood and platelet transfusions, and is known as becoming "refractory" to the platelets.

In the immune deficient patient (Nonnie), the platelets can become less effective when her system recognizes the donated platelets as different than her own. The body then produces antibodies to attack and destroy the platelets quickly. If this type of reaction occurs, a blood test can be taken to check for antibodies, and the platelets you are given can be checked to make sure that they are similar to the recipients. This is known as "cross-matching", where certain proteins on the cell surface are looked at to make sure they are similar.

On Friday, the doctors began their search for the donor who gave her the platelets on Monday of last week. They had hoped that because she responded so well to that donor, they would not have to do the cross-match process. In the donor world, you never know if the donor is still able or willing to give again. Would you believe it if I told you that the donor was not only willing to give again, he/she actually works in the location where the platelets came from!

On September 11, 2009, eight years to the day that 343 firefighters gave their lives so others may live, this person stepped up and gave platelets to Nonnie. Her counts immediately went from 4,000 to 39,000! Now that we have that figured out for the time being.... we need for her fever to stop rearing its ugly head!

Cruisin' For A Bruisin'

On Sunday, our family went up to UCLA to visit with Nonnie and Papa. She was just finishing up another platelet transfusion when we got into the room. Dr. Paquette was up in Bend, Oregon running in marathon, and was expected back soon to discuss the concerns over why she was not responding to the platelets. By the time we arrived home, we got news that her counts went from 3,000 to 4,000..... this was not the news that we were hoping for!

Nonnie received another platelet transfusion yesterday from a totally different donor, and this time, her counts went up to 29,000. That's more like it! Along with the good, comes the bad..... another moderate grade fever. Like last time, this puts the staff into overdrive; more blood tests, chest x-ray's and a urinalysis looking for an infection. She had a horrible night sleep last night, but feels a little better this afternoon. The results of the tests came back, and she does not have an infection. Additionally, her body's response in fighting the fever caused her counts to go down to 17,000 today.

To give you all an idea of the affect of low platelets, Nonnie told me the following stories.... the staff takes vital signs around the clock, and yesterday she had a black bruise around her entire arm from the blood pressure cuff. She also she puts her left arm into a latex sleeve to keep her PICC line dry while she bathes. The top is held up by a rubber band, and it too, has caused a perfect bruise the shape of a rubber band. Since she has received the platelets, her bruises are now a cool greenish color!

Platelet Update

Nonnie is currently having an issue regarding her platelets..... as expected, her counts dropped again yesterday from 13,000 to 7,000 and she received a platelet transfusion. Normally, her counts rise 10,000 or more after getting platelets. This morning, her platelets were checked again, and they were at 3,000. It is unknown why she is not responding, but the likely answer is that the donor was not suitable. The danger in having a low platelet count is the threat of bleeding and not being able to clot.

She already has to brush her teeth with a sponge device to protect from having her gums bleed. Now, the doctors are concerned and do not want her to sneeze or even cough because this may cause internal bleeding. The doctors are going to conduct some tests and find a more suitable donor so she can get another transfusion. Despite the above news, she feels very good and is glad Papa is back from his fishing trip!

Gone Fishin'

I can't believe that Nonnie has already been in the hospital for a week and a half! Her hemoglobin counts have dropped, and she received 2 units of blood today. She spent alot of the day sleeping, because she also gets Benadryl to reduce the likelihood of having a reaction. Her platelet count is currently at 13,000 and she usually gets platelets when that drops to 10,000. This is all expected and part of the process. Nonnie still has her appetite and is taking her daily walks around the floor.

Papa has been so supportive and committed throughout this entire process, and Nonnie wanted him to get away while she is feeling good. Luckily, he was able to hook up with Mike and Matt Carpenter. The boys are going to San Diego for a much deserved fishing trip!

Poker Face

Last night, Nonnie finished her fifth and final round of her consolidation treatment! Her counts are continuing to slowly decline as expected, and she continues to feel well. The nurse made Nonnie promise that if she drinks plenty of fluids, she will disconnect the IV tubing from her PICC line. Having this off, she does not have to lug the IV cart and pumps around everywhere she goes.

Despite the temperature being in the high 90's with unusually high humidity, Papa is still taking a morning and evening walk around the village and UCLA campus. I heard he has already read 2 books this week and will probably need to get a few more to pass the time. Nonnie told me that she wants him to get a deck of cards, and teach her how to play poker! Watch out for the lady with the scarf at the next "World Series of Poker"!

Surprise Visit

With summer coming to a close, and school around the corner, Dustin and Sydnee wanted to go visit their Nonnie before our schedule got too hectic. It was a wonderful surprise, because Papa went home early this morning, and she was not expecting any visitors! The kids gave her their handmade cards and exchanged hugs, followed by a nice walk around the floor.

Nonnie is scheduled to start the 4th dose of chemotherapy tonight, which means she will finish the therapy on Saturday night. The staff told her that she may be able to go home for a couple of days, and wait for her counts to begin to drop. At that time, she will go back to the hospital and wait until her bone marrow begins to produce the white and red blood cells and platelets to an acceptable level.

Round 3

I just got off the phone with Nonnie, and she told me that she just started the third round of Cytarabine. She sounds very positive and feels absolutely great! Nonnie became so accustomed to being home and staying active, it sounds like she is a little bored. She has continued her walking routine around the floor, and Papa is back doing his walk around the campus as well. We have to get her well soon so they can go up to Oregon and enjoy the fall colors!

Familiar Faces

After being home for 10 weeks, Nonnie and Papa returned yesterday to UCLA to begin the consolidation treatment. It was very comforting for her to see all of the staff that had been so supportive and reassuring during this entire journey! She had a PICC line re-inserted in her arm to begin the chemotherapy treatment last night. The chemotherapy drug is called Cytarabine and is used in a lower dose than the last time. This will be infused continuously over a five day period, and so far, she feels completely normal. The length of their stay will depend on her body's ability to get her counts back up to acceptable levels.

The Oncologist I have made reference to over the summer is Dr. Paquette. He was Nonnie's doctor while she was home and when she went to the clinic. He is still assigned to the clinic, but he came by to visit Nonnie this morning to check on her. He told her that he wants to "adopt" her as a patient. This means that he will be her primary doctor, even though the attending Oncologist will still help out while she is in the hospital. It is to no surprise that these doctors have made a personal bond with Nonnie!

Papa is also back to his normal routine.... he went home this morning to tend to the house and get Brennen off to the golf course. As long as Nonnie feels good, he will go home on Tuesdays and Fridays to rest his back from the couch that he sleeps on while at the hospital. Her direct room phone number is (310) 267-6152.

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

757 Westwood Plaza

C/O Linda Asam, Room 6145

Los Angeles, CA 90095

Shocking News

Over the past couple of weeks, Nonnie and Papa have been anxiously awaiting the phone call to return back to UCLA for the cord blood transplant. Finally, all of the authorizations were taken care of so we could move forward. Her doctor conducted all of his tests, and decided that the best possible cord blood match was the unit in Spain. It looks like she will go in on Monday to begin her next treatment.......

If you remember back a while, her sister Carol was tested to see if her bone marrow was a match, and unfortunately, she was not. Carol would have been the best possible match, but to be sure, he requested that Mike and Lisa give a blood sample last Wednesday to double check their compatibility. Lisa had the opportunity to see what it was like to be Nonnie for a day. She was poked and prodded by what may be UCLA's newest student! After several unsuccessful attempts at drawing her blood, another nurse came over and drew 4 vials of blood. Lisa is hoping that she will be the "perfect match" so she can take over Mike's position as "Nonnie's favorite".

Earlier that morning, Nonnie and Papa went to get a bone marrow test to get her final blood counts as protocol to start up again next week. The doctor was joking around, and said "wouldn't that be funny if your blood samples returned, and your platelets have gone up"? That evening, Lisa called her mom to tell her about the experience, and that she had a bad feeling that her blood was misplaced by the scattered nurse. Nonnie called her doctor to let him know that all 3 of their samples were completed and asked him to verify that all of the samples were labeled correctly.

It typically takes up to 3 days to complete the blood tests, but he obliged, and went to the lab to put Nonnie's mind at peace. When he called her back later that evening, he had some news that shocked even himself! Up until now, Nonnie's white and red cells were virtually non-existent, and her platelets were at dangerously low levels. This is why she needs the stem cell transplant via cord blood. The doctor told her that her white and red blood cells are in the "normal" range and that her platelets count is at 75,000! What does this mean? It means that she does not need the transplant, and that she will begin her consolidation treatment as planned on Monday! This is by far the best possible news and this procedure not only gives her the least amount of side affects, but is also the safest and has the best long-term outcome. There is no medical explanation as to why her counts went up as they did. Praise God!

Cord Blood Meeting

Yesterday was the long-awaited day we have been waiting for....Nonnie and Papa finally met with her main Oncologist and the representative from the Cord Blood Registry. It sounds like within 2 weeks, she will be back at UCLA to continue her treatment. Until then, she is awaiting the necessary authorizations from her insurance company, while the registry continues to work on getting the proper match.

The registry goes through a database of potential donors to find a match for the recipient. If you think of a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being a perfect match, they have found 4 potential donors that have a 6 of 10 match for Nonnie. That is a perfectly acceptable number for these type of transplants, whereas bone marrow transplants require a 9 of 10 match. Typically, the recipient will require 2 cord blood units due to the size and volume of the cord blood. Because Nonnie is over 50 years old, she will only receive 1 cord unit due to her age. 

Although there are only 4 cords that match Nonnie throughout the registry, they need to examine each one individually to find the very best match. We have learned that 1 of the cords is in Spain, and could take up to 2 weeks to get to UCLA. The other 3 are located in the United States and could be shipped the next day. Nonnie always wanted to be bilingual, so don't be surprised if she starts speaking Spanish after the transplant! 

Something Missing

Last week, Nonnie and Papa traveled to Los Angeles for an afternoon filled with doctors appointments. Prior to receiving a cord blood transplant, it is necessary to have a full physical to see if she is strong enough to continue the current treatment plan. Nonnie met with a Cardiologist to have an EKG, a Pulmonologist to check her lung function, another doctor to check her liver and kidneys, additional tests for her blood, and of course, another bone marrow biopsy. We are still awaiting the results and expect a meeting with her primary treating physician in the near future.

Lisa and I brought the kids up here to Oregon to check on the house. Nonnie and Papa have not been here since late last year, when she began to start feeling some of the symptoms of her leukemia. Several neighbors have stopped by offering supportive words and a gift that we will bring back later in the week.

We have seen a couple of deers on the property and have all of the family memories, but there is something missing that just can't be replaced......it is the love and happiness of Nonnie and Papa that we miss the most!

Change In Plans

The results from the bone marrow biopsy are back, and there is a new plan for Nonnie starting next week. There is a mix of news to share regarding the results......there is no sign of leukemia in her blood, but her bone marrow is no longer producing platelets. This is one of several things, including both red and white blood cells that are produced in the bone marrow.

Instead of undergoing chemotherapy next week, Nonnie will most likely get a cord blood transplant. As more information becomes available, I will update you on that process. Until then, keep those prayers coming!

Still Waiting

Well, it has been a while since the last update, and I hope everyone is having a great summer! Can you believe that Nonnie has been home for 7 weeks? As last updated, Nonnie has continued with her twice a week in home health nurse and staying busy spending time with family and friends. 

Last week, she went in to get a bone marrow biopsy, and they are expecting the results early this week. If all goes as planned, she will return to UCLA to continue her consolidation treatment. 

The whole gang came down to Huntington Beach for a BBQ and swim party for Mike's birthday. If you ask Nonnie, she will tell you that she feels better than ever. Although she is not looking forward to going back in to the hospital, she is ready to continue her battle. Stay tuned for further updates later in the week.

Progress Report

With the exception of knowing she needs to go back to UCLA for further treatment, Nonnie and Papa are back to living their normal lives. They have been busy spending time with the grandkids, attending sporting events, dance recitals and all of the typical fun summer activities. She is still having the home nurse come to the house to take blood and clean the PICC line twice per week. 

On Friday, they went to meet with the doctors to discuss the upcoming treatment plan. Her platelets are lower than they would like, so she will be at home for two more weeks. At that point, she will return back to the hospital and undergo the same chemotherapy treatment as the last time. If you have not had the chance to talk to Nonnie, her spirits are high and she remains extremely positive.

Relay For Life

Hello everybody. No need to panic, I needed to take last week off to rest my fingers! Everything is going just as expected at this point. After the visit to the clinic last week, Nonnie got some good news, which made being home more enjoyable. Her doctor told her that she could go out in public and "live it up". Of course, Papa did what you would expect.... he took her shopping, went out to dinner and even went to the movies. It is like they are dating all over again!

Last weekend, the Huntington Beach Firefighters Association participated in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life event held in Huntington Beach. This is an annual race held in cities all over the United States to raise money for cancer research, etc. It is a 24 hour race, in which teams gather to walk the course to raise money from donations. We brought our BBQ trailer and cooked breakfast, lunch, dinner, smores and a midnight snack for over 600 participants and volunteers. 

Our team raised $13,000 this year to give to the organization. At night, the course was lined with personalized paper bags, each with a candle inside illuminating the path. The coolest thing was when one of our firefighters' daughters cut and donated 12" of her hair for "Locks of Love". Allison is 9 years old, and she donated her hair in tribute to her grandpa. He too was a firefighter and passed away from cancer 2 weeks prior.

Updated Game Plan

Nonnie and Papa went up to Los Angeles this morning to meet with her doctor. He is very proud of her for facing this challenge head-on, where most people would have ducked and covered. He told her that her counts are doing very well, and at this point, she has no limitations. This means she can go out in public places like restaurants, movies, etc. She will have to listen to her body and be careful not to overdue her activity until she is back to full strength.

The doctor told them what the game plan will be starting in a couple of weeks. The best treatment that she can receive will be identical to what she just finished.....repeated multiple times. Starting in 2 weeks, Nonnie will return back to UCLA for a consolidation treatment, which will be much like her last visit. The treatment will be a strong dose of chemotherapy, followed by several weeks in the hospital. After that, she will go home for 2-3 weeks and repeat all over again for a total of 4 more times.

This treatment will give Nonnie the best possible chance of staying in complete remission. She is willing and able to continue the fight as long as it takes. All she needs is the continued love and support she has received throughout this process. For now, she is enjoying being in the comfort of her own home and being surrounded by loved ones.

Reasons To Celebrate

As I sit here tonight reflecting back on yesterday's news, I am finding it difficult to articulate the emotions felt not only by myself, but everyone following Nonnie's journey. This news could not have come at a better time in our family's lives! Yesterday was a cause for a triple celebration. Brennen graduated from the 8th grade, Shannon turned 30+10, and to top it all off......Nonnie learned that she is in remission. 

Within minutes, the news spread like wildfire. There were countless phone calls and e-mails made across the United States to share the good news. If only we could have reclaimed all of the tears of joy throughout the day, I believe that the water crisis in California would have come to an end! 

Nonnie and Papa are going to visit the doctor first thing in the morning. We anticipate learning what the next steps are going to be over the next weeks and months to come. Thank you for all of your continued support and prayers. 

God Is Good

There is no way I could have waited until tonight to share this information with all of you. I got a call from Nonnie this morning, and I could tell she was extremely emotional. She told me that she was going to try not to cry, but the emotion poured out before she could speak. Her doctor called her this morning, and said he was not sure when he was going to meet with her at the clinic. He wanted to make sure she knew that the induction chemotherapy treatment was very effective. In fact, Nonnie is now in remission!

The next step will be the consolidation phase of treatment that will be discussed at a later date. Nonnie has proven again that she has the strength and courage of a warrior. Thank you all for the continued support and countless prayers.

The Magnet

As you could imagine, Nonnie and Papa are really enjoying being back home! The home health nurse came by yesterday to clean the PICC line, take vital signs and blood samples. When the nurse arrived, he was not sure who the patient was. Papa was in the back yard washing windows, where he slipped and fell to the ground. He narrowly missed injuring his eye when he got a close up view of the freshly pruned Oleander. 

It is no surprise that Nonnie was going to draw many visitors while back at home. Papa has given her a new nickname......."The Magnet". Since she has been home, Nonnie has had quite the social life! She has been busy getting caught up on the phone with family and friends and reading the messages left on the blog. Today, she had visits from Pam & Diane, Charlotte and Mary. In the morning, they are expecting Buddy & Kris to come by to visit and give Papa a hard time. 

When I spoke to Nonnie tonight, she sounded absolutely great! She told me she feels strong, both physically and emotionally. There are no test results available yet, but we expect to hear from the doctor later in the week. For now, she actually prefers to be removed from all of the doctors and nurses while she is at home. 

Welcome Home

No matter who you are, a person develops a routine around the responsibilities or activities in their life. For Nonnie, it has been developed around a physical exam every 4 hours, 24 hours a day. Fortunately, it looks like she won't have any problem getting situated at home! She had a great night of uninterrupted sleep and was able to relax all day. Nonnie stayed busy today unpacking and organizing all of her gifts that she has received. Mike & Mary came over for a visit this afternoon, and then Papa topped it all off with a fillet mignon and mashed potatoes dinner. Welcome home Nonnie!

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggitty Jig

Finally, the day we have all been waiting for has come! The only thing holding Nonnie back from going home this morning, would have been a fever. There was no way that was going to happen, judging by the amount of prayers that went out for her this week! Papa returned back to UCLA at 9:30 A.M. to help get packed up and checked out of the hospital. They returned back to their home at around 1 P.M. this afternoon.

The bone marrow results will not be ready until next week, and for now, they do not want to think about the results. She will have a home health nurse stop by twice a week to change the dressing on her PICC line and take blood, vitals, etc. Nonnie is going to meet with her doctor at the clinic later next week to discuss her case and then go back to UCLA for the next treatment after 2 weeks. 

Today, we all went out to Nonnie and Papa's house to spend the afternoon with them. You can tell that she feels very strong and is thankful to be home. It is so awesome to see her watch every move that her grandkids make, and just sit there and smile. The blog title is what Nonnie used to say to the kids when they returned home. What an incredible way to start out the summer!

Need Proof?

If any of you would have asked me earlier in the year, "What is AML?", I would have told you I have never heard of the term. Over the past several months, we have all learned about AML and the effect it takes not only on the patient, but also on the family and friends of the loved one. This disease does not discriminate and has no boundaries, as evidenced by Nonnie being dealt this horrible card.

I spoke with Nonnie tonight, and she told me that she met with the nicest Indian lady who is a Chaplain at UCLA. For the last 2 days, they have talked and prayed together, and formed a very special bond. Nonnie told me that she feels very strong and surprisingly at peace with her progress to date. This seems to be the "jumpstart" she has been looking for, to continue the momentum until Papa comes back tomorrow morning.

Thank God for answered prayers! How is this for proof! Nonnie woke up this morning with no fever and feeling incredibly strong. The results from the upper abdominal CT came back completely negative. Her blood counts are still on the rise and her Neutrophil levels are at 600. The staff took a new bone marrow sample, and they expect to get the results sometime tomorrow. 

Tomorrow morning is going to be very busy for Nonnie and Papa meeting with the doctors and nurses. It will all be worth it, because this time, Papa is bringing his bride home for a 2 week stay! I vote Nonnie for the "most inspirational" person of the year.

Getting Closer

Well, it has been 3 months since Nonnie has begun this physical and emotional journey. Today was another informative day at the hospital, but there are still some unanswered questions. Nonnie woke up this morning with another low-grade fever. Her nurse gave her Tylenol and she went back to sleep. When she woke up today and yesterday, she was completely drenched from the fever breaking. 

The doctors on Nonnie's floor rotated again today, and she really likes her new female doctor. She is very informative, and has excellent bedside manner! Nonnie is still on 2 different antibiotics that may be causing the fevers. The doctor told her that they will begin to ween her off of those to see how she responds. 

Nonnie's counts are still on the rise, and we need to pay special attention to the Neutrophil counts in the white blood cells (reference Neutrophil 101). These counts were at 400 today. To give you an idea, she was able to go home last time when that number hit 500. I am not sure how long it will take to rise, but she is definitely going in the right direction!

Information Overload

When Papa got back to the hospital today, he didn't know how much information he was going to learn today. First of all, the CT results from her upper chest and abdomen were all negative. They started a temporary PICC line in her right arm to inject the contrast. Today, she got a second CT scan of the lower portion of her chest. Let's hope for the same results.

Next, he learned that a possible reason for the recent fever is because of her low white blood count. She may always have something in her body that is being fought off by her white blood cells. The chemotherapy obviously kills off these cells, making her susceptible to infection/fever. Once the white blood cells begin to climb, the fever goes away, and you may never know what the source was. Pretty interesting!

Papa then inquired about trying to become a bone marrow donor. This is something he had always wanted to do, but regretfully never did. Unfortunately, he is not a candidate because the age range is 18 to 60. I am sure some of you might be disappointed to learn this, but now the rest of us have no excuse. We can make a difference!

Lastly, Nonnie's counts are continuing to climb! Her white blood cells and platelets have doubled in the last 24 hours. As long as she continues at this pace, it may be real soon that she is able to go home. For this to happen, we need her to keep getting stronger and avoid a fever. Most importantly, we need to pray that this treatment has put her into remission! That test will be performed prior to her going home next time. 

Typical Tuesday

There was no interruption in Papa's Tuesday routine today. Thanks in part, to the fact that Nonnie woke up without a fever this morning!  Her doctor was concerned about her recent fever, and he ordered a CT scan with contrast to rule out a respiratory infection. The results were not available as of this evening. 

Papa had an interesting day at home today. After paying his bills and doing chores, he went outside to notice Police cars in front of the neighbors house. He left his garage door open and found that both of his cars had been rummaged through. There were multiple cars in the area that had been broken into during the day. Fortunately, Papa does not keep anything of value in his cars and the Police had the person in custody. What a bummer thing to go home to!

Stay Strong

For whatever reason, this darn fever just won't go away for good. While not one of her worst fevers, Nonnie is still battling a mid-grade fever that literally drains the energy from her. The staff informed Papa today that the "Fire Drill" tests were all negative, but there is still little explanation as to why she is feeling the way she does. 

Unfortunately, Nonnie has been getting sick for most of the day. They are unable to give more Zofran at this point, but she has received Ativan which seems to take the edge off. Hopefully by morning this will all be behind, so that she can work on getting strong enough to come home!

Fire Drill

At 3:00 A.M. this morning, Nonnie had to endure what Papa calls a "Fire Drill". She woke up with a fever of 104 degrees, which sets things in motion. If you remember, the staff immediately starts their battery of tests; blood samples, chest x-ray and a urine sample to rule out infection.

To top it all off, the dreaded nausea came back for a brief visit. She was given Zofran to battle the nausea and Tylenol to break the fever. By mid-morning, she felt much better and was able to take a bath before receiving platelets.

Nonnie's fan club expanded again, with a visit from Rick & Charlotte and Neil & Jane. Papa then took them all out to a nice lunch in Westwood Village.

Neutrophil 101

Last night, Nonnie had a rough night while on her own. She developed a low-grade fever that prevented her from getting much sleep. While it never developed into a high fever, she was nervous because of her experience a couple of weeks ago. They are planning to give her platelets tomorrow and we got some encouraging news regarding further blood tests today.

There are several different types of white blood cells, which are cells of the immune system that defend the body against infections. They are all produced in the stem cell that is found in the actual bone marrow. The "Neutrophil" cells defend against bacterial and fungal infections and are the first responders to such a problem. The reason I mention this, is that Nonnie's Neutrophil counts are on the rise and this is what we need for her eventual release from the hospital down the road!

I failed to mention that Nonnie's dear friend Brenda from T & C went to UCLA yesterday after Mike & Shannon left. Papa is back at the hospital and they are expecting a few more visitors to come by if she is feeling well. Keep those prayers coming!

No News Is Good News

Papa went home this morning, while Mike and Shannon visited with Nonnie at the hospital. He came down to watch Dustin's last baseball game of the season tonight, and is going to watch Blaine's soccer game in the morning before going back to UCLA. Everything else seems to be status quo for the time being. 

Happy Birthday Papa

When a person is in the hospital for an extended amount of time, the likelihood of having to celebrate a holiday or other special day while being treated is certain. Over the last couple of months, Nonnie has done just that.....she celebrated Easter with the entire family, and last weekend, Lisa and I spent our 11th anniversary with her and Papa. 

Papa celebrated his birthday today with his sweetheart. The staff brought in a specially made birthday cake for Papa (bacteria free) so Nonnie could share in on the fun. He has obviously earned the reputation for being the most loving and supportive spouse in history! After the celebration, Papa was able to sneak out to see a movie during the afternoon. Nonnie is expected to get a fresh blood transfusion due to her drop in hemoglobin.

While You Were Sleeping

While most of us were sleeping at 4:00 this morning, Nonnie's nurse came in to take her vital signs and a blood sample. Since beginning her treatment, she has been getting platelets when she reaches 10,000 or 20,000 when she has a fever. The normal range for a healthy person is between 150,000 and 400,000. Today, her platelet count was at an all time low of 4,000. By 5:00 A.M. she was getting platelets, Tylenol and IV Benadryl. Fortunately, the Benadryl kicked in and she was able to sleep until 8:00 A.M.

Nonnie really appreciates the phone calls and visits she has been getting since she has been in the hospital. That tends to break up the day. Today was no exception, in fact, she had visits from Kenny & Kathy Winkler and Chuck & Kathy Reid. It is so awesome to see lifelong friends support each other through all of life's challenges! 

The outpouring of love and support have been incredible to say the least. Over the weekend, Nonnie received a hand knitted throw blanket from Debbie Guerrero. Nonnie worked with her at T & C. She also got another throw/wrap from Gretchen (daughter of Rick & Charlotte). She told me they are "her colors" and she can't wait to snuggle with these once she gets back home!

Phone-A-Friend

Papa made the trek home today to tend to the yards, pay bills and get caught up on laundry. As usual, Nonnie began to feel bored and lonely. Fortunately, she received several calls from friends and family that allowed her to get her mind off of her situation. Her platelet levels have dropped, which means she will likely get fresh blood or a platelet transfusion soon. 

The doctor told her that every other patient on the floor is having a bad day today, and that she was doing the best of all his patients today. I can only imagine how badly she felt for the other patients, but it also must have lifted her spirits knowing that she is on track and staying strong!

Keep Going Nonnie

After several days in a row of feeling well, Nonnie woke up this morning feeling a little nauseous. Fortunately, the staff acted quickly and gave her medication to alleviate the symptoms. Mike and Mary Carpenter went to the hospital and had a really nice visit with Nonnie and Papa. We hope you all had a nice Memorial Day weekend. 

Lifted Spirits

Lisa and I took the kids up to see Nonnie and Papa today. She has been feeling a little bummed about being in the hospital lately, and this is just what she needed! To see her face light up, as the kids opened the door was worth the drive to Los Angeles. Sydnee and Nonnie colored pictures from a coloring book, while Dustin made brain teasers for her to "keep her brain working".

I forgot to mention that the quarantine that she had a few days ago was lifted after a few hours. They were testing for a virus that is common in nursing homes and hospitals. They were just being extra cautious to make sure she was not exposed because of her depressed immune system.

Nonnie remains anxious waiting to be able to return home. Last time, it took 20 days after her treatment for her counts to start increasing to the point where she was able to go home. The doctor gave some discouraging news today. Because of the intensity of the second round, it may take a little longer to see those counts rise this time. The good news is that she looks and feels great, and the worst is behind her!

Oregonian Sighting

With each passing day, it marks one day sooner that Nonnie will be able to return home. She had another really good day, and has ramped her walking routine up to 30 minutes! David's sister Kathy has been in Los Angeles this week with a group of women from her church in Oregon. She stopped by for a visit this afternoon before they return home tomorrow. We are all looking forward to going back up to Oregon later in the year to see the rest of the family.  

Beer Me!

It has been over a week since Nonnie went back to UCLA to get her second chemotherapy treatment. Her blood counts are continuing to plunge, in fact, they are lower now than they ever got before! Since the onset of symptoms, Nonnie lost approximately 25 pounds. Fortunately, she is slowly getting her appetite back. Her new favorite things to eat are pancakes or a hot dog with 7 mustards! Not 6 or 8. Since discovering this cool new diet, she has gained 3 pounds. 

Yesterday afternoon, the hospital staff decided to expand the quarantine to Papa. He was asked to wear a gown, booties and mask similar to the ones that the staff had been wearing. Papa would do most anything for Nonnie, but that was a little over the top. He decided to go down the street to grab a bite to eat and watch a movie. When he takes his walks, there is a restaurant that he has had his eye on for a while. As he walked in and asked for a table for 1, the hostess gave him a look as if he was homeless. 

He looked around the restaurant and noticed that all of the guests were wearing at least a coat, if not more dressy! He looked down and couldn't help but notice he was wearing his favorite shorts and t-shirt. If Papa has learned anything over the past couple of months, it is not to sweat the small stuff. The cold beer was the perfect way to wash down the $18 burger!

Nonnie Knows Best

When Papa returned to UCLA this morning, he was glad that Nonnie decided to stay in the hospital instead of going home. The doctors had anticipated her blood counts to start dropping later in the week, but she had a different idea. Her hemoglobin and white cells have already begun to drop, which prompted a blood transfusion this afternoon. 

Despite being tired from not getting much rest last night, she was able to log 3 walks today! The doctors are testing her for a possible virus, which may just turn out to be a side affect of the chemotherapy. In the meanwhile, Nonnie was placed in quarantine inside her room. Only this time, it is not too bad because Papa is with her. 

Right On Track

I spoke with Nonnie tonight, and you would never know what she had just endured over the weekend! You will all find comfort in knowing that she sounded very positive and upbeat during our conversation. It is always a good sign when Papa feels comfortable enough in going home for the night. The doctor even asked if she felt like going home for a couple of days! The reason why the doctor said that, is because he does not expect her counts to begin going down for a few days. They decided that it would be easier staying in hospital, instead of being discharged and go through admissions again later in the week. In the meantime, she is feeling well, but she still has not found her appetite yet. 

Nonnie Does A 180

After a couple of horrible days, Nonnie came back swinging today. She began to start feeling much better last night and throughout the day. Somehow, she mustered up the energy to take a couple of walks today as she prepared to have her last chemotherapy treatment this evening. What an amazing difference from the weekend! Her strength and will to fight is so amazing and we are all so proud of her. We must now sit back and trust God, as he begins heal Nonnie. 

Winding Down

After fighting a fever for almost 48 hours, Nonnie finally broke it this afternoon. The fever has completely wiped out her appetite and energy level. To get an idea of how tough it was on her body, she does not recall any of yesterdays events. She started her new chemotherapy medication last night at 5 PM.  The drug is called Etoposide, and she is scheduled for 3 treatments spaced 24 hours apart. Today, she received 2 units of blood, anti-fungal medication, eye drops, Etoposide, Benadryl, Tylenol and Cytarabine. 

We are looking forward to tomorrow, as Nonnie is getting her 8th and final Cytarabine treatment at 8 AM and her 3rd and last Etoposide treatment at 5 PM. Nonnie has proven she is a fierce warrior and that she came to battle. Keep up the good work!

Increased Dose

Yesterday was a brutal day for Nonnie. She was awake all night with a fever, and it lasted throughout the entire day. At one point, her temperature was 104 degrees. Along with Tylenol, the nurses packed her in ice to reduce the temperature. This caused her to begin to shiver, and then warm blankets were placed on her because shivering is our bodies mechanism to get warmth.

This chemotherapy treatment is approximately 10 times the strength of the first round. Last round, it was on day 12 that she began to have a fever. She should be done in the next day or so with the current treatment, and her doctor spoke of giving an additional chemotherapy medication afterwards. She has completely lost her appetite, which causes her to become weak and tired.

Fight, Fight, Fight!

It should not come as a surprise, that today was going to be a very busy day for Nonnie and Papa. There were multiple doctors and nurses that came by to exam, take vital signs and administer medications to her throughout the day. It sounded so exhausting, but somehow she managed to sneak in a couple of walks in between all of the attention she was getting. The bone marrow biopsy tests came back, and the leukemia is still in her blood as anticipated by the doctors.

I learned that the Cytarabine treatment is actually being administered every 12 hours, over a 2 hour period for 4-5 days. She is getting her third dose as I write this entry tonight. The dose is stronger than the last, and she is feeling the adverse effects sooner than before. She feels a little weak, loss of appetite and she began to have a fever when I was on the phone with Papa. One of the side affects of Cytarabine is damage to the cornea of the eye. She needs to use a medicated eye drop to avoid potential damage. 

I remain very optimistic, as the symptoms she is experiencing must mean the potent drug is working. I have confidence that she is in the best of care, as the picture from yesterday states "Best in the West". Moreover, she has God watching over her each and every second of the day! Good night.

Getting Back Into The Routine

As you all know, Nonnie returned to UCLA this morning for another round of chemotherapy. There were a few familiar faces, which helped ease some anxiety about going back today. The staff took an x-ray of her PICC line to make sure it is still patent, and Nonnie got another bone marrow biopsy. We do not have any results yet, but hopefully tomorrow I can give updated information. She is scheduled to begin her chemotherapy at 8 P.M. tonight. This will be a higher concentration, single dose given once a day for 5 days. Below is her new contact information:

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

757 Westwood Plaza

C/O Linda Asam, Room 6131 

Los Angeles, CA

90095

(310) 267-6145

Change Is Good

These last six weeks have been emotional, uplifting and inspiring to all those who have been following Nonnie's story. It is incredible to see so many people, literally coast to coast, give so many words of encouragement and countless prayers in order to show their love for Nonnie. As she prepares to return to UCLA for her second round of induction chemotherapy, Nonnie wants to thank everyone for their support. 

Whether you have spoken to her in person, over the phone or have been following this blog, I am sure that each of us has changed for the better in some way. Her strength continues to amaze me and I pray that her body responds favorably to this therapy.  

Lifetime Friendship

Papa was able to go out and do his errands as planned today, while Pam came over to babysit Nonnie. They had an awesome visit together, catching up and sharing over 40 years of memories. Having company during the day helps Nonnie not only pass the time, but it also keeps her mind from going into overdrive. She is continuing her daily walks around the house, and she even walked up to the top of the street today with Pam. Doug and Annie also stopped by for a quick visit this afternoon. Tomorrow will be spent packing up in preparation for the return trip to UCLA. I believe this short break away from the hospital is what Nonnie needed prior to going back for her next battle. 

Familiar Faces

Over the past several weeks, Nonnie has not had an appetite for anything other than peanut butter & jelly sandwiches. She was able to eat steak and baked potato for dinner the last 2 nights. Lisa went out to visit her mother today, followed by a visit from Mike and Mary. Papa picked up the kids from school as they always have until Mike and Shannon get off work. It was nice to have some normalcy back in their home this afternoon. 

The home health nurse came by to take Nonnie's vital signs and draw blood samples. She felt very good today and is looking forward to tomorrow. Papa is going to get out to do some errands, and since Pam is in town from Lake Havasu, she is coming over to spend time with Nonnie. Remember, it was Pam, Bubbles and Jack that worked together to find the perfect wig for Nonnie. I have had this picture for a few weeks, and I feel it is time to introduce you to "Robert" her hairdresser while Nonnie poses for a picture in her new look.  

Mothers Day

Yesterday was a special day for our entire family, as we celebrated Mothers day with Nonnie. There were so many emotions felt throughout the entire day. The kids made a giant welcome home card with personalized messages and pictures attached. You can imagine how emotional that was for Nonnie to read, and equally emotional for us to watch her read them. Kids say the most candid and sweet things that make a persons heart melt, and eyes swell with tears. Perhaps the most touching memory I have, was when Sydnee gave her Nonnie a hug that seemed to last an eternity, as neither wanted to let go. I couldn't help but notice that Lisa and I were simultaneously in tears watching the bond that they share.

Nonnie has always loved to watch the kids, whatever they may be doing. She sat in the backyard for a couple of hours watching all 5 grandkids swim, play baseball, ping pong and have water balloon fights. Papa pulled off an awesome dinner with filet mignon, baked potato, bread, salad and veggies. He topped it off with a yummy strawberry bundt cake served with ice cream. This was a typical weekend day at their house for the last 13 years since I have been with the family! We are all grateful that Nonnie was able to come home for a quick reprieve before going back to battle. We love you Nonnie!

Homecoming

For the first time in over a month, Nonnie was able to wake up in her own bed and relax all day yesterday. I can only imagine how nice it must have been for Papa having his bride home again after so long! She has always been the catalyst and strength in our family, holding us together and sharing her love with everybody. We are looking forward to going out to Riverside this afternoon to share Mothers day with the whole family. It has been since Easter since Nonnie has seen the grandkids, so I know it is going to a fun afternoon for all of us. 

The Battle Continues

As I sit here trying to make sense of today's events, I am having a difficult time trying to collect my thoughts and put it to words. Nonnie and Papa were at the hospital today and learned the results from her bone marrow biopsy. Although she put up a good fight, unfortunately the leukemia is not gone and she is not in remission. What this means, is that she will need to start the "induction" chemotherapy all over again starting next Thursday (reference "The Battle Is On").

As they were leaving the hospital this evening, the staff told her that it is not uncommon for this to happen. I am encouraged that she knows from experience what to expect, and that the same excellent team will be waiting for her. Nonnie and Papa are at home tonight hoping to get caught up on some much needed rest. Let us continue to pray for Nonnie, as she spends Mother's day weekend at home with her family and grandchildren. 

Practicing Medicine

I spoke with Nonnie a few minutes ago, and she sounds great. Sometimes you can tell she is putting up a strong front to disguise how she really feels, but not tonight! Nonnie got a bone marrow biopsy done tonight at 5:00 P.M. The procedure is done by inserting a hollow needle into the hipbone and removing bone marrow, blood and a small piece of bone. A pathologist then views the bone marrow, blood and bone under a microscope to look for signs of cancer. They hope to get the results back sometime tomorrow.

One unique thing about being treated at UCLA, is that it is a teaching hospital. Tonight, her doctor that did her procedure had the opportunity to do his first bone marrow biopsy on Nonnie. Her nurse was waiting outside the door during the procedure, and she knew something was up when another nurse came out asking for more Lidocaine! She had already gave the doctor 2 vials to numb the area which usually takes about 10 minutes. Thirty minutes later, she was all done. I guess that is why they call it practicing medicine.

Separation Anxiety

Another good day today, only not as eventful as yesterday. Nonnie's blood counts are still climbing as expected. She is feeling a little anxious about going home, because the staff has been so attentive and ready to act when needed. The separation anxiety she is having from being at the hospital so long is completely normal. The staff would not put her in a situation that would place her in any danger. 

Papa has been nervous to ask the doctors about the results from the spinal taps over the past two weeks. Remember when they did the spinal tap, she got additional doses of chemotherapy in case the leukemia was in her spinal fluid. He got the news we all wanted to hear.....no leukemia in her spinal fluid! Nonnie and Papa shared this emotional news together yesterday when they were finally able to embrace again. 

Extra, Extra, Read All About It!

There was some incredible news that came out of room 6113 today. Nonnie's blood counts are higher than they have ever been, and still rising! This is what we have been waiting for so she can come home. Papa has started his training on cleaning and flushing her PICC line on a "prop", for when she goes home. Tomorrow is his big day...... he might get to practice on a actual patient that needs this done to give him some confidence. Kenny came by today for a visit. I wonder if Papa impressed him with his new nursing skills?

Papa is going home tomorrow to do his weekly yards and laundry routine. When he comes back on Wednesday, he will need to bring their SUV because they need to start bringing their accumulated items home. At least he can take the carpool back home later in the week...... because his passenger is going to be Nonnie! The doctors said that she is on track and feel confident that she will be strong enough to go home for Mothers Day. The only way to top that news, is to share that Papa got to hug his wife for the first time in over a month today!

Close Call

Nonnie was sound asleep at 5:00 A.M. this morning, when she was awoken by her nurse. Imagine how upset she must have been when she was told that her fever had returned! She reminded her nurse that this is what happens prior to becoming nauseous and having a horrible day. 

Of course, this prompted a battery of tests..... the staff took blood from her peripherally and another from her PICC line to check for an infection. In addition to the anti-nausea medication and Tylenol, she had a urine analysis and a chest x-ray before receiving fresh blood and platelets. 

Thank goodness that her nurse came in to check on her when she did! Because of her swift actions and subsequent treatment, Nonnie ended up having a wonderful day. When Lisa talked to her mom tonight, she had just returned from her third walk of the day. Back here at home, the Osterkamp family dropped off the most beautiful flower arrangement that brightened up our day.

Time For Rest

Last week was filled with ups and downs, smiles and frowns. Nonnie and Papa are relaxing tonight and are catching up on some much needed rest. The walls are getting smaller as the weeks pass by, as they wait in anticipation of going home soon. Keep up the good work Nonnie!

Power of Prayer

Today marks the end of 4 weeks since Nonnie was admitted into Riverside Community Hospital. All of the love and support she has received over the past month has been very overwhelming. She has heard from so many people via cards, letters, phone calls and posts on this blog. Her spirits get lifted up each and every time she reads or hears the encouraging words of support. The most incredible thing is the amount of people praying for her recovery around the entire United States. I know for sure that she is on prayer lists in Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, New Jersey and Oregon. If there are any others that I may have missed, please let us know.

She has continued to stay strong again today..... for those of you counting, that is 4 great days in a row! Despite all of the emotions and sickness that she has been dealing with, she is still the same sweet and loving Nonnie that you all remember. Carol and Tony stopped by on the way to the airport this morning. Mike and Shannon also came by for a visit. They all took a walk and stopped for a picture. After the picture was taken, Nonnie could not stop laughing. Everyone was wondering what was so funny. She told them that she was smiling for the photo and forgot she was wearing her mask. I can't wait to see that picture!

Sisterly Love

Today was another fantastic day for Nonnie. She is feeling very well and has been up and about (on a walk, sitting on the couch or chair) more than she has been during her entire hospital visit. Over the past 24 hours, she has received fresh blood, platelets, magnesium and potassium. She tells me that she has been able to maintain her weight so far. She met with the nutritionist today, and is getting enough nutrients despite her lack of appetite.

Her doctors think she may be able to come home in about 2 weeks. The home health care company has already been coordinating with Papa to drop off the necessary supplies for her once she gets home. A home nurse will be assigned to her to come by to obtain vital signs, blood draws, etc.  

Papa took Carol and Tony out to dinner tonight for their last night in town. They spent countless hours together this week, and have been so supportive throughout this ordeal. Earlier in the week, Carol was able to do what the rest of us wish we could do. She gave blood in hopes that she might be a match for Nonnie, should she need a bone marrow transplant down the road. It is still too soon to know the results, but the worst case scenario would be going to a donor bank. The odds are 25% at best that she is a suitable match. Nonnie wishes them a save flight home tomorrow!

The Comeback Kid

Following the worst day of her battle on Monday, Nonnie has had 2 of her best days since! I spoke with her this morning and she sounded absolutely great. Dr. De-Vos came by today and he advised her that the 3 day fever she endured was expected. In fact, if she did not have the fever, he would have questioned the effectiveness of the chemotherapy treatment. If only we would have had that information a few days ago, we could have rested a little more easily!

Carol and Tony have been spending a lot of time at the hospital over the past few days. They are going to take advantage of the weather today and do some sight seeing. Nonnie's new barber Robert took the time to give them an itinerary, brochures and maps to some of their favorite things to do. How awesome is he?! Just a tidbit to let you all know how supportive and caring the people on Nonnie's hospital team are.  

What A Difference A Day Makes

Once Nonnie accepted the card she was dealt, she told all of us that she would put up a fight and win this battle. She wasn't kidding........ sometime in the middle of the night, she was finally able to break her temperature. Lisa went up to the hospital this morning to find her perky as can be, with fresh lipstick and all! The nausea was completely gone and the girls even went on a nice walk around the floor. You know she must be feeling better because Papa was able to go home this morning. I can only imagine how many times God heard our cries to be with Nonnie yesterday. Thank God for answered prayers!

Manic Monday

Today was perhaps the worst day for Nonnie since she has been in the hospital. She is feeling very tired and worn down from her 102 degree fever. The nurse has been giving her Tylenol to lower her temperature without success. She is unable to take Advil because of the risk of bleeding. If she does not break the fever by this afternoon, she will need to take an ice bath. The doctors are unsure where the source of the infection is coming from. The sores that she had late last week are healing, and her PICC line was cleaned and appears to be patent (open and unobstructed). 

In addition to her fever, Nonnie has felt nauseous throughout the entire day. You might ask yourself, "What else can a person handle"? Our favorite patient had to endure her second spinal tap followed by another chemotherapy treatment. If you recall, it seems that the last 2 Tuesdays were "feeling bad days". I hope and pray that Tuesday came on Monday this week, and that tomorrow will be a brighter day.

Three Weeks Down

Today marks the end 0f Nonnie's third week at UCLA. She had several nice visits from family and friends. Papa's second son Roland and his wife Tammy stopped by on Saturday, followed by a phone call from her longtime friend Mr. Ward. Today brought in a new wave of visits from Mike, Carol and Tony. Her sister is getting a hotel in Los Angeles so they can stay close for visits and go to a Dodger game on Thursday. 

The doctors are still deciding if they want to take blood samples from Carol before she goes back to Oregon later in the week. After everyone left today, Nonnie developed a fever that they are keeping a close eye on. The doctors will have their weekly Monday meeting in the morning to discuss all of the patients' cases. For now, we need Nonnie to kick that fever and stay strong so her body can start making healthy blood later in the week!

Making Friends

Nonnie was feeling a little down this morning until Dr. De-Vos came in for his daily rounds. He was able to cheer her up by telling her that everything is going as planned. Papa made the return trip to the hospital after being home for a few days. He loves her new look with no hair. Papa was all excited to go with Nonnie on a walk, but was a little taken back by her new routine. Nonnie has made a few friends on her floor and they have been taking their walks together. Carol and Tony arrived safely and took today to settle in and go to Mike and Shannon's for dinner. They are going to UCLA tomorrow for a long awaited visit with Nonnie. 

Surprise Visit

Last night, Nonnie received a fresh blood transfusion followed by platelets this morning. After eating breakfast, she took a bath and came out to find Lisa and I sitting in her room. We were hanging out with Robert while he cleaned her room. She was so surprised because she thought there would be no guests until tomorrow. Papa has recovered from his sickness, and he will bring Carol and Tony down to the hospital tomorrow.

Nonnie was wearing her brown turbine hat and she looked adorable. Lisa and I talked with her for a while, and all along we were dying to see her new haircut. Our curiosity got the best of us and we finally asked her to take off her hat. The nurses were right. She looks beautiful! Move over Sinead O'Connor and Brittany Spears.....as Lisa said, "she rocks it". 

Dr. De-Vos came by while we were there and explained that her sores were a simple virus. He assured us that the antibiotic will clear them up. Whew! He also told us that her blood levels are almost "rock bottom" and that next week her body should start regenerating on its own. Once she gets to an acceptable level, she will finally be able to go home. Nonnie was feeling the best she has in a long time today and appears to be responding well to the treatment. 

More Answered Prayers

Nonnie woke up this morning with a bed full of hair, and she knew it was time to call Robert for a haircut. Robert shaves his head bald with a razor, so she felt comfortable that he was fully certified to use the clippers. He was so gentle and kind with her, that she actually felt O.K. with the idea of not having hair. Several nurses stopped by to see Nonnie, and they all told her how cute she was! It was at that moment when reality set in and she began to cry. As you could imagine, her head was rather cold without hair. The good news is.... she loves her cozy new brown hat that Lisa found for her. 

Over the last several days, Nonnie has developed sores in the small of her back. The nurses have been giving her a medicated ointment to help soothe the area. The doctors have been keeping a close eye on her because of the risk of infection. This afternoon, she had a frightening experience. The doctors and nurses came into her room wearing gowns, masks and gloves. Imagine being told that "you" are in isolation and that the precautions they were wearing were because of your condition! Nonnie was all alone and feeling so scared while lying in her bed. She immediately turned to God like she has so many times in her life, especially during this difficult time.

Any guesses? Within 15 minutes, the door opened with her nurse standing in door. She came in to tell Nonnie that the "isolation" was over. That just might be the fastest answered prayer that I have ever heard! We do not know what the doctors were acting so cautiously about, but the assuredness of knowing she did not have anything contagious was a good enough answer for now. Hopefully we will learn more tomorrow about that. 

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

By 10:00 A.M. this morning, Nonnie had not heard from Papa since he had gone home yesterday. She was getting worried about him when he walked in the room and rushed over to put on a mask and gloves. He woke up at home last night at 3:00 A.M. with a headache and sore throat. He used all of these precautions because he did not want to expose Nonnie to any sickness. Check this out......Papa drove from Riverside to Los Angeles to make sure she had clean underwear. He wiped down the entire room with disinfectant and cleaned behind himself as he walked out the door. Papa was there for a total of 10 minutes, and got back on the freeway to make the return trip. You can't ask for a more supportive husband. We need him to get rested up over the next couple of days before her sister Carol and Tony get in this weekend from Oregon.

Nonnie felt surprisingly energetic and strong throughout the entire day. She told me that she went on a few walks and caught up on some television shows today. Her spirits sounded high and she even joked about how her hair has begun to fall out. She started using a lint brush to clean her pillow but there wasn't enough tape on the roll. A towel now rests over her pillow to catch the hair. Tomorrow, Nonnie's "care person" Robert is going to help her cut her hair off using clippers. Despite this recent event, she still has the most positive attitude and is actually excited to try on her new hats and wig that has finally arrived.  

Morning Sickness

Overall, Nonnie's spinal tap procedure went pretty well yesterday. The worst part was having to don a face mask and be taken through the hospital and down the elevator to the treatment room. Nonnie said she felt alone and scared because all of the machines and noise going on during her procedure. She just closed her eyes and prayed and within 35 minutes, she was back in her room. 

This morning, Nonnie began to feel her first symptoms from the chemotherapy treatment. She complained of the worst nausea you could imagine. Fortunately, she did not get sick. Her nurse gave her Compazine to help with the symptoms to no avail. They ended up giving her Zofran, which was the profalactic anti-nausea medication that was discontinued last week. Within 15 minutes, the symptoms were gone.  

I spoke with her tonight and as you could imagine, she is getting tired of looking at the same 4 walls! Nonnie took a nice walk with a student nurse tonight and she stayed and visited for about an hour. I can only think of the lasting impression that Nonnie must have left with this young nurse and how happy she must feel to have gone into nursing!

Wanted....Technical Help

I have heard that some people are having difficulty in becoming a follower, posting a picture or a comment. If any of you have any helpful advice or are computer savvy, please reply to this post.

A Message From Nonnie

As I lay here in my hospital bed this morning, I feel so overwhelmed by all of the outpouring of love and support by all of my family and friends. Lisa read aloud to me all of the comments over the past few days and it reduced me to tears thinking and missing each of you. Yesterday, Mike and Mary delivered these huge gift baskets filled the most fun and thoughtful gifts you could imagine! So many people were involved in putting this together including: Vickie, Janie, Charlotte, Ron and Brenda, Linda K. and of course Mike and Mary. It was like Christmas in April. All of the hospital staff and nurses kept coming by to see all of the goodies. Included were several pajamas, robes, Bath and Body sets, teapots, mugs, slippers, flip-flops, music CD's, socks, hats, games books and pencils, stationary and note cards to write on once I feel more energetic and so much more. This morning, I opened up the most beautiful silver necklace that has 100 tiny beads to signify 100 good wishes from Matt, Maria and Sofia Nelson. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for caring so much about me.

Love,

Linda, Linnie, Nonnie

Progress Report

As we sit here this morning with Nonnie and Papa, 3 of Nonnie's doctors came in to give a progress report. Today she is feeling a little weak but you would never know it by seeing her. She is receiving a platelet transfusion as we speak. Nonnie and her new donor are getting along great! She is scheduled to have a spinal tap this afternoon. During this procedure, they will take a sample of her cerebral spinal fluid to test for signs of leukemia. In addition, they will inject a profalactic chemotherapy treatment directly into her spine. We are told that her type of leukemia attaches to the lining of the body organs, and sometimes the spinal column. Later in the week, she will get a second injection into her spine depending on the results of today's tests.

Papa's Answered Prayer

Papa was feeling very nervous yesterday because Nonnie needed to get a platelet transfusion. He prayed to God that she would not have another adverse reaction. Of course, you don't need to ask how the procedure went because the title says it all! Papa is getting so good at his new role, he is considering starting a second career in nursing. All of us men could only hope to be half as loving and supportive as him.

Mike and Shannon went to visit yesterday afternoon and she is expecting Mike and Mary Carpenter to come by today. I am sure this helps break up the everyday routine of being in the hospital. One last cool thing.......yesterday when Sydnee got up to bat at softball, Grandma Boo yelled "this one's for Nonnie". Sydnee crushed a single and even got a "gold star" for her hit and good play throughout the game.