During my little war with cancer, I've experienced a lot of kindness, from friends, family and complete strangers. I couldn't have come this far without it.
I thought it time to pay it forward.
A good friend has a story I'll share below:
"I would like to nominate my sons, Michael and Joseph Pizzurro who are 29 and 26 years old. Mike and Joe were diagnosed with a debilitating nerve disease called giant axonal neuropathy. They reached their normal milestones as toddlers but were diagnosed with GAN when they were 8 and 5 years old. Mike and Joe exemplify what a true hero really means. They both have been through many hospitalizations and GAN has taken much function away from them. They are both mentally intact. They both are on full-time ventilators which help them breathe, eat via a g-tube for nourishment and can now only move their heads. They can no longer drive their wheelchairs. My husband and I, as well as several caregivers assist Mike and Joe with all of their activities of daily living. These young men are very brave. Even though they wish they could be “normal” they are very happy to be alive and part of the family. Mike and Joe can use a new van. The van would be used for their medical appointments and also their recreational activities. Mike and Joe have inspired their sisters to become nurses. These two young men face challenges every day and have inspired many people in their community. They always want to help others and make others happy. I am very proud of these two young men and they are my true heroes."
Please click the link below and vote every day?
Vote for Mike & Joe Pizzurro - Tampa, FL in the 2013 National Mobility Awareness Month Local Hero contest!
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Well Ain't That Boring
Somehow I felt this transplant process was going to require some heroic effort on my part. I've really not had a lot of horrible stuff to deal with.
I checked into the hospital on Day -1 and had a class to sit through. That afternoon they placed a PICC line and that was it. On Day 0 I was given a dose of Melphalan. That chemo wiped out as much cancer as possible, but took the bone marrow with it.
They then infused me with my own stem cells to start building new blood and bone marrow. And that was it! I've been coming to the Cancer Center each day. I spend about 8 hours a day getting IV medicines and fluids to keep me on the mend. But that's it. That's all I do.
I'm not suffering too much, if at all. It's like experiencing a bad flu. I'm fatigued, but I sleep well. My taste buds are shot, so my appetite is a little weak. That won't be a lasting problem. I like food too much.
I'm 6'4" and 218 pounds. Height won't change, weight will. Trust me. I have an appointment with a large pizza when I get home to my kids.
Onward and upward.
I checked into the hospital on Day -1 and had a class to sit through. That afternoon they placed a PICC line and that was it. On Day 0 I was given a dose of Melphalan. That chemo wiped out as much cancer as possible, but took the bone marrow with it.
They then infused me with my own stem cells to start building new blood and bone marrow. And that was it! I've been coming to the Cancer Center each day. I spend about 8 hours a day getting IV medicines and fluids to keep me on the mend. But that's it. That's all I do.
I'm not suffering too much, if at all. It's like experiencing a bad flu. I'm fatigued, but I sleep well. My taste buds are shot, so my appetite is a little weak. That won't be a lasting problem. I like food too much.
I'm 6'4" and 218 pounds. Height won't change, weight will. Trust me. I have an appointment with a large pizza when I get home to my kids.
Onward and upward.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
8 Months
8 months later, I'm here in Hackensack University Hospital awaiting my stem cell transplant. It was Friday, July 13th when I was diagnosed, which was a beautiful thing.
My appetite is ridiculous; I eat like a 17 year old. Anything I want, and I lose weight. LOSE weight. Well that fun will end when this stupid cancer gets its ass out of here, but I'm gonna enjoy it while it lasts.
Peripheral neuropathy... A few diabetics I know battle with this little treat. I got it when I came off the first phase of chemo. It hit me from the knees down, and the best I can describe it is like bee stings, lots and lots of 'em. But the docs have answers for everything. It's well under control thank God.
I had to give in and take some pain medicine the last couple of weeks. While it sucked, the bone pain is temporary. I had large doses of Neupogen to stimulate stem cells. That worked. Now the pain's laying back, not quite gone, but wearing away.
Multiple Myeloma is a scary disease, but it's nothing to be scared of. It is a disease that can be whupped. As of now, sure, there is no cure. But the way things go nowadays, there's a cure just waiting in the next doorway, right? I always think about that 62 months life expectancy. Bullshit. That's a challenge, not a sentence. I'll be boring you for a lot longer than that.
I'll check in later.
My appetite is ridiculous; I eat like a 17 year old. Anything I want, and I lose weight. LOSE weight. Well that fun will end when this stupid cancer gets its ass out of here, but I'm gonna enjoy it while it lasts.
Peripheral neuropathy... A few diabetics I know battle with this little treat. I got it when I came off the first phase of chemo. It hit me from the knees down, and the best I can describe it is like bee stings, lots and lots of 'em. But the docs have answers for everything. It's well under control thank God.
I had to give in and take some pain medicine the last couple of weeks. While it sucked, the bone pain is temporary. I had large doses of Neupogen to stimulate stem cells. That worked. Now the pain's laying back, not quite gone, but wearing away.
Multiple Myeloma is a scary disease, but it's nothing to be scared of. It is a disease that can be whupped. As of now, sure, there is no cure. But the way things go nowadays, there's a cure just waiting in the next doorway, right? I always think about that 62 months life expectancy. Bullshit. That's a challenge, not a sentence. I'll be boring you for a lot longer than that.
I'll check in later.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Sunday, March 10, 2013
The Next Beginning
Today I'm heading toward the next step. I'm heading to a hotel in Hasbrouck Heights NJ. I have a very early appointment at Hackensack University Hospital. It's quite far from my home so it makes sense to be up there in the morning.
Since I need a set of eyes on me during the chemo and transplant phases, my Dad has offered to take on the job as caretaker
I'll have a class tomorrow on what to expect with the chemo and transplant, and then I'll have a PICC line placed. Tuesday, the fun begins.
So for now I'm gonna eat up, do some relaxing and get ready.
Time for cancer to get outta my body.
Since I need a set of eyes on me during the chemo and transplant phases, my Dad has offered to take on the job as caretaker
I'll have a class tomorrow on what to expect with the chemo and transplant, and then I'll have a PICC line placed. Tuesday, the fun begins.
So for now I'm gonna eat up, do some relaxing and get ready.
Time for cancer to get outta my body.
Friday, March 8, 2013
The Next Step
Here in NJ, we're having yet another Nor'easter. It's not so bad as far as those storms go. It doesn't matter to me today, though. I have the day off. No tests, no needles, no hospitals. Nope, none for me today.
The stem cell harvest is complete. Took a little longer than planned, 5 days. You'd think being plopped in a recliner chair or 6 hours a day would be my perfect job, but it's not as fun when you can't move a muscle for those hours.
The perma-cath that had been placed became infected. I spent a week in Jersey Shore University Hospital while the team there fought the infection. I had no immune system as a result of the previous week's chemotherapy, so they were giving me Neupogen injections and IV antibiotics. The plan didn't work, so the catheter was taken out. This required the harvest to be done with a needle in each arm. The needle drawing the blood out was a large one, requiring me to sit as still as possible. Boring!
But I survived somehow. We really need to work on the quality of daytime television though. Will talk about that at another time though.
But now everything has been resolved and everything is in place for the stem cell transplant. I will hang out at home until Sunday morning. Then I will be heading up to Hackensack University Hospital. I'll get everything in order up there and then wait until Monday morning to start the stem cell transplant process. First they'll place the PICC line, then I'll get a dose of Melphalan. That should clean out as much Myeloma as possible, along with the bone marrow. I should also finish losing the rest of my hair. That's been coming out in a rather unusual pattern that's not the most stylish, bad enough that I've not even wanted to post any pictures. That's bad.
I hear Melphalan does the job, but I hear it beats you up pretty good, too. We'll see I guess.
The stem cell harvest is complete. Took a little longer than planned, 5 days. You'd think being plopped in a recliner chair or 6 hours a day would be my perfect job, but it's not as fun when you can't move a muscle for those hours.
The perma-cath that had been placed became infected. I spent a week in Jersey Shore University Hospital while the team there fought the infection. I had no immune system as a result of the previous week's chemotherapy, so they were giving me Neupogen injections and IV antibiotics. The plan didn't work, so the catheter was taken out. This required the harvest to be done with a needle in each arm. The needle drawing the blood out was a large one, requiring me to sit as still as possible. Boring!
But I survived somehow. We really need to work on the quality of daytime television though. Will talk about that at another time though.
But now everything has been resolved and everything is in place for the stem cell transplant. I will hang out at home until Sunday morning. Then I will be heading up to Hackensack University Hospital. I'll get everything in order up there and then wait until Monday morning to start the stem cell transplant process. First they'll place the PICC line, then I'll get a dose of Melphalan. That should clean out as much Myeloma as possible, along with the bone marrow. I should also finish losing the rest of my hair. That's been coming out in a rather unusual pattern that's not the most stylish, bad enough that I've not even wanted to post any pictures. That's bad.
I hear Melphalan does the job, but I hear it beats you up pretty good, too. We'll see I guess.
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