More Chemo

Perspective is a funny thing -- who would ever think that we would be thrilled today to learn that chemo is scheduled for this weekend? Eric will be an out patient tomorrow for one infusion (Etoposide) and then will be admitted Sat - Mon for infusions of Carboplatin, Ifsofamide and more Etoposide. This is a chemo regimen called ICE and is commonly used in other SCT centers. It is not a common protocol in Ottawa but is being used for Eric because it has excellent results in helping to stimulate (and then mobilize) stem cells. It has all the usual side effects and his doctors continue to be concerned that the infection will return following chemo when his white counts drop -- we'll be watching for it.

Following the chemo, Eric will go on 8 - 10 days of Neupogen and then we will attempt to harvest stem cells again.

We asked why he was only getting one cycle of ICE prior to collecting stem cells -- there is concern that chemo is doing too much damage and impacting successful collection of stem cells. So, we are hoping and praying that we have stem cells safe and sound in the freezer by the end of the month.



And the Senators are leading at the end of the 1st period!

A Plan in the Works?

The BMT clinic called and moved Eric's appointment up to today. This will be another 'planning' meeting (yes, this is the 3rd planning meeting -- third time's the charm?).

Hopefully this means they have all their test results back and have a chemo and SCT schedule for him. We'll know more later today.

Some Time Off

We have a week off from tests and doctor appointments. It's a welcome break from that whole circus but I think the underlying feeling for all of us is that we want to get this over with.

Actually, 'getting this over with' is the buzz on the streets of Ottawa lately. But in that case the common enemy is snow and winter. Mother Nature is chuckling as she continues to dump snow on this part of Canada. This winter's accumulation is now over 400 cms (and for those of you state-side, that really is over 13 feet of snow!). We are now heading for a new record. This weekend we are forecast to receive 40 -50 more cms! The poodles love the snow, but if this keeps up, they will be walking over the fence!

Priorities and Wait Times

Yahoo! Eric has an appointment for an MRI on Wednesday at 9am! My faith in the Ontario health care system has been somewhat restored.

The wait time for an MRI in Ottawa is sitting at 341 days today, but clearly the system looks at prioritizing patients and needs. As a 21 year-old needing a bone marrow transplant, I had expected that Eric would be high on the priority list - and it seems that is, indeed, the case.

We have been intimately involved with the Ontario Health Care system over the past 2 years and in spite of all the horror stories we hear reported, this is the first time that I felt the system may be having a negative impact on Eric's quality of care.

I am obviously relieved that long wait times will not impact Eric. But a 341 day wait time (Ontario has set the target wait time at 28 days) for an MRI in Ottawa is still unacceptable.

Thinking Positive

This whole 'two steps forward and three steps back' situation we have been in since the start of the year has been frustrating to say the least.

BUT -- on Friday we had a very positive meeting with Ontario Works and ODSP (Ontario Disablity). They approved Eric immediately for Ontario Works and started the paperwork for ODSP. This will relieve some of the financial pressure - but as significant, it was actually a positive outcome. Those positives have been in short supply so we are very appreciative of the smallest success.

We have decided that Feb 29 was the official turning point and that everything is now focused on positive outcomes -- Eric quickly reminded me that this turning point had to include the Senators -- and yes, they finally managed to pull off a win against Pittsburg yesterday!

In other news, Zach has been into the General for his blood tests and Shelley is visiting the 5th Floor today to get her blood drawn. Not sure how long it takes to do the tissue matching...

Eric had a CT scan on Wednesday so we expect to hear from the BMT team next week as far as the status of that lingering abscess and some next steps. I have a sneaking suspicion that he is one of the thousands of people on that horrendous 277 day long MRI waiting list that is plaguing Ottawa. Oh look -- I just ran Ottawa through the Ontario Wait Times website and we are now up to 341 days. Not acceptable. Hopefully the CT scan will give us the all clear to start more chemo.

Tomorrow is Zach's birthday -- Happy 23 Zach! Shelley and Dave made a quick trip up this weekend so we all went out for dinner last night. Lone Star was yummy as always!

That's it, that's all -- as always many many thanks for all your prayers and positive thoughts