3 month post transplant -- good new

Yesterday we went to Denver for Doug's three month visit with the transplant doctor, Jeff Matous. We got good news -- Doug is in "very good partial remission". Dr. Matous said that Doug is very close to a complete remission. No evidence of the cancer in the blood work! The results of the bone marrow biopsy showed 7% plasma cells. (It was 30% at diagnosis.) If the plasma cells had been 5% or lower, technically it would be called complete remission. So we are very happy.

Dr. Matous wants to repeat the bone marrow biopsy in another three months -- he is hoping that it is a "sampling error" and he hopes to see the percentage go lower.

For those of you who understand the MM lingo, here are the other details:
IgA is now 44 (was 2300 at diagnosis)
M-spike is 0! That is excellent news.
Lambda light chain is 7, again excellent.

Dr. Matous feels that the occasional dizzy spells are the result of the heart meds, so nothing to worry about. Doug goes back to the cardiologist in August for a repeat echocardiogram.

Doug drove all the way to Denver, and we enjoyed a Chinese buffet lunch with our son Kelly and his wife Jamee. Sarah and Taylor, both 13, were able to join us for lunch but we didn't get to see the boys.
This was Doug's first buffet since the transplant -- he is now off all his dietary restrictions. And gaining weight -- he's up to 166, which is a good place to stop.

We are realistic -- we know that Multiple Myeloma comes back at some point after a transplant. But we have every reason to expect a lengthy remission during which Doug is off chemo! Life is very good and we are enjoying it.

Doug worked on our pond today and got it running. We walked on the path by the river this morning. We are trying to increase our distance slowly. The weather was lovely and we saw several rafts full of people having fun bouncing along on the whitewater.

"For you shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands."
Isaiah 55:12

Peace and love to all.

Day + 90 -- Bone marrow biopsy

We went to Denver yesterday for Doug's three month bone marrow biopsy and blood tests. We will get the results next Tuesday when we go for the doctor visit. We are anticipating good news but there are no guarantees. We should find out if Doug is in a complete remission or not.

Doug had "conscious sedation" for the biopsy so remembers nothing of the procedure, although he is a bit sore at the puncture site in his hip today. The tech drew six tubes of blood for various tests.

Doug drove halfway to Denver; I drove all the way back. We heard that some areas had severe weather but we had good driving.

Doug continues to have some dizzy spells but otherwise is doing great.
We enjoyed a visit with "old" friends Gary and Jan Stephan when they came to Buena Vista a couple of weeks ago. Since Doug's dining restrictions are lifted now, we made up for lost time and ate out.
My sister and brother in law are coming from Tennessee to BV July 1; they will stay a week at a nearby campground. We are really looking forward to seeing them.

I have been doing quite a bit of yard work and planting flowers. I didn't really want a yard to maintain but I confess that I am enjoying the flowers. We have lots of things blooming now -- yellow climbing roses, iris, poppies, lupines, columbines, and gobs of cute volunteer pansies. Today I planted some pink yarrow. Doug sits and watches - I know he'd rather be helping but he's still restricted from yard work.

We continue to be very thankful for all our blessings.

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."
Phillipians 4:6-7

Love to all.