Eye Surgery Coming Up

On the 24th we saw the glaucoma specialist. Doug's right eye pressure is good (he's had many procedures on that eye and already has lost some vision). The left eye needs something done because the pressure is rising. The specialist said we have a few options, but some would require frequent trips back to Colorado Springs for follow up. That won't be workable for us, since Doug's infusion is coming up and we don't know how that will affect him. So we decided on diode laser eye surgery next Tuesday. It is called "cyclophotocoagulation". A laser is used to destroy part of the ciliary body which produces the aqueous fluid that increases eye pressure and damages the optic nerve.
It is usually only done after other more conservative surgeries have failed. And they have. It is also only used if the vision is already very poor. That is true also. The procedure will not reverse any loss of vision that has already occurred. The goal is to stop or slow down further loss of vision. Of course we can pray for a miracle that his vision will improve!
The good part is that our local optometrist can do the follow up.

Our schedule is full. Eye surgery on Tuesday January 29. The next day is a rest day. Thursday January 31, Doug will have his first infusion of the new cancer drug daratumumab (Dara for short). The first infusion is given very slowly so the nurses can monitor closely for side effects. We are told to expect 8 hours time. At least this will happen at the hospital 30 minutes from home.

A lot is going on quickly but time is of the essence. Yesterday, January 25, Doug had the surgery to put in the port for the infusion. He has a few days to rest up before Tuesday!
Our faith is keeping us strong. God is holding us up. Otherwise we would not be still standing!

Love to all.

Verse for the day:
"Do not be afraid, for I am with you. 
Do not be discouraged, for I am your God. 
I will strengthen you and help you. 
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."
Isaiah 41:10

Home, New Oncologist

Doug finished his last radiation treatment last Wednesday and we came home - it is so good to be home!  We are so glad we beat the big storm.
Our two dogs had such good care from wonderful friends - they are even more spoiled than usual.

The next day, Thursday, Doug got in to see our local optometrist to get his eye pressures checked. His vision had deteriorated so quickly that we thought the pressures might have skyrocketed. The pressure was up in both eyes, but not dramatically. The optometrist said "Don't drive". Doug has not been driving at all since January 2nd. We have an appointment with the glaucoma specialist in Colorado Springs on January 24. He might want/need to do some kind of procedure; we will see.

Thursday we met Dr. O, the local oncologist 30 minutes away. We really liked her. The myeloma specialist in Denver, Dr. M, knows her and says she's good. He will continue to make decisions and the two will work together. Not having to drive to Denver so much is a huge help.

 The new treatment will be a combination of daratumumab/revlimid/dexamethasone, given by infusion. We just got a call today that our insurance has approved it. Doug will get a port put in next Friday January 25. I looked it up on YouTube; if you're not squeamish, look up "Power Port". It shows video of the surgery. Having the port is safer than injecting a needle into the skin so many times with the possibility of damaging the veins.

We explained to the oncologist that Doug's vision is  a big problem, and that the eye surgeon might need to do something. She agreed that the infusions can wait a short time, until after any eye procedure is done.

Doug is tired and has had to increase the dose of his sleep aid.

We are trying to get some chores done the next few days. A lovely neighbor shoveled our driveway today. Just one of the ways we are blessed.

Love to all.

Today's verse:
"You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You. Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock."   Isaiah 26:3-4

Plasmacytomas shrinking

We are home for the weekend. The everyday things we take for granted seem like luxuries - like sleeping in our own beds and having the dogs curl up beside us for naps. I am reminded that we need to be thankful for little things as well as the big ones.

Our drive home yesterday was slow; roads were snow-packed. The weather reports said I-70 was icy in spots; we decided to come home on Hwy 24 which is a mountain road with hairpin turns but often better than I-70 which is so busy and frequently shut down because of wrecks. Visibility was immediately better on 24; the short bit we went on I-70 was so slushy and heavily traveled that we had to run the window washer almost constantly. All was well until we came up behind a semi truck that was going 15 mph. Unusual to see big trucks on Hwy 24. At least he was able to keep going uphill. For a long while there was no opportunity to pass because of all the curves. Finally I got a chance to pass. Our Subaru handled the snow pack very well. I had to use my winter driving skills and go slow but that's ok. I didn't feel scared - I knew God was protecting us.

Our good friends brought the dogs home yesterday, and they also brought us supper! Hamburgers fresh off the grill; what a treat! Friends like this are part of God's abundant provision, and we are so thankful.

Today we got the road grime washed off the car and can see what color it is. I'm doing a lot of laundry (ability to do laundry at home is another little thing to appreciate). We are also kicking back and just relaxing.

Three more radiation treatments next week. The radiation oncologist can see the plasmacytomas (you can just call them lumps) are beginning to shrink. Very good news!

Love to all.

Verse for the day:
"Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each day."  Lamentations 3:23

Doug's vision worse

Last Wednesday January 2, we were on our way back to Edwards. I drove the first leg as usual and Doug took over just before we got onto I-70. Doug had been driving about ten minutes when he said he couldn't see well enough to keep driving safely. So he pulled over onto the shoulder and I drove the rest of the way. Doug's glaucoma must be getting worse. He will get his pressures checked as soon as possible.
We got home yesterday - Doug had a treatment Saturday due to the New Years holiday. We are going back to Edwards in the morning. I am doing all the driving, at least for now. God is answering prayers; I feel like angels are watching over us as I drive. I still don't like all those roundabouts in Avon and Edwards!
We will be able to come home next Friday after Doug's treatment, and will have a full weekend at home.

Doug is doing well; he is tired just as much from the stress as from the radiation. We both have been taking naps at Jack's Place.

We didn't go to church today, as Doug doesn't want to be exposed to germs.
I went over to our good friends to visit the dogs for a while. We are blessed to have such good friends care for them; we even have other dear friends who go to play with the dogs! Nikko and Pippa are happy and healthy, but I sure miss them.

Love to all.

Verse for the day:
"Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."   Joshua 1:9