Plan B
It’s always good to have a Plan B, and we sure needed them this weekend!
We enjoyed a weekend of spring weather in Portland. Eleonor took us through IKEA, being patient as first-time visitors Tom, Becca, and Chiara enjoyed all the fun stuff. The older girls had time to visit three malls and see a movie, and Chiara got to visit with both Grandma and Grandpa Bahrman and Grandma and Papa Buck. Not everything went according to plan, though.
Our plans to join Megan, Curtis, Mary and Lucy at the Zoo on Sunday were changed due to Megan’s pneumonia. Plan B: stop by and take the girls to the Zoo while Megan and Curtis went to urgent care. We had a great time, visiting the animals and wandering in the warm spring weather. (And Mary’s favorite part of the trip: indulging in an elephant ear!)
Then, our plans to have dinner with our friends Matt and Sarah were also changed due to Matt’s pneumonia diagnosis. Tom and I were still able to take advantage of Grandma and Grandpa watching Chiara and we enjoyed a leisurely, delicious meal (although missing the company of our friends) and then a browse through Powell’s.
On Monday, we visited with Tom’s doctor. He was optimistic about Tom’s progress, stating that even though more leukemic cells were found in the last round of testing (Tom’s PCR value went up slightly), he did not think it was a concern. It isn’t atypical, he said, for the disease to fall, then plateau for a while, then fall. He thought Tom’s counts were pretty much a plateau. However, we discovered last week that Tom’s liver isn’t very happy (the medical term is hepatotoxicity), and Gleevec may be the cause. So on to Plan B. Once Tom’s liver recovers, he’ll be starting a second-generation CML drug, Tasigna.
It made me so thankful, once again, for everyone who supported the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and my marathon. Apparently, one miracle drug is not enough…and fortunately we had no shortage of Plan Bs this weekend: most importantly, a drug that will hopefully be as effective as Gleevec, and a little kinder to Tom’s liver.
March 5th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
Thank heaven for all the “Plan B’s”! Lucy told me during the week about the fun time they had at the zoo – and that Chiara walked EVERYWHERE! Looks like Sunday was a gorgeous day!
March 5th, 2010 at 8:57 pm
And we will pray there is no need for a Plan C in Tom’s situation. The girls were a delight. It was fun watching the cousins laugh and share the zoo together. We will also pray that Megan and Matt’s pneumonia will clear quickly. It was great seeing all of you this weekend. The aprons are done, just need to get them to you. Love!
March 6th, 2010 at 7:36 am
So great to see the photos of the beautiful girls. I’m so inspired to hear about the medical innovations and miracles which are taking place at such a rapid pace. Also, isn’t it true that the liver is about the most resilient organ in the body? How fitting. You and Tom have proven yourselves to be about the most resilient people I know. Bless you!!
March 6th, 2010 at 11:17 am
Seeing the three cousins holding hands makes my heart melt. Hoping for continued progress on Tasigna for Tom (and his liver), so that those leukemic cells can be squashed down to nonexistent levels. And pronto!
March 7th, 2010 at 10:51 am
Always good to get your updates! Sure does make you realize how many things we can be thankful for in one day… Zoos, weather, malls, movies, friends, siblings, Grandparents, and optimistic doctors! I myself wouldn’t worry about the liver… I hear you can get more of those relatively cheap on the black market!
Take care and know that we are thinking of you guys!
-Ryan