Sunday - 31 March 2013

 

Posting was delayed due to the whole family Easter visit.  What a great time - hiking, egg hunting, brunching,  churching, and just being with them.  

 

I have been officially medically approved to receive a bone marrow transplant which will either be from Ike as a half-match or from a cord blood transplant.  Not sure which one will be chosen but if the first one doesn't work then I will get the other. 

 

"Take me seriously even with bunny ears"  Doug

 

 

 

Julia,  Doug, Clay,  Laurel, Jane, Sara

 

 

 

Saturday - 23 March 2013

Interesting/crazy but true news from Duke:  Out of  the 10 million international donor pool, there is no match for Douglas Crowder Wheeless.

UNIQUE:  Existing as the only one or as the sole example,  solitary in type or characteristics.  (Mother always  said I was "different")  Old friends from high school, army,  and college are not surprised.

Unusual but not necessarily bad news. The good news is the alternatives that now exist which have an equal chance of success.  The existing alternatives are.

A.  Cord blood transplant (blood from 2 babies' umbilical cords

taken at birth).

B.  Half-match bone marrow from one of my 3 children.

Both options have been equally highly successful.  So,  I have agreed to participate in an NIH study which will randomly select one of the above  options and study my case for the next three years.  I told them that they could follow me for the next 20 for obvious reasons.

What all this really means is that NIH will choose the first type of BMT but if that one should not be successful, we will fall back on the other option.  This will assist NIH in their effort to determine which option is actually the most successful in a head to head comparison. 

As you can imgine,  our kids, Amy, Cam, and  Ike,   are"all in" to donate bone marrow.

 I also had many pre-op tests while at Duke on Thursday which included Pulminary, EKG, ECHO, BM biopsy, and blood draws which required 17 vials.  The results af all these will be revealed by Tuesday and if all are good we will  finally know the schedule.

So continue to participate in "Be the Match" events, donate blood/platelets, and your prayers are appreciated. Amy is hosting a "Be the Match" event at her church in Huntersville,NC.  For information check out www.bethematchfoundation.org/goto/TeamDoug. This event is designed to increase the donor pool overall.

"The more you like yourself,  the less you are like anyone else , which makes you unique."  Walt Disney

 

Saturday - March 16, 2013

Things are looking good.  Immune system is now up in the high normal range.  Doctor says I should go take care of some sick kids.

We will head over to Duke on Thursday for a battery of tests such as EKG, electrocardiogram,  pulmonary,  and an orientation class on what to expect.  Once I pass those tests we will find out about status of donor and actual transplant timing.

Meanwhile, I feel perfectly fine and am enjoying being in the way at home. 

"We were all having a good time until somebody got hurt."  Laurel Christopher, MY 7 YEAR GRANDAUGHTER

THE HIKER

Friday -  8 March 2013

Had bone marrow test  biopsy yesterday- results today!  

   3% leuk blasts!!!!   :)   :)

As mentioned before,   5%  is the goal to qualify for the marrow transplant so I am officially acceptable for the procedure.   We will find out Duke times early next week.

Best news possible.Thanks for the prayers and friendship

 

KITCHEN FINISHED!   JANE IS COOKING CHICKEN PIE!   LEUK AT BAY!   LIFE IS GOOD!!

Monday- March 4, 2013

I'm home at last on my lazy boy in my Carolina Room with the new kitchen in which Jane can toil.  There is a promise of fried chicken tomorrow night.  All signs are good to go. 

Thank you for all the support and prayers. I truly believe that's what got me here.  The plan is that I will continue the blog weekly on Saturdays unless there is something important to report.

"I'm just glad to be anywhere".  Pop Witheridge at age 80 at Amy's wedding

Sunday - 3 March 2013

Good news! Immune system is up high enough to head home tomorrow.  I am ready.   

"Life always offers you a second chance. It's called tomorrow."  UNK

Saturday - 2 March 2013

Good news today!  Immune system (ANC) is up from .1  to .3.    Must get to .5 for next step.  This is real progress.

"Today was good.  Today was fun.  Tomorrow is another one."   Dr. Seuss

Friday - 1 March 2013

No real change in blood counts that influence the immune system.There are signs that positive moves may come in the next few days.   Taste buds are coming back as I had KFC and a small McDs today.   The good news is that this is still a boring blog. 

"It doesn't matter how slow you go, as long as you don't stop." Confucius (given to me by one of the doctors here)