His name is Earl

Thanks to some wonderful home cooked meals (pat on the back for me) like the doctor ordered, Andrew's white blood cells have rebounded nicely and he was able to start chemo again on Monday. He is also still having radiation every day and after today will only have 2 weeks left. He should be done the day before Thanksgiving.

Though I'm sure no one really enjoys chemo, I can tell that there are aspects that Andrew enjoys.... first off, everyone knows his name and talks to him... I mean he's a 29 year old cancer patient and most of the people in here having treatment done are over the age of 60 (and I'm being nice.) ..... he also loves having me wait on him ... whatever he needs, he gets ... juice boxes, packed lunch served to him, cookies .... and that leads me to his favorite part of chemo ... Earl, the morning cook in the cafeteria. I can't verify this for myself, but Andrew tell me that Earl makes the best egg, cheese and bacon English muffin sandwiches in the world. He adds a little ketchup for good measure and you should see him perk up in the morning. Earl knows my name and my order and when he sees me coming in the morning, he sprays the griddle and starts the eggs sizzling. With a smile, he always asks about Andrew and makes it right every time. (I should let you know that Andrew does eat breakfast in the morning ... these 2 muffin sandwiches are just mid morning snacks ... and he wonders how he put on 45 pounds?) Though Earl probably doesn't really know it, he is a huge contributor to the success of Andrew's treatment every day. I've tried my best to re-make these sandwiches at home, but Andrew still likes Earl's the best.

There are a mountain of people who contribute to Andrew's overall success with beating this disease .. doctors, PA's, nurses, technicians, schedulers, valet parkers, parents, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmothers, dogs, neighbors, friends, co-workers ... and Earl. Thank you all for contributing. We know together we can beat Andrew's cancer!!!!

Muchas Gracias!!!

Sunburn in November

Andrew's spirits have never been higher after last nights win over Philadelphia. He's one happy camper!! Yesterday was a big day of celebration in our house. Not only did Andrew's beloved Yankee's win, but after his blood work yesterday morning, we found out that his counts are high enough to have chemo again next week .... yeah!! His body is strong enough and producing enough white blood cells to fight off infection. It's wonderful news to hear. He was even able to go back to work today, thank the lord for that, and I got my office back. In all sincerity, it wasn't that bad having him home. But it was time for him to go back.
We also had a wonderful visitor for the past 2 days, Andrew's college friend Bill. Yesterday we took Billy on a day in the life of a cancer patient. We went to a doctors appointment, came home and worked, and then went to radiation therapy in the afternoon. What an exciting day for Billy. But it was great to see him and it helps to keep Andrew's mind off of the cancer.
Lynn and Pete are coming this weekend. Winston is so excited to see his grandparents. Currently, he is resting and snoring loudly so he has enough energy when they arrive. Oh, the life of a Bulldog.
But besides that it's business as usual. Andrew is still having side effects from the radiation. Though it is November in Virginia, his hip and stomach (and other unmentionable areas) look like he has been laying the July sun. Radiation gives him an awful sunburn. He has lots of creams and powers but it only helps so much. He is also having some bowel issues (that no one wants me to go into detail with on this blog ..... trust me!!!) but the doctor says that the bowel is a very durable organ and any issues should resolve themselves after the treatment is over. Crossing our fingers on that one.
So we are ending week 4 of radiation, amazing. Only 3 weeks to go.... till radiation is over and Thanksgiving. Andrew and I are excited for the weekend and the PSU vs. O-State game on Saturday ....



We are ..... Penn State!! Go State, Beat Ohio!!!!

Penn State
"Fight on State"

Fight on State, Fight on State,
Strike your gait and win,
Victory we predict for thee,
We're ever true to you, dear old White and Blue.
Onward State, Onward State
Roar Lions roar,
We'll hit that line, roll up the score,
Fight on to victory evermore,
Fight on, on
On, on, on!
Fight on, on,
Penn State!

(Normally this where a Jager shot goes ... Jamey and friends, do one for us this weekend!!)

Calgon, take me away .....

Dear All,

My nightmare has come true. Yes, I know my husband already has cancer and most of you would think that we are living in a nightmare..... but no. Andrew's doctor told him today that he has to spend the rest of the week at home working so not to be around all of the people in his office with the swine flu. To quote Jason Segel in the movie, I Love you Man ...... this is my nightmare!!!!
Normally I wouldn't care, since I am not usually at home but since I too am still working from home .... this poses a problem for me. I mean don't get me wrong, I want him to be healthy and keep his counts rebounding so that he can have treatment next week, but all the Calgon in world can't take me away from this. Andrew is too serious. When I'm working at home I listen to music, talk to the dog, check people.com, talk on the phone, read usweekly, update facebook ... you know, the usual girl stuff. But Andrew, he could care less what Brad and Angelina did or wore last night ...or who put cute pictures of their kids up on facebook ... and he doesn't like my music .... and he finds little to no amusement in the snoring (and may I add) and most adorable bulldog in the world. He also likes to talk on speaker phone ... which drives me right up the wall. I mean he may not care about Brad and Angelina but I could really care less about whats on the docket for the next few days or if anyone else created a thing like the thing in front of him. Boring!!!
But for now, I am trying to have Andrew's best interests at heart .... and in mind. Andrew's counts are rising but not as quickly as they would if he were able to receive the neulasta shot (which stimulates his white blood cells). But since he is receiving radiation, he is not able to receive the shot for the next 5 weeks. All we can hope is that his body is strong enough to produce some of its own white blood cells and fight off any infection that he may get. On the bright side, his spirits are high and he looks great. The doctor is continued to be amazed by Andrew and that continues to make Andrew happy to hear.
Please keep Andrew in your thoughts ..... and me as I quietly endure the next few days!!!!

(Filling the bathtub with water and bubbles)

Calgon .... take me away!!!!

Where has the time gone....

I'm completely amazed that we are in Andrew's third week of radiation treatment. Though most people would think that time almost stands still when you're sick ... we think it is just flying by. Andrew is doing great. He had a little set back last week after getting sick ... and then giving it to me ... but has been on antibiotics every since. We hope that after the doctors appointments on Wednesday, he will be cleared to return to chemo next week. His radiation has not been effected by the sickness and he has continued every week day, at 3:10 pm, as usual. He is also continuing to go to work every day, which is great for me, because he did stay home one day last week, and I thought I was going to kill him. I love my husband and I know he has an important job, but our house is only so big and we only have one office and when he gets on business calls and shuts and the door to the office in the middle of the day, it really mucks up my day since the office is where my computer, files, printer, memory sticks, paper, phone ... you name it, is located. (don't take this personally Steve) But for that day, I felt like I was at his parents house when his dad is on a business call and we all have be quiet, not make much noise when moving around, and somehow entertain the dogs and reason with them to comply as well. You can all guess how that goes. Besides that, and now that Andrew is back to work, life is going on as planned.
Andrew was even able to get out for dinner on Friday with friends; went shopping on Saturday for new clothes (that fit); and watched football with the boys on Sunday while I went to a bridal shower. (For those of you who don't know and haven't seen Andrew in a while, he has gained about 40 pounds from the treatment and drugs. The doctor is fine with the gain and is happy for Andrew's healthy appetite.)
We continue to receive such love and support from our family and friends and will never be able to express the gratitude we have for all of you. Please keep the love and wonderful thoughts coming .... they're working!!!!

Rain, Rain go away ... come again some other day!!!!

Two tickets to 'Uneventfulville'

This week can be summed up in one word..... uneventful. I know that's hard to believe in our life but this week has gone very smooth and Andrew is responding well and handling the treatment just like the doctors would like to see. Andrew began his first of 7 weeks of radiation at the Tomo Center in Fairfax, VA. It's one of the most beautiful and comfortable places we have ever been. The staff is great and knowledgeable and always there to answer any of our questions and concerns. We also meet with Dr. Bajaj every week to discuss Andrew's treatment and what he saw for the week. Dr. Bajaj is happy with what he saw this week and with the plan that he has set forth for the remainder of the treatment.
I think the only person ... well kinda person ... who is having problems with this chemo/radiation schedule is Winston. The best bulldog in the world. Winny is overly confused with the fact that we leave in the morning, like usual, but come back around 1:30 every day after chemo and are home for about an hour before leaving for radiation at 3:10. He has been eating 3 meals a day since he just can't get this schedule down pat ... so I guess he and Andrew are putting on the cancer weight this week. As you can see from the picture he is not happy to share the bed with me but is so cute I just couldn't move him.
But besides that life is continuing as normal as possible. Gwen and Steve are coming to visit for the weekend and we are very excited to see them. Thank you to everyone for all of the love, support, phone calls, emails, Facebook posts and cards. They keep Andrew's spirits high and his eye on the prize .... becoming cancer free.

Woof Woof ....

Not in Kansas Anymore

So its been a crazy week already. Andrew and I finally found a radiation oncologist that we feel comfortable will provide the quality and level of care and has the expertise we are looking for. His name is Dr. Bajaj and he is located in our backyard and works out of the Fairfax Inova Hospital Group.
But our adventures for the week did not begin there. We first started out in Woodbridge, VA with Dr. Boylan, one of Dr. Bajaj's colleagues. That's how we found Dr. Bajaj... and thank goodness for that. I mean, have any of you ever been to Woodbridge? Me neither, until this. That's where Dr. Boylan's office was located. Anything outside of the 495 beltway seems like a different world to me. Though I don't claim to be a city girl by any means, and would move to State College, PA in a heart beat if I could, when I am in the city, I act like a city girl ... honking at anyone who gets in front of me, drinking Starbucks at all times of the day, only wearing heals over 3 inches high and texting to anyone and everyone who will write back to me, all the while wearing Big Jackie-O sunglasses to shield my eyes from making real contact with anyone ... to validate my importance, of course. Trying to maintain this pseudo-life in Woodbridge, would have been impossible. I never did see a Starbucks or anyone but the doctor and myself in heals ... she had on Stewart Weitzman's .. nice choice. When we stepped out of the car after our 1 hour and 15 minute jaunt from our McLean home and I looked around, I said 2 things to Andrew. 1. Look honey, this is where all the tree are..... Trees for miles around , and 2. ToTo, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore... And sure enough I was right. Woodbridge did remind me of Uniontown, PA, where I grew up a little. But there's reason we are not having treatment in Uniontown and are staying near a big city for medical treatment.
So after a great appointment with Dr. Broylan, she set us up Tuesday afternoon to meet with Dr. Bajaj at the Tomo Therapy Center in Fairfax ... an area we were more familiar with ... so we high-tailed it out of small town USA, got on 95 North and headed back to civilization around the city. Uh .. Starbucks Pumpkin Chai Latte here I come.
Dr. Bajaj is a young guy who actually used to work at Johns Hopkins with Andrew's specialist Dr. Thornton, so we have great confidence in his skills. He has seen upwards of 5 cases of Ewing's in his time as a doctor. Though that may not sound like much, seeing one case in a life time as a doctor can be rare, so 5 makes us feel pretty good. Andrew will be having anywhere from 31-35 treatments, or about 7 weeks in conjunction with his 5-day out patient I/E treatment. All of this will start on October 12th and continue though Thanksgiving week. So you guessed it, Thanksgiving will be here in Northern Virginia this year ... a first for us. His treatment will only take about 20 minutes per day and it will be given to him on a Tomo Radiation Therapy machine. This machine is not new, it's been around for about 7 years, but it is a more precise way for doctors to give radiation without hurting good cells in the process. Andrew and I were both impressed with the machine and its capabilities. He will be having a planning session tomorrow so that the doctor can make out a road map for where the radiation beams will be pointed. The great thing about this machine, is that each day a CAT scan will be done to modify on the fly for any sudden changes, ie an enlarged bowel, kidney ... just anything that may change and potentially be in the way for that day. This will help to keep healthy organs out of the way of the treatment.
But besides that, Andrew continues to go to work each day and I am now working from home. Georgetown has had a large outbreak of H1N1 virus and to keep myself and Andrew healthy, I have been able to work out this schedule. My hope is that I can keep it up through Thanksgiving and maybe even a little longer, until Andrew gets strong enough for me to be around college kids .. who of course think it is fine to cough, sneeze, blow their nose and oh yeah .. come to my office in this condition to tell me about it. Memo to students ... I am not a doctor and I do not play one on TV, go to the Student Health Center or the hospital and not to your advisors office who can't write you a prescription or a note of absence from your classes. Didn't your parents teach you anything ..... so because of the lack of common sense that Georgetown student possess, I am home, staying healthy.

Be well ... And wash your hands frequently with soap and water to keep the spread of virus to a minimum!!

Elmer Fud

Andrew finished his 5th chemo treatment yesterday and came home last night from the hospital. He is doing well; eating and drinking, all the normals for him. After dinner last night, Andrew's brother Jeremy came from his new home in Baltimore and Big Pete went back home to Uniontown to go back to Cal U and teach. When Andrew's in the hospital, Big Pete is such a help. He literally goes into the hospital at 7:30 every morning and doesn't come home until 10 pm every night. This allows me to go to work for a while, make dinner and bring it in and keep life running and visit Andrew at the same time.
Curiosity killed the cat, I know... but I had to ask, What do they do all day when I'm not there. I learned that Big Pete and Andrew are good nap buddies. The both take siesta's throughout the day to get their beauty rest and since Andrew isn't always up for conversing, the Big Man is practicing for hunting season. Yes that right, Elmer Fud himself sits quietly in his seat, not making any sudden moves so not scare ... I don't know.... the chemo drip.... from moving .... all time honing and sharpening his hunting skills for the blissful time he spends every winter shoved in a tree ( a sturdy tree) waiting for that fateful moment when a poor and innocent deer walks into this path ... and then BAM ... you get the point. I always call a head when I coming into the hospital because I'm afraid I could accidentally be mistaken as one of the lonely and innocent who's lost their pack.
But really, I'm overly grateful for Elmer's time and attention to Andrew. I hope this extra practice helps him to 'bag' his deer early this year.
Today Andrew is in the hospital receiving hydration. He's sounds good and is looking forward to watching PSU beat Iowa this weekend ... Go State!!

SSSSHHHHHH... quiet, we are approaching the deer. (I love those hunting shows that you have to raise the volume just so you can hear what they are saying because they are whispering).

Pip Pip ......

PS: We also want to say a big MAZEL TOV to Shannen and RJ Kline on the birth of baby Braedan. We can't wait to meet him!!!!