Great News

Glen's follow-up appointment went well.  No eveidence of myeloma in the bone marrow and no new lessions on the bones.

Whoot, hoot!

We are to continue with the maintenance schedule; VDT in 28 day cycles for at least another six cyles.  Instead of a three month follow-up we get to go six.

Dr. Zangari is definately different than Dr. Tricot.  Very quick and often hard to understand what he is saying because of his accent and speed with which he talks.  He's Italian!  However, when other doctors at the Huntsman volunteered to take on some of the patients due to Dr. Tricot's exit (while is search for a new doctor), Dr. Zangari stepped up and said no.  He would see all of them.  I don't know if that refers to just the myeloma patients.  Our clinic is a BMT clinic as well for other types of cancers.  Kuddos to him for his dedication to the field in which he specializes in.

 We thank our Heavenly Father daily for all that he has blessed us with.

Keep Strong,
Vannette

Follow up testing completed.

Just a bit of an update.

Glen had SCT April 05, 2011.  Then the battle began to get approval for the second transplant.  In anticipation that the tandem transplant would take place Glen went through the D-Pace consolidation the first week of September.  When the second transplant was ultimately denied, maintenance therapy began.

Treatment has been VDT in 28 day cycles with follow up testing at the end of each three month period.  Glen has completed six cycles.  We traveled to Salt Lake City this past Tuesday for PET Scan and bone marrow biopsy.  We will now meet his new doctor, Dr. Zangari this next Monday when we go once again to Salt Lake for the test results.  We have had treatment at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital, the BMT/Myeloma Clinic for one year .  Dr. Tricot got us this far.  He has moved on to Ohio which is why Dr. Zangari will now take Glen on as a patient. 

The staff at Huntsman are well trained, very professional and very personable.  We love so many of them.  They make a hard situation pleasurable.  We have very little wait time after arriving for scheduled appointments.  I have no complaints whatsoever.  We are in a good place.

So, Glen has the 17p13 deletion, thus the frequent biopsies.  We pray that he is still in complete response.

Until Monday,
Keep Strong,
Vannette

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ONE SPECIAL GUY!

THE MAN I LOVE:

AT TWO WEEKS OLD

AH . . . HE HAS A TWIN SISTER

GLEN & GWEN WITH MOM

SO CUTE

 NOT TOO FAR FROM HOME

ON TOP ANTHRO MOUNTAIN

 BRICE CANYON, UT

FLAMING GORGE, UT

After diagnosis Glen and I traveled to Reno NV for an appointment with a homeopathic oncologist.  We got to get close enough to Lake Tahoe to get our feet wet.

This is near our home.  Moon Lake Resevoir.  Look Mom, no hair!

With our girls after a cancer walk near home this past summer

 Glen with our boys on a hunt

 Glen with my dad's ax.  This is one of my most favorite pictures of Glen.  It was taken the day he worked his last day for someone else;  March 2006

Glen with our oildfield equipment.  He is now the boss!

 The picture that was in our wedding announcements;  March 1984

Seven days after diagnosis

Glen was so sick with about 30 pounds of water on him

The day we were sealed for all time and eternity

in the LDS Vernal Utah Temple

Just short of one year after diagnosis 2 months post SCT

I LOVE THIS MAN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GLEN

WISHING YOU MANY MORE

Vannette

GOD'S PEACE AT CHRISTMAS

Often in the stillness,
we pause to her His voice,
and in sharing that sweet moment
we find reasons to rejoice!


I know I have been on the in-active list for a spell but I am still here.  I couldn't let Christmas go by without saying Merry Christmas to those of you who read my blog.  I wish for all of us who have been thrown into the Multiple Myeloma world  - - Peace and Love.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Vannette

FIGHT FOR 2ND TRANSPLANT IS OVER . . . OR IS IT?

The Arbitration has gone in favor of the insurance company. 

While Mr. Thomason states he believes there to be more benefit than risk he could not find the insurance company negligent in the wording of the policy that clearly states there will be no tandem SCT for those considered "high risk".

It has been brought to our attention that while the insurance won't cover the actual transplant, the plan would cover some of the procedures pre and post transplant.  We have started an investigation into just what that would mean and the total out of pocket it would take to move forward with transplant.  This will take all week.  In the meantime the biggest or first question that needs to be answered is:  given that Glen had the 1st transplant 6 months ago, is there still time to continue our efforts in order for the 2nd transplant to be effective?

I've had my day of tears.  I know without doubt who is in charge.  I feel I'm being guided and told it is still not time to give up.  Maybe there is still yet another hurdle we have to get over before we reach the end of this particular quest.

I'm so very sadden in that a favorable decision could have meant something of significance for many others who find themselves in this same situation.

I am ever determined,
Vannette

Nothing!

Well it is the end of business on a Friday.  Not one word today from Mr. Thomason.  Nothing.  NOW, we have the whole weekend to wait and wonder.  Glen does have to be in clinic first thing Monday morning for Day 1, Cycle 2; Velcade.  A decision today may have brought a change to the schedule for Monday.

I am not patiently waiting,
Vannette

I THANK GOD

My heart is so full tonight.  I find peace and comfort in music.


http://youtu.be/jw6j0xp3uJw


Vannette