"Complete Remission" (CR)
That's the official report on my Bone Marrow from Monday. I personally reviewed the slides with the head of Pathology at NIH (somewhat equivalent to the Pope in Pathology circles). In Multiple Myeloma you can't call it a "cure" until a CR has lasted at least 2 years, but in the pathologist's words: "it couldn't look any better at this point".
I continue to feel well, I am busy and physically active. Ended up not flying last weekend - I was having some residual bowel "issues" that made me hesitant - but it is looking better for this weekend, if I can coordinate it with one of the Comanche pilots I've contacted. Mary Catherine loved her 1 1/2 hours of "Synergy Dancing" with Steve Pettit's sister Faith on Saturday. We did a long, hot, bike ride on Sunday up Rock Creek. Bram arrived Sunday night. Monday we changed house sitting venues from Silver Spring to Bethesda, had my weekly chest x-ray, blood work, and the bone marrow followed by the Myeloma team checking on me. Tuesday we got up early and beat the rush hour traffic heading East out of Metro DC and went to the Maryland coast to Assateague State Park and National Seashore. Miles of beautiful beach, with occasional wild horses! Oh I would've loved to have gone in that water. (Next year!) Bram got to experience fresh steamed Maryland Crabs for the first time on the way home. Wednesday was a picture-postcard perfect DC day, even relatively dry and a little cooler. Perfect for our bike ride down to the Capitol and taking-in the monuments and memorials. My sister Nancy, the donor of the "perfect stem cells", was briefly here yesterday and today for her follow-up with NIH. Bram flew back to Idaho today. Sarah arrives on Saturday. We're working on arranging our housing for September and October; nothing definite yet, but some reasonably good options in terms of location; price is a bit steeper than we had been lead to expect, but overall this transplant through NIH has been a bargain, and with a potential cure, and (knock on wood) no complications, I'm certainly not going to complain!
Love to you all.
Phil
posted by Mary Catherine @ 6:58 PM
13 comments
13 Comments:
I knew the chanx would work. Skiing this winter is on.
Dear Phil and MC, Wow!!! I am so very happy for you both as well as your many fans around the world. That is so perfect. Love the photos of you two out and about in DC. You both look great. Can't wait to see you again. Love, Pat and Gary
Hey, Phil & MC--
Fabulous news for you folks--hell, for all of us! It just made the world a bit better. Glad to see you're making the best of that part of the country, too. Enjoy!
BTW, try signing on to today's Lewiston Trib; the Arts section has a great story / pics about Sarah Swett. If you can't access it, let me know and I'll forward it to your email address [whatever that may be]; I tried attaching it to this blog, but failed..... Diana & Alan
Phil & Mary Catherine,
That is the best news!! We are thrilled that things went so well and this fantastic outcome.
Now you can really enjoy the rest of your time there.
Hali & Rick
What a joy to log on today and discover the good news! Hurrah hurrah. (Want you to know that I actually took an old bike in today to get an "overhaul" so I can see if my back can handle riding again. At least to go down to the Olga post office and pick up the mail....)
Tomorrow we are having brunch with some DC folk who are friends of Bryce and Martha's. What/when do you need housing? They bought a vacation place on the island, but don't know how long they'll be here or if they'll consider or already have a housesit. Let me know.
Again - one big WHOOPEE from Orcas. Love, Julia
Hi Phil and MC,
What great news!! Hurray! :-)))
Didn't realize you'd be staying out there in Sept/Oct too! Miss seeing you. Had breakfast at Blue Moon with the visiting Kittlesons yesterday ... Dutch Babies and berries. Leanna stocked up on gallons of huckleberries from Farmers Market and loaded up wild salmon and hallibut from Chris for their drive home.
Farmer's Market has expanded to take over the "town square" (the circular concrete 'thing').. with craftspeople all around the fountain. How things have grown.
Karen got home a week ago from spending two weeks at McGinnis Meadows Guest Ranch outside Libby. Took her dressage horse up there to help him past his extreme fear of cows, wind, noise, etc. with Buck Branaman ('horse whisperer' based on him and his natural horsemanship approach... he was also the 'sugar pop kid' of our youth, doing fancing roping tricks). By the end of the first week, Lido even bit a cow who wasn't moving fast enough when he was herding her! Lots of trail rides up mountain sides. A new horse. Karen said the people were great, nice lodging, good food.
Anyway, we're celebrating your good news today. Hip hip hurray.
Love,
Karl and Karen
Well, YIPPEE, what wonderful news in this blog entry! Complete Remission is a nice pair of words to hear I'm sure. We've been out on the lake sailing since Thursday with Bozeman pals. The water is perfect. Now I'm sitting in the log room with all doors and windows open as the light wanes on Sunday.
And yes that was TT's body zipping as if cannon-shot past Cooee last week.
Fireweed is in full bloom up at Schweitzer. In town it's glads and dahlias.
Love, Karen
Phil and Mary Catherine,
What fantastic news you guys. But fantastic seems like such a little bitty word for such a resoundingly good judgement from the Path Pope!
Hope that your housing search goes well. If all those folks in DC who need a housesitter only knew of the package deal they would get - two reasonably responsible adults, a booklet of great new recipes, tips on gardening, limitless great hospital jokes to amuse their friends?????
Spent last night at the Lunch Peak Lookout tower with four other people. 360 degree view of our personal playgrounds - lake, Cabinets, Monarchs, Selkirks. Ahhhhhhed the sun slipping too too fast over the western rim and later howled at the huge mango-orange moon (just one day past full) as it burst from behind the jagged ridgelines. Then back to town for an afternoon of swimming and glorious sailing. Our cup splish-splasheth over.
Keep up the playing and healing.
Love,
Kathy and Phil
Hello Phil - What great news. You are an amazing guy, with an amazing wife and family. Barb and Steph said to say "Hi" too. So "Hi." Keep up the good work. - Dave and Pat
Hello Phil and Mary Catherine, Burney emailed me your wonderful news - sounds like you did about as perfect as one could. I do believe in my entire 21 years as an oncology nurse that you have done the best of all. Congratulations on the CR! Nancy Boone-Hill
Hi Phil & Mary Catherine.
Great news about how well all is going for you--and loved the pics! Still having some nice weather around Sandpoint, but fall is in the air. Spent last weekend down at Glengary for the annual small boat rendevous, nice group and lots of wonderfull little craft.
Continue the good progress!
Sandy & Gordon
Hey, Phil and MC,
Great news! I know you both must have shared a "whoopee" over the news. So, are you totally aclimated to the heat and humidity of the East yet? Looks like you are enjoying what the area has to offer.
We just got back from a scorching week in Savannah - what fun town. Kirsten bought a house in an older section nearer downtown, but not "historical." She likes the eclectic feel of the area. We ate our way through town - found a really great eatery.
Are you snarfing chocolate yet? Can we send some? Where?
I have a bunch of NIH contadts, via work - let me know if you want me to ask about possible house sitting options.
Enjoy your premature taste of retirement! Kathy and Mike
Sorry to be commenting on this so belatedly - but this was the best birthday present I could have gotten! Great news!
Keep up the fabulous recovery and enjoy this opportunity of travel to the fullest (like I need to tell you that ;)!
Love,
Kendra
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