"Wind Up"

Hello everyone, I hope the winding down summer is treating you well. It has been a strange summer for us in the Northwest, going back and forth between 85 degrees and hot to 60 degrees and clouds or rain causing gardeners heartaches and other problems. Since I can't spend a lot of time in the sun right now - it has worked out well for me.
We had to change our e mail address due to being hacked, phished, and having our old e mail address stolen. Part of losing the beatlefool@yahoo.com address meant losing all of my contact information including e mail addresses and phone numbers.  I am in the process of contacting e mail addresses I was able to save.   If you didn't get a message from me already about our new e mail address you can click on view my complete profile, then contact/email on the blog to send me an email- I'd appreciate it so I can stay in contact.

I met with my old oncologist this past week as we are now proud graduates of the Hutch and have moved on to life after transplant. So far so good, my blood chemistry continues to improve and my curls continue to grow.  Sadie is also healing well and has a lot of energy- we have to hold her back more than anything else. We had a a nice visit this week from Nadine and Julie, Yvonne's friends from Oregon, then it was our 28th anniversary Friday. Mikhael came home for a quick visit too. *We might be going to Palm Springs/San Diego to celebrate this week if all goes well at Monday's Dr. Appointment. 

Here it is, another Sunday. I haven't talked much if at all about one of my all time favorite musical groups, Jethro Tull. Ian Anderson and the Tull have been around since 1968, producing many hits, concept albums, and a Grammy for best hard rock/metal group/performance (a little controversial in 1989, as groups like Metallica were shunned.)  1971's Aqualung tops my list of their albums. I think the lyrics of "Wind Up" offer the best lines. The attached video begins with an interesting guitar solo by Martin Barre, then gets into the song with Ian playing acoustic guitar and singing.    Living Happy, Greg

"Learning to Fly"

Yvonne and Greg fighting over the remote control

08-23-10 UPDATE: I AM SORRY IF YOU RECEIVED A SPAM E MAIL FROM OUR E MAIL ADDRESS TODAY AROUND LUNCH TIME, WE ARE WORKING ON THE PROBLEM WITH YAHOO AND HOPE TO HAVE IT RESOLVED SOON.

We made it through day 99 Friday, not without one last extra infusion! I had a last day 4 hour infusion of Immunoglobulin-g medicine to boost one of my blood components that fell below the limit this past week. I thought I would show what happens when I have to sit and take an infusion- hence the attached picture.
I received all of the final reports, we shook hands with the team and we were done. As luck would have it Fred Hutch was having their annual picnic and we ambled over to the picnic site to complete the day with a veggie hot dog and burger.  (Guess who had the veggie dog!)
My song title/metaphor for today is a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 1991 big hit. Petty is one of those lucky guys who was heavily influenced by the Beatles, became a star in his own right and then in 1988 actually played in a group with one Beatle and the three other mega stars (The original five Wilburys were George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty.)  I was riding the bike Friday morning and "Learning to Fly" was one of my Ipod songs in the shuffle. The song made me think Tom and Jeff Lynne were writing a metaphor about growing up in the 1960's. Then I thought, it just might be my metaphor for the rest of my life. Check out the video it might bring back some memories.

"Well some say life will beat you down- Break your heart, steal your crown
So I've started out, for God knows where- I guess I'll know when I get there
I'm learning to fly, around the clouds, But what goes up must come down."

The original five Wilburys

Live Happy!     Greg

"I Need You"

Monday's bone marrow test with faked grimace

I need you, three simple words that have meant a lot for many of us. It has been especially important to me since October  2009, and will continue as I wind down towards getting back in tune. I am feeling much better today, I am not sure if it is physical or emotional, no arguing about it now! I hope I don't offend anyone, but there are some photos I have never shown that I will be highlighting in the next few posts as I wind down, as I am fast approaching the end of the bone marrow transplant program. I am supposed to graduate this Friday with some long term follow up scheduled further down the road. I see my oncologist in Tacoma on Monday the 23rd for the next phase and should be looking to return to work and living life  ASAP. Please accept my sincere thanks for the motivation, inspiration, and communication over the past ten months!

Mucositis after radiation/chemo/transplant May '10

George Harrison penned this simple love story directed to his muse at the time, Pattie Boyd.(They married in 1966.)  It was 1965, a great year for breaking out of the norm. The Rolling Stones' couldn't get no Satisfaction, LBJ  was inaugurated for another term in office, Bob Dylan unplugged. For those younger folks out there I'd say it is worth taking a look at the history, or we might be doomed to repeat some of the worst of it. The Beatles were still riding the wave to the top, and generally Paul and John allowed George to add at least one song per album. "I Need You" highlights one of the greatest under-appreciated musical instruments still played from time to time- the Cowbell played by Ringo.

"Glass Onion"

It is day 92 and we are down to the final week of my official bone/stem cell transplant relationship with Fred Hutchinson/Seattle Cancer Care. They have crammed daily blood tests,  clinics, reviews, and consultations every day this next week and then we/I graduate on August 20. I feel very happy for Yvonne as she can start to get back to normal and segue away from being my full time caregiver! I am sure I took advantage of that from time to time. There has been some downtime during this process, but also a lot of overtime especially for Yvonne.  I chose "Glass Onion" as my song of the day due to how confusing the song's lyrics are, kind of like my surreal ending of my 100 days with Fred Hutchinson.  I ended this past week in the clinic by myself Friday as Yvonne was caring for our Lab Sadie who just had her TPLO/ACL surgery. I was a little nervous leaving our house yesterday morning as I was used to having Yvonne take me to every clinic and medical appointment I have had for the entire transplant process. But I bravely got behind the wheel, and set off to Seattle solo at 6:30AM for what was supposed to be a fairly routine day. I was supposed to meet my new Doctor (they change every month) and end the day with my last intrathecal lumbar chemo at 2PM. I got home at 7PM due to delays, extra platelets infusions, and an almost psychedelic feeling at the end of the day. I had my last spinal fluid removal/methotrexate infusion take almost 2 hours when it usually takes 20-30 minutes. What goes around comes around too. My last doctor for what will be just over one week is the first doctor who we ever consulted with regarding bone marrow transplants. We met with her in November of 2009, her advice in Nov. was to NOT do a transplant. Now we end the whole thing together... The good news was how thorough she was during the clinic visit and actually added to my confidence with some good suggestions and making sure we do one more bone marrow test before I leave next week (to make sure my current white blood cell count isn't related to a relapse.)

Greg riding his bike with infusions,Ipod,(and some hair) Thursday

Yvonne the caregiver for Sadie

John Lennon wrote most of "Glass Onion" for The Beatles (White) album in 1968. He throws everything but the kitchen sink into the lyrics, references to many other Beatles songs including the timely Paul is Dead rumors stuff. It didn't make any sense on purpose. I am wondering if my last week will follow the same trend as my blood counts are doing similar things. My white count took a big dip down, so did my platelets. I was in transfusion for regular blood today and two bags of platelets yesterday. My red count is going both directions. Lots of unknowns. So- I have decided to continue to work on things I can control like good nutrition, exercise, having a positive attitude, and making the best of every situation.  And I will continue to be a renegade when I can.
Live Happy!

"Act Naturally"

Howdy world! I hope everyone is having a great summer and those holidays and vacations are paying dividends. Heck, some of you might just be heading out for the vacation in the coming weeks. One of my regrets is not being able to take Yvonne on a real vacation or real stress relief all summer. Now that I think about it, I really miss vacationing with the whole family. (I know, summer is still here for a bit.)
The Beatles recorded the Help album in 1965. The U. S. version was actually a movie soundtrack first, music album second. As the boys were finishing the album they had an unwritten policy of ensuring Ringo sang at least one song per album. Ringo's original song for Help was deemed not quite good enough, so off to Country and Western and after a just a day they produced a Beatles cover version of Buck Owens' "Act Naturally." Other trivia, "Act Naturally" was the last official cover song laid down by the Beatles on an album. This attached video shows a real live version, some great banter and real Ringo modesty.

As far as my cancer stuff, I am at day 87 today, getting very close to the official day 100 send off. I have developed graft vs. host disease of the mouth, and it might be starting in my skin in the legs. The good news is that GVHD means the new stem cells are trying to do their thing and establish in my system. I also developed a new (as yet) unknown blood infection, it is causing a little bit of an issue with my energy and strength. I am taking the maximum of I V anti-biotics to combat the new infection, and will find out this week if I need to have my Hickman catheter removed (the infection is in there too.) My best man Phil Wich from Oregon came up to visit this weekend and we had a great time catching up. Then Cam showed up with some of the best (and richest) cookies I have eaten (Thanks Kristin!) sometimes a guy is luckier than he deserves! Live Happy :)

Livestrong

Day 80 is bringing out some spiritual and thought provoking memories today, so please forgive my at times rambling offshoots.
Captain X you always seem to have a motivational tool at the ready for me when things could be going better, and today my subscription to Livestrong is official. Hank, my remembrances of your spirit evoke so many good thoughts. Mary my dear Mary, how lucky can my brother be ending up with your true kindness and love (it still amazes me. The care package we received in the mail Saturday made our evening!) The little things are all adding up to me now as I am coming to an end of the "acute" phase of this stem cell transplant. Yvonne continues to motivate when I need it (all of the time lately) and push me forward in the most supportive and adult way. Dad, Alice, Cathy, Les, Alan- if I sound less than positive it's temporary. I have realized with focus, nutrition, physical fitness, and knowledge I have the best fighting chance to return to normal. I am at Day 80 today, Yvonne was there watching them relax me, and complete the last bone marrow aspiration taking a little fluid in the clinic today all without pain. She smiled when I needed it and looked forward to our return trip to home so she could eat the leftovers pizza she made for me last night. She drives me every day we need to go to town or other locations, even though I have the I am the guy I drive background.
My best man is coming up from Portland to rock and roll with us this coming weekend as Rush is coming to the White River Amphitheater. Tony, thanks for the news and positive messages you've sent my way, you are a good friend. I have some pulmonary testing, some oral hygiene stuff, and just a few more by rote testing to complete before I am released to my original oncology doctor. The best news of all is I am tapering off of Predisone which cause weakness, puffy face, and many other ugly side effects. I should be done with that by early September!! In the meantime I am finding focus where I can to keep busy, making a buck or two in the stock market, etc. My platelets are a cause of concern and seem to continue to go down over time, that's where nutrition hopefully will help. Update over, enjoy a nice little ditty on me. Live Happy!