April 3, 2003 10:00 AM

Rickey writes a reply to his brother, Jan Re: How Things Are Going Right Now:  My next consolidation begins April 14^th: five days chemotherapy, home for a week or so to get sick and a week or so back in hospital for recovery.  We are shooting on moving in June.  Spring is the time that everything feels so new and refreshing.  Weather is beautiful today, spring is calling.  Take care; come fishing in the valley when ever you’re ready.  The setting will be different, almost like staying at a lodge.  Love, Rick

April 4, 2003 9:33 AM

Brother Jan writes:  Brother…this seems like about the tenth time for you. You amaze me on your ability to face this each time and be so strong, then to make your plans for your house move through it all.  You are a much stronger man than I could ever be.  Hope all of your scheduling works out okay. Keeping you in my thoughts…Love, Jan

Rickey replies: Thanks for the pep talk. It’s the eight time; the first being 42 days long. The truth is I put the hospital out of my mine until the day before.  Without an actual count it will be six months day for day on the 14th of April when I go back in.  Of those 180 days I’ve been in the hospital about 100.  It becomes routine but you never get used to it.  Each person’s pain is relative to each person.  I’ve been blessed with a good tolerance (I just wrap it in Blue and send it to you).  EXCEPT FOR NEEDLES! I’d rather they put a tube in my chest than stick me with a needle in the arm.  Love, Rick

April 20, 2003 5:02 AM

Rickey writes: Chemo Consolidation Four and Out the Door - I take advantage of this turning point in my therapy to thank all of you for your support during this adventure.  I returned home yesterday from my fourth and (hopefully) final chemo consolidation.  Five days passed the sixth month mark all the chemo began.   I am feeling great and am told “I’m lookin’ good”.  This next week is “Neutropenia Week”, where I could get an infection/fever due to low white blood cell resistance, and have to return to the hospital for another week, but like Charlie Brown, I always believe Lucy will hold the ball long enough for me to kick it.

April 30, 2003 8:00AM

PJ writes:  This journey never fails to surprise us, Rickey’s back in the hospital with a fever and gall baldder problems, the worst week to get sick is when you are neutropenic, your immune systems has the least resistance.  The doctors are debating the situation, and have determined that due to Rickey’s leukemic condition, the gall bladder can wait a few months for him to regain his strength.  Rickey, being the trooper that he is, asked to have the surgery as soon as possible.  I will be traveling to New Orleans for a meeting that should not be changed, so with that on the schedule and Rickey in a wait and see mode, I will be heading to mix business with pleasure and visit the family in Houma while in Louisiana.  I am looking forward to the view from outside these hospital walls and the Cajun food!

May 2, 2003 12:07 PM

PJ writes:  Just getting back to find that surgery could not wait.  The day I took off the doctors took Rickey into surgery.  I drove straight to the hospital last night, got there just around midnight and stayed with him until 5AM.  Came home to unpack, check email and get a few hours of sleep before I return back for the weekend.  Due to the hospital adjusting to reduced staff, many of the regulars that had been living our adventure with us were on deployment, the lack of details on Rickey’s situation made for a bumpy road while I was gone.  The Oncology folks turned him over to the surgery folks, who did not think he needed any more blood products.  They felt he would just rebuild them on his own!!!  SO needless to say I jumped in and demanded he be turned back over to the Ward specialist and that happened around 8AM this morning, so he is now back under the right people and even though he is a trooper, he is still in a lot of pain.  Still had fevers last night, but I know he was glad to see me, if only for a few hours.  I will have my laptop at the hospital all weekend and my cell phone on most of the time. Thanks for all your support!!! 

May 6, 2003 11:15 AM

Rickey writes:  Here it is Tuesday 6 May and I’m sitting in the hospital.  Not only did I go neutrapenic last week, I also had gall bladder problems which quickly led to the removal of my gall bladder.  Seven days later, I’ve got a touch of pneumonia in the bottom of my right lung, and possibly a leak it the bile duct where they removed the bladder.  Nothing major and the various parts of the medical staff are all over it.  I have to approach this one differently.  The neutrapenia is over, now its post operative related.  So I watch intently and try to keep track of who’s doing what.  I consider it lucky to have been here for the gall bladder because it was more than ready to go.  For those of you that were blessed with PJ’s presence at lunch in Houma last week, I know you had a good time and are grateful for the rest you’ll get before her next visit.  All that energy in one spot!   Until the next time I get to use a computer around here… Love and Take Care, Rickey

May 12, 2003 7:45 AM

Rickey writes: Done with Chemo, Onward to New Adventures - Since I last wrote I have been humbled.  Thinking I would slip through neutropenia and be on with my life, I took on a fever 2 weeks ago today.  By Wednesday that week I was on the operating table having my gall bladder removed - the old fashioned way. (The probable cause of my last three infections).  Although never showing signs of going bad, it did.  Once removed, my infectious state rapidly improved.  I was released from the hospital in time for Mother’s Day.  I will return to the hospital on Wednesday, as an outpatient, to have the staples removed and check my status.  What was thought to be pneumonia last week turned out to be an after effect of surgery where the bottom portion of my lungs blocked up, that’s all clear now. The cause of my mystery fever was one of the antibiotics I was taking.  So what was a difficult situation soon became manageable. 

We went into remission in early December, and have been optimistic ever since.  Life holds no guarantees, but that’s true for everyone, not just us.  I will go into a period of weekly blood testing, among other tests, which will then stretch out to monthly, quarterly, etc.  The outpouring of good wishes and prayers throughout has been phenomenal.  Again, thank you.  You all hold a special place in our hearts, even more so than before, thank you, and all those people like you who don’t have E-mail, but have been so involved.

The movers come a week from today and we are scheduled to have both houses 1-16 June.  Keith and I will paint the inside of the new place before the furniture arrives on 9 June.  Then at the end of June, PJ and I head to California for our nephew’s wedding, a long awaited/overdue reunion, in some cases a union, with family members and a well deserved vacation.   After that, you can reach me on my cell phone.  There are no phone booths along the fishing streams of the Shenandoah. I’ll be in touch. Our love goes out to all.  Take care. We love you, Rickey and PJ

We all have intuition, that tugging emotion inside that helps guide us; I knew I needed to travel for work, but really was worried to be gone.  The reality is that life gets in the way.  For almost seven months Rickey and I were inseparable: I left thinking Rickey would not fail while I was gone, but the truth was revealed a few weeks later.  When walking down the hallway at the hospital, still hospitalized, Rickey was stopped by a nurse and asked if he had recently undergone gall bladder surgery.  He wasn’t sure how she would remember him, since during the surgery he was wearing a mask.  She said it was his eyes.  He was surprised to hear her recant the surgery by saying it was touch and go there for a while and we thought we might loose you.  The surprised look on Rickey’s face quickly made her change the subject, but it made us realize just how close to death’s door Rickey had ventured again, not from leukemia, but from life.  What would you set out to do in life if you knew you would not fail?  How do you live like everyday is your last and balance that with the responsibilities to which we are all bound.  In life we don’t always get what we want, but we should find the good in everything we get, even our challenges.  Never, never, never quit!  Remember life is an adventure, embrace the journey.  You can make a difference one day at a time.

March 12, 2003 5:40 AM

Rickey writes:  We Could Be Moving - On Sunday we drove west about 120 miles to a small town, population 900, in the Shenandoah Valley and made an offer on a “rancher” on 3 wooded acres.  The owner accepted the bid by Monday.  On Tuesday we called a Bowie Real Estate Agent who had our house on the market and showing it by Tuesday night.  The rancher is 2 levels, has cathedral ceilings, 2 sided fireplace, wood stove, double decks, a stream running through it and a very nice view of the mountain in the winter.  It’s smaller than our current house, but that’s what we were looking for.  There are 5 trout fishing rivers and lots of streams in the area.  I’m doing fine.  I go back to the hospital today for blood draws and hopefully all will be routine. Love, Rickey

In the midst of all that was going on with his health Rickey was still able to look forward and plan for the future, no matter how short or long that future would be, he was ready to get started.  In the same timeframe we received a special email from a friend that really connects to how we feel about prayer.

March 27, 2003 7:00PM

Incoming from a friend - A conversation with God 
I asked God to take away my habit.  God said, No.  It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.  I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.  God said, No.  His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.  I asked God to grant me patience.  God said, No.  Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn’t granted, it is learned.  I asked God to give me happiness.  God said, No.  I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you.  I asked God to spare me pain.  God said, No.  Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.  I asked God to make my spirit grow.  God said, No.  You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.  I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.  God said, No.  I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.  I ask God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.  God said…Ah, finally you have the idea.  This day is yours, don’t throw it away; to the world you might be one person, but to one person you just might be the world. – Anonymous

No fees, no dropped calls, no one needs to wait in line, or wait for the connection to dial up, God, however you view God, is available through the original wireless connection – prayer…take a moment and talk, what’s on your mind?

Until our next blog – remember life is an adventure, embrace the journey.  You can make a difference one day at a time. 

Share your adventure with us!

Getting ready for Rickey’s third round of consolidation therapy; it is just another Monday morning; a now regular routine.  We have two black roller suitcases packed, one with Rickey’s hospital clothes and personal effects; slippers, hat, foot cream, toothbrush; and one packed with Rickey’s life; his leather prayer box, the family pictures, small nick-knacks that will fill the window ledge with love and of course, the CD player to fill the room with healing music.  All these things help make the hospital room feel familiar – hard to believe we had reached a point where packing for the hospital was a routine. 

March 2, 2003 1:23 PM 

Rickey writes: Back to the Hospital - Just a note to let you know that I go back in the hospital tomorrow for 5 days (probably) for routine chemotherapy.  Should be out next Saturday.  Thanks to all of you for hanging in there with me through this whole thing.  After this one, only one more to go.  Love, Rickey/Dad

March 3, 2003 5:27 AM

PJ writes: Monday’s Schedule - Good Morning, It always comes as a surprise when it is time to return to the hospital.  I have come to realize I block out the fact that Rickey is sick and convince myself life is just “normal”.  But there is nothing routine about going and having your husband get tubes put in his chest and poison pumped into his blood for five days.  I am more worried this time because last time the Nadar was not easy and with each round a Nadar must come and it is the luck of the draw what will be the infection this time.  I have packed up the office to take with me today, we will be leaving at 6AM and get checked into the room and my cell will be on.  We have chosen not to have my parents stay at the house with the dogs until the 14th, so I will be traveling back and forth more often.  Please remember us in your prayers this week and hug those you love and rejoice in their touch, nothing in life is a given.

March 6, 2003 12:01 PM

Rickey writes: Just an Update on My Hospital Visit - I’m on my fifth chemotherapy, 3rd of 4 consolidation therapies.  All is going well.  No side-effects, no problems after four of six doses.  The hospital staff has been greatly reduced as a majority of them have shipped out to the USS COMFORT hospital ship this week.  The service is still good; the remaining staff is working hard.  I plan to get out on Saturday for a week to 10 days.  Hope all is well with you.  Stay in touch.

March 15, 2003 1:31 PM

PJ writes: Adventure Update Middle of Round Three - Dear Friends and Family, Just an update on our family adventure; Rickey has returned to the hospital and is in his Nadar (lowest point) for round three of his consolidation treatment.  His white blood cell counts have dropped quickly this time; in fact, this is five days early for his fever to hit.  He was admitted late Thursday with a fever of 101 and has been on broad-based antibiotics since then.  Rickey is doing well and they did get his fever to break last night.  His morning counts show that he has started to gain his white blood cells back already and he is resting comfortably for a 7-10 days stay at Bethesda.  Each round is a little different, and this one came on quicker than expected, but we were ready!  One more round after this one and we are done with consolidation treatments and on to recovery.  This new state of normal isn’t always so normal, but we have our eyes set on the future which looks very bright!  A BIG thank you to all for your continued support and prayers…we could not do this without you.  Love and bear hugs to all, PJ

March 18, 203 10:36 AM

PJ writes: Rickey’s Condition - Just a note on our daily adventure this round. Rickey’s fever keeps coming back and now they say he has a third bug, the fecal one like last time that goes to his blood.  He is continually rolling on his fever, normal to 101 to normal every day.  They finally decided to take his triple lumen line out of his chest just this morning, and then continue to monitor his vital signs.  He is in good spirits, but tends to fade later in the day.  Please pray for his recovery this week; I really want him home before too long. 

March 28, 2003 5:42 PM

Rickey writes: How Things are Going Right Now - Howdy, well, after the Drs. convinced me that I should only have 3 consolidation therapies because of the risk of infection, they did a complete reversal and said I was young enough to handle the risk and that it was no greater risk than before.  Also, they believe 4 are better than 3 therapies now.  I wonder if they listened to me, boy that would be scary!

Living with leukemia makes you understand there really are no rules to what is right or wrong, it’s all about what works.  This is representative of a “normal” routine… we started off thinking one thing, but because the infections were so numerous and this round was so rough on Rickey’s health, the doctors decided this would be Rickey’s last round of consolidation therapy.  The doctors had to rethink the rules, and then change the rules again.  Rickey asked for one more round of consolation therapy not knowing what was really causing his fevers; the fourth round would prove to be the roughest round yet.  When you expect one thing based on the rules, but life serves you up something unexpected; how do you deal with change? 

Until our next blog – remember life is an adventure, embrace the journey.  You can make a difference one day at a time. 

Share your adventure with us!

Rickey writes, Mile Marker Four: Believe in Someone or Something - don’t give up on your faith.

My roots in South Louisiana run deep.  Although I had not lived there since 1975, things you learn growing up stay with you.  Many of the people of that area, including my family, are devout Roman Catholics.  It was no surprise that along with the get well wishes I received from family came prayers, church masses, holy cards, and religious articles.  I appreciated each of them, not just because of what they represented, but who sent them, who shared their special religious items with me in my time of need.  It is not just our bodies that need healing, but our souls, our whole being.  I took a special liking to one of these items - the “miraculous medal” of Mary, Jesus’ mother.  It was sent to me by my sister, Judy.  I wore it around my neck.  Over time it represented more than religious beliefs - although important, it represented family, by blood and choice, all the get well wishes, all the prayers, the visitors, the medical staff, but most of all, my wife, PJ. She was there on behalf of all those that couldn’t be with me. She was there to represent those I couldn’t see, but knew were there.  She not only was there to share the journey, she was there to help guide the journey - day and night, almost 24/7. She is the “who” I believe in.  She is what makes me whole. So, wrapped up in this medal was my life.  As long as I held on to the medal and what it meant to me, I held on to hope – I held on to life.  It represented everything and everyone outside that hospital room.

The ring that held this medal to the chain was quite fragile.  On more than one occasion the medal slipped off and disappeared beneath the sheets of the hospital bed, or down inside my pajamas.  Like life itself, it’s very existence, for me, hung by a “thread”.  I considered myself fortunate each time I recovered it.  Once, I lost it and couldn’t find it.  As time passed, I believed it to be lost forever.  I expressed my disappointment, all the things it represented were still there, but the one object that represented it was gone.  Judy’s daughter, Helen, volunteered another miraculous medal, I accepted it with appreciation, but I had grown fond of the old one.  Somehow, somewhere, I don’t remember how or where, the old medal showed up while I was still in the hospital.  Maybe someone put it away for safekeeping during a “moment”.  Tarnished and worn, it was back.  None of the things it represented ever left me, they had been with me all along, but, it was comforting to have that “something” back.

I still carry that medal to this day.  With or without it, I carry all the hope and love it represents. It is what I believe it to be.  The “who” I believe in – PJ, my wife, my angel, my love, my family who gives me love and support and God who brings all this together. So believe in someone or something…maybe believing in both is where the truth lies. Even when you believe in something, it’s more than one thing, it is many things.  It is you that must believe in yourself.  You must believe that when and where your journey ends, you have made the best of it.

Rickey’s experience in ICU back in February 2003 was the most scared I had been since we received the news in November that Rickey’s chemotherapy had not worked.  During that trying time, a friend sent me a simple message of support… “four year old is adding her prayers!”  I can just imagine a cherub faced little girl kneeling next to her bed asking “someone” bigger than her to make Rickey better.  In trying times many people get angry with God.  Anger is a destructive emotion that distracts you from what you really need to be doing, embracing the journey, making the most of what time you have and giving back to those you love.  Don’t give up on your faith; faith is what gives us strength.  What do you believe in? 

Until our next blog – remember life is an adventure, embrace the journey.  You can make a difference one day at a time. 

Share your adventure with us!

February 07, 2003 3:43 PM
PJ writes:

Adventure Update:  Well, this is Nader time, the lowest point in the 40 day cycle, of which we do a total of four cycles, this being cycle number two.  It is when Rickey has the least white blood cells, and he can not fight infection.  We spend this time at home and wait for the fever to start.  Rickey’s fever started yesterday, at home at 10 AM, by 2 PM he had hit 103.6 and by 8PM we were rolling Rickey from our room on the ward to the ICU.  This time the infection was invasive to his entire body, unlike the last infection that was isolated only to his mouth.  This broad spread infection was causing very low blood pressure and increased heart rate.  To top it all off, the hospital ward is packed, not a bed open and the blood product supply is low.  To ensure 24×7 eye coverage and the first priority of blood, they made the choice to move him to ICU. In addition, lower bottom pain, caused them to take him into surgery at 6AM this morning, luckily, no source of infection was found, and by that time, the three antibiotics had stabilized his fever.  Rickey will stay in ICU anywhere from 24-48 hours longer and then return to his room on the ward.  Needless to say, life quickly filled back up with worry but seems to be subsiding with each hour that Rickey is fever free.  With the help of prayers, we hope to have him home within seven days, and then the routine starts over with recovery time until cycle three starts the process all over again in March.

The journey had taught us there are a few things that repeat themselves; the chemo goes in, Rickey goes home, the fever starts, Rickey goes to the hospital, we pray Rickey’s number are good, Rickey goes home to gain strength to return to the hospital to start again.  Although infection is not uncommon during this part of chemo cycle, the type of infection and the severity is always unknown – the luck of the draw determines the twists or turns we take.  It could be anything that triggers the infection, something or someone in the environment that Rickey contacts; it all weighs in as factors to the outcome.  What map are you following today, where are you expecting to go and what unexpected turns will pop up on your journey that you will need to react to – quickly – are you ready?   

Until our next blog – remember life is an adventure, embrace the journey.  You can make a difference one day at a time. 

Share your adventure with us!

January 17, 2003 8:58 AM

Rickey writes:

Home Again!  Keith and his daughter Emily are visiting from New Hampshire.  Took a trip to the Annapolis Mall and felt very self-conscious, no eyebrows and no eye lashes, but neither Keith nor Emily treated me any different – I was still me, even though my hat was too big now that I had no hair.  I watched people to see if they were watching me, if they knew I was sick, but no one was different, it was me that was different and I knew it.  I realized, as I watched my granddaughter play, that ordinary everyday moments bring such simple joys.  It was good to feel normal again, trying to pack in as much as possible before returning to the hospital.

January 22, 2003 8:45 AM

Rickey writes:

First, I’m back in the hospital for second chemo consolidation of three, maybe four if my health can take it.  I’ll go home Saturday to await my Nader, then return.  I am feeling really healthy.  If I wasn’t sick, I wouldn’t know I was.  Last Thursday I went to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, this area’s leukemia experts, on a referral from Bethesda to talk about bone marrow transplant.   It turned out to be much more.  The Doctor there, being more experienced in the field, told me several encouraging things.  He suggested that my bone marrows tests might have been taken too soon after chemo and didn’t give the cancer a chance to show it died. He likened it to cutting a flower and putting it in a vase.  It looks alive for a while, before it shows signs of wilting, but the flower was actually dead when you cut it.  He puts me in a moderate risk category, not a high risk, which means I do not need a transplant unless I come out of remission, then it would be one of my options, and my risk level is as high as it will get.  Bethesda said the older I get the worse the transplant risk was, but they are getting better everyday.  Also, the longer I’m in remission, the greater chance I have of staying in remission.  I’m now in a 50% group of being cured vice a 10% group.  Of course, all the risks are still there, short remission, etc, but this was encouraging. I dread going back to the hospital because I feel so good, but I know its all part of the plan.  The Doctor at Johns Hopkins did say the Chemo Plan Bethesda has me on is a very good one. So all in all things are looking up, what else could they do? 

Good news always gives us a boost of energy.  In the middle of his cancer treatment Rickey saw the silver lining in everything.  How do we survive this adventure called life, expect by looking at the positive in everyone and in everything, only then can we see past ourselves and embrace each day with a zest for tomorrow. 

Until our next blog – remember life is an adventure, embrace the journey.  You can make a difference one day at a time. 

Share your adventure with us!

As we begin to share the next phase of our adventure, we share with you what has delighted us this past year.

Delighted by…a new awakening ~ Deepak Chopra http://www.chopra.com//dailydevotion

If you are lucky enough in your journey to take a yoga class, learn to listen to your own breathing, or find a snowflake obsidian stone which is said to enable your mind to connect with your emotions, take the opportunity to enlighten your mind and venture into a new level of healing.

Delighted by…a new partnership ~ KRobins Designs http://krobins.site.aplus.net/cgi-bin/mivavm?/Merchant2/merchant.mvc+Screen=PROD&Store_Code=KRD&Product_Code=Journey&Category_Code=SS

If you are lucky enough in your journey to find a soul who is creative and willing to design something with you that expresses a symbol of inspiration, take the opportunity to co-create a simple but powerful pendant, for us it is the “Journey’ necklace.

And Delighted by…a new beginning~ Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Adventure-Day-One/305558073372?ref=mf

If you are lucky enough in your journey to share your life with family and friends, then join Facebook and embrace the journey and continue to share the adventure with us.

Now, back to the journey…

When we last wrote about Rickey’s adventure it was Christmas Eve 2002.   Although the word was passed that Rickey’s leukemia was in remission, remission doesn’t mean you are home free, you continue to receive chemotherapy in what is referred to as consolidation treatment.  If he fell out of remission, the doctors said that Rickey’s chances of survival would be half the length of time he had remained in remission.  All we knew was we weren’t out of the woods yet.  The time has come to write the rest of the story…

January 3, 2003 9:38 AM

Rickey’s ADVENTURE UPDATE

As you’ve probably heard, I was re-admitted to the hospital at 6:00 am Christmas morning with a fever of 104.5, I was a bit delirious to say the least. They say I wanted to share my chest PICs with the patient across the hall, always a friendly neighbor.   Well, I quickly recovered from that and finished out this round of Chemotherapy and follow-on last night when they discharged us at 6:00pm, about 3 days early, another surprise release; we weren’t expecting it until Sunday.  My numbers were all high enough to get my release for two weeks at home to recover from this first round of consolidation.   PJ and I will make several visits to the doctors during these two weeks, then return for round two of the consolidation therapy.  I gain stamina each day, but must rest about every 3 hours.

Some of you may have heard this was the last round of therapy.  Well, that’s what we thought and that’s what the Senior Doctor on Staff told us, but she visited us late last week to say she was misinformed and the regular routine was, chemotherapy and three rounds of consolidation.  That’s when we found out they only get about two AML patients a year and don’t have a lot of experience with the routines.  C’est la vie ~ Hope everyone has a Happy New Year!

Rickey was nicknamed the “patient patient” – and this was just another example why he was referred to in that way.  No matter what the journey sent his way, he was accepting and continued without fail to be positive.  What ever worries us takes our focus, but what delights us can distract our hearts and bring us joy – if only for a moment.  The fact that Rickey was resting at home was his delight, neither of us really understood the toll these “routines’ would cause to Rickey’s body, but for now he was home.  What are you aware of today, what are you worried about, what brings you joy?

Until our next blog – remember life is an adventure, embrace the journey.  You can make a difference one day at a time. 

Share your adventure with us!

Rickey writes December 17, 2002 10:30 AM

Since we last wrote life has been mostly smooth sailing.  After chemotherapy ran from December 10th-Decemeber 14, I was able to start to recover and spend 10 days enjoying the comforts of home at home.  It was a pleasure!!  The 4 day Hydac consolidation therapy ended Saturday morning.  They decided to skip the 2 day chemotherapy “blue stuff” because it was harsh on my heart, and they are a little concerned it’s taken some abuse.  To our surprise they sent us home awaiting neutropenia, and as long as I don’t run a fever or other strange symptom I can stay at home while it runs its course.  PJ and I drive 45 minutes each way to the hospital every other morning to provide blood samples; guess they could readmit me then if they want to, but for now I’m at home.  I feel much better at home than at the hospital and get much more rest. After this is over, I’m basically done until something changes.  I’m feeling good, I am neutropenic, which causes some slippage in my skills, but am so much happier at home.  I’m below 188 pound.  That’s a 30 pound loss!

PJ remembers December 25, 2002 3:00AM and writes

“I’ll be home for Christmas”, Rickey repeated over and over again during the month of December 2002.  Consolidation treatment was not a familiar journey, but we had battled this disease for almost three months, and Rickey felt confident that we knew enough to get him safely past Christmas at home – Rickey really wanted to spend Christmas at home.  Unfortunately, you don’t always get what you want, and this time Rickey was really pushing his luck.  On Christmas Eve Rickey started slowing down, you could see it in his eyes he was very tired.  He refused to have his temperature taken, you see if it was spiking he would need to return to the hospital and he so desperately wanted to stay home, just one more night.  The effect of the chemotherapy was pushing him deeper into neutropenia and he didn’t want to admit it.  Once your blood cells drop and your fever starts to rise, you need to be at the hospital.  Reluctantly, after weakly sliding past midnight and into the early hours Christmas morning Rickey accepted the fact that his fever had spiked, which was our signal to return to the hospital to finish his recovery process.  Early Christmas morning we traveled to Bethesda, just in time.  When we arrived Rickey was delirious, having difficulty answering basic questions – he wanted so desperately to spend Christmas at home that he almost compromised is own health.

Being home is important at the holiday time; spending time with loved ones in familiar surroundings rejuvenates our spirit to give us the strength to face the year ahead.  May you travel home this holiday season either in person, through phone conversations or if so, only in your dreams!

Until our next blog – remember life is an adventure, embrace the journey.  You can make a difference one day at a time. 

Share your adventure with us!

Rickey writes

A gift can come in different size packages.  I want to celebrate a gift that came in a 6 foot 4 inch package and honor the man who gave it.  The gift itself could be held in the palm of a hand, but it changed the lives of two men and earned the gratitude of a family.  In February 2008, our son-in-law, Chris, stepped up to donate a kidney to his step-father, Ed, even though it would be unusual that they would be a match.  Ed was on dialysis and in need of a kidney, Chris volunteered to be screened.  He was accepted and proved to be a match.  Chris approached the transplant as matter of fact as he could, he believed he could make no other choice.  Ed needed it, he had it, - you do what you have to do.   But the fact is Chris saved Ed’s life.  Healthy today, Ed is a living testimonial that special gifts can come in very large packages.  Christmas came early this year for Ed, Chris, his Mom and their family, and truly is their Best Christmas Ever!   We are all connected.

Gift giving is a tradition that connects us to family, friends and strangers alike.  Each year our family buys an extra something; a scarf or a pair of gloves, and we wrap it with no tag.  It stays in the back of our car until we happen upon a stranger and we share the gift.  Not all presents are neatly wrapped under a tree, sometimes the gift is in the giving.  What will you give this year?

Until our next blog – remember life is an adventure, embrace the journey.  You can make a difference one day at a time. 

Share your adventure with us!           

Tue 12/3/2002 1:53 PM Rickey writes

ADVENTURE DAY 51

Thanksgiving was great, Patrice ran out at the last minute and bought all the fixings and made a great meal.  Sometimes the best holidays are the ones you didn’t expect to be at, but are.

After last week’s not so good news that none of my siblings matched as a bone marrow donor, we weren’t finished calling family members before I received a call from one of my Oncology Doctors.  They took a blood smear that morning and had the results.  Remembering this is off the same chemotherapy that said I still had 50% blasts, the new reading said there were 0% blasts on the smear.  We go in this week for a bone marrow biopsy which is more definitive, but damn, that’s the best news yet!

Remember the scene from “It’s a Wonderful Life”, when things are the toughest and all seem hopeless.  The sky is full of starts and you hear people praying to God asking for Him to save George Bailey.  Prayers don’t always get answered the way we plan, but we still believe.  There is a family tradition that PJ’s mother passed to her of placing your prayers in a prayer box.  This is a simple task; there is not much that goes into this process although we believe there is much reward.  The other day PJ pulled out Rickey’s prayer box of another sort, a brown leather decorative box his sister, Dana Lee, sent to him for Christmas 2002.  Inside you will find the traditions that many believe; a gold decorative cross from his sister, Jill; a blessed relic from his sister, Judy; a tapestry prayer from his sister, Carlene.  The box is full of numerous special religious services from family and friends speaking Rickey’s name in prayer to include Special Remembrances for Healing celebrated at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.  We truly believe prayer is powerful and that they can change things; we had people of many religious faiths praying all around the world.  Not to discount our medical treatment and the countless doctors and nurses that provided Rickey exceptional care, but through a network of family, friends and strangers, Rickey’s name was on prayer lists in America, Japan, Europe and the Middle-East.  Do you believe in miracles?  We believe our prayers where heard and contributed to our miracle, Rickey’s remission.  What do you pray for?

Until our next blog – remember life is an adventure, embrace the journey.  You can make a difference one day at a time. 

Share your adventure with us!