Another day hanging out with nurses!!

Hi everyone! Today was chemo and while we hoped it would get done in one day, that was not to be. CarGuy had the very same reaction to the first drug as he did the last time but it was not even as close to as severe as it was before. I guess he's getting that mouse protein built up although I haven't heard him squeak yet!! ;-) We were there at 9:15 this morning for both an appointment with his doctor and for the chemo. We finally made it home around 5:00. Quite a long day for both of us! His reaction started about 2 hours into the infusion (nearly exactly like before) and once they were able to start it back up he went along great with no problems. He actually kept laughing because he couldn't stop shivering -- I'm sort of surprised we didn't get kicked out for all the commotion we were causing! His laughing started my giggling and as the ladies who went to retreat last year know once I start it's hard to stop me! But, really, that was all the girl in the bunk above mine's fault last year not mine and today was all CarGuy's fault so really I'm not as disruptive as everyone thinks I am!! ;-)~ I just hang out with the wrong crowds!

We get to hang out with nurses again tomorrow morning!! Actually, they are the greatest people and stay so upbeat and nice. I really love them!!!

He has another appointment to see how his levels are doing in 2 weeks. His WBC levels did not improve but they didn't get any worse either. His platelets are doing better and his hemoglobin is better as well. They are considering removing his spleen and will make that decision when they see how he does after this treatment. Our insurance has approved the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center for the bone marrow transplant assessment so we are going to make an appointment with them sooner rather than later.

Speaking of our insurance....I do have some icky news on that front and that also leads me to a big prayer request. Our co-pay for each chemo treatment is over $4,000 -- yes, that is a 4 with 3 zeros! We have awesome insurance so I have no idea how people without that luxury handle this. Our maximum out of pocket is $5,000 so after we've spent that, everything else (chemo, hospitalizations, surgery, doctors for all of us, prescriptions for all of us, anything) is paid 100% for the rest of the year. We are already at about $900 this year so the hospital and chemo have brought us to that maximum. We are applying for some co-pay assistance money from the Leukemia Society to help. They have $5,000 in co-pay assistance they can award so that will take care of our expenses for this year. Our local chapter also has $500 a year they can award that you can use for anything you need. That will come in handy for all the gatoraid I've been having to buy! ;-) CarGuy has to drink about 2 gallons of fluid a day for the first 5 days after chemo to flush the chemo and dead cancer cells out of his system. The doc wants us to try and make 1/2 of that fluid in gatoraid. So if you could pray that we are awarded that assistance money, we would so appreciate it.

We really want to thank everyone again for all your care and concern and most especially for your prayers. We serve an awesome God who is using this challenge in our lives to bring us closer to Him and to enable us to show His grace and mercy to those around us. We both are holding tightly to Paul's words in Romans 8:28 - All things work for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.

God bless you all!