Yesterday, July 23, Doug had an appointment in Dallas at the clinic. We were scheduled to meet with Dr. Collins. He asked Doug how he was feeling and if he had any questions. We had written down three questions during the week.
After Dr. Collins was satisfied that we were satisfied he calmly said he'd be making a call to our referring doctor. The transplant was, in his opinion, a success--even if it took longer than he/we had anticipated. He told us to make an appointment with Dr. Mandell next week. He is the hematologist/oncologist in Fort Worth who had referred us to UTSWMC.
Doug and I both looked at one another and Doug said, "Does that mean I'm done here?"
Dr. Collins said he had not seen the numbers from the labs drawn an hour before but after today we would be followed by Dr. Mandell. Doug thanked Dr. Collins, his staff, and God for giving him back his life. He said, "I know I wouldn't be here today otherwise."
Dr. Collins is a humble man and said that he was pleased Doug was pleased. He noted that research in Myeloma is rapid and one day they hope to be able to give a pill and not have to use the toxic chemo.
When the labs came back Dr. Collins reviewed them and felt Doug needed whole blood. His red counts, hemoglobin, hematocrit were the only counts that were below normal.
Doug will still have to have his Neo Star taken out sometime but that will be done outpatient by a surgeon in Dallas. With Doug's release our mileage (think price at the pump) has been cut from approx. 100 miles round trip to the Dallas clinic to approx. 24 miles round trip to the Ft. Worth clinic. This is an added plus as we begin the next phase of living with cancer that for now has been abated. PTL!
I'll keep you posted from time-to-time because I journal this experience for us more than for you. It is interesting how much one forgets--especially the bad parts of our experience. That is Mercy with a capitol M.
~Carole
