I can't get online much these days - spending most of my time either at the hospital or troubleshooting my brother's Internet connection, which only works for a few hours in the morning, which is when we're usually at the hospital...

Anyway, yesterday my brother went in for blood work and his white blood count was so good that they decided to harvest his stem cells. So he was hooked up to this nifty machine for 8 hours and they were able to get all the stem cells they needed in that one session (they had anticipated that it would take 2 or 3 harvest sessions). That was really good news.

Now he gets to rest for a couple of weeks. The earliest they could do another chemo and/or the transplant will be mid-February. We'll know after next week's CAT scan if he needs another chemo or if they'll go straight to the transplant procedure. If so, he'll be hospitalized for 4-6 weeks, which will also give me a much-needed break (I haven't been able to get home for more than a couple of hours at a time in the past month).

So I just thought I'd share this good/promising news. It's wonderful news, actually. This autologous transplant procedure is extremely dangerous (we'll need your prayers when the time comes) but also very promising, and has had amazing results in advanced-stage lymphoma. So we're very hopeful that there's a light at the end of this tunnel...

If I'm not on board here much lately, especially in the evenings, know that I'm sitting here at the computer, night after night, trying everything possible to get that connection working! My brother is switching to a cable bundle tomorrow (Internet, phone and TV) and we're hoping that will resolve this problem. My brother sleeps most of the time, so it's been extremely frustrating sitting here day after day unable to connect and chat with my sisters when I most need to be able to! Hopefully there's a light at the end of THAT tunnel too.

Anyway, just thought I'd post this update while I'm able to be online! I think of all of you ALL THE TIME (and believe me, I have lots of downtime, either in the hospital or here at the computer, to do a lot of thinking and praying!) I'm very warmly cocooned in the Lord's presence these days, and have no doubt that your prayers are responsible for this gentle but powerful spiritual serenity that keeps me going.

This is such wonderful news. We've missed you terribly. Gods Speed to both of you.

Eagle, I am so encouraged to hear your news! Always know that just as you are thinking of us, we are thinking of you and your brother too!
When the time comes for the transplant, and you need us to switch our prayers on to "SUPER INTENSE", please know we will!

Please try to be kind to yourself...

I noticed you being more rare around here Eagle Heart. Sure have missed you. Gonna include your brother in my night prayer.

Very good news, Eagle. I am so happy for your brother and for you. You have been on my mind so much lately. Your brother is so lucky to have you in his life. You are a marvel.

Even when you can't get connected online, please know that you are still connected to all of our hearts. We're here for you and your brother, EagleHeart....

Kathy

Thank you everyone for your lovely, heart-warming words!!! And what a miracle here tonight - it's 9:30pm and my brother's Internet connection is working! It stopped working shortly after noon today, so I figured it was finished for the day. But just before heading to bed, I thought I'd give it one more try - and here I am!! And wouldn't you know it, the one night that it's working, I'm too tired to stay very long.

Just a wee note of concern...I've been having fairly disturbing dizzy spells today (VERY unusual for me, even when I'm sick, which is very rare lately) and some tightness in the back of my left shoulder. I walked across the parking lot to the little mall and checked my blood pressure at the pharmacy - 165/90! That might not sound high, but my bp has rarely if ever gone over 115/60, even after a brisk walk. So I waited a few minutes, 2nd reading was 154/88. I was scared and started crying. The pharmacist (thank God for his caring patience!) sat with me for 10 minutes and we did another reading, 144/86. Still very high for me, but the pharmacist didn't think it was dangerous, but encouraged me to see my doctor to start monitoring it over the next few weeks. That's very hard to do right now, since my brother's in such a critical stage right now and in need of fairly constant help. But I'm going to call tomorrow and make an appointment for next week.

Still a bit dizzy now and then, and that tightness is still there, and I'm very fatigued today, but hopefully it's just stress, though I've been far more stressed out than this and it's never shown in my bp before.

Anyway, let's hope it's nothing more than an off day!

Eagle, please see a doctor immediately! You have just described all the symptoms of a heart attack - dizziness, fatigue, tightness in back/chest/etc. Please, please go get checked out, and have them check your blood levels and do a few heart tests, okay?

My accountant, who's 55, had your same sypmtoms except she had tightness in her neck. It never occurred to her that she was having a heart attack, but she was. All is well now, but her doctor said if she hadn't had it checked she could have died.

Please, please go first thing in the morning! Or even tonight if you can.
Kathy

Kathy is right...good news for your brohter...but please take care of you...we all love you