|
BRIEF
HISTORY
(Oldest History at Bottom of Page)
|
|
| . |
A
lot
has
happened
since
the
update
of
February
25th.
My
last
treatment
for
CLL
was
March
5,
2010.
We
were
scheduled
to
return
for
another
treatment
on
March
26th
but
it
was
canceled
when
a
group
of
oncologists
reviewed
my
case
and
decided
things
looked
pretty
good.
Hip-hip
hurray,
huzza,
rah-rah,
three
cheers
and
all
that
stuff
:-)
Shortly
after
my
treatment
of
March
5th,
I
started
taking
an
antibiotic
for
a
cough
that
had
been
hanging
on
for
9
months.
The
cough
is
a
result
of
a
resistant
bug.
I've
been
put
on
a
very
strong
antibiotic
for
a
period
of
8
weeks.
Hope
it
works
this
time.
In
the
past
6
weeks
I've
had
numerous
other
infections
but
I
won't
bore
you
with
the
details.
I
had
an
appointment
with
my
oncologist
Friday
April
23,
and
he
made
the
following
3
comments:
(1)
Your
blood
counts
are
almost
normal
(2)
You
don't
need
any
more
chemo
(3)
and
Let's
hope
you
get
a
long
ride
this
time
I
appreciate
everyone's
prayers
over
the
last
8
months
for
my
health.
It's
humbling
to
realize
so
many
friends,
relatives,
church
members,
and
even
strangers
have
been
praying
for
me.
May
God
bless
and
keep
all
of
you!
After
our
church
service
Sunday,
I
was
told
by
a
little
boy
who
is
barely
half
my
height,
that
he
has
been
praying
for
me.
.
2
Then
Jesus
called
a
little
child
to
Him,
set
him
in
the
midst
of
them,
3
and
said,
"Assuredly,
I
say
to
you,
unless
you
are
converted
and
become
as
little
children,
you
will
by
no
means
enter
the
kingdom
of
heaven.
4
"Therefore
whoever
humbles
himself
as
this
little
child
is
the
greatest
in
the
kingdom
of
heaven.
5
"Whoever
receives
one
little
child
like
this
in
My
name
receives
Me.
(Matthew 18:2-5) |
| . |
|
 |
| . |
| FEBRUARY
25,
2010 |
| . |
On
February
12
&
13,
2010
I
received
chemo.
After
effects
from
the
chemo
were
minimal
this
time.
As
a
three
member
committee
(Linda,
myself
and
Doctor
G),
we
decided
to
eliminate
Rituximab
from
the
2-part
chemo
order
because
it's
the
chemical
responsible
for
the
neuropathy
recently
experienced.
None
of
us
were
comfortable
with
the
risk
of
serious
neuropathy
from
another
dose
of
Rituximab.
. |
|
This
morning
(February
25,
2010)
a
CT
scan
was
performed.
The
scan
along
with
current
blood
counts
will
help
to
determine
if
there
is
a
need
for
more
chemo
or
if
I
am
in
remission.
.
Next
meeting
with
Doctor
G
is
March
5,
2010. |
| . |
PRAYER
REQUEST
FOR
LINDA'S
COUSIN
MIKE:
Mike
is
currently
in
the
early
stages
of
a
bone
marrow
transplant.
He
also
was
diagnosed
with
CLL
a
few
years
after
I
was
diagnosed.
Please
pray
that
The
Father
will
heal
Mike
and
restore
him
completely.
.
2
Bless
the
LORD,
O
my
soul,
And
forget
not
all
His
benefits:
3
Who
forgives
all
your
iniquities,
Who
heals
all
your
diseases,
4
Who
redeems
your
life
from
destruction,
Who
crowns
you
with
lovingkindness
and
tender
mercies,
5
Who
satisfies
your
mouth
with
good
things,
So
that
your
youth
is
renewed
like
the
eagle's.
(Psalm 103:2-5) |
| . |
|
|
| . |
| FEBRUARY
10,
2010 |
| . |
My
blood
was
drawn
and
tested
yesterday.
We
received
a
call
this
morning
from
U
of
M
Cancer
Center
to
report
that
my
Absolute
Neutrophil
count
is
at
1.25.
Since
the
Neutrophil
count
is
now
above
1.0
we
are
back
on
track
to
receive
chemo
this
Friday
and
Saturday,
February
12
&
13,
2010.
It's
been
a
pleasant
break
from
the
chemo
in
that
my
stomach
has
had
enough
time
to
return
to
normal.
.
After
describing
certain
symptoms
to
the
nurse
this
morning,
it
appears
that
I
may
have
a
mild
case
of
Peripheral
Neuropathy
in
my
toes.
In
other
words,
nerve
damage
complete
with
tingling
and
numbness.
Peripheral
Neuropathy
can
be
much
worse
than
I
am
currently
experiencing.
Please
pray
that
it
does
not
get
worse!
Thank
you.
. |
| Bless
the
LORD,
O
my
soul;
And
all
that
is
within
me,
bless
His
holy
name!
(Psalm 103:1) |
| . |
|
| . |
| FEBRUARY
4,
2010 |
| . |
| The
treatment
scheduled
for
January
22
and
23,
2010
did
not
take
place
because
one
of
my
blood
counts
was
already
too
low
to
withstand
another
treatment.
My
'Absolute
Neutrophil'
count
dropped
from
a
dangerous
.6
to
a
worse
.1.
Neutrophils
are
responsible
for
combating
infection.
Tuesday
of
this
week
(February
2,
2010)
my
blood
was
tested
again
and
the
Neutrophil
count
is
back
on
the
increase.
It
has
climbed
back
up
to
.9...Thank
you
for
your
prayers.
The
target
is
1.0
or
higher
before
we
resume
treatments.
Linda
and
I had a good discussion with my oncologist
on
Friday
about the transplant.
He says I am borderline. In other words, we need just one more piece of evidence (risk factor) to add to my medical history before the insurance company would likely approve the transplant.
Maybe
I
should
fake
a
head-twitch
or
claim
memory-loss
to
put
myself
into
the
accepted
risk
zone.
Some
of
my
family
members
say
I
don't
have
to
fake
a
thing.
Ha
Ha
Ha...thank
you
very
much!
Current
research
reports...If
a
patient
receives a transplant while
he
or
she
is
still chemo-sensitive,
they
have a very high possibility of experiencing a cure. At present, it's kind of a catch 22 though.
The insurance company says as long as standard chemo is working
and
the
patient
is
not
projected
to
die
from
the
disease
within
the
next
2
years, they will not approve a transplant.
We
are
seriously
looking
at
submitting
a
'Member
Appeal'
to
Medical
Mutual
in
order
to
achieve
approval
for
the
transplant.
. |
|
| I
will
praise
the
LORD
according
to
His
righteousness,
And
will
sing
praise
to
the
name
of
the
LORD
Most
High.
(Psalm 7:17) |
| . |
|
| . |
| JANUARY
12,
2010 |
| . |
Last
treatment
went
well.
Next
treatment
is
January
22
and
23,
2010.
.
Stem
Cell
Transplant
is
off
the
table.
We
received
a
call
January
11,
2010
from
U
of
M
transplant
coordinator
to
inform
us
that
our
insurance
company
has
rejected
the
transplant
a
second
time.
The
hospital
had
requested
an
independent
review
be
done
by
a
3
physician
panel.
The
panel
came
to
the
same
conclusion
as
Medical
Mutual.
The
transplant
has
been
deemed
investigational/experimental
and
has
been
denied
due
to
that
finding. |
| . |
|
| . |
| DECEMBER
24,
2009 |
| . |
On
December
11,
2009
we
met
with
the
oncologist.
He
was
finally
ready
to
discuss
the
possibility
of
a
bone
marrow transplant
due
to
the
fact
that
the
treatments
I'm
taking
are
working
well.
He
wanted
to
see
that
I
am
heading
toward
remission
first.
We
discussed
the
fact
that
we
have
other
options
in
addition
to
a
stem
cell
transplant.
We
could
continue
the
treatments
until
in
remission
and
hope
to
get
some
additional
years before
needing
treatments
again.
I
would
strongly
consider
the
non-transplant
option
if
my
donor
matched
only
8
or
9
of
the
10
markers
that
should
match.
Yesterday
I
was
informed
by
the
U
of
M
bone
marrow
transplant
coordinator
that
my
donor
(brother
Mike)
matches
all
10
of the
primary
markers.
Hooray!
The
transplant
is
still
on
the
table.
Timing
of
a
transplant
is
critical.
Too
soon
and
it's
possible
that
the
healthy
stem
cells
received
would
be
overwhelmed
by
a large
quantity
of
cancer
cells
and
would
loose
the
battle
that
goes
on
between
the
two.
If
we
wait
too
long
after
remission,
the
cancer
cells
could
have
rebounded
and
we
would
have
the
same
problem
as
the
too-soon
scenario.
Had
another
CT
scan
on
December
17
th.
We
don't
have
results
yet.
Next
treatment
takes
place
December
30
+
31,
2009. |
|
| . |
WHAT
DID
JESUS
EVER
DO
FOR
ME?
Jesus
Christ
created
the
universe
I
live
in.
3
All
things
were
made
through
Him,
and
without
Him
nothing
was
made
that
was
made.
(Joh 1:3 NKJ)
Jesus
Christ
allows
me
to
draw
breath
24
hours
a
day.
Jesus
Christ
preserved
me
through
a
hernia
operation
that
I
received
as
a
toddler.
The
bigger
miracle
was
The
Lord
helped
my
mother
leave
her
crying
baby
at
the
hospital
over
night.
She
later
told
me
it
was
really
hard
to
walk
away.
Jesus
Christ
preserved
the
use
of
my
left
hand.
When
I
was
about
1
year
old,
I
reached
up
under
our
washing
machine
and
succeeded
to
get
my
hand
caught
in
the
motor.
All
four
of
the
tendons
on
the
back
of
my
left
hand
were
severed.
I'm
told
that
my
fingers
dangled
freely
due
to
the cut
tendons.
Back
then
we
were
blessed
to
have
a
doctor
that
could
re-connect
the
tendons.
We
were
also
blessed
that
the
tendons
healed
correctly.
Jesus
Christ
preserved
my
life
a
year
later
when
I
tumbled
down
a
huge
outdoor
flight
of
stairs
leading
down
from
our
second
story
rental.
My
brother
Mel
tried
to
catch
me
which
gave
him
a
bloody
nose.
What
a
scene
that
must
have
been
for
our
parents,
me
with
a
broken
arm
and
Mel
with
a
bloody
nose.
The
doctor
missed
the
broken
arm
on
the
first
visit
but
nailed
it
3
days
later
on
the
second
visit,
which
was
prompted
by
72
hours
of
whining
and
crying.
I'm
glad
I
don't
remember
it!
My
2nd
birthday
in
a
body
cast.
Jesus
Christ
preserved
my
life
when
at
the
age
of
16,
I
turned
a
farm
tractor
over.
We
farmed
an
island
on
the
Maumee
River
and
it
was
there
that
the
accident
took
place.
I
was
knocked
into
a
state
of
semi-consciousness,
much
like
sleep
walking.
My
buddy
swam
across
the
river
to
get
help
while
I
wandered
around
the
island
bleeding
and
in
a
state
of
delirium.
I
spent
3
days
in
a
hospital
and
the
rest
of
my
life
thanking
the
Lord
for
preserving
me.
By
the
time
I
was
16
years
old
my
religious
foundation
has
started
to
crumble
because
it
had
been
built
on
sand
rather
than
the
rock
(The
Word
of
God.)
I
realized
immediately
after
the
farm
accident
that
God
had
a
reason
for
saving
my
life
and
that
it
must
be
really
good.
I
wouldn't
discover
that
reason
for
another
6
or
7
years.
Jesus
Christ
performed
a
stunning
miracle
when
in
my
early
twenties
he
regenerated
my
heart,
taking
me
from
eternal
death
to
eternal
life.
3
Jesus
answered
and
said
to
him,
"Most
assuredly,
I
say
to
you,
unless
one
is
born
again,
he
cannot
see
the
kingdom
of
God."
(Joh 3:3 NKJ)
28
"And
do
not
fear
those
who
kill
the
body
but
cannot
kill
the
soul.
But
rather
fear
Him
who
is
able
to
destroy
both
soul
and
body
in
hell.
(Mat 10:28 NKJ)
The
incidents
listed
above
are
just
a
few
of
the
many
thousands
to
be
thankful
for.
It
is
Christ
who
has
directed
my
steps
and
taken
me
through
good
and
not
so
good
times.
24
A
man's
steps
are
of
the
LORD;
How
then
can
a
man
understand
his
own
way?
(Pro 20:24 NKJ)
Today
and
tomorrow
we
celebrate
Christ's
birth
into
this
world.
There
is
only
one
reason
for
his
coming
and
that
was
to
redeem
us
back
into
favor
with
his
Father.
By
believing
in
his
birth,
death
and
resurrection
we
bear
his
righteousness
before
God
the
Father.
Have
a
Merry
Christmas
and
may
your
name
be
written
in
the
Lamb's
Book
of
Life!
Dan
Simon
|
|
|
| . |
| DECEMBER
9,
2009 |
| . |
Next
treatment
cycle
begins
this
Friday
and
Saturday,
December
11
&
12,
2009.
It's
kind
of
bizarre
to
think
that
I
go
back
every
3
weeks
for
more
chemicals
to
be
pumped
directly
into
my
veins.
On
the
other
hand,
the
options
are
few
and
the
chemo
seems
to
be
doing
the
job.
.
Thank
you
for
your
continued
thoughts
and
prayers.
Blessed
be
God,
Who
has
not
turned
away
my
prayer,
Nor
His
lovingkindness
from
me.
(Psalm 66:20 NAS)
.
Dan
Simon
|
| . |
|
| . |
| NOVEMBER
22,
2009 |
| . |
We
met
with
two
different
oncologists
on
Friday
November
20,
2009
and
received
reasonably
good
news.
The
news
item
we
were
waiting
to
hear
about
was
the
result
of
the
CT
scan
of
November
13,
2009.
Both
doctors
agreed
that
the
CT
demonstrated
substantial
reduction
in
size
of
lymph
nodes
since
the
previous
CT
in
September.
This
means
the
current
treatment
is
working
well
and
there
is
no
reason
to
hit
me
with
a
stronger
chemo. |
| . |
Remarks
from
CT
report:
The
liver,
spleen,
adrenal
glands,
appear
normal.
The
pancreas
also
appears
normal.
The
previously
demonstrated
on
lymph
node
enlargement
at
multiple
sites
in
the
abdomen
and
retroperitoneum
show
marked
interval
improvement.
Multiple
sites
of
pelvic
lymph
node
enlargement
also
demonstrate
marked
interval
improvement.
The
report
goes
on
to
name
certain
lymph
nodes,
calling
out
their
previous
size
in
centimeters
and
their
current
improved
(reduced)
size. |
| . |
My
primary
oncologist
(Doctor
'G')
has
previously
refused
to
talk
about
a
stem
cell
transplant
because
we
needed
to
address
and
fix
certain
problems
in
the
proper
order.
Now
that
both
doctors
have
seen
improvement
in
lymph
node
size,
Doctor
'R'
made
the
comment
that
the
transplant
is
still
on
the
table.
In
reference
to
the
transplant,
Doctor
'G'
commented,
"We
will
discuss
transplant
details
at
a
later
time.
We
don't
want
to
miss
an
opportunity,
but
there
are
also
risks
involved
that
we
need
to
talk
about."
Results
of
Blood
Work:
Blood
levels
are
recovering
nicely.
Hemoglobin
is
at
11.6
(normal
13.0-17.3).
Hematocrit
35.3
(normal
39.0-50.2).
White
Blood
Cell
Count
is
at
6.2
(normal
4.0-10.0).
In
August,
due
to
a
platelet
count
of
25
(normal
150-450),
I
was
instructed
to
stay
away
from
knives,
sharp
objects
and
was
warned,
DO
NOT
WASH
THE
DISHES
:)
Platelets
have
rebounded
nicely
and
are
now
at
226,
well
into
the
normal
range.
Back
to
washing
dishes
:(
Doctor
'R'
commented
that
my
bone
marrow
is
recovering
nicely.
.
After
meeting
with
the
doctors,
I
proceeded
to
the
infusion
area
where
I
received
the
next
round
of
chemo
on
Friday
and
again
on
Saturday.
The
treatment
went
well
with
no
negative
reactions. |
| . |
A
GREAT
REMINDER
FROM
THE
CREATOR
2
"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3
"You shall have no other gods before Me.
4
"You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in
the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;
5
you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity
of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
6
but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
(Exo 20:2-6 NKJ)
QUESTION...Can
we,
have
we,
made
or
worshiped
other
gods?
I
have!
And
I
repent
of
it.
In
my
youth
I
prayed
to
another
human
being,
in
addition
to
Jesus
Christ.
I
knelt
before
a
carved
image
of
that
person
and
prayed
to
that
person.
Am
I
mistaken
or
does
verse
5
above,
say
that
doing
so
is
a
way
of
demonstrating
hate
for
GOD?
GOD
ALSO
SAYS
IN
ISAIAH
8
I am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images.
(Isa 42:8 NKJ)
If
we
praise
and
glorify
one
other
than
GOD
for
answering
our
prayer,
are
we
not
provoking
GOD?
Is
that
not
getting
directly
in
GOD'S
face
according
to
the
verse
in
Isaiah?
If
the
bible
is
GOD'S
word,
and
it
is,
we
should
give
serious
thought
to
the
verses
and
precepts
within
it.
May
GOD
bless
you
all. |
|
| . |
|
|
| . |
| NOVEMBER
4,
2009 |
| . |
Haven't
felt
perky
for
a
few
days.
I'm
either
a
big
wimp
or
my
body
is
telling
me
to
rest.
The
good
news
is,
Lymph
Nodes
are
reducing!
I
also
received
a
call
yesterday
from
the
Bone
Marrow
Transplant
Coordinator.
She
seems
to
be
pushing
for
the
transplant
sooner
than
later.
Don't
want
it
too
soon!
We
need
to
be
in
remission
or
very
close
to
remission
before
the
transplant.
The
chemo
that
is
used
to
kill
all
my
remaining
bone
marrow
prior
to
transplant
will
finish
the
job
of
remission.
CT
Scan
scheduled
for
November
13,
2009.
The
doctors
want
to
take
a
look
at
internal
lymph
nodes
to
see
if
they
are
reducing
in
size.
If
I
dare
make
a
judgment
based
on
the
surface
lymph
nodes,
then
I
can
give
them
their
answer....A
resounding
YES,
they
are
reducing. |
| . |
|
| . |
| OCTOBER
30,
2009 |
| . |
| Treatment
again
today
and
tomorrow. |
|
| . |
|
| . |
| OCTOBER
9,
2009 |
| . |
The
infusion
of
Rituximab
went
much
better
today
with
the
exception
of
itching
and
hives.
My
infusion
nurse
stopped
the
flow
on
Rituximab
until
the
hives
and
itching
went
away.
It
took
about
2
1/2
hours
for
the
hives
to
vanish.
Also
received
the
other
chemo,
(Bendamustine)
without any problems. It was a nine hour day at
the
cancer
center,
but
will
shorten
some
in
the
future
as
my
body
becomes
acclimated
to
Rituximab. |
| . |
|
| . |
| OCTOBER
8,
2009 |
| . |
WOW!
That
wasn't
much
fun!
The
prescribed
amount
of
Rituximab
for
my
body
mass
is
800
milligrams.
Today
I
was
to
receive
100
milligrams
and
the
remaining
700
milligrams
tomorrow.
We
couldn't
get
more
than
50
milligrams
in
before
experiencing
a
solid
case
of
Rigors
Disease.
Rigors
Disease
is
similar
to
the
chills
and
shaking
that
a
Malaria
victim
experiences.
We're
doing
good
now,
but
we
have
700
milligrams
of
that
same
stuff
scheduled
for
tomorrow.
Reactions
are
most
severe
upon
first
dose,
so
maybe
the
700
milligrams
will
go
a
little
better. |
| . |
|
| . |
OCTOBER
7,
2009
Treatments
resume
tomorrow |
| . |
PRAYER
REQUEST
FOR
BEATRICE
Beatrice
is
the
two
year
old
granddaughter
of
a
good
friend.
She
has
recently
experienced
a
second
broken
leg
for
no
apparent
reason.
She
has
a
sweet
countenance
and
refers
to
her
cast
as
her
boot.
Once
the
cast
comes
off,
she
will
have
tests
to
help
doctors
understand
what's
going
on
with
her
bones.
Please
support
Beatrice
in
prayer! |
|
| . |
|
| . |
| OCTOBER
2,
2009 |
| THE
NEW
PLAN
IS
THE
OLD
PLAN |
| . |
We
had
our
meeting
today
at
U
of
M
concerning
the
biopsy
results
and
then
developed
a
treatment
plan.
The
biopsy
results
came
back
and
are
viewed
as
rather
good
news
compared
to
what
they
could
have
been.
There was
the
suspicion
that
the
CLL
had
transformed
itself
into
a
very
aggressive
form
of
lymphoma.
It
has
not!
The
CLL
has remained
as
CLL
but
with
aggressive
tendencies.
YES,
it
is
more
aggressive
than
it
used
to
be,
but
NO,
it
has
not transformed
itself
into
the
really
bad
stuff...Thanks
for
your
prayers! |
| . |
| TREATMENT: |
My
case
was
presented
to
the
U
of
M
lymphoma
doctors
at
their
weekly
conference
along
with
biopsy
results.
Due
to
the
great
response
that
was
achieved
in
the
blood
using
Bendamustine
on
the
first
cycle
of
treatment,
they
believe
that
the
same
treatment
will
start
to
reduce
lymph
nodes
after
two
or
three
more
cycles.
Administering
chemo
to
the
lymph
system
is
a
much
slower
process
that
pumping
it
directly
into
the
blood
stream.
We
will
go
back
to
using
Bendamustine
but
will
also
add
Rituximab
to
the
treatment.
Rituximab
is
an
antibody
that
will
kill
some
cells
on
its
own
but
more
importantly
will
have
the
effect
of
painting
a
bull's-eye
on
cancer
cells.
It
marks
the
cancer
cells
with
a
marker
that
the
chemo
recognizes
to
go
after
for
destruction.
*Antibodies
are
an
integral
part
of
the
body's
immune
system.
Normally,
the
body
creates
antibodies
in
response
to
an
antigen
(such
as
a
protein
in
a
germ)
that
has
entered
the
body.
The
antibodies
attach
to
the
antigen
in
order
to
mark
it
for
destruction
by
the
immune
system.
*www.chemocare.com
TREATMENT
RESUMES
OCTOBER
8th
AND
9th.
.
WHY
LARGER
Why
did
my
lymph
nodes
get
much
larger
after
the
first
cycle
of
treatment?
We
don't
know
for
sure.
One
possibility
that
was
suggested
yesterday,
is
that
my
immune
system
recognized
that
something
big
(Chemo)
was
happening
and
it
pumped
a
large
number
of
infection
fighting
white
cells
into
the
lymph
nodes,
which
after
all,
are
part
of
the
immune
system.
.
WHAT
ABOUT
THE
BONE
MARROW
TRANSPLANT
The
doctor
had
commented,
"The
bone
marrow
transplant
is
postponed
indefinitely."
I
then
said,
"Let's
clarify,
do
you
mean,
first
things
first,
we
have
bigger
fish
to
fry
at
this
time."
To
which
he
answered,
"YES." |
|
| . |
|
|
|
| . |
| SEPTEMBER
24,
2009 |
| . |
We
received
two
calls
today
from U
of M
Comprehensive
Cancer
Center.
The
main oncologist
following
me,
wants
to
present
my
case
at the
weekly
conference
attended
by
all
lymphoma
doctors.
Since
the biopsy
results
have
not
come
back
from
the
lab,
the
lymphoma
conference
and my
meeting
with
the
doctors
have
both been
moved
to
October
2,
2009.
I'm
okay
with
that.
Besides,
the disease
seems
to be
napping
at the
moment.
No
night
sweats
and no
pain.
We
also
received
a call
from
the
Bone
Marrow
Transplant
coordinator.
She
informed
me
that
they
will
be
sending
another
blood
drawing
kit to
my two
matches,
Mike
and
Sue.
Their
blood
will
be
tested
for
additional
markers
to see
which
one of
them
would
make
the
best
match.
*Doctors
look
for a
donor
who
matches
their
patient's
tissue
type,
specifically
their
human
leukocyte
antigen
(HLA)
tissue
type.
HLAs
are
proteins
—
or
markers
—
found
on
most
cells
in
your
body.
Your
immune
system
uses
these
markers
to
recognize
which
cells
belong
in
your
body
and
which
do
not.
The
closer
the
match
between
the
patient's
HLA
markers
and
donor,
the
better
for
the
patient.
*www.marrow.org
THE
ULTIMATE
MATCH
Jesus
Christ
is the
Lamb
of God
who
takes
away
the
sins
of the
world!
(Joh 1:29 NKJ)
The
lamb
has a
book
of
names
referred
to in
the
bible
as the
Lamb's
book
of
Life.
The
ultimate
match
is whether
or not
our
name
matches
one of
the
listings
in the
Lamb's
Book
of
Life.
God is
going
to
re-create
the
heavens
and
the
earth
and
only
those
who's
names
are
listed
in the
Lamb's
Book
of
Life
will
be
part
of his
awesome
new
creation.
Read
what
God
says
about
this
new
creation:
Revelation
21:1
Now I
saw a
new
heaven
and a
new
earth,
for
the
first
heaven
and
the
first
earth
had
passed
away.
Also
there
was no
more
sea.
2
Then
I,
John,
saw
the
holy
city,
New
Jerusalem,
coming
down
out of
heaven
from
God,
prepared
as a
bride
adorned
for
her
husband.
3
And I
heard
a loud
voice
from
heaven
saying,
"Behold,
the
tabernacle
of God
is with
men,
and He
will
dwell
with
them,
and
they
shall
be His
people.
God
Himself
will
be
with
them and
be their
God.
4
"And
God
will
wipe
away
every
tear
from
their
eyes;
there
shall
be no
more
death,
nor
sorrow,
nor
crying.
There
shall
be
no
more
pain,
for
the
former
things
have
passed
away."
(Rev 21:1-4 NKJ)
Can
you
imagine
a new
creation
where
there
will
be no
more
death,
nor
sorrow,
nor
crying
and no
more
pain.
How
can
one be
saved
and your
name
match
one of
the
listings
in the
Lamb's
Book
of
Life?
One
more
piece
of
scripture
to
consider
from
the
book
of
Romans:
8
But
what
does
it
say?
"The
word
is
near
you,
in
your
mouth
and in
your
heart
"
(that
is,
the
word
of
faith
which
we
preach):
9
that if
you
confess
with
your
mouth
the
Lord
Jesus
and
believe
in
your
heart
that
God
has
raised
Him
from
the
dead,
you
will
be
saved.
10
For
with
the
heart
one
believes
unto
righteousness,
and
with
the
mouth
confession
is
made
unto
salvation.
11
For
the
Scripture
says,
"Whoever
believes
on Him
will
not be
put to
shame."
(Rom 10:9-11 NKJ)
Thank
you
for
your
prayers,
Dan
Simon |
| . |
|
| . |
| SEPTEMBER
22, 2009 |
| . |
|
Biopsy
went
well.
We avoided
severing
blood vessels
and
nerves...That's
a
plus!
We will see
U of M
doctors this
Friday to
re-establish
a plan for
treatment.
ASK,
SEEK, KNOCK
7
"Ask,
and it will
be given to
you; seek,
and you will
find; knock,
and it will
be opened to
you.
8
"For
everyone who
asks
receives,
and he who
seeks finds,
and to him
who knocks
it will be
opened.
9
"Or
what man is
there among
you who, if
his son asks
for bread,
will give
him a stone?
10
"Or if
he asks for
a fish, will
he give him
a serpent?
11
"If you
then, being
evil, know
how to give
good gifts
to your
children,
how much
more will
your
Father
who is in
heaven give
good things
to those who
ask Him!
12
"Therefore,
whatever you
want men to
do to you,
do also to
them, for
this is the
Law and the
Prophets.
(Mat 7:7-12 NKJ)
One
day in the
early 1970's
while
walking
under the
stars, I sought
God with all
my heart,
and guess
what!
I found
him!
His name is
Jesus
Christ.
That was a
personal decision,
not a
religious
activity.
Empty
religious
activity
will never put us
on the path
leading to
the narrow
gate that
Jesus talked
about, the
gate into
his kingdom.
God's plan
from the
beginning of
time was for
his son
Jesus to
take the
punishment
that was due
Dan Simon,
redeeming me
back into
God's favor.
It's
personal,
it's simple,
and it is
repenting. |
| . |
|
| . |
| SEPTEMBER
19, 2009 |
| . |
No
night-sweats,
no pain, no
infection,
no spaghetti,
no meat
balls...shucks
about the
meat
balls!
On a serious
note, the
doctors want
to be
informed immediately
when and if
infection
sets
in. I
assume
it can
become a
huge issue
due to a
suppressed
immune
system. |
| . |
|
|
|
| Don't
Waste Your Cancer
Click
to read |
|
| . |
| SEPTEMBER
18, 2009 |
| . |
|
| U of M
called today with
results of this weeks
blood test. White
count is climbing
again. It's at
14,000. |
| . |
|
| . |
| BIOPSY
SCHEDULED for SEPTEMBER
22, 2009 |
|
We have a
biopsy scheduled for
September 22, 2009 in
order to determine
exactly what kind of
cells we are dealing
with.
CLL, though very
treatable has been know
to transform itself into
a different genetic
makeup becoming more aggressive.
The biopsy results will
help doctors determine
which treatments are not
appropriate and what
direction to turn to in
the future. |
| . |
|
| .
WEEK OF
SEPTEMBER 7, 2009
|
| . |
|
Because of the
enlarged painful lymph nodes,
U of M has requested that we
get a CT Scan Thursday
September 10, 2009.
I am
scheduled for a blood draw, checkup and chemo
on Friday September 11,
2009. The scan will help
doctors determine
what is
going on in my abdomen and neck.
At Friday's appointment we all
looked at the CT Scans and
discovered that last months
chemotherapy did nothing for
the lymph
nodes. In fact
they have become much larger
since the therapy. The
doctors called off the chemo
for Friday and
Saturday. |
| . |
|
| . |
AUGUST
25, 2009
ONE MORE TRANSFUSION |
| . |
My blood is drawn
locally for
testing once a week, with the
results faxed up to U of M.
After receiving the
results August 24, I was
called back up to U of M
hospital August 25, for one
more transfusion of 2 units of
blood.
My hemoglobin level had again
dropped to 6 or 7. |
| . |
|
| . |
WEEK
OF AUGUST 17, 2009
OUCH |
| . |
|
A Lymph
node in my armpit has enlarged to the
size of a golf ball and is painful.
Since that time it has gotten
larger but
is no longer painful. After
talking to U of M about the
large lymph node, we all held
out hope that it had enlarged
due
to treatment (dead cells) and
not from disease. My
white count had gone from
292,000 to 3,000 in just a few
weeks.
Night-sweats have also
increased. That's not a
good sign. Also had some
serious pain in my abdomen
near my spleen. |
| . |
|
|
| . |
AUGUST
14-15, 2009
START CHEMOTHERAPY |
| . |
|
Received Bendamustine
intravenously both days. |
| . |
|
| . |
AUGUST
5, 2009
VISITED ER AND WAS
RE-ADMITTED FOR ONE MORE NIGHT |
| . |
|
Visited the
Emergency Room on the advise of two
different nurses and was re-admitted
for another night. The PICC
line had
become infected. Received an intravenous antibiotic and went home the
next day with a scrip for a very
powerful antibiotic. |
| . |
|
|
| . |
| AUGUST 4,
2009 |
| . |
Was
discharged with a PICC line in my arm for future use.
We went back to the hospital the
next day to deliver a gift to
my former roommate. While
I was there, we had two different
nurses look at the PICC line in my arm and
they both highly
suggested that I go down to ER and have it
removed, as it had become infected. |
| . |
|
| . |
| JULY
31, 2009 |
| 6-MONTH CHECK UP |
| . |
|
|
Arrived early to have blood
drawn for testing and proceeded to my
appointment. When the blood tests came in, the
doctor
informed me that he had the answer to the
mystery of the pounding heart and shortness of
breath. My
blood counts were so far
from normal that the high white count had
invaded my bone marrow to the point of crowding
out and greatly reduced the cells
that produce oxygen-carrying hemoglobin.
The
doctor immediately admitted me to U of M Hospital where
I stayed for 5 days receiving two different
blood transfusions and
having my blood tested 3 or 4 times a day.
Was approached by the Bone Marrow
Transplant team and informed that a transplant
is a possibility.
A Bone Marrow Transplant is considered
curative which is a word that has never been
used in the same sentence as CLL until now.
Had a bone marrow biopsy and was released
August 4, 2009. |
| . |
|
| . |
| SUMMER 2009 |
| . |
|
Shortness of breath and
heart pounding slowly worsening over summer.
On one occasion, I walked back to our shed to
get
a friend’s garden tool and
when I got back to the house my heart was
pounding extremely hard.
I commented to Linda, “Either
my blood counts are way out
of kilter or I have a bad heart valve."
Linda made an appointment with a
heart specialist for
August 3, 2009 and I was also due for
a regular check up at U of M Cancer Clinic three
days before on July 31, 2009. |
| . |
|
|
.
Helped pastor Ron shovel snow from his driveway
and noticed some shortness of breath.
Boy do I need to get back into shape! |
| . |
| . |
| . |
| .2007
|
| 3.5 YEARS OF PERFECT BLOOD COUNTS
|
|
|
 August 2007
|
|
|
|
| . |
Chemotherapy was Fludarabine
and Rituximab.
Those two therapies brought the white cells down
nicely but did not
reduce the size of my lymph nodes. Cytoxan
was added which successfully reduced the lymph nodes.
|
.
|
| . |
|
| 1999 - 2004 |
| PURPOSELY DELAYED TREATMENT |
I held off as long as I could before having
chemotherapy. There were
advantages in waiting.
 Prior to treatment, August 2004
|
|
| . |
|
|
UNIVERSITY
OF MICHIGAN COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER
Met
with the oncology team at University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer
Center. After a blood test,
a rather quick consensus was formed by a team of doctors. We were looking
at the disease called CLL or Chronic
Lymphocytic Leukemia.
I
was told that CLL affects each patient uniquely.
My mother had been dealing with it for at least 10 or 12 years
when I was diagnosed. She
had no visual signs of enlarged lymph nodes. In my case, it looked as
though the disease was going to invade my lymph nodes as well as my
blood. We were told that
CLL is very treatable but not curable.
When referring to various treatments the doctor commented,
“There are only so many bullets in the gun.”
After you use a certain treatment it will likely be less
effective next time you use it. Eventually
you run out of effective treatments, which is what happened to my
mother. Mom went to be with
the Lord in October 2007.
| . |
|
| . |
SEPTEMBER
1997
FIRST
INDICATION OF CLL
In
August or September of 1997 I was playing racquetball with a friend who noticed a
small lump on my neck.
|
