Tim's fight…inspiring and bringing HOPE

You might as well call me Mr. Clean because I’m bald, and I’m clear of Lymphoma.  I just had my first post-transplant PET/CT scan the other day and everything came back clean!  I wasn’t expecting anything different, but I guess they wouldn’t have done the scan unless they were 100% sure.  Well, maybe they would have for the money, but that’s another subject   For those wondering, I am feeling better from my last episode that I reported in my last post.  In that week I lost another 7 lbs, but I’m back on the eating train now.

Well, here it is, day 60 post transplant, or somewhere around day 60.  The doctors have always told me that I would have my good days and bad days, but I had been progressing so well that I didn’t think I would have any bad days.  From day 30-50 I had been progressing so well, I even rode my bike (not very far), but I ended up crashing in front of my house as I got real dizzy and blacked out.  I was pretty upset as I put the first scuff on my bike.   The past 7-10 days have been a constant decline in my health and fatigue.  I feel like I’m back at day 25.  On Thursday night I finally called the afterhours line, and on Friday I had to go in for 2 liters of IV fluids.  I’m hoping the bad days are over and that I’ll begin progressing again soon. 

first scuff on the new bike

Apparently I guess I never actually posted that I had made it home safely.  Who knew how many e-mails and phone calls of concerned people wondering how I am doing I would get since I have not posted for a little bit.  Well, you can all rest easy, as I am now back home in the great state of Idaho!  I got my duct work cleaned, carpets and upholstery shampooed, house cleaned, car detailed, and I’m looking at getting a new air filtration system.  So currently, I am as dust/germ free as possible.  I have enjoyed all the little subtleties that make this HOME.  For instance, driving to a gas station and hearing country music blaring over the outdoor speakers while filling up and warm sunny days ending with an incredible 1 hour display of thunder and lightning…and hail, and then returning to a peaceful sunset. 

Well for those wondering about my health, I am still improving every day.  I was referred to a doctor here that did his fellowship up at Fred Hutch, so he is familiar with all the processes.  I saw him twice last week and really like him.  Though I’m starting to look “normal”, minus the hair and minus 30 lbs (of muscle might I add), I still have a very weak immune system and have to follow strict guidelines on where I go, what I do, and what I eat.  Here are just a few of the can and cant’s:  can’t mow my grass for a year (I’ve hired some kids); can’t golf for 6 months (though I negotiated with the doctor and brought it down to 3 months if I promised I would be careful); all fresh produce has to be washed and scrubbed, so for instance I could eat out and have a burger at a clean establishment, but I couldn’t have any fresh lettuce or tomato on it because I didn’t know if it had been scrubbed; can’t have sun tea, but I can drink tea if I boil the water first and then put the tea bags in; can’t drink well water, but can have city water since it’s been tested every day.  Anyway, this is just a very small list of the many things I have to be careful of. 

As for the future, I will probably have another scan in about a month, at 6 months I will start getting my immunization shots (that’s right, I have a brand new immune system and so any immunizations I had before are useless… also it’s possible that things I was allergic to before transplant I may not be allergic to now, but I may be allergic to new things), and then at 1 year I will head back to Seattle for an extensive week-long follow-up where they test and check just about everything. 

So, that’s my update for now…  

overlooking the treasure valley with bogus basin in the background

Lake Lowell sunset

Idaho rainbow in my backyard

Is it possible?  The words “going home” keep getting mentioned more and more often every time we go to clinic.  In fact, today we got our schedule for the week, and two appointments stuck out to me for Thursday.  The first is that there is a procedure scheduled to pull out my hickman line, and the second is an appointment with the doctor entitled “going home consultation”.  While at clinic today they told me that they had scheduled an appointment for me with a doctor in Idaho for April 21.  So, it appears as though after Thursday, as long as everything stays stable, I am able to come home.  They asked us today if we were going to fly home or drive home, and we weren’t sure.  We told them that after having our lives dictated by the schedule they set for us for so long, that they’d probably have to make the decision for us and put it on our schedule.  We’ve lived our lives day by day for so long, that it is hard to make a plan even just several days out as circumstances can and have changed quickly.  But we are cautiously optimistic for the weekend!

This week I have continued to feel better every day.  It was probably helped along by having a few guests throughout the week and weekend to brighten my days.  On Wednesday, Jim and Jan Richardson from Idaho came up for lunch, then my aunt Joyce came from Chicago for the weekend, and Joe Mogford stopped in on Saturday from Salem. 

My agent Joe and I at the Safeco Field press conference announcing my addition to the Mariners in time for their home opener.

Happy Resurrection Sunday everyone!  Today is a great day!  My mom and I drove an hour to Port Orchard and attended my brother Matt’s church this morning.  It was a great morning of worship and celebration.  I’m pretty exhausted now, but it was nice to get out this morning.  This was the first time I’ve been out in a long time. 

This next week I only have to go to the clinic 2 days as opposed to everyday like I have for so long.  My taste is still gone so it is still difficult to eat or drink, but it’s improving.  Until I can drink more I’m still on an IV for 4 hours every day.  The other day at clinic my heart rate while laying down was 68/bpm, I stood up for a minute and it jumped to 135/bpm.  Call it dehydrated or bad cardio, I don’t know, but I’ll let you imagine how high it goes when I climb the 4 flights of stairs to our apartment or walk to the clinic.  Makes me want to take a nap!

He is Risen!

I'm with you Brett, it's a hard decision on whether to stay or go

Hey everyone.  On paper, it looks like I’m improving.  My blood counts are beginning to rise.  But in actuality, I kind of feel the same.  Although my throat is getting a little better.  They now have taken me off of all the iv’s except hydration.  I’m especially glad to be off morphine.  It never really did help my throat pain, and didn’t really have much fun side effects.  I’m supposed to begin trying to eat and drink a little.  Yesterday I had about 3 sips of Gatorade and couldn’t keep it down.  Today I had 3 sips of ensure and 4 sips of a fruit juice and so far have stayed down which is good.  

 I had mixed feelings about coming into the hospital and I have mixed feelings about leaving.  I don’t know, I kind of feel like Brett Favre trying to decide to play another year of football or not.  I think it’s what morphine does to your mind… maybe he’s on morphine too.  I got my daily laps in today, 2x by .5 mile.  Thanks again for all your prayers and encouragement!

still LivingSTRONG!

Tim