Once again all apologies for the long hiatus in my blogging. I will get you up to speed with a long winded attempt to gain your sympathies. We returned to Mayo Dec 17, 2008 at which time I had to repeat all on my previous tests again, including my favorite 24 hour bottle of urine that I carry around. I had a lung scan which is my new least favorite test of all. A person held me down and tried to smother me while they took x-rays of my lungs. IT SUCKED! On Dec 19th I awoke at 6 am for a blood draw in preparation for a palindrome catheter placement "central line". Surgery was scheduled for 10:30 am and I was wheeled into the OR at 2:30pm. I got my first bite to eat at 4 pm, in a near diabetic state.

(central line palindrome catheter)

The central line was used to harvest my stem cells starting Dec 22nd. Its a process very similar to donating plasma. My goal was to collect 8 million stem cells over the next 3 days in order to get home for Christmas. In order to motivate myself I competed against an elderly Finish woman.

• day one: Andy = 3.9 million cells Finish woman = 2.5 million cells
• day two: Andy= 1.6 million Finish woman = 2.4 million
• day three: Andy = 3.4 million Finish woman = 2.4 million
  

So, we made it home Christmas Eve just before midnight. We got to see Reis open presents. It was a beautiful day.

We returned back to Mayo once again... I am currently undergoing tests for a clinical trial that requires me to get scanned twice a day for two weeks. I am on track to get the full dose of the trial meds on Jan 28th. The chemo will follow roughly two weeks later.

Please feel free to call 515-210-3813 or 515-210-4705

Andy