Traci was released from the hospital after her week long stay late last night. The fungal cultures from her broncioscopy returned negative, and the Pneumonia is being treated with 3 different antibiotics. She also has a daily blood thinner for the blood clot, which appears to have broken apart, and will most likely dissolve inside her body. That one requires a shot in her stomach to be administered daily for the next week.
She has a follow up appointment in January with another CT Scan to look again at the issues that were present upon her admission. But at this point, we're hoping that the stay was fruitful, in that they administered enough antibiotics to clear up the infections, and that the nodules that they discovered will disappear upon the next scan. Hopefully, they were signs of infection, and nothing more.
But for now, our family intends to gear up for Christmas, and enjoy the fact that Traci is back home with us again.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Fear - Day 4
Traci was admitted to Kaiser in Woodland Hills on Thursday, with the pain in her chest the primary concern of her bone marrow transplant doctors. She was scheduled for a chest x-ray and a CAT Scan as preliminary diagnosis based on the symptoms indicated a possible blood clot, and/or a possible infection.
The pain was coming from Traci's right side of her body, at around the middle of her chest, just off of her breast. The chest x-ray was inconclusive on that side of her body, but on the other side, it identified Pneumonia on her lung, as well as two spots that the radiologist identified as "Nodules." This was highly concerning given that Traci's cancer began as Lymphoma, with a tumor that appeared near her lungs, and the symptoms were relatively similar (shortness of breath, difficulty breathing). But she wasn't coughing this time around, and she should no evidence of infection either having no fever. Her blood counts were low however, and a blood transfusion was ordered.
The CAT scan later revealed that she did indeed have a blood clot on the side of her body that was causing pain, and she was admitted shortly after the discovery, and blood thinners were ordered. Unfortunately, this was a remedy that had to be administered as a shot, and into her stomach. A very painful injection that is required twice a day for the time being.
On Saturday, Traci underwent a successful broncioscopy to help determine more about her pneumonia, and help the doctors better determine which antibiotics will be best suited to fight her infection. Later in the day, she was scheduled for an ultrasound on her lower extremities, but because of the wounds on her legs, and the tightness of her skin, the technician was unable to actually perform the ultrasound. It was a tough day.
Today was actually a good day in that it was very uneventful. Traci was able to catch up on her lost sleep for the most part, and feels considerably better. We're hoping that the run of good health continues, and that the healing can begin. We're still not certain as to exactly when she'll be able to return home at this point, but we're hopeful that she will, and do so soon.
The pain was coming from Traci's right side of her body, at around the middle of her chest, just off of her breast. The chest x-ray was inconclusive on that side of her body, but on the other side, it identified Pneumonia on her lung, as well as two spots that the radiologist identified as "Nodules." This was highly concerning given that Traci's cancer began as Lymphoma, with a tumor that appeared near her lungs, and the symptoms were relatively similar (shortness of breath, difficulty breathing). But she wasn't coughing this time around, and she should no evidence of infection either having no fever. Her blood counts were low however, and a blood transfusion was ordered.
The CAT scan later revealed that she did indeed have a blood clot on the side of her body that was causing pain, and she was admitted shortly after the discovery, and blood thinners were ordered. Unfortunately, this was a remedy that had to be administered as a shot, and into her stomach. A very painful injection that is required twice a day for the time being.
On Saturday, Traci underwent a successful broncioscopy to help determine more about her pneumonia, and help the doctors better determine which antibiotics will be best suited to fight her infection. Later in the day, she was scheduled for an ultrasound on her lower extremities, but because of the wounds on her legs, and the tightness of her skin, the technician was unable to actually perform the ultrasound. It was a tough day.
Today was actually a good day in that it was very uneventful. Traci was able to catch up on her lost sleep for the most part, and feels considerably better. We're hoping that the run of good health continues, and that the healing can begin. We're still not certain as to exactly when she'll be able to return home at this point, but we're hopeful that she will, and do so soon.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Fear
Its been an interesting last couple of weeks medically for Traci, filled with emotional highs and physical highs and lows.
Firstly, it was a wonderful Thanksgiving, as I played "Chef Paul" and hosted for our family, including both sets of Traci's Grandparents and her Uncle and Aunt. We had a group 12, and I prepared the Turkey and Ham, and all the fixin's. It was a great time to sit down and simply be thankful for all that we've been blessed with, the gift of life, and the love that we share for one another.
Medically, things are continuing to progress on Traci's legs, as the healing continues, giving us hope for the first time in a while that the GVHD has slowed, and potentially burned out. Still, it will take time to tell completely. But the signs thus far have been extremely encouraging.
On the not so good news, is a recent pain that's developed in Traci's side, near her lungs. It's similar to the pain that she experienced when she was first diagnosed with a tumor more than 7 years ago, but not exuding exactly the same symptoms. She isn't having the same difficulty breathing, but deep breaths that she takes are halted because she is in pain, and she can't lay in certain positions without having difficulty breathing. It's more than just a little scary.
Today she was asked to go into Kaiser in Woodland Hills to have a chest x-ray and a CAT Scan, and we're anxiously awaiting the results. Our prayers are that it is something completely insignificant, such as a pulled muscle, or something of the like. But early diagnosis doesn't really give us much to hang our hat on. It could be a clot, given the amount of time that Traci is spending in bed, and it could be muscle tear. We just hope that it's not a recurrence of the cancer that once was.
Please keep Traci in your thoughts.
Firstly, it was a wonderful Thanksgiving, as I played "Chef Paul" and hosted for our family, including both sets of Traci's Grandparents and her Uncle and Aunt. We had a group 12, and I prepared the Turkey and Ham, and all the fixin's. It was a great time to sit down and simply be thankful for all that we've been blessed with, the gift of life, and the love that we share for one another.
Medically, things are continuing to progress on Traci's legs, as the healing continues, giving us hope for the first time in a while that the GVHD has slowed, and potentially burned out. Still, it will take time to tell completely. But the signs thus far have been extremely encouraging.
On the not so good news, is a recent pain that's developed in Traci's side, near her lungs. It's similar to the pain that she experienced when she was first diagnosed with a tumor more than 7 years ago, but not exuding exactly the same symptoms. She isn't having the same difficulty breathing, but deep breaths that she takes are halted because she is in pain, and she can't lay in certain positions without having difficulty breathing. It's more than just a little scary.
Today she was asked to go into Kaiser in Woodland Hills to have a chest x-ray and a CAT Scan, and we're anxiously awaiting the results. Our prayers are that it is something completely insignificant, such as a pulled muscle, or something of the like. But early diagnosis doesn't really give us much to hang our hat on. It could be a clot, given the amount of time that Traci is spending in bed, and it could be muscle tear. We just hope that it's not a recurrence of the cancer that once was.
Please keep Traci in your thoughts.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Progress
It's been a slow moving process when it comes to Traci's healing, but we're grateful that progress is being made.
It was in August of 2008 that Traci began going to City of Hope twice a week to change the dressings on the wounds on her legs. At the time, her right leg wound encompassed nearly 85% of her lower limb (below the knee) with only 15% of her skin remaining. On her left leg, the number was better at 45% of her skin remaining. It was a dire circumstance with several hospital admissions to tend to the wounds that the GVHD had caused, and from the time of Conscious sedation procedures, progress was slow moving.
In November of 2008, Kaiser moved her procedures from City of Hope in Duarte, CA to the Kaiser Sunset Facilities in West Hollywood, CA. And the necessity to change the dressings was really only once per week. By spring of 2009, the vascular surgeon overseeing her dressing changes had said, "We're making progress. But it's really slow." His equation was, "It's kind of like watching the grass grow. The progress happens week over week, but at such a slow rate, it's difficult to see. But in measurements, her wounds are closing."
On Monday, we came out of the Kaiser Sunset operating room with good news, the wounds on her right leg had closed to nearly 50%. So, in 1 year, she's been able to regenerate nearly half the skin on her right leg. This is a tremendous sign. But even better news was that her left leg was closed to nearly 75%, which means that there was only 25% more to go. And the week over week levels were noticeable.
Traci's overall health is beginning to have modest improvements with increases in her nutrition levels, and stabilization of her blood counts. In fact, it's been nearly 3 months since Traci has last had to have a blood transfusion, an area that used to be required about every 6 weeks to make up for the lost blood during the week from the wounds on her legs, and the opening of the dressings during the changes. But her blood counts have remained stable for 2 consecutive weeks, which we take as a good sign.
There is still a long way to go, and we are by far not out of the woods yet. But the steady progress that Traci has generated from the obvious healing in the last year IS an encouraging sign.
It was in August of 2008 that Traci began going to City of Hope twice a week to change the dressings on the wounds on her legs. At the time, her right leg wound encompassed nearly 85% of her lower limb (below the knee) with only 15% of her skin remaining. On her left leg, the number was better at 45% of her skin remaining. It was a dire circumstance with several hospital admissions to tend to the wounds that the GVHD had caused, and from the time of Conscious sedation procedures, progress was slow moving.
In November of 2008, Kaiser moved her procedures from City of Hope in Duarte, CA to the Kaiser Sunset Facilities in West Hollywood, CA. And the necessity to change the dressings was really only once per week. By spring of 2009, the vascular surgeon overseeing her dressing changes had said, "We're making progress. But it's really slow." His equation was, "It's kind of like watching the grass grow. The progress happens week over week, but at such a slow rate, it's difficult to see. But in measurements, her wounds are closing."
On Monday, we came out of the Kaiser Sunset operating room with good news, the wounds on her right leg had closed to nearly 50%. So, in 1 year, she's been able to regenerate nearly half the skin on her right leg. This is a tremendous sign. But even better news was that her left leg was closed to nearly 75%, which means that there was only 25% more to go. And the week over week levels were noticeable.
Traci's overall health is beginning to have modest improvements with increases in her nutrition levels, and stabilization of her blood counts. In fact, it's been nearly 3 months since Traci has last had to have a blood transfusion, an area that used to be required about every 6 weeks to make up for the lost blood during the week from the wounds on her legs, and the opening of the dressings during the changes. But her blood counts have remained stable for 2 consecutive weeks, which we take as a good sign.
There is still a long way to go, and we are by far not out of the woods yet. But the steady progress that Traci has generated from the obvious healing in the last year IS an encouraging sign.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Overwhelmed with gratitude
Let me first start out by saying that I never expected for Traci's condition to do what it did. When we first met, we had dinner at a restaurant and then went bowling. We'd been to Lakers games at the Staples Center, went dancing, and all kinds of things that healthy couples do without a worry in the world. It was a shock to me when Traci's condition regressed at the rate that it did.
When I had to take my leave of absence to focus on the medical care that Traci requires, it was heartbreaking. I loved serving the Real Estate industry and all of my clients. It's been a true joy to do what I do for the last 10 years. But when Sergio Siderman, not just my boss, but my dear friend for the last 10 years called me and said that NDA was starting a fund for my family, I was in complete and utter awe. I was truly thankful for the gesture, and honestly had no real expectation as I was simply too caught up in other things.
When the e-mails started coming through, to say that I was surprised is not saying it strong enough. I was astonished at the sheer number of people that poured out their gratitude by simply reaching out to me and my family, offering their condolences, and offering their charitable contributions to my family. It truly restored my faith in people.
I am deeply thankful for each of you that has poured out time and effort and money. I am thankful for every email wishing good things, and I am eternally grateful for your thoughts and your prayers as Traci's healing process continues.
I'll faithfully update this site that I've created as it seems to be the best way to let people know what is going on with our lives, and the great impact that you've all had. Hopefully, as this blog evolves, it will tell a story of eventual health and healing.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
When I had to take my leave of absence to focus on the medical care that Traci requires, it was heartbreaking. I loved serving the Real Estate industry and all of my clients. It's been a true joy to do what I do for the last 10 years. But when Sergio Siderman, not just my boss, but my dear friend for the last 10 years called me and said that NDA was starting a fund for my family, I was in complete and utter awe. I was truly thankful for the gesture, and honestly had no real expectation as I was simply too caught up in other things.
When the e-mails started coming through, to say that I was surprised is not saying it strong enough. I was astonished at the sheer number of people that poured out their gratitude by simply reaching out to me and my family, offering their condolences, and offering their charitable contributions to my family. It truly restored my faith in people.
I am deeply thankful for each of you that has poured out time and effort and money. I am thankful for every email wishing good things, and I am eternally grateful for your thoughts and your prayers as Traci's healing process continues.
I'll faithfully update this site that I've created as it seems to be the best way to let people know what is going on with our lives, and the great impact that you've all had. Hopefully, as this blog evolves, it will tell a story of eventual health and healing.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
The Traci Story
So many people have asked me the question about how Traci contracted cancer, and how it came to pass. The easy answer is, we will never know.
Traci's family has no history of cancer on either side. And it was by some stroke of just pure rotten luck that her diagnosis pointed to cancer in the first place. Here's how it all began:
Traci was married mother of one, and pregnant with her second child. Towards the end of her pregnancy, she developed a nagging cough and had a difficult time breathing. The cough worsened as her pregnancy came to a close, and even after Nikki was born (healthy), Traci had a difficult time breathing and still had this nagging cough. It was amplified when she laid in certain positions.
Tests confirmed that the reason for the cough and the shortness in breath was from a softball sized mass that had grown near her lungs, and that when lay in certain positions, the mass would crush her lungs, keeping her from breathing properly. A biopsy on the mass determined that it was indeed cancer, and Traci was diagnosed with Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Further testing would reveal even more bleak news as it was revealed that the cancer was also in her Bone marrow, and she would require a bone marrow transplant. Traci's condition was upgraded to be called Leukemia.
Before the BMT could take place, aggressive action needed to be taken on the tumor. Traci was set to undergo Chemotherapy to attack the cancer, and the search began on the Bone Marrow Transplant list for a donor. While undergoing Chemo, Traci found many of the same side effects that others do, with nausea, chronic fatigue, and physical loss of her hair. It was a humbling experience.
Her situation grew even more bleak as her friends and family were determined to be "NOT a match" for the Bone Marrow that she needed, and eyes were turned to the National Bone Marrow Registry. Fortunately, a match was found in a rural area of Pennsylvania.
Traci survived the Chemo treatments and the tumor was shrunken to the point of non-existence, and Traci underwent the procedure for a Bone Marrow Transplant. Despite fighting for her life, it appeared as though Traci was going to come out of this all alive, and beat this dreaded disease.
In the middle of the treatment, Traci's home life became shattered. While having difficulties in fighting this disease, Traci's marriage crumbled, resulting in a very difficult divorce. She would now be a single mom of two young girls, struggling to stay alive both physically and financially. But Traci stood tall, and rebounded well from her BMT and fought very hard to get healthy. A few years removed from her BMT, Traci developed some side effects from the BMT.
It turns out that the transplant didn't take in one area completely, her skin. A common side effect known as Graph vs. Host disease arose, whereby Traci's host cells were battling with the brand new Graph cells, and it became prevalent in her skin. Conditional side effects included the loss of elasticity in her skin, primarily at the joints. Her skin grew tight in all areas and especially at her right arm at the elbow joint which eventually locked due to the tightness in skin, resulting in a paralysis at her elbow joint. Slowly, the disease began to take away the elasticity in her right hand as well at the finger joints, causing some paralysis there as well.
Traci and I met through an online dating service some years after her divorce, and at the time, it appeared as though she had made a complete recovery. Our relationship continued to thrive as Traci showed very minor regressions, but to some degree, it was expected. GVHD (Graph vs. Host Disease) often is a condition that after the body has had some time, will burn itself out as the body begins to accept the new cells. In Traci's case, her body never really fully did. And the regression took place ever so slightly, that it went virtually undetected.
In February of 2008, we noticed that there was a deterioration of the skin in her right leg at the knee and ankle joints. There was progressive tightening that made for limited mobility. By April of 2008, the GVHD had ramped up to the point of not allowing Traci the ability to flex her legs at the knees, and making it difficult for her to stand. And by the middle of May, Traci could only walk a few short steps with the assistance of a walker. By June, Traci had completely lost the ability to stand on her feet, and could no longer walk.
Things worsened on her legs as the skin wrapped so tightly that her skin below her knees began to crack, and open wounds would appear on her lower legs. Slowly, the GVHD was eroding her skin. By the end of the Summer of 2008, Traci was needing to go in to the City of Hope twice a week to be placed under conscious sedation to have the dressings on the wounds on her legs changed. Doctors were baffled at how quickly the GVHD had taken over Traci's body, and were at a loss for a treatment for her condition. At this stage, the best that they could do was apply the best wound care possible, and make her as comfortable as possible.
In December of 2008, Traci's care was overseen completely by her Bone Marrow Transplant team of Doctors at Kaiser Sunset, in Los Angeles, and her dressing changes would take place there under the supervision of one of the best Vascular Surgeons in all of LA. And the healing process was something that the doctors said would be a slow one, and they've been correct.
In June of 2009, Traci and I were married in a celebration with our friends and family in Marina Del Rey, Los Angeles. It was a lovely ceremony and one of the happiest moments of my life.
Today, Traci still goes into Kaiser Sunset every Monday for regular dressing changes under conscious sedation in order to keep the wounds clean and free of infection. And the hope remains that the GVHD will begin to slow down to the point of burning itself out, and the healing process can begin at a more rapid rate.
Traci's family has no history of cancer on either side. And it was by some stroke of just pure rotten luck that her diagnosis pointed to cancer in the first place. Here's how it all began:
Traci was married mother of one, and pregnant with her second child. Towards the end of her pregnancy, she developed a nagging cough and had a difficult time breathing. The cough worsened as her pregnancy came to a close, and even after Nikki was born (healthy), Traci had a difficult time breathing and still had this nagging cough. It was amplified when she laid in certain positions.
Tests confirmed that the reason for the cough and the shortness in breath was from a softball sized mass that had grown near her lungs, and that when lay in certain positions, the mass would crush her lungs, keeping her from breathing properly. A biopsy on the mass determined that it was indeed cancer, and Traci was diagnosed with Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Further testing would reveal even more bleak news as it was revealed that the cancer was also in her Bone marrow, and she would require a bone marrow transplant. Traci's condition was upgraded to be called Leukemia.
Before the BMT could take place, aggressive action needed to be taken on the tumor. Traci was set to undergo Chemotherapy to attack the cancer, and the search began on the Bone Marrow Transplant list for a donor. While undergoing Chemo, Traci found many of the same side effects that others do, with nausea, chronic fatigue, and physical loss of her hair. It was a humbling experience.
Her situation grew even more bleak as her friends and family were determined to be "NOT a match" for the Bone Marrow that she needed, and eyes were turned to the National Bone Marrow Registry. Fortunately, a match was found in a rural area of Pennsylvania.
Traci survived the Chemo treatments and the tumor was shrunken to the point of non-existence, and Traci underwent the procedure for a Bone Marrow Transplant. Despite fighting for her life, it appeared as though Traci was going to come out of this all alive, and beat this dreaded disease.
In the middle of the treatment, Traci's home life became shattered. While having difficulties in fighting this disease, Traci's marriage crumbled, resulting in a very difficult divorce. She would now be a single mom of two young girls, struggling to stay alive both physically and financially. But Traci stood tall, and rebounded well from her BMT and fought very hard to get healthy. A few years removed from her BMT, Traci developed some side effects from the BMT.
It turns out that the transplant didn't take in one area completely, her skin. A common side effect known as Graph vs. Host disease arose, whereby Traci's host cells were battling with the brand new Graph cells, and it became prevalent in her skin. Conditional side effects included the loss of elasticity in her skin, primarily at the joints. Her skin grew tight in all areas and especially at her right arm at the elbow joint which eventually locked due to the tightness in skin, resulting in a paralysis at her elbow joint. Slowly, the disease began to take away the elasticity in her right hand as well at the finger joints, causing some paralysis there as well.
Traci and I met through an online dating service some years after her divorce, and at the time, it appeared as though she had made a complete recovery. Our relationship continued to thrive as Traci showed very minor regressions, but to some degree, it was expected. GVHD (Graph vs. Host Disease) often is a condition that after the body has had some time, will burn itself out as the body begins to accept the new cells. In Traci's case, her body never really fully did. And the regression took place ever so slightly, that it went virtually undetected.
In February of 2008, we noticed that there was a deterioration of the skin in her right leg at the knee and ankle joints. There was progressive tightening that made for limited mobility. By April of 2008, the GVHD had ramped up to the point of not allowing Traci the ability to flex her legs at the knees, and making it difficult for her to stand. And by the middle of May, Traci could only walk a few short steps with the assistance of a walker. By June, Traci had completely lost the ability to stand on her feet, and could no longer walk.
Things worsened on her legs as the skin wrapped so tightly that her skin below her knees began to crack, and open wounds would appear on her lower legs. Slowly, the GVHD was eroding her skin. By the end of the Summer of 2008, Traci was needing to go in to the City of Hope twice a week to be placed under conscious sedation to have the dressings on the wounds on her legs changed. Doctors were baffled at how quickly the GVHD had taken over Traci's body, and were at a loss for a treatment for her condition. At this stage, the best that they could do was apply the best wound care possible, and make her as comfortable as possible.
In December of 2008, Traci's care was overseen completely by her Bone Marrow Transplant team of Doctors at Kaiser Sunset, in Los Angeles, and her dressing changes would take place there under the supervision of one of the best Vascular Surgeons in all of LA. And the healing process was something that the doctors said would be a slow one, and they've been correct.
In June of 2009, Traci and I were married in a celebration with our friends and family in Marina Del Rey, Los Angeles. It was a lovely ceremony and one of the happiest moments of my life.
Today, Traci still goes into Kaiser Sunset every Monday for regular dressing changes under conscious sedation in order to keep the wounds clean and free of infection. And the hope remains that the GVHD will begin to slow down to the point of burning itself out, and the healing process can begin at a more rapid rate.
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