12/31

last day of 2008. been a rough year. here's hoping 2009 is much better! happy new year everyone!

12/30

all is well! all is well!

happy new year

11/29

talked with the oncologist today. all is going as planned. it still looks like jan. 15 for the beginning of the transplant treatment. my blood counts all look great. hard to believe, i'm counting the days to readmission. happy new year.

12/28

feeling good, still really glad to be free. one of my parole stipulations is self infusions. i get to give myself i.v.'s at home. here's me and my man purse. GO BEARS!

12/27

I'M STILL AT HOME! hard to believe, 2 nights in a row! i'm celebrating small things. one day at a time. feeling better. love you all.

thanks jo

12/26

it sure was nice to sleep in my own bed last night. but, back to the u of c grind. got a picc line put in. i'm feeling good. luv ya

12/25

merry christmas everyone! i'm home! after enough after enough begging to let me spend christmas with my family, i'm free. of course, back again tomorrow for labs. but i hope to be home through my transplant. have a merry christmas everyone!

12/24

i "might" be home for christmas?



a glimmer of hope! (isn't that what christmas eve is?) the possibility of spending christmas day at home is greatly improving. they've placed a couple caveats on me, the biggest being no fever or infection. but if i have shown neither by tomorrow morning, i should be out of here by 10 am. i would have to come back friday for an outpatient procedure and return to the the 3 day a week routine as before, but i'll take what i can get. keep your fingers crossed. here's wishing a very merry christmas to you and your families!

Post from Jani

Christmas will be different this year, but we will get through it--different location, same people. That's what matters.  Remember Kurt, it's like being in the caribbean (fyi friends...they move very slow at U of C--it's like caribbean island service).  Our Christmas picnic dinner will be filets, cheesy smashed potatoes, asparagus and cookies from Madeline and Deb Walton.  Our source of entertain, The Muppet's Christmas Carol.  Prayers that you get better.  John Dobrez will be turning 50 soon, so you need to get home so you can hang with him! xxoo

12/23

found out this morning that i get to celebrate christmas at the university of chicago's mitchell hospital. the bacteria is still present in my body and they won't send me home until completely gone. i'm obviously very disappointed. i guess "i won't be home for christmas" after all. it sounds like maybe friday, but they've led me on all week. we'll see. my love to everyone and wishes for a joyous and healthy holiday.

12/22

a couple of procedures today. the big one is to replace my port ( a direct line into an artery). it turns out that is what infected me. so if all goes well i should be home for the holidays. merry christmas.

12/21

nothing happening today. very quiet around here on sunday. a couple of things tomorrow and hopefully home by wednesday morning.

12/20

another weekend in paradise. it turns out i have some kind of infection. they are not sure what. but they need to continue to monitor me, and overload me me with anti-biotics, anti-virals, anti-fungals. i feel very flu like. fever, headaches, muscle ache, no appetite, nausea, etc. i hope they figure it out before wednesday. early indications are for a very cold bear game monday night. those of you who are going, keep warm.

12/19

back in the hospital tonight, probably tomorrow night too. my white blood cell count is very low, and i've had a mild fever. they want to monitor me to make sure it is nothing serious. getting used to this now. you know you've spent way to much time here when everyone knows your name. the doctors are actually arguing over who gets my case. my sister kristin is in from boulder to celebrate christmas with our family this week. it's awesome to see her, and spend time with her. i'm sure the hospital is not what she had in mind when she left denver. she's spending tonight with me at the hospital, and tomorrow afternoon/evening/night with jani and the children. thanks to my great neighbors who really ease our burdens around the house(snowblowing this morning) love you all. keep the prayers coming.



May your strength give us strength
May your faith give us faith
May your hope give us hope
May your love give us love



sorry john

12/18

feeling good. back for platelets today. back again tomorrow. my sister is coming in for the weekend. really looking forward to see her. merry christmas all.

12/17

feeling good. love you all. merry christmas.

12/16

not much to add. i have to go to u of c 4 days again this week. i haven't driven the dan ryan so much since i lived in flossmoor. i guess my blood counts are at their lowest spots, so they need to check them almost everyday. hopefully by next week they'll have recovered enough so i won't have to go so often. my oncologist said it looks like mid january for my transplant. but the donor has been back to have their type crossed and checked, so it sounds like they are ready to go. very good news. hope you have your christmas shopping done, only 9 days left. merry christmas all!

12/13

twins?

12/12

spent another 6 hrs. at u of c today. received plat lets again. so i've been there 4 day this week, including 1 overnight. i guess that's the compromise. i get to sleep at home (most nights) but spend my days there. we have obviously gotten a huge number of meals and numerous baked goods,(which we are very grateful for. thank you everyone) but today i got a special gift, christmas boxers from a close female friend. who would have thought. my brother greg is in for the weekend, it's great to see him. back to u of c monday. have a great weekend everyone. merry christmas.

12/11

well...i spent last night in the hospital. went in wednesday for a blood draw to check my counts and ended up spending the night. they gave me platlets yesterday but were concerned about my hemoglobin numbers. i initially refused to spend the night. i was scheduled to go back today for an appointment anyway. but while i was getting platlets, my oncolgist made a special visit to convince me to stay. she also told me that the donor they had found is a great match. the plan is to go back into the hospital immediately after new years to get the transplant. just another bump.

12/9

went to have blood drawn yesterday. my counts are hanging in there. i do need to be checked again tomorrow. and then back again thursday. spending alot of time driving to, and sitting at u of c. feeling okay. have a great day.

12/7

nothing new. feeling okay. back for a blood draw tomorrow. we'll see where my counts stand. go bears.

12/4 b

jani says i haven't been specific enough about my treatment options. so... as i've said the doctors are very happy with my progress. the best case scenario with the variant of leukemia i have is a stem cell transplant from a donor. initially we were told my brother greg was a match, but subsequent testing has shown he's "not their first choice". i know this broke my brother's heart, because he wanted to help in any way he could. they are doing a bone marrow bank search to try to find a "perfect match" for me. i think it just excuse to inject more money into their research coffers. i've been told they have found a couple of matches, but we are waiting for the donors to get checked again. i'm on the donor's schedule as to when they want to go in as an outpatient and donate their stem cells (a component of their blood). i see the oncologist on 12/11, and hopefully will have more info about the possible donors then. if no donors can be found, the second treatment option is to continue the consolidation treatments. i just finished the first one and would need three more. the positive of this is that the consolidations are 5-6 day stays, where the transplant is a 4 week stay. i am going to u of c tomorrow for a blood draw. they want to monitor my blood counts, and give me a transfusion if necessary. i'll also get a blood draw next monday, and 3 times a week until my counts recover. i hope this answers some questions, and i'll post info as i get it. keep the faith.

12/4

it was awesome to sleep in my own bed last night. no iv pumps buzzing in my ear and no 3 am rousts. feel much better today. trying to get used to the cold temps. time to start trying to build myself back up. along with putting on weight, i need to do some calisthenics or something.  as you all know, not part of my usual regiment. hoping everyone is well.  

12/3

sorry i haven't updated earlier, but still feeling the effects of last night treatment. i was released today, got home around 1:00. glad to be home. next appt is next thursday, when i hope i'll have more info. happy holidays to all.

12/2

feeling much better this morning. i was able keep dinner down, and just ordered breakfast. i'm actually hungry. all good. get the last round of chemo today/tonight. i hope to be feeling well enough to suffer at home on wednesday afternoon. then hope to line up a donor for a transplant in a couple of weeks. so far 44 days of incarceration, and 56 days without a beer. but who's counting. first snow in chicago. winter's here. happy holidays everyone!


Whooah, were half way there
Livin on a prayer
Take my hand and well make it - I swear
Livin on a prayer

12/1

more of the same. feeling a litttle blue. tired of being rousted all night long. hopefully get a couple of naps today, and be out of here by wednesday/ thursday. love you all.