Treatment 1 Updates

By Staci Atwood

Welcome to Mr B's Updates. Here you will find all of the latest news...both good and bad...on Mr B's ongoing fight with Acute Myeloid Leukemia with the rare Philadelphia Chromosome. My name is Staci Atwood and I have the honor of helping Mr. B with a small part of this journey. Mr B is my uncle, my pops, my guide, and my hero. I may be doing some of the typing, but you will be hearing quite a lot from the man himself! I fully expect him to type a reponse, or even edit some of my entries!!

August 26: Mr. B checked into Medical City of Dallas after getting the news that he had Acute Myeloid Leukemia with the Philadelphia Chromosome.
August 30: Mr. B has officially begun Phase 1 and has completed his first bag of chemo and is feeling good...4 bags of chemo left to go this evening

Mr. B receiving one of his treatments

Above After treatment is done, Mr. B can sleep...

Drained and tired, Mr. B rests up for the next round..

September 2: What was to be his second to last round of chemo has turned into his last round...At this time, Mr. B has pneumonia in both lungs, a case of cold and flu, is on oxygen and a heart monitor...it's not looking good for Team Mr. B
September 3-6: While his family worries, Mr. B continues his battle. At this point, both hands are on the wheel and the foot is pressing down on the accelerator as he is leaning into the turn...

Mr. B making his comeback on September 11!

September 7-10: Mr. B is taking the lead and is not letting AML bring him down!
September 11: This was his first walk outside his room after pneumonia and chemotherapy
September 15: Biopsy is done...now we wait for results to come back...
September 16: A huge sigh of relief today...the heart monitor has left the room!
September 17: Mr. B has been given a new set of wheels and is able to walk twice around the ward!

September 19: He is up to 6 laps ladies and gentleman....setting his goal for 10!

September 20: Results day (this will be a big entry):

So, this is what we know:

*Thanks to a large number of very smart and very dedicated medical personal, almost all of my numbers are either very close to where they need to be except the white blood cells and the ANCells (uncontaminated baby white cells).

*All but 1% of my white blood cells have been killed by this first round of chemotherapy, which is very good!

And here’s what we we need to know to proceed:

*How many of the remaining white blood cells are “good” guys, and how many are contaminated?

*What is the growth/survival rate of these “baby” white cells?

At some point in the next 5-7 days, we will know theses numbers and can move on to the phase 2.

*Unless the the white blood cells continue to drop precipitously, this will most likely look a lot like phase 1, including additional days in the hospital.

*The good news is they would probably send me home for a 3-4 day break before phase 2 treatment begins.

September 22: Continuing with his cross-country training he goes 8 laps...but could have gone 10 (he got interrupted)! He also gives me the homework assignment ( he knows I am a nerd and that I actually like homework) of creating his web page...I go one further and buy him a website! What can I say, I take after him...
September 23: Mr. B is home! We are so thrilled that he is able to be home for a little bit before he begins Phase 2!! We are still being extra cautious, so for now facetiming will have to do!