Buckle Up...

Okay, first posting! Buckle up..

This first post is lengthy, but it's *relatively* brief. We knew you probably didn't want all of the marvelous details. Think of this as a Reader's Digest version. And I suppose you have to be of a certain age to appreciate that reference. Feel free to skim! So...as a recap...

In May of 2005 Richard experienced an injury on the job, and we learned (after several tests and much pain and suffering on Richard's part) that he had multiple fractures in his spine. One disinterested Worker's Compensation doctor who evaluated his xrays told us in passing that the injuries to Richard's spine were just a result of "getting old." Richard was 52.

It took several more months to finally receive a diagnosis of osteoporosis. For a white man of his age, his results were 4 standard deviations from the mean. Finally, my statistics course proved helpful! This result meant that he had less than a 1% chance of having osteoporosis to the severe extent that he did. However, this still didn't send up major disease flags for our medical team. It wasn't until December 2005 that Richard's primary care physician put it all together and suspected Multiple Myeloma. Finally. By this time, Richard could barely walk, was disoriented, took 30 minutes to get out of bed...and one morning he couldn't even step down our front step without his legs buckling. He had a fractured pelvis, his bones weren't functioning properly, he had low red and white blood counts and many other things wrong. He had also lost three inches in height due to compressed discs (from the osteoporosis). Instead of 6 feet tall, he's now 5'8" and holding. (I rarely wear heels anymore, so this all works out okay...our height differential is about the same!)

Richard was officially diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma (MM) in January of 2006. MM is a cancer of plasma cells. Plasma cells are made in the bone marrow, and with MM these cells overproduce and impede normal bone functioning. The result is, well, disasterous.

Once diagnosed, Richard was put on a treatment of high dose Thalidomide (200mg/day) and Dex(20mg/4 days on/off), with good results. The International Myeloma Foundation was an amazing source of information and support in those early days. Things would have been so much harder without them and their wonderful staff and directors, including IMF chair Dr. Brian Durie.

Richard developed a drug rash from the Thalidomide after a couple of months, and had to switch to Velcade, along with occasional Dex. He also went in for monthly infusions of Arridea to help the bones function. He has not gotten good results (i.e., fewer plasma cells) from Velcade. So onward to a stem cell transplant. There is no cure yet for MM, but drug therapy and transplants can provide a few additional years of life.

The autologous stem cell transplant (i.e. he's donating his own stem cells) process will involve 1) having a port placed in his chest for chemo delivery; 2) harvesting peripheral stem cells; 3) taking a very high dose of the chemotherapy Melphalan; 4) receiving half of the harvested cells that have been cleaned up. The process takes several weeks. During the Melphalan/transplant phase, he will be in the transplant unit for three weeks at Sutter General Hospital, beginning about August 22.

He should be hospitalized for about 3 weeks, while his white cell count goes down to about zero and then slowly climbs up again. During hospitalization, he will be very susceptible to infection and thus cannot receive any flowers, fruits or vegetables and few (if any) non-family visitors. Cards and phone calls to the hospital room are welcome.

Okay, assuming some people are still reading this (thanks for bearing with us!), the first step in the transplant journey will happen Thursday, July 20, 2006. Richard will be admitted to the hospital overnight for insertion of a catheter in his chest, and a dose of Cytoxin. Friday he will be released, and visit the hospital infusion center each day for about 10 days to check the catheter and have a daily dose of Neupogen (stem cell accelerator). Yummm.

So that's all for now. We'll use this blog as a mini-diary of his progress, and you're welcome to follow along. Thank you all for your good wishes and support.

P.S. Our niece, Gracie Sorbello, is riding a unicycle (yes, that's right...the thingy with one wheel...and no handlebars...and did we mention shoeless??) across the United States this summer (2006) to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Go Gracie! Check out her journey here or click on the link in the sidebar on this page.


Consider donating to the IMF here. They have provided countless hours of phone support, publications, and direction to us and thousands of families like us.