Memorial Day Update

Greenough Park in the Autumn

Between internet connectivity issues and laptop problems, I’ve been out of touch for two weeks. I’m connected finally, and happy to report that the only problems in the Merrill household are technical ones.

I accompanied Roger to his doctor appointment last week for the first time in two months. I had been feeling strangely disconnected from that facet of life too, after being so intimately involved for so long. Roger is doing a fine job of taking care of himself, taking himself to doctor appointments and managing his own medications. I’m just “arm candy” to him now. (wink)

Roger looks thin, but healthy. His hair has grown back. His weight is holding steady and he has a good appetite. His blood counts and chemistries are excellent week after week. His energy increases continually. Gradually, he is returning to work, meeting with clients one-on-one after checking to make sure they haven’t got a cold. As we work around the house doing our weekend chores, I notice that he rarely takes rest breaks now and is able to keep busy the whole day without adverse effects. He walks Sophie through Greenough Park every day – about a 2 mile loop. He is taking on more of the household chores, and is even able to mow the lawn now, which is really good news for me!

Life is good if not quite back to normal. Roger visits Dr. Beatty’s office at Montana Cancer Specialists twice a week. Each Monday he has blood drawn and sent to the Mayo clinic for testing. On Fridays he meets with his doctor to get the results. We’re lucky that Missoula is such a small town that the doctor’s office is only five minutes from home! At least he doesn't have to spend much time in the car commuting to and from.

Roger still has to follow some rules with regard to contamination.  He's such a rebel, he wants to break all the rules.  But I am the bacteria police, and I'm on his case.

All the IV medications have been discontinued or replaced with oral medications.  We were disappointed last week to be told that Roger won’t get his central line taken out until November. Because he’s at the upper end of the age range for transplants, they are being extra cautious. I guess that makes sense. We attached too much importance to it – as if removal of the line were a milestone. In fact, in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter. We adjust our thinking and move on.

What’s next? Roger will continue to check in with the doctor regularly throughout the summer and fall. In November we’ll make a trip to the Bone Marrow Transplant Clinic in Salt Lake for a repeat of all the tests he had prior to the transplant. We look forward to a little family reunion then, another chance to thank his brother/donor and we especially look forward to thanking the transplant team at LDS Hospital for a job well-done.

Life is good.