Pine Barn Inn

It was another day of nothingness, but we did find the time to wrap some christmas gifts and put them under the tree. Kev was more of a supervisor than a participant. He even gave advice on where to place the gifts under the tree. He also received lots of great packages in the mail, which is enough to cheer anyone up.

We had a 4 o'clock appointment today because Kev had enough with the driving and we booked a room at the Pine Barn Inn. It's quaint little getaway that shares a parking lot with GMC. This is the closest Kev has been to normal, back in a hotel room where he is the most comfortable. Not flying anywhere though, but he did take a nice Adavan - Ambien cocktail before bed and should be flying pretty good throughout the night.

Tomorrow is another Neupogen shot then blood work. The blood results will let us know what kind of christmas it is going to be for Kev. Either he carries on as is, or he will drop like a sack of potatoes and spend the next few days in a horizontal position. We tentatively have plans to stay here at the PBI for another night since Dad has come down with a bit of a head cold! It all comes in threes so no one else should be getting sick for the rest of the way.

That's it, keep'm crossed the blood comes back looking good.

nothing

The joy of nothing. We went to Kev's 12:00 appointment got his Neupogen shot and left 10 minutes later. Then it was home, the couch and absolutely nothing.

Kev has no fever, no pain, no reason at all to be alarmed about anything. His color looks good and his mind is sharp. We deterred a bit from the food channel today for a change of pace, but other than that it's business as usual... waiting to get knocked down so he can just get right back up!

so for so good

Ma took Kev for his first voyage back for Neupogen... not bad. He took the card ride really well and they even made a some stops on the way home. We go again tomorrow at 12 and hope things go as well. Kevs are dropping FAST. Just getting up off the couch is proving to be a task, but at least he still can on his own for now.

He still has an appetite and is drinking a lot on his own. No fever or pain yet and he is sleeping quite well due to some "borrowed" items from the hospital. Kev is a little down since he would be rather doing his most favorite thing of all... buying things for other people. So you may not get the usual thoughtful gift from Kev this year, but be prepared for what he has coming next year!

Keep'm crossed they drop nice and easy!

homeward bound

Kev is home, we left pretty late from the hospital, but we're home. All he needed today was his mezznin (they call it a buffer for his kidneys and what not) then we left. The medication this time out is very minimal, but still a significant amount. The doctors say Kev will be Neutropenic towards the weekend or early next week. He will hit rock bottom, nut not nearly as low as he hit the last time. Neutropenia is inevitable considering he was just loaded full of chemo for 5 days straight three times a day... it really is something.

He has some areas we need to keep a close look at while he is home, along with the usual fever, shiver, pain stuff. There is a chance we may be spending Christmas at the GMC, but Kev has come so far it doesn't really matter. To have fought this hard then be stubborn because we want to spend christmas at home would be ridiculous. We've made a lot of friends on that hill, it may even be fun and we know Kev will be in good hands.

The lastround was not that bad for Kev, he kept his color and got another surprise visitor... Jennifer Chrans from Texas. She was an old roommate and a tremendous girl. She is a bit of a smartass, but that only means she fit in really well the family. Her and Kev have been through a lot together so it was really nice having her around. Albeit Northeastern Pennsylvania is wonderful this time of year with snow and ice storms, she still made the trip and was content doing what we do best lately... eating food and watching food. Amazing girl and even better friend (now of the whole Seely family) Wish her luck if you see her, she's running a marathon (26 stickn' miles) CRAZY!!

the home stretch

Today is Kevin's last chemo treatment. not for this month, not for this week, but for good. 2 and half months that seemed like a lifetime. The treatments were intense, extremely tough on both body and mind. but Kev never complained, not once. His "whatever it takes" attitude was an inspiration to all of us. Day in and day out we watched the punishing effects of Chemo. Kev endured fatigue, boredom, and tons of medication .. to name a few of the milder ones. Again, Kev, "Whatever it takes."

He should be coming hom in the next day or two. Then back to the daily hour and a half trips to the GMC for the one minute Neupogen shot to boost the white cell count, BUT home for the holidays. In mid-January we are coming back for re-staging, a CT scan and an MRI to see where the beast we call cancer is. If his appearance and strength are any indication... it's gone. All the nurses comment on how good he looks, personally I think there are some crushes going on, they seem to make special trips in to see how Kev is doing.

Physical Therapy is next, we'll be working hard on getting him in tip-top shape. The Bike, the treadmill, and weights, "it isn't going to be pretty!"

Prayers, thoughts, crossed fingers and toes for "Great in 08"

-Dad