One round of mini-BEAM down...

Hi all, I know it's been a couple of weeks since the last update - I can't begin to describe the ebbs and flows of the past two weeks. Hectic/chaotic/unsettling/nerve-wracking...all fit the past two weeks. When we left off, we were waiting on the results of the bronchoscopy and all. The pathology results from the bronch were non-diagnostic, i.e. didn't tell us squat. So, because of the fact that her coughing got so much better with the steroids, they decided to do an excisional lung biopsy. On Tuesday, July 17th, Elizabeth had her biopsy. The results came back the next day. I have mixed feelings about them...on one hand, we found out that she had the same form of Hodgkin's in her lungs. At least it hasn't mutated into some other form (trying to stay positive here folks!). On the other hand...it's still bloody cancer. Having said that, there was some concern from the doctor's that doing more chemo if she had severe pneumonitis would make things really bad on her lungs. Dr. Lasky (Chair of Pulmonary Dept at Tulane) ordered another pulmonary function test. Results? Not too good. Elizabeth has restrictive lung disease from the chemo and radiation. Dr. Lasky thinks that if we can resolve the lung issues due to lymphoma that she may have between 70-75% lung function but that's the best we can hope for - she's at 60% or so right now. Man...when things go bad it just seems to snowball. Both Dr. Lasky and Dr. Safah thought that they could manage the chemo and lung issues with the new mini-BEAM regimen somewhat safely and preserve her lungs as best as possible. Man, I hope so. Dr. Lasky says that Elizabeth can resume a halfway normal schedule and that the lungs issues won't get worse after all the treatment is over so that was a positive - he basically said the lungs would improve a little and the goal was to keep them stable for now. For sure! The only good news from the past couple of weeks was that Elizabeth was able to start mini-BEAM on Friday. It's a regimen that is typically used in higher dose form immediately prior to stem cell transplant; however, it had pretty good success as a salvage regimen for relapsed and refractory HL patients. The reason that it isn't used more often than it is has to do with the fact that it is hard to collect stem cells from patients that go through a few cycles of mini-BEAM. This wasn't a concern for us as Elizabeth has already collected her cells for transplant. I flew into New Orleans last Friday and spent the next 4 nights annoying Elizabeth. It's what I do best! ;-P She did like she always does and basically sailed through the treatments. There were some really funny moments from our time together and they usually occurred around the time that Elizabeth was getting Benadryl and pain meds. She would say some pretty funny things and we'd both share some laughs. It's weird - this whole experience. You find yourself wrapped up in potential outcomes of this whole ordeal and they drag you through so many emotions. These emotions can shift quickly or over time but it never seems to stay stable...high, low, and everywhere in between. It's the emotional roller coaster - but times two (or more!). All in all, she did really well after being in the hospital for 10 days total. She is a pretty special gal! She got to leave yesterday and go back to Prairieville and is spending time with her family and the girls right now. I know that being away from them was really hard on her - hell it's hard on me and I am not the one that has all the chemo getting pumped into my body. I miss my ladies terribly when I'm in Memphis but it's so nice to have the family support system be so close to her in New Orleans. And the staff at Tulane has gone above and beyond for her so we are so very grateful. Elizabeth will be headed back to Memphis early next week and will get to see our new house and all of the progress being made. It's really close to being ready. I can't wait for her to be able to see it. Also, Dr. Safah gave her the green light to stay here for 10 days so that she could be here for Anna's first day of 1st grade at Bailey Station. What a blessing - small things like this lift her spirits and makes her more determined to beat this illness. She can and WILL beat this - I just know it! She will head back to Tulane on Aug. 9th for a follow-up with Dr. Safah and get her schedule for the next round of chemo. After that week in the hospital (for the next round of mini-BEAM) then we will wait on pins and needles for the results of the next PET scan. If (God - please help us out on this one) this scan is good, then she will have her high-dose chemo plus stem cell transplant in September. Fingers and toes crossed while on bended knees praying our asses off! We need some good news...any good news! Hopefully, if everything goes according to plan, then she may be able to move back to Memphis sometime in late October or early November. What a glorious Thanksgiving and Christmas season that would be. Santa - I don't want a damn thing from you except for a healthy wife! Capice??? Good - glad we are on the same page! That's all for now. I will be in touch. Thanks again for all the thoughts and prayers. Love, Scott