No real news, but…

Yesterday was, technically, the beginning of therapy - we reported to UCI for Pat to have her blood drawn for baseline testing. We begin in earnest on Monday. While nothing in the outlook has changed since my last post, we have been in touch with the 2 doctors and they have, at out request, chatted. Our subsequent conversation with Dr. Lilly’s nurse gave us a much better insight into the situation. It was pretty much as we had suspected. The evaluation of the bone biopsy showed 7 of 24 cells with chromosomal abnormalities “consistent with a diagnosis of lymphoma.” For Dr. Krishnan, that information did not push her to recommend the less aggressive cycle of every 2 weeks. Dr. Lilly, on the other hand, felt that the presence of the disturbed cells was enough to warrant the more aggressive periodicity of 2 weeks. Apparently they agreed to disagree and were comfortable leaving the decision up to Pat. We have a couple of weeks to settle on the specific course of action. Pat’s reaction to treatment will play a part in the decision. If the white blood count goes too low, the decision is made for us. The same would be true if Pat finds the treatment excessively debilitating. In either case, Pat begins the therapy at 8 AM Monday.

We continue to be “whelmed”, not overwhelmed, by the tremendous outpouring of goodwill and offers of help. Some have been sensitive and inquired as to our feelings about Pat’s being put on their prayer lists. While that doesn’t conform to our belief system, the personal support that the action represents is, in itself, comforting and appreciated.

Pat is tending to her gardening chores and will soon be on her way to have her nails done. Tonight we are off to dinner and the Segerstom Hall for a concert. Tomorrow we will do our usual Sunday walk around the lake, Pat staying for breakfast, and me taking off for Long Beach to pick up Lauren. Tomorrow afternoon we’ll take Lauren to the theater with us, while we do our last ushering gig for a while. Well that brings us pretty much up to date. I’ll probably be posting more regularly now that Pat has begun her chemotherapy. We can’t thank you enough for the all of the love and support that we feel.