happy birthday, chris

my love

-h

Ding ding ding... Round 4!

Clearly we are nuts, because we were so excited to hear that I'm on for my 4th cycle of chemo shmeemo next week. Following the same schedule as before, I'll go in on Mon, Wed, and Fri mornings and evenings. Luckily for Chris, this will give him something to do on his labor day holiday. How embarrassing to not have plans. You will be doing upside down margaritas, while we will be watching high-dose Ara-C (aka Cytarabine) drip into my veins.
My doctor really surprised us this morning. He suggested that we might decide to stop my chemo now after only 3 rounds of outpatient treatment. Since I received this same drug when I was first admitted, I have technically already been through 4 cycles. Plus I have had one or more infections after each treatment, due to my low/non-existent immune system. But we all decided that it would be worth it to go ahead with a final treatment. For me it is mostly psychological; if I don't do it, I'll be wondering if I have a higher chance of relapse. We were told that, based on my type of leukemia, I have about a 30% chance of relapse. I said "oh good, that's low!"... then I realized, it's not that low. (I mean, technically, it's an F, but it could be a D with a serious curve.) But then my doctor pointed out that I do NOT have the KIT mutation, and therefore have a slightly lower chance of relapse... maybe 20-30%.
By the way, I would love for someone to actually read that article that I just linked to. I sure didn't!

Good news... I continue to not lose my hair, so it's like a short bob now. That is, if 1/2 inch counts as short! Some famous people with possible hairstyles:




love,
h (& c)

Charlie's piece parts

Quick udate that all went well with my nephew, Charlie's, little surgery. Everything is healing well, and he's resting at home. He was nicely doped up, so I don't think he even remembers what happened. Isn't that the way all hospital visits should be??

-h

TGIM

Hi all,
Happy new work week. I just got back from the dog park with Jake, my friend Jen's dog. He was at camp Hillary while Jen was out of town over the weekend. Also out of town last weekend, Chris just back from a Colorado mancation with some pals. He has slightly less skin on his elbow after they went biking down the mtn in Brekenridge. (note: that never happens to me on vacations.) I read an article recently about how caregivers often forget to take care of themselves; this is Chris's first fun trip out of town since my diagnosis, so well deserved is an understatement!

My mom came out to "babysit" me, and we had such a fun weekend. It ended up being a bit of a vacation for me as well, since I have had 3 days off from the hospital. My lab results last Friday looked quite good, so they decided I won't need to go back until tomorrow. So we did lots of walking, shopping, and eating... and we are now stocked with homemade food. Let the eating continue! We also met up with some of my friends for a girls' wedding shower... Bridget & Brian are planning a November wedding in Cabo, so I have some serious motivation to kick this thing before then.

Charlie, my little 3-yr old nephew, is having minor surgery today on his little hernia, so I'm all nervous to hear how he's doing. Fortunately, it's routine, but I know how scary hospitals are for kids. Poor little guy! I've had some friends tell me they think I've stayed really positive through this whole thing. It's true, I am a pretty positive person naturally, but Stanford also has a huge children's hospital right next to its cancer center. I think I would feel like a bit of a jackass complaining about my time in the hospital, while sitting next to a building full of little kids going through the same thing or worse. But I also have a very positive prognosis and a doctor who has been extremely positive... although perhaps a bit too honest. We bumped into him when I was at the infusion center last weekend, and he said he has a newly admitted patient who is similar to me -- young with Leukemia. I asked if she had a "good" kind like me (meaning a good prognosis), and he said "Nope, her's is better." Ha... nice! :)

delanie, mom, tricia, moi, sarah, bridget, kathleen (@ pres a vi)

with Jake dog

love,

h (& c)

happy moonday

We had a pretty relaxing weekend mostly at home. I'm on daily trips to the hospital's infusion center to get my antibiotic, but I think the sinus infection I picked up is almost gone. One side of my face had puffed up and looked a bit like domestic abuse. I seem to be accumulating drugs with each hospital trip. After this last one, I had to sit down and make a daily pill schedule, because it is so ridiculous. I have about 9 medications/day, and the amounts change every few days. Plus some of these pills should not be for human consumption (e.g. Cipro pill is sized for horses).
We got into the city on Saturday for a birthday bbq & bocce ball at Golden Gate Park for Chris's friend Doug. And Sunday, Chris's dad, John, Camille, and Marcus came by to see us during their California tour. Burlingame is quite the hotspot! And there are always such exciting and important issues being discussed here.


making my drug schedule... Chris thought this was sooo funny

love,
h (& c)

who's got 2 thumbs and is out of the hospital?...

... this girl! They let me out this afternoon, and Chris and I had dinner & a movie at home tonight. So wonderful. My white blood cell count is high enough, so I'm no longer neutropenic... feeling almost normal.
On another exciting note, my friends took some great photos from last Sunday's big run in Chicago. Here's the team!
{clicky-click for larger version}

(back) Julie Boczkowski (w/ Jack), Ted Skodol (w/ Dylan, & Lexi in stroller), Catherine & Gary Parker, Ed & Joan Skodol, Sherry & Bill Bowne, Bud & Sandy Leister, Brian Boczkowski, Tim & Cathy McHugh, Tom "DAD" Thompson, Leigh's dad, runner, Tammy (+ bambino), Katie Ojala (t-shirt designer), Viviane Krause, Tony & Leigh Hinkle (w/ Emily). (middle) Mike & Heather Shaffer (w/ Murphy dog), Denise & David Price, Kelly Murphy, Erin Hiltebrand, Margie "MOM" Thompson, Katie Jermak (+ bambino), Justine Singh. (front) Alicia Skodol, Pam Leister, Chris Willich, Amy LaRue, Kristie Provost, Shannon McHugh (& Riley dog), Teal Walker. (unpictured: Amy Storm, Betsy Pringle, Betsy Owen, Caren Chessick)

More photos!









I have been so humbled by this and all the outpouring of support... thank you everyone!
love,
h (& c)

Fri Aug 17th

Sorry for the lapse in updates - Hillary is doing great - She's just waiting for her discharge papers and I'm off to pick her off. It took a few days for the Dr's to figure out which antibiotic would help her sinus/swelling, but she's as good as new and ready to get out of the hospital.
I'm sure Hillary will update the blog this afternoon.

Chris

Sun Aug 12th

Guess what time it is again..... another round of chemo and another stop in the hospital.....we went in last night about 9pm with a little fever and some tightness around the sinuses. Luckily the fever never got too high and Hillary has felt pretty good most of today.
We wanted to thank everyone in Chicago for the efforts at the half marathon today. It sounds like it was pretty toasty in Chicago today. We'll post pictures when we get them, but from what we've heard it was a great success with so many runners and a large cheering section supporting the runners. We were there in spirit.
We're assuming the stay in the hospital will be similar to others - maybe until Wed/Thur, and similar to previous stays, we'll have to wait for Hillary's white blood cells to bounce back up some.

chris (& hill)

Sat, Aug 11

We had a quick check-in at the hospital this morning. My hemoglobin is low, so I will need to go in for another blood transfusion tomorrow. But they are pleased that my liver functions are improving. Honestly, I really don't know what that means, but it sounds good. The big excitement for today was a walk around town with Chris. We saw a purple poodle.

Yesterday, I had the day off from the hospital, so I pretty much laid around like a bum. The big excitement of the day was having Sarah B. over for pizza & movie night (Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill - i lurve this movie!).
And the big excitement for tomorrow is the half marathon in Chicago! I will post photos as soon as I get them. It should be really hot & humid, so drink lots of water.

I want to say Thank You so much to all the red blood & platelet donors. I have been really enjoying your cells. By the way, what a great gift idea... a red blood cell plush doll:

(comes in white too!)

love,
hill (& chris)

Thur, Aug 9

I'm getting ready to head over to the hospital for a quick check-up. Everything appears to be going properly, although my doctor is monitoring my liver. Apparently my liver functions have been really high, but that could just be due to the chemo... or the martinis =)
I kid!
My chemo does appear to be working though, since I'm definitely feeling more pooped.

There's a memorial scheduled for today for Bill Walsh, the former 49ers and Stanford football coach who died of leukemia last week. He was actually in the room next to me during my first stint in the hospital. My mom had offered his sister some of my birthday cake, and he thanked my dad when he was leaving. I'm pretty sure he was back in the hospital during my second stay, since "Gatsby" was listed on the patient name board -- his pseudonym for privacy.

start getting excited for Sunday... Chicago Distance Classic!
ok, I'm off to the hoppytail!
love,
h (& c)

Just got home from the hospital after a quick blood transfusion. Apparently my red blood cell count was low. I actually could tell this time -- when I went for a walk with Amy LaRue (in town for work - love that!) yesterday morning, I felt pretty tired when we got home and I was pooped the rest of the day. This may also be due to our weekend trip down to Newport Beach, but that was really pure relaxation + free entertainment by my cuuuuuuute nephews.

nephews Tommy & Charlie observe balloon making @ friend's party


loitering by the ocean (stevie, me w/ tommy, chris, carey w/ charlie)

Lunch with Steph & Maggie last week...


Plus, I got to have lunch with my work friends last week. Note: I am always happy to be an excuse for a long lunch!




I'm extremely bummed I can't go to Chicago this weekend for the 1/2 marathon. Pam, LaRue, Shannon, Kristie, and Teal will be running. But I know Alicia has been arranging an entire cheering section - including mi madre & mi padre, so I'll be sure get some good photos! I know they have all been training their little butts off, an I am SO impressed. This time I plan to show my support by eating 13 It's Its (1 per mile, ya know).

love,
h (& c)

Fri, Aug 3

I am thoroughly enjoying my last day of round 3 at the Stanford Chemo Spa. Here are some photos from last weekend around town...

movie night! going to see "Sicko" w/ Jen A, Basak, & Jen H

hiking @ El Corte de Madera - w/ Chris, Kevin, Natalie, & Danny

grad school reunion - sandy, lori, peter, kihyun, eric, me, cassidy

Darlene & Jeff's baby shower - w/ darlene, kathleen, & delanie

jeff, chris, john, & tony (nicely integrated coed baby shower)

Tomorrow morning we're going to pack it up and drive down to Newport Beach to visit those crazy Ransoms. (yes, I have ok'd this with my doctor!)
love,
h (& c)

24 Hours of Booty - more photos...

pre-game: mom, brett, lee, and char

lee and brett - at the start line

lee and brett - quick break (smile through the pain)

hey brett, i'm getting a little muddy back here!