How did I get sick?

"Everything will be all right in the end.

If it's not all right, It's not the end."

Keep that in mind.

I am having some health issues.  They will be long term health issues. AND I am getting the very best in health care and am expected to pop out the other end well and able to work again.  Not that working is the most important thing.  But this will be a year or more journey.

So what is it?  I started feeling tired mid May.  It got progressively worst. On vacation about June 7th I really noticed tired and short of breath when exercising.  I got off vacation, took a nice 3 day trip for work, then went to the doctor.  We did a full battery of tests thinking is was a nice exotic bug from so much travel.  By this time I was getting ill every day, lots of unexplained weight loss, no energy and bedridden.  We did a belly scan and it revealed enlarged kidneys.  So we made a date with a nephrologist awaiting the blood work. That was Friday June 20th.

At the nephrologist, the visit was short. He sent me to the hemotologist.  Blood work and bone marrow biopsy revealed many possibilities, but no diagnosis.  On Tuesday, June 24 we went in for the consult and confirmed leukemia. I was sent immediately and admitted to Northside Hospital Caner Treatment Center, Bone Marrow Transplant Division (Dunwoody GA).

Plan of treatment is take care of the kidneys first with steroids.  Then full on chemotherapy.  I will be here a month, then probably 7 "out patient" treatments so a total of 6 months of IV. Then pills for maintenance another 6 months.

I am treating this as my job, of course.  I am in great spirits and good energy now. Kent was with me as well as my Mom.  Day 1 was a battery of tests and day 2 was just as busy.  Mom and Kent went home and had the unfair task of spreading the news.

What can you do?  There really is nothing to do.  We need all the positive thoughts you can send our way.  I am going to be immune compromised.  That means I can have no flowers, no plants, and a limited diet (no fresh fruits or veggies, etc...) I am also limited to visitors who have to be of good healthy and no children. In addition they need to scrub in like a surgeon.

Take a breath. Let it set in.  Don't freak out. This is going to be a "No Dramma, Mamma recovery"  You will NO|T see any postings on facebook.

I know you will have questions.   Feel free to drop us a line at KentandJeanel@bellsouth.netor send a text to our cell phones.