Day 1 of Round 3 chemotherapy finished

Family and Friends,

Day 1 of Bob's chemotherapy is finished and I must say that Bob is in good spirits. His counts before chemotherapy started were higher than they had ever been, 335,000 for platelets and hemoglobin at 11, his white count was in normal range as well. Bob has had no fevers in the past week, but has suffered from a screwed up internal temperature system. He's got the thermostat set at 65, and yet he's sweating through all his clothing. The doctor said it could be a side effect from the chemo, but as long as he's not showing a temperature everything is okay. They tested him again last night for MRSA in his neck area. I'm assuming it's going to come back positive again. Other than that, Bob's in good spirits and the doctor said as long as things go well, they can get him out of the hospital as early as Saturday which would be great!

Please continue to keep Bob in your thoughts and prayers.
Love and thanks,
Michele

Bob heading back for round 3 of 5

Family and friends,

Bob is doing pretty good. He was happy to see his friends Mike and Ed yesterday who came from NYC and Ft. Meyers to see him. We had lunch and Bob got to do some catching up. This morning we went back to the hospital for antibiotic infusions and then over to my parents for lunch. Now we are hanging out with Christopher and hanging Halloween decorations.

Please keep Bob in your thoughts and prayers as he heads back in to the hospital.

Love and thanks,
Michele
Ps Bob wanted me to say hi to everyone for him


-- Posted from my iPhone

Bob coming home today

Family and friends,

They kept Bob an extra day yesterday because they wanted to load him up with blood, magnesium, and potassium IVs so he wouldn't have to get any more this week. They are saving his IV lines for the antibiotics for the MRSA. I changed the dressing on his tracheostomy site last night and it's still infected. I'm hoping once he gets home it will get better.

As most of you know I bought Bob a blackberry so that he could keep up with his emails while he was in the hospital. He didn't like the way the internet connection was (so he said, I think he was jealous that both Dave and I had iPhones) and now he wants one. So I bought him an iPhone today. He won't get it until I get off work, but I think he's going to be happy with it.

Please keep Bob in your thoughts and prayers. He goes back into the hospital on September 31 for the 2nd round of consolidation chemotherapy.

Love and thanks,
Michele

Bob might be going home Monday!

Family and friends,

After a couple of days with no fever and increasing white cell counts (thanks to nuprogen injections) the oncologist said that as long as Bob would be willing to go home with a picc line and get IV antibiotics everyday for the MRSA they might let him go home tomorrow. Needless to say he was very happy to hear the news. Christopher stopped by to see him which made him happy too. Although Bob is tired he is in good spirits. Please continue to keep him in your prayers and thoughts.

Love and thanks,
Michele


-- Posted from my iPhone

Bob feeling better...

Family and friends

Happy to report that bob is feeling much better today. No nausea, vomiting, or fevers! Also the doctor decided to put Bob's blood on standby (genious idea) and when he needed blood yesterday, he got it in 15 minutes. It's funny how effective a squeeky wheel is!

Bob is much happier being back on dilaudid, rather than morphine. The doctor also said bob has MRSA in his neck and backside. They had him on vancomycin, but had to change it due to him having hearing issues. Bobs appetite is back, so I know he's getting better and he's checking his emails too.

Lots of love and thanks,
Michele


-- Posted from my iPhone

Infection at tracheostomy site in neck

Family and friends,

Tonight was a rough night for Bob. He spent the night neaseous and throwing up every hour (even though he didn't eat anything all day). We think it might be from switching from the dilaudid to morphine. The nurse had to give him ambien just so he could get some sleep.

When we woke up this morning the nurse came in and hung a precaution sign on Bobs door saying everyone who comes in has to wear mask, gloves, and blue gown. She said he has some type of infection at the wound site in his neck. It takes 3 days or so to figure out exactly what he has because they grow it in a pietri dish so we are still waiting. Bob is tired sore and miserable. He is NOT checking his email or texts or phone calls.

Please keep Bob in your thoughts and prayers.

Love and thanks,
Michele


-- Posted from my iPhone

24 hrs later, we got platlets. No blood yet

Family and friends,

After writing the blog last night I went out and spoke to the charge nurse about getting Bob some ice packs. She was nasty to me and told me to sit in the room and wait for the nurse. I was so mad I was beside myself. I called the nursing supervisor over the whole hospital and complained. 2 minutes later my ice packs magically arrived. 10 minutes after that, so did the cooling blanket. The dumb nurse set the blanket on 45 degrees and after 10 minutes bob had enough. He said he'd rather die than freeze like that. I tried to explain that I could increase the temp to 98.6 like they did in the ICU but it was too late. There was no convincing him. I just had to take it off. He used ice the rest of the night. Although Bob had a fever throughout the night the nurse didn't bother to give him Tylenol until 7am. I had to call down to the bloodbank to give them hell at 6 to find out where the blood was. It was here but no one seemed to be in a rush to bring it up. Bob got the platlets at 10. And were now waiting on the red blood. Bobs temp is still at 102. He's packed in ice, he is neaseus and refuses to eat. I talked him into one jello and a Gatorade. The infectious disease doc came in and we told him about the MRI debacle and he said they'd do a CT instead. When Bob realized he had to drink contrast dye, he refused. That's been our day thus far.

Please keep Bob in your thoughts and prayers.

Love and thanks,
Michele
Ps. They put Bob on a morphine PCA pump not dilaudid. And he's getting 1mg every 8 minutes.

Fourteen hours later and NO BLOOD STILL

Family and friends

It's almost 11pm and to say today has been frustrating would be a severe understatement. Bobs oncologist came in around 8:30am and ordered blood and platlets for Bob. We are still waiting on them. If you have been following this blog from the beginning you'd know this has been an issue before. Bethesda contracts with the big red bus which is community bloodcenters out of Orlando. They are waiting for blood to get here from there. Although my girlfriend is the director of the rival blood bank of south Florida and has previously told me whatever blood bob needed they would send it over in a matter of minutes, Bethesda hospital has refused. Time and time again have I asked. 11pm and still no blood. In addition Bob has now spiked a fever of 103. The nurse told me she ordered him a cooling blanket. That was an hour and a half ago. I have swiped some ice from the supply room and have stuffed rubber gloves with them and put them under Bob's arms to try to lower his fever. Tonight's nurse is USELESS.

Here's the icing on today's cake. They came to get Bob for an MRI. He wanted me to go with him. As the transporter wheeled Bob out of the room they were wheeling a person out of the room two doors down in a body bag down to the morgue. We had to wait next to the body bag while we took the elevator to the basement. I asked Bob if he was ok, he said yes, but it freaked me out. The MRI was one of the closed ones that's tight as a coffin with no room to breathe. As soon as they pushed Bob in he freaked out. He couldn't do it and I couldn't blame him after what he saw. Not to mention he had a fever, was in pain and was exhausted.

That was our day.

The only bright spot for Bob was that they gave him a pain pump that he could push every eight minutes and it would give him 1 mg of dilaudid. Now he was previously getting 2 mg if dilaudid every 2 hours. I'm no mathematician, but that's like 15 mg of dilaudid every two hours if he presses it every eight minutes which he's been doing. The nurse assured me when I pointed this out to her that the pain pump distributes the medication differently than an injection, but I think she's an idiot and I don't believe her. I'm exhausted and have had it up to here tonight. I'm going to raise some hell about getting Bob some proper ice packs.

Bob needs lots of prayers tonight, and I need a stiff drink...

Love and thanks,
Michele


-- Posted from my iPhone

Bob back on cancer wing, will be here awhile

Family and friends

Last night they admitted Bob back to the cancer wing. They gave him blood, platlets, and antibiotics throughout the night. Unfortunately when the oncologist came to visit this morning none of his counts had come up. He still has a fever albeit a low grade one. We had a consult from the infectious disease doctor as well. He is taking cultures of his tracheostomy site as well as his bed sore site to see if they are infected and are getting him an MRI to see if the bed sore wound got deep enough to infect bone in his back. In addition they have to put a picc line in but his platlets are still too low so they stuck poor Bob a million times for IVs and blood. He neausous, tired, and in lots of pain.

Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

Love and thanks,
Michele


-- Posted from my iPhone

Bob taken to emergency room

Family and friends,

When I got home from work today I went to pick Bob up from his parents house. When I got there he was complaining he was nauseous. We took his temperature and it was 101. I called his oncologist and she wanted us to immediately bring him into the ER. She said because he's on antibiotics he shouldn't be getting a fever and if he is that it can't be good. We are sitting in the ER room right now, they've done a million blood tests and so far his platlets are at 20,000 (normal is between 150k-450k) and his white count is at .3 we are awaiting the rest of the tests. In the meanwhile they have him a chest xray, IV fluids and gave him vancomycin. I'm very worried about Bob and will stay with him as long as it takes


until they get him stable. Please keep Bob in your thoughts and prayers tonight. He's going to need it.

Love and thanks,
Michele


-- Posted from my iPhone

Bob's blood dropping again

Family and friends,

This morning Bob went to his oncologist. Over the weekend his platlets dropped to 8,000 and his hemoglobin to 6.5. The doctor gave Bob the option of being readmitted to the hospital or go in on an outpatient basis for transfusions today. Needless to say he chose outpatient and I dropped him off at Bethesda at 9am. It's 6pm now and he's still at it. They gave him 2 red blood transfusions, 2 platlets, and a magnesium IV. He is tired but in good spirits. The doctor said he will need chemo up until December so we won't be having our welcome home/engagement party until January it looks like.

Please keep Bob in your thoughts and prayers.

Love and thanks,
Michele


-- Posted from my iPhone

Bob's platelets dropped to 8,000 - transfusion needed

Family and friends,

Bob has been out of the hospital for the last 4 days. He has been doing good at home and spending the afternoons at his parent's house. It gives him the opportunity to see Christopher and eat his Mom's famous "macaroni and tuna fish" that he eats by the truckloads! He went to see the oncologist today and they said his platelets have dropped dramatically to 8,000. He is back at Bethesda now having a platlet transfusion on an outpatient basis. I am very concerned that he may become neutropenic over the next few days and he will have to start wearing a mask so as to not get any infections.

He has 2 wounds still, the trachesotomy in his throat as well as the stage 3 bed sore wound that he is dealing with. I have gotten pretty good at taking care of these wounds but we have an appointment with a wound care center tomorrow so that I can get proper training in dressing them for him.

Bob wanted me to tell everyone thank you for all the help and support he has gotten. I will follow up tomorrow and let you know how he's doing.

Love and thanks,
Michele

The eagle has landed.... Bob is HOME!!!!!

Family and friends,

It is with great joy that I can finally say that Bob is home!! He got home late last night, I made the couch up for him today and he is getting around with a cane in the house. Christopher stopped by to visit today for about an hour and he and I played while Bob watched. The smile that came across Bob's face was priceless. It is a time for happiness and celebration today.

Bob's counts are still low and according to the doctor may be dropping still so he may have to go into the hospital on an outpatient basis for a blood transfusion every couple of days. Tomorrow I am going to go back to work and Bob is going to spend the day with his parents.

I cannot even begin to thank everyone for all the love and support you have provided Bob and I over the past 70 something days. Bob still has 2 more rounds of Chemotherapy to go over the next two months. I will be still keeping up this blog daily as his progress continues, so please keep reading!! He still has a long road to recovery.

Love and thanks,
Michele

Bob possibly coming home MONDAY!!!

Family and friends,

I don't want to jinx it, but the doctor said that if Bob can show that he's not actively bleeding and it's safe for him, she's going to let him go home on Monday!! His counts dropped a little bit today, but that was to be expected. He's having a lot of joint pain and has his last day of chemo today. Please wish him well!

Bob's friend Dave left us today to go back to Ohio. He was such a help to me during this week, watching Bob while I worked. I cannot thank him enough!

Please keep Bob in your thoughts and prayers and I'll update his progress over the weekend. Have a fun and safe Labor day!!

Love and thanks,
Michele

Spinal Tap today... not the movie either...

Family and friends,

Bob has finished his second day of chemotherapy and has one more day to go. This morning the Chief of Surgery came into his room and wanted to put a scope up his nose and down into his throat to see the reason that Bob hasn't been able to speak as well as he should. (He still sounds very hoarse and like Darth Vader) Bob refused the scope and I chased after the surgeon and asked if he could come back next week. He said he would try.

I think Bob was just a bit overloaded this morning because his oncologist told him she wanted to do a spinal tap on him today to see if the Leukemia has gotten into his spinal cord and brain. I've seen this procedure done on TV and it look like it hurts like hell. I'll give an update once this happens.

Bob's friend Dave who has been staying with Bob this week has started a "Lift Strong" line of apparel and merchandise which just launched on his website September 1. All proceeds from the sale of this gear go towards the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Bob is not the only person who has been affected by this disease in the powerlifting community and it is amazing when a group of committed individuals get together for a common goal the things they can accomplish. If you are interested in any of the merchandise or reading about other cancer survivors affected by this, I encourage you to check out Dave's posts at http://www.elitefts.com/documents/liftstrong09.htm
the link for the apparel is : www.Elitefts.com/liftstrong

Thanks again to everyone for their prayers and words of encouragement for Bob. He really appreciates it.

Love and thanks,
Michele

Day 1 of Chemotherapy has started

Family and friends,

Bob's doctor started him on chemotherapy last night at 6pm. He receives it via IV and it takes a few hours to get through. He got his second bag of chemo this morning at 6am. He is a bit nauseous but doing okay. He will get his next round at 6pm on Wednesday night. He seems very mobile and is trying to keep his weight up. Yesterday they weighed him and he was 198. (that's up about 15 pounds from a few weeks ago). Dave is here and is taking great care of him during the day.

I'd like to especially thank Traci Tate today. With her kids starting school and running two businesses, the fact that she can sacrifice her husband for a week to take care of Bob while I work is incredible. I am truly grateful and appreciative.

Please keep Bob in your thoughts and prayers.
Love and thanks,
Michele

Bob to STAY in Boynton Beach...

Family and Friends,

After days of fighting with U of Miami/Jackson about trying to find a bed at their hospital so that Bob can receive his chemotherapy that is 55 days overdue, they finally called this morning to tell me that they had a bed for him. Upon further investigation however, they decided that Bob was going to share a room. I reminded them that Bob needed chemo, that he would be neutropenic soon, and that he had MRSA. They basically told me "too bad" and said it's double room or nothing. In addition, I wouldn't be able to spend the night with him either. I asked about the special air mattress that Bob had been using because of his bed sore wound, and they blew me off on that too. After relaying this to Bob, he'd had about enough. He decided that he was going to stay at Bethesda. Although the doctors may not round 24/7, and they are not on the cutting edge of technology, they do know him as a person and treat him like he matters. Because he's been there for 2 months all the nurses know him, they have a vested interest in keeping him alive. They kept him alive the first time when his liver, kidneys and lungs shut down and he was bleeding internally. I'm satisfied that they can do it a second time with the lesser chemotherapy too. The only way we would transfer him is if he needed a transplant, and he's not at that stage right now.

I spoke with Bob's oncologist and they are starting the chemo today at 6pm. Please say a prayer or wish him luck.

Love and thanks,
Michele

Still waiting on transfer...

Dear family and friends,

I have been very frustrated with UM and Bob's transfer. We are still waiting on a bed for him at Jackson Memorial and they are not too friendly in the admitting department there. I really hope that we are making the right decision with regard to transferring him.

For the good news, Bob is getting around so much better! He is now able to walk with a cane and use the restroom on his own. It is definitely giant strides from 2 weeks ago where he could barely lift his hands. We are working on trying to put some weight on him now.

Also, I bought Bob a belated birthday gift. He got a blackberry, so he's able to read his email again (at least temporarily until the chemo starts) and he also has access to his facebook page.

Finally, I'd like to say a big thank you to Mike "paper" Stutchner. He participated in the IPA Power Station Pro-Am last weekend and wore a shirt that said "lift strong for Bob Youngs". I just one of them in the mail. He had all of Bob's powerlifting friends sign it. I am going to give it to him today and hang it on his wall in the hospital. I really think it is going to make him happy and lift his spirits.

I promise I'll write more when we get to Miami. Bob's friend Dave is coming on Sunday to help me and I know we'll have a lot to write about.

Love and thanks,

Michele

R.I.P. Renegade 1998-2009

Family and Friends,

Yesterday was a very sad day for our family. My sister's dog Renegade had to be put to sleep. He was 11. Although he was my sister's dog, my whole family felt like he was all of ours. I remember when my brother-in-law Tony brought Ren home to my parents house for the first time. He was such a cute puppy! He tried to bite my toe, and when he ran, he would always fall over because his head was so darn big!! He reminded me alot of the movie "Marley and Me". He was a big dumb dog that did stupid things sometimes, but we all loved him nonetheless. He would never bite anyone, possibly lick you to death. My dad loved Renegade most of all. He'd go over to Lori and Tony's house with a pocket full of dog treats and Ren would drool all over the place. My dad would hide the treats throughout their house so Rene could find them. Renegade was 125 lbs and died do to complications from hip displaysia on his hind legs. Renegade was a great dog and we are all going to miss him.

I know this blog is about Bob's recovery, and I'll write about that next, but I needed to say this about Renegade. With everything that's been going on, the loss of him really affected me yesterday.



Love and thanks,
Michele

Bob to be transferred to University of Miami cancer center

Family and Friends,

After speaking with Bob and his oncologist last night, Bob feels that it would be in his best interest if he was transferred to the University of Miami Slyvester Cancer Center. I have been making phone calls and hopefully we can get him transferred by tomorrow so that he can start chemotherapy. Everything else is going pretty well. Bob is in good spirits after learning his cancer hasn't come back.

I will write later when I have more to report.

Love and thanks,

Michele

MIRACLES EXIST!! Bob still in remission!!

Dear Family and Friends,

I received a phone call from Bob's oncologist this afternoon. Bob had me on speaker when she got into his room to deliver the news. She said that she spoke to the pathologist this afternoon regarding Bob's prognosis and that miraculously Bob is still in complete remission. They classify remission as less than 5% blast cells in the body and initial reports indicate that Bob has less than 2%. The doctor was very surprised, as was I, because all indications in his blood work (the drop in hemoglobin, platelets, and white cells) are all indicative of the cancer coming back. She had no explanation for it. Bob will still need to receive 3 day consolidation chemotherapy which is still very risky due to his condition, but it will not require him to be transferred to Boston. He and I will be discussing whether or not he wants to remain at Bethesda for continued treatment or possibly go to UM Sylvester in Miami. Either way, they are going to want to start the chemotherapy this week.

In other news, Bob took a barium swallow test to see if he could stop drinking thick liquids and move back to regular liquids like water. He has to drink barium and they do xrays to see if the liquid passes to his stomach or if some gets aspirated into his lungs. He passed with flying colors! Good news abounds!

Finally, I'd like to thank everyone again for all the donations received, and special thank you to Mussa Mohkami, a powerlifter from Germany for writing Bob a letter today. Although Bob has never met Mussa, his letter was very inspirational and I read it to him this morning when he woke up. Here is an exerpt:

"I do belive in an higher power, a power that is bigger than man. The mind is a great tool - it can make the impossible, possible. I belive when you think positive and put all your energy and the energy of friends and family and loved ones fans and iron brothers all around the globe together there is nothing that you can´t do!"

I echo his sentiments exactly. Thank you to everyone who has been pulling for Bob. It means more than you'll ever know.

Love and thanks,
Michele

Tracheostomy removed, Bob needed blood again...

Family and friends,

Yesterday Bob's blood results came back and they were low which was very concerning for the doctor, especially since Bob hasn't been bleeding. She said it may be an indication that his leukemia has come back. We won't know those results for sure until late Wednesday. Hopefully she's wrong. So in the meanwhile, she had to give Bob 2 units of packed red blood. His counts were in the 7s. In addition, Bob had his trachesotomy removed. He said that it didn't hurt a bit. The only thing is that his throat is very sore and he can't speak again temporarily because it hurts too much. He's got his swallow test later on this afternoon that he's looking forward to because if he passes he can drink clear liquids again.

Please say a prayer for Bob in hopes that his leukemia hasn't come back. If it has, he's going to have to be transferred to a specialty cancer hospital possibly out of state and he's going to have a long road to battle, worse than before (if that's possible).

Love and thanks,

Michele

Bone Marrow Aspriation Completed

Family and friends,

I stayed at the hospital with Bob last night because the oncologist said she was going to perform the bone marrow aspiration at 6:45 this morning. She gave Bob Ativan and Demerol to help with the pain and anxiety. He did fantastically. We're now waiting for the pulmonologist to see if Bob's going to get the trach out. I'll let you know as soon as we hear something.

Love and thanks,

Michele

Sunday afternoon update

Family and friends,

Bob is adjusting very well back at Bethesda. We've had tons of nurses come by to welcome him back both from the cancer wing as well as the ICU. (He's a very popular guy!) Bob is getting stronger every day, walking around the room with the help of the walker and setting daily goals. The oncologist confirmed that he is not bleeding in his stool which was fantastic and they feel that Bob is strong enough to have the trach out as early as tomorrow. They were unable to perform the bone marrow aspriation on Friday so Bob's doctor is going to do that first thing tomorrow morning. Bob is also eating like a horse which is great!! We'll know more what is going on by Wednesday as to whether he is going to stay here for treatment or go elsewhere.

I'll keep everyone posted.
Love and thanks,
Michele

Bob going back to Bethesda hospital today...

Family and friends,

Lots of news since the last blog. After speaking with the GI doctors from the Cleveland Clinic, it is their belief that Bob is no longer bleeding from his small bowel. After reading the pathology slides from the surgery that happened, they determined that Bob had small bowel ischemia, where there is a loss of blood to the intestine. They felt the ulcer could have been caused by the leukemia or the overuse of NSAIDS. They did not feel at this time that a double balloon enteroscopy would be beneficial to Bob and would do more harm than good and felt comfortable that he could successfully undergo chemotherapy at this time.

That being said, we spoke to both oncologists at the Cleveland Clinic and at Bethesda. They both agreed since Dr. The at Bethesda had all of Bob's records and had completed the initial bone marrow aspirations, that it should be continued at Bethesda. When the results come in, we'll take it from there. If he's still in remission and only needs the 3 day consolidation therapy we'll see if he wants to stay at Bethesda or go to Moffett center in Tampa, or if he has relapsed (which is a possiblity since he has missed his 2nd scheduled chemo by 30 days) then we would definately not keep him at Bethesda and he would go directly to Tampa for treatment. (Bob has decided to stay in state and not be transferred at this time to Boston as we had originally intended).

As Bob's friend Dave reminded me, this week has not been a loss. Bob can now walk with the aid of a walker, he has full mobility of his hands to the point where he texted me this morning, he can speak now with the aid of a passy muir valve much more cleary than before, he can use the bathroom, and he is getting stronger. This will continue to be our focus this week as we prepare for the chemo treatments he has ahead of him.

Thanks to everyone for their continued thoughts, prayers and support.

Love and thanks,
Michele