March 19, 2024 - Confirmed

     I am sitting in the recliner at the Cancer Center waiting for today’s infusion.  It is the only one that I will have this month.
     Though I have yet to hear personally from my hematologist at Mayo, Dr. Leung, he has already contacted the doctor and staff here in Lexington to change my chemotherapy treatments.  I am moving from two chemotherapy drugs, to only one.  That means only one trip to the hospital now each month.  One of the chemotherapy drugs I had received three times in each cycle.  It also means no more steroids except through the IV once a month.
     I wanted to wait to be 100% sure that the results of the Bone Marrow Biopsy were as I read on my patient portal before I shared the good news publicly.  If you have seen me since Friday, you could probably read the results in my face.
     The final diagnosis from the Bone Marrow Biopsy is “No monotypic plasma cells identified (MRD-negative).”  Minimal residual disease.
     That was the hope.  Dr. Leung had indicated to us when we were at Mayo last week that two MRD-negative results changes things.
     It was a surprise last fall to me when after only six months of treatment that I was MRD-negative.  I believe that it was to the staff at Mayo, too.
     I had trouble remembering the acronym MRD.  I thought about RMDs but I am not yet at a required minimum distribution! 
     The only way I could remember the acronym was to remember the T-shirt that my kids once wore—that old saying M R Ducks.  C M wings…
     I have written parts of this blog in my head over the last week.  I had no clue that it would be difficult for me to find the words to express how I feel.
     I have had a strange feeling since last Tuesday.  It is one that I have felt only a few times before.  Every one of us knows what it is like to receive bad news that was life changing.  To receive good news that is life changing isn’t often in our frame of reference.  The day that Teresa said yes, the days our girls were born, the day I met Jesus, and a few others.
     But those weren’t news that I received.  Those were times that I experienced good news.  This is different.
     In God’s timing, my devotion for our “Six Weeks to the Daybreak” Lenten prayer booklets was the devotion for this past Sunday.  The title was “He Touched Me” from the old Gaither song by that name.
     I shared in the devotion how God has touched my life in the past year.  I recalled the words of a blog that I had written just after I decided not to have the Stem Cell Transplant (SCT) in September.  In that blog I said, “Have I been healed?  I have no clue.  What I do know is that I have been healed enough that I am coming home.”
     I have asked the same question multiple times in the last week.  Not to anyone else.  Not even to God.  What I do know is this: I have been healed enough for two consecutive MRD-negatives.  God has answered the prayers of His people, especially His children.  I have expressed my gratitude to Him and now I do to you.   Thanks for praying.  I believe that your prayers have made the difference.
     I asked the doctor’s assistant how often that she has seen these results in a patient.  She just smiled and said, “You are the first one whom I have seen who chose not to have the SCT.”   Two MRD-negatives wasn’t in her radar.
     The Benadryl took affect and I had a short nap.  It wasn’t long before it was time for the treatment.
     After leaving the hospital I was hungry because I’d had no breakfast, other than some graham crackers and peanut butter that my volunteer friend, Joe, brought.  He gave me the widest smile when I told him the good news.
     I decided to stop at Gatti’s, the first time I had done that alone in quite some time.  I pulled in the parking lot and thought, “Good choice.”  Very few cars in the parking lot.
     “Few cars” doesn’t always equal few people.  I missed the school buses parked in the lower lot.  Fifth graders were everywhere.  I should have prayed for their teachers.  The fountain drinks nearest to the food had the following taped to all but two drinks, “out due to manufacturer shortage.”  The only two drinks available?  Ale-8-1.  I couldn’t help but chuckle. 
     I sat down to eat some salad and opened the computer to finish this.  It was open maybe 15 seconds before all I saw was a blank screen.
     I headed home and had no sooner let out Oreo than Dr. Leung called.  He confirmed the good news and the backing off of the chemotherapy.  I could tell that it was one phone call that he didn’t mind making.
     In our initial consultation with Dr. Leung last spring, I asked him if there would ever come a time when the regimen of chemotherapy would be reduced.  He said that it would be very unlikely even after the SCT.
     I asked him this afternoon how often he sees this kind of thing happen.  He said in about 40% of the patients who have the SCT.    Obviously that percentage is considerably lower in multiple myeloma patients who either do not qualify for a SCT or choose, as I did, not to have it.
     Dr. Leung told us last week that the data shows that two MRD-negative results indicate that a recurrence is unlikely in the next 4-5 years.  He never used the word remission when discussing where I am with this cancer.  I take recurrence to mean that at least that the Multiple Myeloma is at bay.  He did share with us that it is highly likely that there will be a time when I will be MRD-positive.  He said that it could be years before that may happen.
     What I also know is that today is the only day that any of us has.  If the MM is at bay for 4-5 years and I have only 12 treatments a year to help maintain its submission, what more could I have anticipated?  As we have done through this, I will take each day as it comes.
     I have been tempted today when people have asked me, “How are you today?” to respond with “better than I deserve.”  Most people would think that I am just responding like Dave Ramsey.
     The truth is that I am better than I deserve, far more than financially.  Who ever deserves God’s blessings?  It is by His grace and His grace alone.
     Lord, that you for the magnificent news.  Thank you for so many encouragers who have been and still are walking with us through this.  I am at Your disposal to use as You see fit. I have tried to be since Your calling on my life.
 
     I am sorry for the book.  I had a lot on my mind and heart.  A couple of things. 
 
1.) The nursing staff at Baptist wasn’t any better than the staff at Mayo in inserting an IV.  I think it has more to do with how many times I have been stuck than the proficiency of the staff.   Then again, when they finally called in the “expert,” she found a vein on the first stick with very little pain.  Maybe that ought to be her main responsibility!
 
2.) I realized today just how well trained I am as a husband when I lowered the lid in the male/female bathroom.