Going forward

For those of you who still turn to the blog to see Seth’s smile and hear his words, I thought you might like to know how the family is doing.
Alan and Sheera have relocated and are beginning to find a sense of peace and stability in their lives that they so deserve. I too have [...]

Symphony for One

It has been a while since I have posted anything to the blog. At first I thought it was pointless but I realized that I needed to thank all of you for your love, support, compassion, friendship and tell you how much it has meant to me. These days are difficult and bittersweet. [...]

Thank you

Alan, Sheera and I want to thank you for all the wonderful, caring messages we have received. The family has been asked if there are any special places that we could suggest for donations in Seth’s memory. We offer the following suggestions:
Rhoads 7 Patient Comfort Fund, [...]

The Blog We did not Want to Write

This morning, Seth lost his battle with leukemia.  He died peacefully with no pain or discomfort.
The funeral will be on Monday December 24, 2007
Location:                      Plaza Community Chapel
                                      630 Amsterdam Ave (at West 91 Street)
Time:                           10 AM.
Phone:                          212 769 4400
 
We want to thank all of you for your constant, love caring and support throughout these past [...]

UPDATE +86

On Thursday, Seth had a bone marrow biopsy done, in order for the doctors to see the progress that has occurred since the transplant.  Yesterday we received the results.  The news was a huge disappointment to us.  Rather devastating to be more exact.  Even with all the knowledge, skill and expertise that the medical staff [...]

Day + 79

I can hardly believe that an entire week has past since I last got to the blog.  By the time, I got home, I was just too tired to sit down and write. It has been yet another challenging week, filled with a variety of “events” for Seth.  The new chemo protocol that he is [...]

Day + 72

It is really Sunday (73) but I have not yet gone to the hospital.  Here is the latest update on Seth.  The doctors have tried a new combination of drugs to try to get the GVHD under control.  It will take several days to see if this works.  They use the words drugs and medication [...]

Day + 65

Here we are…at day 65 post transplant.  Still struggling to get the he…. out of the hospital.  Remember how naive we were, thinking oh yes, we will be home in 30 days.  That is the perfect world.  We are not there.  It must be on a planet in another solar system.  If I sound frustrated, [...]

Day + 58

This has been quite a week It started off with some of Seth’s numbers going totally out of control and gave us quite a scare, requiring some tests to find out what was going on.   The good news is that these things have seemed to have been resolved and Seth is back on track. [...]

Day + 48

Seth has asked me to give an update. This past week was one with lots of steps forward and back and forward and back and finally forward. This has been so trying and difficult for us. It was almost as if each day had another surprise. He developed an infection in [...]

Day + 42

Just to let you know that Seth made it out of bed, did a walk down the hall and back.  It was a huge effort but he did it.  He is now on the BRAT diet. (no nasty comments, please)  This is Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast.  If his body continues to respond positively, he will [...]

Day + 39

It feels so good to be able to write this entry with a positive feeling of encouragement.  Seth was able to get out of bed and walk down the hall today with a bit of assistance from physical therapy.  It was exhausting both physically and emotionally but his determination to get out of the hospital [...]

Day + 37

Sorry for not writing sooner.  This past week has been quite frustrating for Seth.  The doctors have been revising his meds and finally we think that they have come up with the correct formula to combat the GVHD that is so pervasive.  That being said, now here comes the “punch in the gut” for the [...]

Day + 31

Seth is finding the post transplant time so very difficult. Just as we think that we are moving forward, along comes yet another complication. GVHD has many manifestations and each one needs to be treated individually while still working with a suppressed immune system. The doctors are constantly evaluating Seth’s medications and [...]

Day + 26

Yesterday was a big day for Seth.  He asked me to hold off writing on the blog last night, hoping that he would have enough energy to get to write himself.  The thought and desire to blog was a huge step.  It will happen soon.
Seth is still fighting the GVHD disease which is being most [...]

Day + 22

We got the results from the procedure that was done on Thursday. The good news is that the infections that Seth is fighting are part of the process of the new cells taking hold in his body.  Nothing that was not anticipated.  They are changing some of the meds to address this and hopefully he [...]

Day +21

The doctors are still trying to figure out the best way to stop some of the infections that Seth is dealing with.  Today they did a procedure to help get some more answers. It was quite exhausting.  Hopefully this should provide the information needed.  Seth had just one comment regarding all of this, “They really [...]

Day +20

In some ways it is difficult to realize that already 20 days have past since the transplant and yet each individual day seems to be so  long.  Seth’s numbers are continuing to recover and some of the infections are getting better but he is still  fighting others.   The one thing that we just could not [...]

Day +15

Just an update for you.  Some of Seth’s numbers are just beginning to recover.  This is a huge step but one of many, many more to go.  He is still fighting some very stubborn infections.  The antibiotics need more time to work since Seth’s immune system is being suppressed. This is necessary so that the [...]

Day +10

No matter what we were told at the detailed pre-transplant meeting and from Seth’s doctors and nurses, and all that we read, until one actually goes through the post transplant process no one can really comprehend it.
Seth has had the spiked fevers (to be expected), extreme fatigue (to be expected) lack of concentration(to be expected) [...]