Some of you will receive this twice (those of you on Peter's email list). He has graciously saved me the time and energy from writing up the "nuts and bolts" of where things stand as of today, January 29. So I'll copy his clear description here, and end with how I've been in the midst of such a mind-bending experience. Yes, the Good Lord has had to bring to the fore His/Her/Its greatest, most skillful tools to keep me off center in order to "find my true Center"!
hello all---Heidi was admitted into the hospital at City of Hope up in Duarte last night(Tues) in preparation for a clinical trial testing a new drug in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia--Blinatumomab--which has had some real success in trials in Europe the past few years.
We learned today that in this randomized trial she fortunately has been selected to receive the new drug which is an antibody( as opposed to the other drugs used in the trial which are fairly standard chemotherapeutic agents). She'll start the medication tomorrow and will be in hospital about 2 weeks and then will move into housing on the grounds where she'll continue receiving the treatment for another 2 weeks or so. Then there's a 2 week break at which time she'll come home and then returns to City of Hope to repeat the entire cycle.
Our hope is that this treatment will put her into a full remission again --this would be completed about May 1-- and then she would receive the bone marrow transplant, also at City of Hope.
She tells me that the hospital has "great food" ( hard to believe of any hospital but I shall give it a try!), lots of supportive services like art therapy,etc, and a nice big screen tv with lots of fun channels. Thankfully this all makes life a little easier during the lengthy stay.
I was unable, and still am unable, to be up there with her due to having the flu that I'm sure many of you have had the 'pleasure' of dealing with this winter. I expect to be up to be with Heidi this weekend however to cheer her on.
And we thank all of you once again for all your love and support!!
warmly,
Peter
When the door closes
And light shadows fall into darkness
Where tender feelings
Are hurt by a moment in Time and Circumstance
We can allow the experience of letting go
Into thin air
Without lonely despair
Into the heart
Where the seed of love makes its start
Into the sea
Where the salt of our bodies runs free
Into the soul
Where the truth is known
This is my prayer, so sweet to feel
The all embracing freedom
of its fruition into Life
Love to all,
Heidi
P.S. They have me on 16 mg of decadron -- a super powerful steroid. Pray that my body can "let go" into sleep tonight! :)
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