Pre Race Update

I had Avastin treatment #2 Thursday. All went well. The latest schedule is MRI12/13, back to Duke for a doctor's appointment 12/16. New round of vaccines start first of the year. I am anxious to start the vaccinations again, but I am also glad to have the short break from the monthly trips to Raleigh.

Marti has also gotten a well deserved break. She returned from a week in Florida yesterday

I have decided, with some gentle encouragement from a couple of close friends, to participate in the half marathon Sunday. I say participate because I am afraid it would be a misnomer to say I am going to run.

I am also adhering to no shave November. I had a co-worker stop me earlier this week to ask me if I was tired. She later clarified that she realized I had not shaved and thought maybe I had overslept. Let me just add I have not shaved since Monday and today is Friday and I can count on one hand the number of people who have noticed.

As always thank you so much for caring. Your prayers and well wishes help more than you can possibly know.

This Stuff Only HappensTo Me

OK, so today was my first IV of Avastin.  So far I have tolerated it well (of course it has only been about 3 hours since I finished).  They did give me a  prescription for an anti-nausea medicine but so far I feel fine. 

This is where it gets interesting. 

For those of you who do not me well, however if you have been reading this blog for 2 years you actually know everything there is to know. At any rate I have a fairly weak stomach on a good day. I have been known to change a dirty diaper by positioning the child in front of me and a large fan behind me, so the odor would be blown away from me. So with that background I can tell you about my ride home from work tonight. 

I am sitting at a stoplight with a mini van in front of me and I notice the passenger side door open and an elderly lady (about Marti's age) got out and the sliding door was open and then I noticed someone had puked all over the street. 

Thanks again for caring and I promise the rest of these post will be readable at dinner time.

Sent from my iPad

My sister reminded me last night that I did not do a post for day 2 at Duke last week.  So here goes….

But first we have had a great weekend.  Sam was sworn as an attorney in Kentucky. And as part of the oath he had to swear he had never been part of a dual. John had to make the same promise when he was sworn in a few years ago.  I am glad they did not ask me because if you weren't dualing what were you two doing when you methodically tore up our furniture as you were growing up. I distinctly remember a time or two when "I am going to kill you" came just before " I am telling Mom".  Also we went to two weddings (I missed both ceremonies but made it to both receptions - It doesn’t get any better than that).

Now back to the matter at hand.  Yesterday I decided I am not going to be ready to run the half marathon in November, I am going to have to wait until March to run another one.  I am still doing some running; I got about 6 in yesterday, but not nearly enough to run 13 miles in 3 weeks.  The 2 month turnaround is just not enough time.  What an excuse.

This week I will start the Avastin IV on  Thursday which is a protein that should help in the fight against the cancer.  I don’t think there will be major side effects with this procedure. The first cycle will be 4 hours. 

I am still not sure when we return to Duke for the start of this vaccine cycle. 

I am sorry there is not much information in this post but again thanks for caring enough to check in, more information including Duke schedule, when we hear.        

FOLLOW UP TO MY POST A FEW MINUTES AGO

I went to the site I suggested you go to find out more about this study and there really is not much information about it, if you really want to know just let me know I have 13 pages of stuff, that really would only be pertinent if you are going through this, I really hope you NEVER need this information.

For those of you keeping score at home this was day 1 at Duke for post-surgery follow up and to try and get into a new trail (new for me) called RESTART.  It is specifically for recurrent tumors.   By the way the first trial I was in did EXACTLY what it was supposed to do, i.e. fight the protein that caused this SOB to begin with and the cells it did not kill, it changed their makeup, however still cancerous and nefarious.  So the new fight starts tomorrow.  Which means since the makeup of the cancerous cells have changed the original vaccine would no longer be effective.

If you are so inclined the pertinent information is at Duke Clinical Trials, search brain cancer and the study is Recurrent GBM Stem Cell Tumor Amplified RNA Immunotherapy Trial, or you can copy and paste this link in you browser.  And if you do this and actually read it, seriously consider getting a life.

If you do not read the stuff on the Duke site I will not be offended, the layman’s version is they are ampping up my white blood cells with a protein (Avastin) so my own immune system will be able to fight this disease.  

Tomorrow, or day 2 at Duke will consist of me going through a process called leukaphersis, or basically I am receiving a blood transfusion of my own blood. Huh?

Blood is drawn out of my left arm, much like when you give blood then run through a magic box, and the white blood cells are cultivated and the red blood cells returned to me in my right arm.  It is a 4 hour process.

For those of you that really want the details see the second paragraph of this epistle focusing primarily on the last sentence of that paragraph.

Why am I doing this blog entry and not either of the dynamic duo aka Sam/Sarah? Good question.

Their literary talents have clearly been exposed as wanting, not from a lack of trying at Danville High School or Hanover College but obviously something has dulled their senses. Sarah has an excuse now that she is THRITY, no such excuse for Samuel, although I suspect I know what is causing Sam to regress.

Again the treatments and message we are receiving here are very positive and everyone is very encouraging.

I have gained 2 pounds so it is time to kick the training into high gear.

As always thank you for taking the time and for caring enough to read this nonsense.

Gray day is back!

My cousin's wife, Shea, sent this fantastic picture of their three children. 

Let's be honest. You were tired of seeing people in all those brightly colored clothes.

In related news, my brother John has informed me that rumor has it that UK is wearing gray uniforms against Florida this week. The blog is getting some real influence.

Gray day at FNB to close us out!

Oh, what's that? You want MORE from Farmers Bank? Well, you're in luck!

The Stanford branch also looks good in gray.

In at the horn for Gray Day!

I am a big fan of my family.

My cousin Chris and her husband Bob.

My cousin Jennifer, her husband Ted, and their two cute pups.

And finally my cousin Gretchen's three boys Ben, Javy, and Alex.

Well done, everyone. Gray looks mighty good on you.

Thank you!

Thank you all so much for your pictures and continued support! We will never be able to thank you enough. It means the world to my Dad and entire family. Dad has the best doctors and nurses, an unwavering sense of determination, plus he is way too stubborn to be that sick, but I know for a fact that your love, supprt, and prayers have made a big impact on his road to recovery.

If you missed gray day, we'll forgive you. You are welcome to send pictures at anytime. As you've seen from some posts (cough, cough, Dad), we are always looking for fun pictures to incorporate. It doesn't just have to be of you rocking your gray. How about some training running pictures? We are still doing that, right?

Our final Gray Day submission comes from my cousin Larry with this comment of his: "Gray Day in Treasure Island, Florida." Sorry Larry, today the Bluegrass State had all the sunshine and happiness. (Too much, I know. I just couldn't help myself.)

Gray Day at FNB continues

The love from Farmers keeps coming!

Just in Danville? I don't think so. The Harrodsburg branch got in on the fun.

Gray Day! (I've lost count)

There is a Fifty Shades of Gray joke here somewhere. Thankfully, I am WAY too mature for that (and I just can't think of a good enough one)

So without further ado...

My Dad's sister, Roberta, her grandchildren (my cousin Kendrick's kids), and the cat. Sophia, the precious little girl, decided that they should make a poster, so they made it into an art lesson for the day!

My Dad's friend Cliff from high school, called this a "grayte" idea. (I'm a sucker for corny jokes.) Fun fact about Cliff, during the original 11/12 mini marathon, he ran every single step right by Dad's side.

Gray Day (Farmers Bank edition)

We should all be so lucky to have co-workers that are this amazing. Amy, who is sending me the pictures, called FNB a “Sea of Gray” today.

Gray Day! (Part two)

This is so much fun. We should all wear the same color more often.

Sporting my gray Farmers running shirt. Smiling and showing off her gray was only ok with Claire post-run at the playground.

Sam Lupfer, my Dad's childhood friend and idol from Kissimmee, FL.

My Dad's brother Bob and his wife Stephanie

Keep 'em coming!

Gray day! (Part one)

Welcome to Gray Day! I'm not sure why both of my brothers thought it was yesterday. As Sarabeth (John's wife) put it "Good thing reading for details isn't an important part of their jobs ...Oh wait." 

Let's get started!

Our fearless leader. Headed to work today!

John sent his outfit for the day, but forgot to include himself. Never fear. I'm here to help.

My Dad's good friends the Hagers

My cousin Chris' adorable girls. This picture came with the subject "early morning pic". I wish I looked this cute early in the morning.

Speaking of cute, here are my nephews going gray for Pops.

Stay tuned!

9.23.13 doctor's appointment

 Hello, we are back from my appointment with Dr. Baeker.  I got the sutures out and was released to drive and go back to work on Wednesday.

Tom said the neurological exam was "perfect". I believe we have decided on a new course of action. Duke has a relatively new study, called Re-start, for recurrent glios. You may or may not remember, when I first went down there they did a Leukapheresis cultivating my white blood cells only to be amped up with a protein called Avastin.

I will need to go to Duke 4 weeks in a row to get this started, however after that I believe it is back to once a month. The Avastin I can receive at Tom's office once every 2 weeks. It takes about an hour or less each treatment.  Sorry Sarah no pictures. 

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Happy Gray Day Everyone!

Hopefully this is the last Mirror Picture I ever take. 

Guess Who's Back?

Although I am sure everyone is waiting in anticipation for the picture I plan on posting in gray attire after my morning run tomorrow morning, I thought it might be nice to recap everything that has happened since the last time I was here....

UK was really good at basketball

Dad and I did a few more of these things

The nephews and niece just got cuter

I started dating this girl named Sarah (I know; another Sarah in the family)

And she was crazy enough to say yes...

So that's a portion of what's been happening on this crazy journey since the last time I posted here. The family and I are so thankful you all are along for the ride. 

Much Love,

Sam

Gray day!

This Tuesday, September 24th, marks two weeks since surgery.  At this time, we are hoping for Dad's sutures to be out, a tentative plan of action, final pathology report, and Dad preparing to return to work sometime soon.  I propose we have a Gray Day!  Wear your gray in support of brain cancer awareness and send some pictures of you and your gray to me (sarahpollom@gmail.com).  I am anti picturesless-blog posts (cough, cough, Dad) so I say it is high time we get some of you on here.  Wear your gray whether it be your work suit, running shorts, scarf (yay scarf season!), socks, headband, sweet "No one fights alone" bracelet, etc (Disclaimer: if your gray is your unmentionables, please keep those pictures to yourself.), snap a picture (group or the popular "selfie") and send them my way.  I'd make Gray Day tomorrow, but I think we all know that this blog receives the most traffic when you are bored at work (Just kidding Mr. Caudill...but really I'm not)

Hope everyone has a great week!  Go Gray!



My fashionable 17 month old is already having a tough time deciding what to wear.

Sunday 9.22

Went to church last night. Walked 2 miles with Marti this am. Very slowly jogged 1mile this afternoon. (Time 10:32 I could have worn a sun dial on my wrist instead of a watch). Still it felt GREAT!  My heart rate was 101 when I got home compared to a resting heart rate in the 40s last week at Duke. They had to reset the monitor at the nurses's station to keep the alarm from going off.

True Confessions

Some of you may find this hard to believe, but I can be a real jerk at times. I think I finally got on Marti's last nerve today. It is one thing to try and get better fast, but to not recognize I still have a ways to go is not fair. Patience has never been my long suit, however it is being tested now.  I am too close to being better to get stupid now. Clearly things will change.

Another week behind us

Winding down another week and another disappointing Cubs season. We had a good day today. 2 miles this morning and lunch with Marti's folks. And then we stopped by work and I got to say hello to some co-workers, including a truely amazing lady who is retiring next week after only 45 years of service.

About my co-workers, last week when I was in surgery they ALL started wearing grey wristbands (grey is the color of brain cancer, the wrist bands say "No One Fights Alone!") And while I was at Duke I received all kinds of fabulous pictures with people wearing these wrist bands. So I knew I had plenty of support at home.

Thanks again for everyone out there taking the time to read this stuff because you care. Big day Monday. Stay tuned.

Absolutely Feeling Better

How could I not?

Brain Surgery 2.0 -one week and one day later

Yesterday was fairly quiet, for me anyway. Marti is still running around everywhere. I assure you I am not pregnant but I woke up this morning craving Burke's doughnut holes. I am starting to feel better and better each day.  I am past ready to start running. That last sentence is sure to start an argument, which believe it or not is not my intention this morning. All I want is access to a dozen doughnut holes and maybe a couple of Persain Rolls. Is that asking too much?

From Claire

We're coming for ya, Pops. Looking forward to seeing you and Nana tomorrow.

My Mom is taking it as a compliment that your immediate thought after you announce that we will be coming to visit is how good cold beer sounds. 

Also, if Uncle Sam doesn't post something soon we are revoking his blogging privileges. 

Brain surgery 2.0 one week later -continued

Just got back from a tiring 2 mile walk.  Beautiful weather this morning.

Home

It is great to be home.  Now to let some of this medicine wear off and start feeling better.  I hope to get in a walk around the block today. Not very ambitious,I know,but it is a start. Marti, as always, did a great job this week. However, she also got a big assist from Sarah.  I slept really well last night. With all the steroids I am taking, look for me with 6 ropes tied to me right behind Woody  Woodpecker in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.  I go back to Duke in a month for a follow up.  I hope to get back to work in a week or so. I can't begin to tell you how much the support I have received from my co workers has meant to me.

As always thank you for caring. I hope we do not have to travel down this road again.

Another day in the books

A little over 12 hours ago, my Dad had brain surgery. Since then he has done the following: walked a complete circle around the ICU, discussed how this setback will affect his golf game, thrown mouth swabs at Mom to get her attention, and greeted both of us with a strained smile and fist pump once we saw him post-op.

                       Dad's ammo

What we don't know: final pathology reports and definite treatment plans moving forward. What we do know: surgery went very well (his doctor told us so), your prayers and well wishes have been very helpful, and my Dad is a rock star.

We ask that you please continue to keep Dad in your thoughts and prayers as we work to get him better and home.

xoxo

Go time

Mom and I arrived to the hospital a few minutes after 5 this morning. Dad was calm and ready to get this over with. Thank goodness for the first surgery of the day. He was wheeled down to the surgical floor around 6:30. We got to see him once more before he was taken back. We just received word that surgery is officially underway. Surgery may last 3-5 hours. How are we kept informed? These sweet beepers:

We have come so far with medical technology, yet still keep one foot firmly planted in 1993.

Day one in the books

We have our 'patient' tucked away at Duke Medical Center for the night. I use the word 'patient' hesitantly for a couple reasons. While we were waiting for admissions to find a bed for him (side story: a bed was conveniently found as soon as his lovely wife did some rapid fire questioning to the desk attendant), Dad became fearful that they would make him go in a wheelchair and proclaimed that if so, they would "have a little chat about that." Have no fear, Dad was able to walk to his room. In the words of Mom "no symptoms; no sympathy." We are compassionate people. I promise.

Sorry, after all this talk about Duke, this just makes me feel better.

I digress. We reach the elevators to take us to the neuro floor and are accompanied by a very nice lady. We soon came to find out that she is the nurse manger for this entire floor. (Good karma.) While personally showing us to our room, she turned around, took another look at our motley crew, and inquired who the patient was. I'm taking this as a compliment for Dad and not a shot at Mom and me.

Hospital bed wheels up for surgery at 7:30 tomorrow morning. I think it is safe to say they won't allow him to walk to the operating table.

Thank you again for all of your prayers and happy thoughts. Speaking of happy...

BS Run

Just finished a 2 mile BS (before surgery) with Sarah. Sarah thought it was bs also only because we we went a little quick at the end. Here is the proof:

Seriously?

Someone forgot to tell my Dad that he is being admitted to the hospital today for brain surgery tomorrow. The final thing he said to me last night was "Up at 6. Out the door at 6:15 for a run." 

Classic Dad.