Chemo 4
3/11/2022 - 3/31/2022
ROUND 4 / 2nd CONSOLIDATION: Here we go again. Just when Ian starts feeling better, it’s time to knock him down. To ensure Leukemia doesn’t return before transplant, he must stay on a merry-go-round of chemo. It’s easier to keep a guy in remission than to get him back in remission upon relapse (and he must be in remission to be eligible for transplant). For better or worse, it took 50 days for Ian’s blood counts to come back up to normal after starting the 1st consolidation - double the time of previous rounds. After a quick trip back to Duke, we enjoyed a taste of normalcy for two weeks (mind you, normalcy still includes regular labs and transfusions). Ian was able able to help the kids with virtual school and we even started family walks (although one lap around the blocks takes a good hour by the time we chat with all the neighbors :)
When Ian’s counts finally recovered, back into the hospital he went - Roku, Keurig and all! For this round of chemo, our doctors (in agreement with Duke and MDA) opted to stick with the same strong potion. But given Ian’s history of fevers, we had concern that this could be the straw that breaks the camels back. So, they omitted one drug that is particularly hard on the heart (Ida) and ordered FLAG+Ven. His hospital stay was an uneventful four days, then he went back home to rest up. The next week was spring break for the kids, but unlike most others around here, Disney World was not in our plans. Anticipating a u-turn to the hospital, Ian stayed home and I took the kids up the hill to Asheville for a visit with my mom. Like a spouse of an expectant mother, I anticipated a call at any minute. But the call never came; Ian remained stable at home the entire week (and fully entertained by March Madness)! Meanwhile, the boys and I got a much needed distraction and enjoyed the mountain views, the farm chores and the daily arts & crafts (Ukrainian eggs!).
As soon we got home, Ian’s blood counts had recovered - in only 2 weeks! We were very surprised and suddenly anxious for transplant. If a donor was not confirmed soon, he’d have to endure yet another round of chemo. Thankfully, Duke informed us that the international registry showed multiple potential matches and several had been contacted for blood samples. There are benefits to being an “average white male.” One is that white men have the largest representation on the donor registry, so the likelihood of finding a match is high. We anxiously awaited word, with fingers crossed!