11/30/2006 on to round 4!!!!!!

I start round 4 at 11:30 pm. All is quiet on the western front.

Jimmy B.

11/30/2006 It looks like we are on for round 3!!!

So far, so good. The side effects are quite subdued so far.Round three is slated for 3:30 pm. Not much to talk about. What is going on with Kodak? I heard that GMTO is being broken up. Is that true?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Jimmy B

11/30/2006 Got the second dose!!!!!

I got the second dose and i am waiting to see what side effects I will get. Right now I am flushed and have a rash on my arms and legs.The swelling is just starting to make a difference.

That is it for now

Jimmy B.

11/30/2006 First dose went quite well.!!!!!

I received the first dose at 11:25 pm last night. I prepared myself by drinking a ton of water and kept my feet raised when I am not sitting around. I also Lubridermedmy feet and ankles to make my skin more elastic.
The next dose is at 7:30 am and I believe it is a go.
I will try to keep you informed as I go.

Love

Jimmy B.

11/29/2006 I am ready for another round of Interlukin –2!!!!!!!!!!!

We left Rochester about 4:00 am and arrived in Pittsburgh at about 9:00am. I thought my appointment was at 9:00 am but it wasn’t until 10:30 am. So Kay, my mother-in-law and I decided to have breakfast at Ritter’s Diner. We both ordered eggs and bacon with a side of home fries and whole wheat toast.

After breakfast we checked in at the Hillman Center and had my blood drawn at that time. We were then escorted into the holding pen for patients until Pam was available. She is one of the physician assistants that are following my case. She gave me the once over and asked me if I had any questions at this time. I asked her jokingly if she had found a replacement for me, for this second round. She said no and proceeded to give me my marching papers for Shadyside Hospital. You know the ones that they forgot to give me the first time through.
She said I have an appointment at the Diagnostic Imaging –Registration at 12:30 pm to have a Picc put in.

So we headed to the waiting room in hopes that they would take me early and put the picc in. Well that wasn’t the case. We sat there for an hour and a half until I was called.It gave me a chance to cat nap while Kay did here crossword puzzles.

When they finally took me in, my electronic medical record was not entered and they could not start the procedure. It seemed to be Deja Vu all over again. I needed to go to Registration and Testing before going to the Diagnostic Imaging –Registration. Pam sent me to the wrong place first. Now, I think I am getting the hang of this Registration. After the Picc was put in my arm I had to go back to Registration and Testing to get my room assignment (Main section, room 724). It was now about 2:00 pm so Kay and I stopped in the cafeteria to get a bite to eat before we went up to the room.

So I missed the 3:30 start (I am Very upset –NOTTTTT) so I am starting my treatment at 11:00 pm. Freedom From Miss Daisy ( My IV pole) for a couple more hours.

That is it for now.

Take Care,

Jimmy B.

11/28/2006 It’s back down to Pittsburgh for round two of the Interlukin-2

Thanks to my Mother in Law (Kay), she will be escorting me this time to the Hillman Cancer Center. I could not find anyone to take my place, so it looks like I will have to play the Pop and Dough Boy. I will be there for 5 to 6 days. I will try to stay in contact during my treatment.

Take care,

Jimmy B.

11/22/2006 Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

When we count our many blessings; It isn't hard to see that life's most valued treasures are the treasures that are free.

For it isn't what we own or buy that signifies our wealth.

It's the special gifts that have no price: our family, friends and health.

I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you just how much your friendship and love means to me.

Many of us have lost dear friends and loved ones this past year and our country as a whole has suffered great losses also.In times like this, it gives us a chance to stop and reflect and think about what is really important to us in this life;
Just how precious and fragile it is, and to not waste what time we are given with the special people in our lives.

For myself, it is the gift of family and friends that are the riches in my life.

Those precious times that we hold dear to our heart and memories and special moments that can never be replaced, neither by time nor all the wealth in the world.

Whether you have planned a grand feast surrounded by friends and family, an intimate candlelight dinner for two, or a simple frozen dinner or takeout, it is not really the edible food, but rather who we share them with that counts most of all, and to me, this is the true value and meaning of Thanksgiving.
I will be thinking of each and every one of you during this season of Thanksgiving, and even though we may be separated by miles, you will be close to me in my heart.

I give thanks for you all, friends and close loved ones.You have touched my life in many ways and I am a very wealthy individual for this.

For those that have passed on to be with the Lord, I know there will be a special place for you in the hearts and minds of many of us as we observe Thanksgiving this year.

Love

Jimmy B.

11/17/2006 The trip was quite non-eventful

This time around, the trip was quite non-eventful. My appointment was at 3:00pm but didn’t see Dr. Kirkwood until 5:00 pm. He said this round I would have a cardiologist on board for the therapy. He also gave me a prescription for Lasix. This will help me shed the water weight gain from the last round.
I ended up staying at the Family House on Neville Street. It is about 8-10 blocks from the Hillman Cancer Center. There is a UPMC Blue Shuttle that takes you to all the other Shady houses and hospitals. (13 stops in all).

The weather could have been better. It was quite rainy so I dinner at the local Boston Market near the Hillman and then caught the shuttle back to my room at the Neville family House.

Traveling home back to Rochester was quite rainy. So, I had a leisurely breakfast at Ritter's Diner and was on the road about 9:30 am. I pulled into my driveway about 2:00pm

That is it for now. I go back to face the second round on November 29th. I just can't wait to do it all over again. Does anyone care to take my place? Hey!! the hospital food wasn't that bad.

Take care for now.

Jimmy B.

11/15/06 On the Road Again!!!!!!!!!

11/15/06 On the Road Again!!!!!!!!!

Going back to Pittsburgh for a checkup and blood work. I am making the trip a sleep over. Fatigue from the Chemo has set in, so I will stay at Shady House.
Also my appointment is at 3:00 pm so there is no rush to get there.
My life is just about back to normal except for the head aches and swollen ankles. I am down to 222.1 lbs. and need to get to 214.
I may make a stop to see Margaret and Caroline at the Shantley Gardens. Won't they be surpise to see me.

That is it for now.

Take care

Jimmy B.

11/9/2006 I’m Still Alive!!!!!!!!!!! (IL-2 Therapy)

Sorry for being off line for so long. This therapy really knocked the socks off of me. To try to put it in perspective, I was battling the side effects from Saturday November 4th to Monday evening November 6th. It was quite ugly. I gained 30 lbs. of water weight and my kidneys were barely functioning. They gave me a dieretic to help shed some of the water but waited until Monday to do so. To this day I don’t know why they waited so long. I guess they were hoping that my kidneys would kick into gear.

I looked so fat, that I could have passed for being pregnant. I looked like Tim Allen when he gained weight to become Santa Claus. The only problem was, it was quite painful. My ankles were as wide as my thighs. My toes were smashed together and I formed water blisters on the instep of my left ankle. My belly was so bloated that it felt like someone was sitting on your chest and would not get off. I use to get that feeling when I would fight with my brother Chuck. He would pin me down and sit on my chest until I said "uncle". He would get me so angry.

Another side effect was a chronic head ache. You know the kind that won’t subside even while taking acetaminophen. They gave me morphine for the head ache and that did not take the edge off it.

Anyway, I hope this paints a vivid picture in your mind. And guess what!!!

I get to do this all over again in 21 days. Fun, Fun, Fun!!!!!!!!

So they released me at about 6:00 pm with two portable urinals in hand to deal with bathroom situation on the way home. Guess what, not even 500 feet from the hospital entrance, I had to go. There was no stopping me.

This went on for hours until we got back to Rochester at about 11:30 pm. Boy, it was nice to sleep in a comfortable bed and not being wakened every 2 hours. In the hospital, I felt like I was going through a Marriage Encounter Weekend. It was one of things Dee and went through to get married in the church. It was weekend from hell!!!!!!!! I think they did it just to try to split up couples before they tie the knot. See if you are fully committed to the marriage.

So the next 3 days we monitored my weight and vital signs.Monday at the height of my porky-ness, I weighed 242 lbs. The next day my weight had dropped to 230lbs. Today, I weigh 226.7 lbs and my ankle are about 4 inches in diameter. I need to loose another 15 lbs, to get to my pre-therapy weight. And the Doctors said that everything would be back to normal in two days. To that I say, Lets switch places with no bed pans.

My head aches are slowly starting to subside and based on my calculation, it will take another 5 days to reach some normalcy.

That is it for Now
Jimmy B.
P.S. Thanks for all your support

I made it through the 7:00 am dosage. (IL-2 Therapy)

I made it through the 7:00 am dosage. It was an another bumpy ride trying to get all your dosages in. The ploating came back very suddenly and I lost my ability to breathe normally. It comes on so sudden. The Cardiologist took some EKGs and found them to be irregular.He was afraid if we continued, that it might damage my heart so they stopped the trial after 8 dosages were completed out of 14. So now I will let my body heal and prepare for the next IL-2 in 21 days. I was told that completing 8 was not so bad. That it was the average Number of doses of a person able withstand this trial.
I am looking forward of going home to my wife and Kids
Dee will be driving down Saturday and If I get my papers, we will go home that night.

Take care

Jimmy B.

I had a rough night of it!!!! (IL-2 Therapy)

I started to retain to much fluid. It was causing weight gain and my breathing started to get very heavey. So I skipped the 11:00 pm dose because I was not capable of handling it. So they gave me the night off and I tried to take full advantage of it. I had trouble sleeping, so I got about 3 hours of shut eye. The bloating began to subside so I think I will be back on tract for my dosage at 7:00am.

That is it for now.

Take care

Jimmy B.

I am slated for round 4 at 11:00pm

I had to get two doses of demerol to stop the chills. I am starting to get this down to a science.

What is really strange is that after the 3rd dose, they came into my room with Holy Communion. God works in strange ways. Like my day nurse's name is call Dee like my wife and my night nurse's name is Trina. That is my wife's best friend from the U of R.

Melissa, Stopped by to see how everything is going. She is so bubblely and has the best attitude I have ever seen.

Well I must go back to my room to prepare for the next round.

Take Care

Love you all!!!!!!

Jimmy B.

I made it through another round (# 3).

I should start having the side effects about two hours after they administer the IL-2. It takes about 15 minutes to get the IL-2. The side effects are chills and red rash.
Everybody is so nice here. I got my first wheelchair ride down to the have an echo done on my heart. They ultrasound it to look for any problems.Now I know how women feel like when they have their ultrasound.But, I don't think I could handle Child birth. I hate cramps!!!!!!!!!!
I want to thank each and everyone that are sharing my experiences. It is nothing like being on the frontline of the battle of your life.Your Support is greatly appreciated. Say hello to everyone at Eastman Kodak, Long Island, Texas, Florida,Georgia,Mass. and Colorado and to anyone I missed. I think about you guys every day.

Take care and I will be back on after my side effects subside.

Jimmy B.

Next round of Chemo

The next round of IL-2 is at 3:00 pm. I got the go ahead from the cardiologist. Round 3 with Mike Tyson. I hope he doesn't bite my ear off.

I will Keep you Posted.

Jimmy B.

11/2/06 A rough First dose of Interlukin-2.

I was amitted about 2:00 pm with a little trouble securing a room. We were sent to three different waiting rooms 2 different times. The problem, no papers.
Any way, I received my first dose at 4:30 pm and the tremmors started at about nine (9:00 pm). It felt like someone was sitting on my chest and would not get off. They said my EKG showed some diffeences from the baseline and said I might have had a mild Heart attack. I also looked like a lobster. Red hives all over. I hope to catch a picture so I can post it. It looks like I spent to much time in Mexico.
So, they skipped the next dosage that was planned at 11:00 pm so I got a half way decent sleep. They opted to start the next dose at 7:00 am this morning and as soon as the shakes began (About (9:00 am)the gave me demerol and the shakes subsided in about 15 minutes. I am able to get around so I stopped at the Computer room. to make my entries. I am in room 746 west wing just passed the President (Bush).They are taking great care of me and they don't hesitate to stop if things look out of place.

That Is it for now.

Take Care

Jimmy B.