REMISSION!!!!!!!

Dr. Lloyd Damon (above) had GREAT news today, reporting that the Primary Amyloidosis in Irene’s bloodstream is in remission!!  Yay ….!!!!  And you can see Irene’s very stoic about it …. Hah..!!!

Here’s the rest of the story ….

With the amyloid in remission we can now entertain a conversation about the potential of a kidney transplant.  Because dialysis treatment is still necessary at this time, the vein mapping was completed today and the various options related to that conversation will continue in the near future with Dr. Kumar, Irene’s nephrologist.  UCSF will also be intimately involved in this conversation.

Irene’s chronic nausea is related to the dialysis treatment (renal failure) and the other medications she continues to take …. i.e. blood pressure medication, etc, (9 in all), which ALL report that nausea is a side effect.

Irene will return to UCSF for another outpatient consultation with Dr. Damon on June 26, 2008.

We fortuitously ran into Dr. Russ Cucina on the sidewalk in front of UCSF today!!  Dr. Russ Cucina was one of our most ardent encouragers early on in the process.  Dr. Cucina was one of the attending physicians overseeing much of the process during the most treacherous days.  His many expressions of personal concern for Irene and his deliberate, strategic decisions helped lead the UCSF medical team through some very rough and challenging days ….

We also visited with Nurse’s Cathy Newman & Joe Mcgee of the UCSF Rapid Response Team.  Joe attended Irene when she was in ICU during some very arduous days and nights ….

We ran into 11 Long UCSF Nurse Melissa Rex who also attended Irene during the stem cell transplant hospitalization.

Here’s the rest of the story …. Today, when Irene and I were first entering 11 Long (Oncology Ward) where she was treated for the stem cell transplant, this was the first time that Irene had been back.  As she exited the elevator and began walking down the corridor, she literally lost her breath, emotions gripping her, and she physically retreated momentarily, weakened by the flood of stirring memories.

We greeted the amazing and committed team at the UCSF Blood Center who met Irene for the first time today!!  Lots of hugs!!  This team is quite familiar with Irene after her 45 blood transfusions and the flood of donors on her behalf.  They are giving away as many copies of Irene’s Journey of Faith as they can!!!

J. Scott Bush, of the Vascular Surgical team, performing vein mapping of Irene’s arm.  Scott reported that there is only vein capacity in Irene’s right arm.  Her left arm veins were so overused during the 3 month hospitalization that they are not a candidate for the fistula.

What a day at UCSF …. as we have said before, we could be the poster child for UCSF …. and we’re certainly their goodwill ambassadors!!  It is an amazing place.  We are grateful that the committed UCSF team gives their lives to save lives.

We also pause, giving thanks and all the glory to Almighty God.

Caminando con Fé

Dave