Cleared and Ready for Action

Dr. Burt, Mike and Kristin
Well I just had my last meeting with my doctor, Dr Burt and he cleared me and said that we are now ready to start.  So on Monday I get admitted overnight and get my first dose of Chemotheraphy.  Then on Tuesday I’m discharged and I meet with Kristin on Wednesday.  She is going to show me how to give myself a needle.  I think I’m going to let Alice do it only because of my poor dexterity.  Starting Saturday, Feb 9th I start giving myself injections of Neupogen.  This I do for 6 days to stir up the Stem Cells.  Then on Valentine’s Day, February 14th I go to the hospital where I am hooked up to a machine and they take out my Stem Cells.  This takes about 6 hrs.

Mike’s Procedure Timeline

Hi Everyone,Well I’m here in Chicago trying to get over a sinus infection.  I’m on meds and should be fine by Wednesday.  I had my last test today and have been on the phone all afternoon with my nurses.  Here is my new schedule:

• Feb. 4th – 9:00 AM- Get admitted overnight for my first dose of Chemotheraphy
• Feb. 9th-14th – Get injections of Nupagen (This will stir up and produce Blood Cells and Stem Cells).  By the 14th, I should have enough stem cells being released into my blood.  At this time, I will get a line placed into my jugular vein in my neck and blood will be taken from my body and put into a machine which will sort out the stem cells and store them in a bag.  When enough of these cells are removed (this depends on my body mass and size), then I will stop.  Usually you are hooked up to this machine for 4-6 hours each day.  If there isn’t enough, then I will have to come back the next day and continue the process.  These stem cells will be cleaned and frozen until needed.  This is called Harvesting.
• March 6th-10th – I will be admitted for 6 straight days of heavy Chemotheraphy.  This is done to totally wipe out my immune system.  During this time, I will be very weak and vulnerable to disease or infection.
• March 11th – I will still be admitted but on the 10th, I will get my stem cells put back into my body.  For the next 10 days, these cells will grow and multiply.  This is known as engrafting.  When they feel that I have enough cells in my body, they discharge me and I return to the hotel for a few more weeks.  This should be around March 20th.
• March 21th – April 4th – I will be an out-patient living at the hotel but going to the hospital on a daily basis to be checked.  This April 4th date could be shortened or it could be extended depending on how my body reacts.

That’s it.  I will then return home where I will have to recuperate and get stronger as each day passes.  So now you know what I know and you all know whose hands I will be in. Thank you all for making this possible and I hope to see all of you soon. 
Love ya all,Mike

Spaghetti Dinner and Beyond

A great big thank you to the Perth Amboy community for coming out to our Spaghetti Dinner on Friday evening! It was a great showing of support for Mike and the project. The final count was approximately $4100.00. A special thanks to the kitchen folks who were the heart of the operation, but especially to all of you who filled the room. The project has definitely gathered some new momentum for sure, so thank you.Please visit our photopage to see pictures from Friday.Next up – the Spring Fling Dance and Silent Auction! Date: Saturday, Math 10th (new date!), at the Forge Inn in Woodbridge. Flyers will be mailed out via email and snail mail….so watch for them. We are encouraging reunion committees, retirees, school groups, churches, and all who can to purchase a table and make the evening special.No Volunteer Meeting This Week.

Mike in Second City

For the next few months, the blog will serve a couple of purposes.  One is to continually organize volunteer efforts and provide information about upcoming fundraising events.  A second, and very important purpose of these pages will be to stay in touch with Mike and keep his spirits high.   He is set up in a very nice hotel suite with high speed wireless, so he’s going to be in touch as long as he can.  He’ll be sending along pictures from Chicago, and we’ll post pictures of the events here on the photo page.Here’s a message he sent along for posting today (please feel free to comment): 
January 19, 2008

Hi There,

I’m sitting in the plane about a ½ hour from Chicago listening to my I-Pod and typing this on the laptop. 

We are now starting our decent and the pilot just came on and said that the weather in Chicago has warmed up from -5 degrees it is now 0 degrees.  I may have to just take my scarf off.  This I’m sure is my least of worries.

I’m kind of excited because I waited so long for this to happen.  At the same time I’m a little nervous even though I know what to expect, I really don’t know how my body will react to the treatment.  I guess I will just have to wait and see what happens.  That is the part that gets me nervous.

We arrived at the hotel at 2:00 and could not go up until 3:00 so we went out and picked up a few things to snack on and for breakfast.  We finally got back and went up to the room.  WOW it is some room.  We must have about 1000 sq. feet of living space.  There is a kitchen, dining room, living room, study, powder room, a bedroom with 2 queen beds, 3 closets, a full bath, TVs in the BR and LR and wireless high speed internet.  It is nice because we are not tripping over each other.

Well I copied all of my addresses into the computer and now it is 6:30 and we are going to go to dinner.  Take care and I will keep in touch.

Always,

Mike

Subject: You Are Loved!

Subject: You Are Loved!
Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 21:39:49 – 0500

Hey Mr. George:

Its only been 36 years since we’ve last seen each other. I know I look exactly (well not exactly) like I did in my Junior Year Bio (1970) and I’m sure you do too. I am praying not only for your health, but almost as importantly, I’m praying for your patience and perseverance over the next three months or so that you’ll be away. Within the context of your overall life, three months is really not a long time. It’s simply another chapter in the story of your life. You can and will get through it.

Use the time for reflection, prayer and healing. use the time to feel the joy from those who love you. Use the time to feel sad (short bursts only please!) when you need to feel sad. Use the time to reflect on the impact of your life on those you will meet in this new chapter. And finally, use this time to let God deep into your heart. Feel his warmth and love and know that every minute of every day, you are never alonge as he is with you and loves you unconditionally. I am looking forward to seeing you upon your return and feel so blessed to be counted as one of your students and friends.

All the best, John Rivers

The DANCE

The volunteers are planning for the dinner dance on May 10th (note – new date). First steps – we need committees to be formed. Please contact Elia Figueroa eliaruiz@paps.net, dance chairperson, if you would be interested in serving on a committee. This is our biggest event to date – we want to make it special and profitable! We are trying to keep the momentum going strong.
COMMITTEES:

• Tickets
• Decorations
• Seating
• Publicity
• Silent Auction
• Music

It’s a Date! Here’s some news from Mike.

I just got off the phone with Chicago and I will be leaving to go out there definitely on January 19th, 2008.  I will be staying at the Seneca Hotel which has special rooms just for transplant patients.  It also has a connection for high speed cable so this should make you a happy camper….Kay.  

The room that I am staying in is especially for transplant patients who will be out there long term.  It has a kitchen, LR, DR, 2 baths, and a BR.  I will have daily maid service because they want to keep that room as clean as possible.I’m really excited now and it is all because of all of you.  Thank you for making my dream come true.Always,Mike

Project Update

The focus for the next volunteer meeting (Tuesday Jan. 8 3:30 PM Holy Trinity)will be the upcoming Spaghetti Dinner on Jan 25th at Holy Trinity and the dinner dance April 12th.The spaghetti dinner crew is still in need of the following:beer, wine, water, ice tea, and DESSERTS!  A special thank you goes out to our cafeteria staffs who are kindly donating their time to prep the food! Please respond here or send an email to Rayna (raynmartucci@msn.com) if you want to donate any of the needed items. Spaghetti Dinner will be held from 4 – 7 PM

• $7.00 adults
• $3.50 kids under 8