What to Expect

This past Thursday, October 7, Dr. Taylor called with the news that FDA approval had been given! That was fast!! He met with other doctors in the department who work with T-cell therapy, and without expressing his bias, he explained Mark's situation to see what they would do. Each recommended starting as soon as possible. So, with their expert advice and our personal feelings, Mark will enter the hospital on Monday, October 18.

He will be at Providence Portland hospital, back to our beloved 7th floor. He has one week to gain weight and regain some strength. He is currently up about eight pounds! 

Kim, the nurse overseeing the procedure, called on Friday to review what we need to know with this treatment. (Most of this we already knew and shared in the last post. It's what happens after discharge that was surprising.)

• The first week Mark will receive chemotherapy to basically destroy his immune system! 
• The following Monday, October 25, the cloned warriors will be introduced into his body.
• IL-2 will be administered to help boost his immune system to produce more cancer-fighting cells. 
• Currently, his discharge is scheduled for November 3. but that will depend on how he is doing.
• For the following three weeks, he will need to go to the cancer clinic every day (including weekends) for about three weeks to get a shot and see if he needs blood transfusions and/or platelets. She assured us that some would be required. If so, he'll be at the clinic for 4-6 hours that day. 

The biggest concern will be infection! His immune system will be its weakest when he is discharged, so we must be extra vigilant that he is not in contact with anything that might compromise his weakened state. Already, we are taking extra precautions to isolate ourselves so as not to catch a cold, flu, Covid, or anything else. If he got sick this week, he might not be able to proceed with the treatment, and the cells would be refrozen, which would cause some loss. Of course, he could also get sick from the normal bacteria in and on his own body. Actually, today he has been chilled and is running a low-grade fever. It could be an infection, but we're hoping it's from the cancer meds. (Prayers, please!)

Currently, Providence Main is allowing one visitor, but that depends on the Covid caseload. I was only allowed into the ER at St. Vincent because of their Covid numbers.  Kim is hopeful that I can stay with Mark as it is helpful for both him and the nurses. I certainly want to be with him! 

We may be more sensitive to potential infection than others might be. Our son, Tyler's best friend in high school, an All-American football player who would soon be graduating, got a sore on his leg that wouldn't go away. He was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, but he was young and strong, so his treatment was aggressive. The tumor was irradicated, but an infection took his life.

While we would love to be close to our family and friends, please understand why we are hesitant and cautious. We certainly don't want to offend anyone and we will definitely miss the hugs! However, this is just for a time, and we hope that Mark will be feeling fantastic by the festive Christmas season! 

Today we have had tender feelings as Mark was released from the Lake Oswego Stake Presidency in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has served for 12 1/2 years, and it has been a sweet experience. He has loved the people he served with and those he served. What a joy it is to serve others.

Thank you for your faith and prayers, it appears again, that this will be a crunch time. Mark will need all the help he can get, to make it through and destroy the cancer.