Moving In (and One Important Correction)

To quote Rudyard Kipling, things are “proceeding according to precedent” here in Palo Alto. All three initial vaccine injections are done. No hair has appeared on my palms.
I moved into our new apartment across from the Hospital on Monday, after my last shot of vaccine. Jane arrived later that day. We bolstered the local economy (something which is totally unnecessary, to my eye) by buying all sorts of home and office supplies. The IT guy arrived on time. We went live on Tuesday Afternoon.
By Wednesday, no longer able to defer installation of my new and improved catheter, I spent the morning in outpatient surgery at the Stanford Cancer Center, where the nice surgeon did her work. (Any one desiring more information can Google “Central Venous Catheter” for details.) It will, no doubt come in handy in the coming weeks.
Thursday we worked in the morning and spent the afternoon getting our “truth in lending” session with the BMT people. The nurse informed us of many possible, unpleasant, or life-threatening, side effects. I am convinced none will apply to me, but thanked her for taking the time.
Then another nurse (Stanford seems to have an endless supply of well qualified and competent nurses) gave us a “training session” on the care and feeding of my new catheter.
Pretty worn out by all of this discussion of risks and infection, we retreated at the end of the day to a small, but excellent, wine bar in town, where I introduced Jane to a glass of “Zendagio,” a great Dry Creek blend that you can only seem to find around here.
Coming soon: When my blood tests indicate sufficient reaction to the vaccine, I will have a brief chemo session (actually Rituxan is an MAB, not technically chemotherapy) then spend a day or two back in the Aph. Center where they will collect all of those primed T-cells for future use. This could begin as early as Sunday or as late as 10 days after. In any event, we get Thanksgiving week off, as all of the girls and friends will be in town then. The Monday after Thanksgiving is set to begin the BMT process with a healthy dose of chemo, followed by a “harvest” of my stem cells for use in the transplant. It takes about two- three weeks to complete that part. Then, on or about the 22nd of Dec., I will check in to the hospital and begin the heavy lifting.
A Retraction, of sorts: During the waiting period before I began this process, the other initial vaccine candidate, who is a local resident, slipped in front on the schedule. He is now ahead of me by a week or two and is on course to be the first one through the trial. I have a little regret about this, but there is some comfort in having an older brother go through things before me. (actually, we are almost the same age)
And so, until further notice, our address will be: 1736 Oak Creek Drive, Apt # 207
Palo Alto, CA 94304
11/13/09