http://www.journal.clltopics.org The Story of an Elective Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplant Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:52:09 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en This is the journal of “Harvey”, a chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patient, as he went through a mini-allo (also called a reduced intensity or non-myeloablative) umbilical cord blood stem cell transplant at the University of Minnesota. If you are a new reader to this journal, you may want ... http://www.journal.clltopics.org/2008/07/22/welcome-to-harveys-journal/ Harvey's farewell party will be in Sedona, on Saturday, July 5th, starting at 5pm Arizona local time (8pm EDT) continuing till whenever. Please contact farewell@clltopics.org to RSVP and for more information regarding location, driving directions, lodging, etc. If you cannot join us in person, please join us in cyberspace ... http://www.journal.clltopics.org/2008/06/26/p-c-venkat-1949-2008/ Harvey died yesterday afternoon, around 4:30pm. This reporter has lost a husband, best friend, partner and soul mate. The sun is just coming up as I break this news to our extended family - but the world will always be just a little darker and colder for me from now on. In ... http://www.journal.clltopics.org/2008/06/24/death-in-the-family/ Keeping Vigil It is late night as I write this, sitting in Harvey's ICU room. Harvey is sleeping his induced coma. I think he can still hear me sometimes when I talk to him, but perhaps I am just imagining it for my own consolation. I wonder what dreams he ... http://www.journal.clltopics.org/2008/06/21/knee-deep-in-alligators/ Harvey Is Very Sick I have not written for a while - partly because I have been very busy, and partly because I have not had the heart to write. But I did promise to tell you the truth and nothing but the truth - so here goes. You might ... http://www.journal.clltopics.org/2008/06/20/a-very-hard-reality-to-face/ Is This The Sound Of The Second Shoe Dropping? Back when Harvey had his mysterious and quickly-resolved rash on his hands and legs, the transplant team referred him to the Dermatology Department. They examined the rash, did a punch biopsy and later opined that the rash could be consistent with ... http://www.journal.clltopics.org/2008/06/09/an-unexpected-left-turn/ Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men I had very different expectations for this Journal when I got started. It was going to be a terrific educational tool for our patient community, with lots of useful links, reviews and literature references. Harvey's personal story was going to be used only to ... http://www.journal.clltopics.org/2008/05/31/doldrums/ Here Comes the Sun... Spring is my favorite season of the year. After a cold and dank winter, it is wonderful to see the land and creatures blossoming once again under the golden warmth of sunshine. Mind you, spring can be a fickle season. The warm sunlight of today can easily ... http://www.journal.clltopics.org/2008/05/22/springtime/ A thousand apologies for not updating this journal sooner. It has been an intense few days. This is a quickie update, I will have a more detailed report this evening. Harvey's CMV infection is finally under control. The viral titer has come down from more than 2,000 to a ... http://www.journal.clltopics.org/2008/05/21/quickie-update/ Harvey Update I wish I had new stuff to report. Harvey continues to have fevers, some of them alarmingly high and accompanied with shivering and chills - what is affectionately known as "Shake & Bake" by cancer patients. The graft continues to do well. As of today the platelet count ... http://www.journal.clltopics.org/2008/05/14/eat-your-yogurt/