DAILY NANCY UPDATE #77

Greetings. 

This is the seventy-seventh in a series of DAILY NANCY UPDATES I will be posting until the amazing Nancy Neufeld Callaway is in full remission and we have kicked her leukemia on its ass. 

If you'd like to be automatically notified of updates to this blog-- just enter your email address in the window on the right beneath Nancy's picture and follow the prompts!

BREAKING NEWS

DAY TWO...

Today, Nancy bravely endured THREE MORE separate high dose radiation treatments at City of Hope... PLUS walked the ward and worked out on an exercise bike. The folks in Radiology are kinda blown away. Of course, they're just getting to know the Sunshiny Superwarrior Goddess.

Then we moved her into her new "permanent" room on the fabled sixth floor of the fancy Helford Building, where transplant patients are treated. And when I say "we," I mean me and our freshly returned (but no longer freshman) daughter CLEMENTINE!

That's right, our favorite girl is finally home from college for the summer-- and her beautifully happy face has immediately brightened our days. Also-- as you can see from the photo above... she's a really good decorator! Guess all that dorm room design experience is really paying off!

On a side note, unless you're welcoming a baby into the world, spending long hours in a hospital completely sucks-- especially if you're a patient-- but even if you're only a visitor. And even though I'm still using as much free time at COH as I can to write the "next big thing," I thought you'd at least be amused by the story of how the general monotony paired with writing too many crime dramas over the years finally got to me over the past 24 hours.

Yesterday morning, while looking out the window of Nancy's first room-- I could see down into some kind of small garden plaza, where from my fifth floor vantage, I saw a man sitting on a bench. Then a few hours later, when I glanced out again-- I noticed he was still there. But it wasn't until this morning-- when the guy hadn't moved, that my mind finally began to race.

"Oh my God. Some poor bastard has died on a bench and nobody's found him yet."

So after a little hit and miss crime scene triangulation-- I finally went downstairs and outside to find the plaza and check on the victim myself.

And that's when I met "Bernie." At least that's what the plaque on the bench said!

In other words, just another daily reminder not to always listen to my overactive imagination-- and to try and stay focused on all the most positive possible outcomes, no matter how dark things may occasionally look.

After all, things are actually looking pretty bright so far.

WE LOVE NANCY, and... 

ALL IS WELL!

DAILY NANCY UPDATE #76

Greetings. 

This is the seventy-sixth in a series of DAILY NANCY UPDATES I will be posting until the amazing Nancy Neufeld Callaway is in full remission and we have kicked her leukemia on its ass. 

If you'd like to be automatically notified of updates to this blog-- just enter your email address in the window on the right beneath Nancy's picture and follow the prompts!

BREAKING NEWS

DAY ONE...

Today, Nancy bravely endured three separate high dose radiation treatments at City of Hope... and STILL somehow managed to speedwalk for a MILE AND A HALF around the the sealed leukemia ward while I sprinted along in front of her, trying to open doors and clear a path as fast as I could.

ALL HAIL THE SUNSHINY SUPERWARRIOR GODDESS!

I know there's a long way to go. But seriously, this woman is unstoppable. Please keep up the good vibes, thoughts, and prayers! So far, they're working!

WE LOVE NANCY, and... 

ALL IS WELL!

DAILY NANCY UPDATE #75

Greetings. 

This is the seventy-fifth in a series of DAILY NANCY UPDATES I will be posting until the amazing Nancy Neufeld Callaway is in full remission and we have kicked her leukemia on its ass. 

If you'd like to be automatically notified of updates to this blog-- just enter your email address in the window on the right beneath Nancy's picture and follow the prompts!

BREAKING NEWS

Today was our 23rd Wedding Anniversary. And it was also the day we officially checked Nancy into City of Hope for a six week stay.

But not before we had some unexpected fun. Because after we got her to the hospital bright and early this morning for some bloodwork-- they told us that her room wouldn't actually be ready before 3pm. So we decided to make the most of that time and celebrate our anniversary however we could. 

First, we drove back to Pasadena and had a tasty breakfast at The Reyn Cafe. And then, we drove to Arcadia, home of the Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. We hadn't been there since the kids were really little-- but on a particularly beautiful Memorial Day-- it seemed like the perfect place to wander.

So wander, we did.

The gardens are actually quite beautiful. And at the center of the park's 127 acres, sits the Baldwin Mansion (circa 1875), which is far better known to those of us of a certain TV viewing demo as the fictional home of FANTASY ISLAND.

 

Now admittedly, if you would've told me back when I was a kid watching Ricardo Montalban and Hervé Villechaize welcome guests on that Victorian front porch, that one day my wife and I would be killing time in the same place before taking her to the hospital for leukemia treatment-- I probably would've changed the channel.

But today, there was actually something kind of perfect about being there. We both got a much needed stress-relieving walk and some delightfully warm Southern California sunshine.

And best of all, after a short hike up to the top of a waterfall, we found a quiet bench to exchange a couple of gifts we'd both brought along. Nancy gave me a vintage, leather-bound, 39 New York World's Fair journal with handwritten detailed descriptions of each of our 23 anniversaries, and pasted in photos, as well. And I gave her a 175 page gold book of "Happy Thoughts," which detailed my own handwritten recollections of pretty much all the high points I can remember of our time together so far. 

So yeah. After that, we had a pretty good cry.

And then we drove to a nearby restaurant for lunch. And maybe some Rosé.

And finally, we drove back to City of Hope and got her all checked into a room on one of the two special floors dedicated to treating various blood cancers. 

Tomorrow she will begin a heavy course of radiation-- three times daily for four days-- followed by chemo, all in an effort to completely eradicate any remaining traces of leukemia and zero out her blood counts. And then-- on June 7th, she will receive her anonymous Israeli donor's bone marrow in the transplant.

She's been referring to that as her new birthday, and joking about renaming herself NANCY NEWCELL.

But I just want to get her through the next 100 days-- which is the period her doctors say it will generally take for her to feel normal again.

 

So look-- I know I've been asking for this in every post. But we could really use your good vibes, thoughts, and prayers... especially over the next several days. 

Thank you, sweet family, friends, and fans of the Sunshiny Superwarrior Goddess.

WE LOVE NANCY, and... 

ALL IS WELL!

DAILY NANCY UPDATE #74

Greetings. 

This is the seventy-fourth in a series of DAILY NANCY UPDATES I will be posting until the amazing Nancy Neufeld Callaway is in full remission and we have kicked her leukemia on its ass. 

If you'd like to be automatically notified of updates to this blog-- just enter your email address in the window on the right beneath Nancy's picture and follow the prompts!

BREAKING NEWS

Okay family, friends, and unabashed fans of the Sunshiny Superwarrior Goddess... it's almost GO-TIME.

Her lungs are clear. The pneumonia and fevers are gone.

And after a full morning of appointments at City of Hope today-- Nancy's doctor feels everything is full speed ahead for her to receive a series of preparatory outpatient medical treatments this weekend, and then check into the hospital to begin the six week bone marrow transplant process, starting this Monday, May 29th. 

First, she'll undergo several rounds of heavy radiation for five full days. By all accounts, that's not going to be any fun for her at all. Then she'll have the transplant (courtesy of her amazing, but anonymous Israeli male twenty-something donor). And then... she rests. Recuperates. Fights what we hope will be minimal rejection. And finally... if all our prayers are answered... she reaches full remission.

The irony of her being admitted on May 29th isn't lost on either of us. 

Because that day will be our 24th Anniversary.

We've been together for a long time, me and Nancy. Many more ups than downs, and we've been genuinely blessed to see all kinds of our dreams come true. 

But suffice it to say, we've never experienced anything like the past six months-- nor anything like what she's about to endure. So to be honest... we're both a little scared. Optimistic and positive. But scared.

Maybe that's why I was particularly struck by reading these words of whiteboard wisdom at the COH Oncology clinic this morning.

Fight or flight. 

Well, we've made our choice. We're gonna fight. FACE EVERYTHING AND RISE.

Nancy is the single strongest woman I have ever known. Inspired by that strength, me and the kids will always have her back. But it brings us constant comfort to know that each of you reading this is here for us, as well.

So now, more than ever, please continue to think good thoughts and keep her in your prayers-- this weekend, and throughout these challenging weeks to come.

WE LOVE NANCY, and... 

ALL IS WELL!

DAILY NANCY UPDATE #73

Greetings. 

This is the seventy-third in a series of DAILY NANCY UPDATES I will be posting until the amazing Nancy Neufeld Callaway is in full remission and we have kicked her leukemia on its ass. 

If you'd like to be automatically notified of updates to this blog-- just enter your email address in the window on the right beneath Nancy's picture and follow the prompts!

BREAKING NEWS

So we now officially know what was causing the mystery fevers that have forced a delay in Nancy's bone marrow transplant.

PNEUMONIA.

Pneumocystis jirovici pneumonia, to be exact.

It's a lung infection that often strikes people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy and/or using medications that suppress the immune system. And fortunately, one of the infectious disease specialists at City of Hope was able to spot some very light telltale shading in Nancy's lung tissue while it was still early. So she is now being treated with the same steroids she was already receiving to eliminate inflammation and fever-- along with a strong course of antibiotics-- and her doctors expect a full recovery.

And that's very important, because as previously mentioned, the Sunshiny Superwarrior Goddess has to be in tip top shape before she storms Marrowtown and leaves leukemia in her wake.

So as of now-- assuming the drugs do everything they're supposed to do and she's completely pneumonia and fever free-- she is scheduled to be re-admitted to COH and begin that six week odyssey on May 27th.

To that end, your continuing prayers and good vibes are humbly and thankfully encouraged.

WE LOVE NANCY, and... 

ALL IS WELL!

DAILY NANCY UPDATE #72

Greetings. 

This is the seventy-second in a series of DAILY NANCY UPDATES I will be posting until the amazing Nancy Neufeld Callaway is in full remission and we have kicked her leukemia on its ass. 

If you'd like to be automatically notified of updates to this blog-- just enter your email address in the window on the right beneath Nancy's picture and follow the prompts!

BREAKING NEWS

Today the Sunshiny Superwarrior Goddess was supposed to be in the hospital beginning a course of preliminary treatments to ramp her up to a bone marrow transplant.

Instead... SHE GOT TO CELEBRATE MOTHER'S DAY!

So here's the scoop.

Since starting a course of steroid drugs last Thursday, Nancy's mystery fevers have completely gone away (HOORAY!). And according to her doctors (after a multitude of other tests over the past 10 days), that means the fevers were more than likely caused by chemo-related inflammation rather than any kind of lingering infection. 

But the bottom line is, we need the fevers to stay gone for a few more days so we know she's in tip-top shape before the team of oncologists at City of Hope will be willing and ready to start subjecting Nancy to the incredibly rigorous radiation and chemotherapies that will ultimately end in the transplant.

For that reason, the entire process has been pushed a week to two weeks later on the calendar.

It's a bit frustrating for her-- and for all of us-- but we also understand how critical it is for her to be in the best health possible before she has to clear the final hurdle.

And the silver lining to all of it-- is that she got the whole weekend off-- including today.

So trust me when I tell you we definitely made the most of it. The boys and I woke her up with a Mother's Day serenade and presents. Then we took her to JUICY LADIES, her favorite juice bar in the Valley, for a yummy, healthy breakfast. After that, we drove out to to the beach in Malibu, so the boys could climb some rocks while we put our toes in the tide. Then we came back home, she hung out with her friend Karen, and finally wrapped up her relaxing day with an amazing massage from Michele, the World's Greatest Masseuse.

All in all, not too bad, considering we were all prepared to spend a long weekend in the hospital.

Stay tuned for further updates on exactly when she will be checking into City of Hope for her upcoming six week transplant odyssey. But in the meantime, we really hope you enjoyed your weekend as much as she did. Especially all you spectacular Mothers out there. We'd be lost without every last one of you.

WE LOVE NANCY, and... 

ALL IS WELL!

DAILY NANCY UPDATE #71

Greetings. 

This is the seventy-first in a series of DAILY NANCY UPDATES I will be posting until the amazing Nancy Neufeld Callaway is in full remission and we have kicked her leukemia on its ass. 

If you'd like to be automatically notified of updates to this blog-- just enter your email address in the window on the right beneath Nancy's picture and follow the prompts!

BREAKING NEWS

Welp... it's been a couple of long days for the Sunshiny Superwarrior Goddess... each one starting with a 5AM drive to City of Hope Hospital in Duarte, California.

Yesterday was for a variety of blood tests and a doctor consult (thanks for driving, Ceci!) in the continuing quest to figure out why she's been running a low grade fever for the past eight days. The continuing suspicion is that she's fighting some type of infection-- but the exact source remains unclear. And it's important that we figure it out so she can be properly treated for it-- otherwise, the persistent fevers may force a delay of her bone marrow transplant, which none of us wants. 

The good news is, her blood work looks pretty normal. But a pulmonologist did spot some kind of light shadow in a CT scan of her lungs. And that's why today was a little more involved. 

After another pre-dawn jaunt (thanks for getting the boys to school, Jay!) Nancy was put under general anesthesia so the pulmonologist could perform a bronchioscopy to get a better look at what's happening in her chest. And the better news is that so far, the results of that procedure have all come back looking normal, too.

So to make a long story longer, we're still searching for the cause of her fevers. If it's not some kind of hidden viral infection... it could also be some kind of lingering INFLAMMATION. Maybe from her latest bone marrow biopsy. Maybe still related to the same lumbar puncture that hospitalized her a few weeks ago. Regardless, if that turns out to be the case, her docs seem confident that another course of steroids should correct the problem.

Meanwhile, I can tell you this.

She's really tired of being tired. Super sick of feeling sick. So we can't wait to get her over this hump, through the transplant, and back to a leukemia free life. 

And did we mention how much we appreciate your continuing good thoughts and prayers?

WE LOVE NANCY, and... 

ALL IS WELL!

DAILY NANCY UPDATE #70

Greetings. 

This is the seventieth in a series of DAILY NANCY UPDATES I will be posting until the amazing Nancy Neufeld Callaway is in full remission and we have kicked her leukemia on its ass. 

If you'd like to be automatically notified of updates to this blog-- just enter your email address in the window on the right beneath Nancy's picture and follow the prompts!

BREAKING NEWS

Sorry it's been a minute since I've updated the blog. But it's been kind of a crazy week, between me taking all kinds of meetings, getting through two nights of finals for my USC class, and-- far more importantly-- Nancy making repeated visits to City of Hope.

It all started on Tuesday night, when I returned home from campus to discover that Nancy was running a high enough fever for our doctor to want her to come get checked out again in the COH ER. So off to Duarte we went. And there we stayed until the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

But after running a bunch of blood tests, they finally let her go home-- and we fell into bed around 4:30AM. So by Wednesday night, after I returned once again from USC, we were both pretty burnt. Unfortunately, she was also still running a low grade fever. They didn't ask us to come back that night-- but when her fever persisted Thursday morning, we went back to City of Hope so we could meet directly with our doc and try to figure out what was going on. 

The suspicion is that Nancy has some kind of lingering infection. We're just not sure where. Could be her back (from a bone marrow biopsy). Could be her lungs (possibly related to inflamed tissue around her IV port site). Could be something else entirely. But as of this writing on Saturday night, she's still running a low grade temperature. So she'll be back at COH on Monday for a follow-up. And on Tuesday, she's scheduled to go under general anesthesia so they can run a few tests that would be a bit too painful for her to deal with otherwise.

For now, we're still completely on target for getting her admitted on May 15th to begin radiation and all the other preliminary procedures necessary for ramping Nancy up to her bone marrow transplant date on May 22nd. But we'd really like to get to the bottom of what's causing the fevers before then, so she's as healthy as possible before the real fun begins.

So here's where I'll ask you all a favor. The Sunshiny Superwarrior Goddess could use some positive encouragement. 

If you've got her email address and/or cell number-- some happy emails and/or texts would be really helpful over the next few days to keep her spirits up. And of course, you could always post a message here, as well. It's just been kind of a long week for her-- and a steady stream of love bombs could go an awfully long way toward getting her over this latest hurdle.

Thank you so much for your continuing good thoughts and prayers.

WE LOVE NANCY, and... 

ALL IS WELL!