Hi everyone,

Today completed the last treatment of the 1st of 6 rounds of chemo. Boy, that sounded confusing! He gets 10 days off now.

He's doing great. His platelets only dropped 6 points. They're 120. His other lab values were good. He feels good... working... normal!!!

We have been saddened to hear of another Myeloma patient from Memphis that passed away in Oct while in Little Rock. We didn't know this man, but another patient that knows us both was checking in with us on the phone the other day. She called us to see how Frank was doing. This man had relapsed in Aug, and was having a 3rd transplant at the same time Frank was in Sept. I don't know how we missed each other in that small unit ~ it's like family up there. We were there at the same time.

Even though we didn't know him personally, it is amazing how affected you are to hear such news. It's like watching a wreck in your rear view mirror and knowing that could have been you just as easily. We don't understand the sovereignty of God and it's overwhelming to think about how God has a plan for each one of our lives. When it comes right down to it, we are nothing but grateful for each answered prayer we've had, and each blessing that has been given to our family regarding Frank's health.

We are thankful to God for his 2nd remission and will give Him all the glory for it.

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever, Amen." Eph 3: 20-21

It is well, ...it is well, .....it is well with my soul!

And, according to Dr. Barlogie it is also well with my bone marrow. The latest round of tests provided us with a good clean report. Praise God!

According to the fine Dr's in Little Rock I am in remission. In fact the places on my bones where the cancer had attacked are healing up.

The next step in this on-going battle will be what is known as consolidation chemotherapy. This means I will cycle through another 6 rounds of chemo - 2 weeks on - 10 days off.
This process will take from now until about May 2007 to complete.

The really good news about this treatment is that they (Univ. of Arkansas MIRT) have clinical results that show that this treatment regimen really does keep High Risk patients in remission.
If you weren't aware I am a High Risk patient.

That's about it. Keep lifting me and the family up.
God has seen fit to keep me here for a while longer. Pray that I spend myself wisely in His service.

Frank

Well, we are in Little Rock. He's almost done with everything and we can get on the road to Memphis. Things have gone well.

The bone marrow was one of his best ever ~ said he hardly felt anything. He gave the tech a big hug. Now he's locked in the big radioactive room and I can't go in there...so I decided to come check my email.

Halloween was fun. I'll put a picture up next time. I keep forgetting to hook up the camera. Frank was a conehead (like from Saturday Night Live). He wasn't as excited about his costume this year, so the mood seemed low key. Plus it was cold and rainy.
He missed the festival at church because of a fever, and he was bummed about it. That's when we have our fun.

But on Tues, little bitty ghost and goblins came just the same. I don't know about your neighborhood, but it was the year of the witch at our house. Not as many princesses as I normally see on little girls.

The break has been wonderful. Frank made the comment that it seems longer than 5 weeks. We are praying for great results. We don't really know what the doctor has in mind as far as future treatments. He's ready for a break. So, please pray that God will go before and prepare Frank's heart for what he has to say on Monday.

Pray that he would have wisdom and clear direction on what to do next.

We love you all and feel so very blessed!! All covered up in His grace, Peg

Hi everyone,

I know it's been a while...but that's always good news! Things have been so wonderful since we wrote last. Frank is a walking miracle ~ and it's amazing to see him doing so well.

He's only doing labs every 2 weeks now, so he didn't go to West this past Monday.

However... he started running fever last night. After trying to go to work today, he decided to come home and go to bed. His fever's been as high as 102 tonight. He's on an antibiotic, but the clinic is closed over the weekend. We'll pray things get better before Monday.

Everything else is good. Chandler is about to leave on a band trip to Orlando next week and Zach is going to Nashville for a tournament the same weekend. And it's the same Friday/Monday that'll we'll be in Little Rock for his checkup.

We are praying that Frank gets better quickly. That this is just a small virus that will run it's course and not turn into anything else more complicated. And that no one else will get it so we don't pass it around.

Thank you for your prayers for our family and for our Frank.

In Him, Peggy

Happy Tuesday!

Things are busy but good around our house... I'm happy to report that our house is probably just like yours right now. We love that...getting back to normal!

It's fall break for Chase, but not the others. He's been with his friends for the past few days hanging out. Zach's routine is the same... school and soccer. And Chandler's been sick since Sat. She was running fever and had some other stuff going on. She's going back to school tomorrow ~ we hope.

Even Casey (our dog) has a house guest... her buddy is here for the week. They're having fun.

Frank has managed to escape getting whatever she has. That's an answer to prayer. He had labs drawn Monday and they were almost exactly what they were last week. That's not bad ~ about status quo for him. We'd like to see his red count come up. That would give him more stamina. But he's really doing good.

Our church, Hope Presbyterian is having the Men's BBQ cookoff this Friday, and he's been planning and getting ready for that ever since he came home. It'll a big time for he and his friends. They always have fun.

Everyone have a safe and good fall break with your kiddos... Thank you for keeping in touch with us. And for praying for us. And for rejoicing with us over what God has done! "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again, I say rejoice." Phil 4:4

Happy Friday loved ones.

Frank saw Dr. Johnson here in Memphis yesterday for a check up. He's doing good.

Platelets are 138! That is higher than they were going into the transplant. Wonderful!
He's still fighting some upper respitory stuff, but no fever.

He's looking for ideas for what to be for halloween. Any suggestions are welcome!!
Have a great weekend.
We love you all.
Peg

Happy Monday!

Frank got his labs back from our local clinc today. Everything looks good.

Platelets are already 102!! Huge Praise.
White count 3.2 and everything else looks good.
No fever since we left Little Rock.

His recovery is truely a miracle ~ just a miracle. God is so good.

Hebrews 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
AMEN AND AMEN

We're home.......... again!
We're planning on staying away from Little Rock until Nov. We actually turned in the keys to the apt and officially left.

Frank went to the hospital yesterday morning having been fever free since Wed. afternoon. His blood pressure/heart heart were about the same, so they gave him some more fluid. Cat scan results were normal. Labs looked good. They decided to do a "just to be safe" MRI of his shoulder. He'd been having some pain that mimicked the shoulder pain he had when he relapsed. Praise God that it was negative. No myeloma was seen.

So, we gladly headed home. Frank will do lab work twice a week in Memphis, go back to work and move forward!

For I know the plans I have for you, delcares the Lord. Plans to give you HOPE and a FUTURE. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11,13

Good evening. Another full day at the hospital, and still no answers.

On paper, Frank looks great.
White count is 2.5. That's low for you and me, but not for him.
Platelets are 78. Still increasing.
Hematocrit is still 10 but that's expected too.
The infection indicatior called the CRP is below 0.5. All good.

But he still has fever. Blood pressure was 88/60 and heart rate was 155. Could be better.
The nurse said she thought she heard some crackles in his lungs. And they did a cat scan today of his head and chest.

If nothing shows up tomorrow, we'll probably coming home. (As I type this, he just took his temp... NO FEVER)

The guest book is full. Someone does that for us, so we'll try to fix it soon. When you read the updates, another way to sign is to click on "comments" at the bottom of the update. I don't think there is a limit there. Thanks for keeping up with us. We love it, we read them to each other depending on who's at the computer.

Phil 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God

OK - Time for an Update!

It's noon and we are sure there are some curious voyuers out there.
Here's the skinny.......no one knows whats wrong with me.

The labs came back good, infection detector - CRP - was <.05 - which is very low. These tests tell the Dr's that there is nothing obvious to zero in on.

I have been sitting at UAMS taking IV antibiotics all morning and after we do this thing called a nasal wash, I can go back to the apartment. I'm told nasal washing is really fun. I'll let you know!

Instead of praying that they will find out what is wrong with me, let's just start praying that the mystery infection will mysteriously go away.

We love you guys and will be home soon......
Frank & Peggy

Good evening.
Today has been a roller coaster of emotions. Without a lot of narrative ~ here are the facts.... oh beloved prayer warriers.

Frank's running fever that keeps going up. It's 8 pm now and it's 102.3. We've been at West Clinic all day. They wanted to admit him to Baptist East, but we made the decisions to return to Little Rock after talking with them.

The emotions of all this have us gripped right now. You can only imagine. We were home. Glorious weekend at church. Fever, and in the midst of it all, a dear family friend passed away today.... of Multiple Myeloma. We won't even be able to attend Barabara's funeral.

Our hearts are saddended. We are anxious about tomorrow... you know...
But we are assured of so much. God is in control. He has us in His hands and we are confident as we leave our family once again, that we are still making the right choice.

I'm thankful for the verse in Romans that tells us that the Spirit knows how to pray for us when our hearts are too burdened.
Pray for Frank, for our family friends, and thank you for your faithfulness.
We love you. Peggy and Frank

WE ARE HOME!!

We saw Dr. Barlogie Friday afternoon. He was very pleased with how things went. Platelets were 37, so labs will be drawn in Memphis until they are over 100.

We return to Little Rock in November for a full work up.
The recovery process is still in motion but everything looks great.

We get the IMF (International Myeloma Foundation) newsletter emailed to us. There was this article on it featuring UAMS. It's about a study that brings hope for treatments that are more individualized based on genetic groups (blah blah blah), but it states that they are largest Myeloma center in the world. Isn't that amazing? We are so blessed that we can drive over in a couple of hours, not have to fly, be able to see the kids with ease, and so many other things yet still be so confident that the best care in the world for his type of cancer is so close.

We're laying low this weekend. Driving kids to homecoming, dances, parties and playing Monopoly. We won't update on a daily basis anymore, probably weekly.

This website is a blessing for us, and we hope it has been for you too. Some people sign the guestbook... and we love that... and others tell us they check it but don't ever sign... so we only assume that others check it and we don't know about it....

But if you are reading this... you have been prayed for by us. We thank God that you have been faithful to pray for us, care about us, love us and walk this jouney with us.

Part of what gets us by is knowing we aren't alone. It means so much. We are praying blessings on YOUR family!!

Only by HIS grace, Frank, Peggy, Chandler, Zach and Chase, and our WHOLE family!!!

Well everyone here it is....we've been cleared for release!

Praise God Almighty and the saints in His care.

The labs came back great today, my body is working like mad to push out fresh cells, and I have an appoinment on Friday to see the Dr.

The photo is of (most) my care team. They watched over me and helped steer me through this process. These ladies are the best and I can't even begin to tell you how much I appreciate thier service.

It is hard to believe this is winding down but again, we are so excited!
Love Frank & Peggy

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZACH !!!!!! You're finally 13!

Your mom and dad love you so much!! We are looking forward to celebrating your birthday very soon! Have a wonderful wonderful day and enjoy being 13! You were born at 9:12 am.... so watch the clock and smile real big for yourself. We are proud of you and so glad God entrusted you to us.

INSOMNIA REPORT 2:30 am

I don’t know if these kinds of thought processes ever happen to anyone else, but they happen to me.
Tonight, as I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, the events of the day, and even events from previous days, started replaying in my mind. Some thoughts are random like, I wish I knew that name of that cool song I heard today, or the topics can be real heavy weights.

Like, how much more abuse can my body take from all these treatments?What happens then?
After about 30 minutes of this fruitless thinking I remembered that it isn’t my job to worry about tomorrow.

I went and read Matthew 6:25-34 and re-reminded myself that as a child of God, He will take care of me. God knows what I need before I (or we) even ask. The events of my life are in His hands.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that we should not ask Him for help when we run into trouble, just that we have to trust His answers.

So, as my insomnia became dulled by the stress of treatment, I got on my hands and knees. I pressed my face into the floor and I thanked God for all the blessings He has given. I thanked Him for all the people who have reached out to me and my family, and I thanked Him in advance for healing me and giving me enough health that I can go home soon.

To everyone that has even as much as said a kind word to me and my family – may God richly bless you.

Frank

later today:

Todays visit to the hospital was a good one. Everything went as planned -good lab values and no reactions to the medications. I was such a good boy that I didn't even need any platlets.

If I can produce the same results tomorrow we will be able to start talking (thinking) about coming home. Wow, it seems so wild to think this is almost over.
Here's to seeing everyone soon! Frank

SUPER SUNDAY!

What a day!! We had an 11 hour day at the hospital. If you're one of those people that read the last sentence in a book to make sure it ends good, than this is for you: He's doing okay and we got some good news today.

After I posted last night about his fever, it went up to 102. We started the infusor and gave him Tylenol, but still had 101+ this morning. They ran cultures, and he got his regular antibiotic. He was already scheduled to get 2 bags of whole blood today, but his platelets were 17 so he needed those too.

He had a severe reaction to the platelets. He had a reaction like this last Thursday, but they thought it was the anti fungal instead of the platelets. It was intense for while.
Fever 104, blood pressure dropped, wet with sweat. But our nurse was wonderful and took really good care of him. He was shaking so bad they had to get his blood pressure down at his ankle.

That reaction caused a chain of events... chest x-ray, 2 more antibiotics, a bag of fluid, iv push drugs, demeral and more. But he still needed the whole blood.

So, in the middle of that transfusion, he breaks out in a sweat again and I got the nurse. His reaction wasn't as severe. But his fever did shoot up again. He finished only one bag... they are waiting to give the other one tomorrow.

That's only the short version believe it or not. But in the midst of all that we got great great news.

His white count went from 0.6 to 2.04!! He's not neutropenic anymore! Yeah. And if they rule out any infection tomorrw, they may make a discharge appointment for Dr. Barlogie this week.

We might be home by the weekend. How awesome is that?? He's so proud of himself.

Don't ever doubt Frank's sense of humor. At the scariest moment during the reaction, he's shaking so bad, the nurse is right in middle of pushing his IV Demeral and his vitals are crazy......

He holds his breath and "plays dead" for a second. We all sort of just stop and stare at him and he opens his eyes and smiles at her. She wanted to kill him and I don't blame her!! I smacked his bald head. Same feeling when you think your child is lost. You're so panicked and when you see that they're safe you hug them and then yell at them.

So, his stem cells are grafting. His bone marrow is working hard to recover. They are running test that will try to explain the reaction to the platelets and we may have some answers tomorrow.

Lisa came to get the kids for me. She stopped in to say hi on the way and was there for all the action. Then she got the kids and took them home for us. I haven't even talked to Zach since this morning but they had tied one, and won 2 games.

Thank you so much for you prayers, and your encouragement all along the way. We are thankful for answered prayer, for God's continued watch care over Frank. And we are renewed with strength knowing this is almost over!

With love to you all, Peg and Frank

Hi guys,

We have a prayer request. Frank's fever is going up. It's 101 now. He has an antiobiotic infusor but the protocol is fever 101.5 or higher. So we won't hook it up yet. The bones will ache from the growth factor shots, but with his headache and the aching, the rising fever could be more than we originally thought. He's been in the bed all day with a cold rag and ice pack on his head.

Please pray this fever is not from an infection and that if it is, that God would heal him from it quickly. The desire of our heart is that Frank have a complete and full recovery from this transplant without complication.

He just wanted to rest and have some quiet. The zoo is just 10 miles or less from here, so I took Chandler and Chase out for an hour or so while he slept. We're all here together now.
The little bit of time we were at the zoo, it was nice. Not because the zoo was good though.

Chandler thought we should ask for our money back, and I didn't disagree. Only the primates were out. Except for one momma/nursing camel and some fish we fed for 25 cents, all the other animals were on vacation. We didn't see anybody! But the apes and monkeys were worth the trip. We giggled and laughed with them and learned a few things too. We think it was mating season... saturday night... and a beautiful day. Let's just say I had a lot of explaining to do for Chase. But I digress.......

I miss Zach. I called to check on them while we were at the zoo. They tied their first game. I wish he were here.

Thank you for praying with us and for Frank.
"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Heb 4:16

"No Pain, No Gain" That's the theme for the weekend!

I came back to Little Rock with Chandler and Chase yesterday. The kids were happy to see Daddy. I was happy to see him too!! We just hung out and watched TV. We found Talk Soup on E! and I haven't heard Frank laugh so hard in a long time. We were all having a good time laughing. Frank and the kids went through a box of popsicles between them... one right after another... I think for the jokes on the sticks.

Where do bees go for their day off? To the wax museum.
What kind of key can't open a door? A donkey.

Okay.....Don't everybody rush out to buy a box of popsicles!

Ok, one more.

What animal hates doing the laundry? A leopard because he has lots of spots.

Pain: Even in the midst of laughing at Talk Soup, Frank wasn't feeling good. He started running a fever. The growth factor shots they give him were making his back throb with every move. He took a Darvon but was up all night and very uncomfortable.

Gain: We got to the clinic this morning, both looking like we've had a rough night. We both had headaches and he's been hurting all night. They always say that if you're hurting, that means the growth factor shots are working. They are right!

White count 0.61 ~ up from 0.02
Platelets 20 ~ up from 7. Go Frank! Go Frank!

He needed some fluid, potassium and magnesium and his head is hurting really bad but we are so pleased, and thankful for his progress. The fever was his body working hard to make cells. It's called a nuetrapenic fever. It's not from an infection.
His red counts were low today. Hematocrit 25 and Hemoglobin 8. They said he may get a bag of blood tomorrow. He's back in the bed asleep right now.

We miss Zach. He's in Nashville with his Lobos team playing in a tournament. Please pray for his safety while we're apart and success for the team.

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak. And to those who have no might, He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary. And the young men shall utterly fal.
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. The shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40: 28-31

Today was pretty routine labs, antibiotics, platlets, and a cup of lime serbert. The sherbert was in the fridge in the break room. It made me feel better than any of the stuff the nurses did to me.

On the whole today was a break even day. Nothing cooking on the platlets or white cells yet. Perhaps Saturday will bring a well deserved bump.

Once I get started moving up, I'll be pumping those White cells out by the millions. I guess I'll have to lay around and watch bad movies for a few more days.

Peg, Chandler, and Chase are coming to Little Rock today. Yippie! Can't wait to see them. Zach will be in Nashville playing soccer for the Lobos. Go Zach! Go Lobos!

Frank

Today's labs brought much of the same news,
WBC .02 (which is higher),
Platlets 7 and no infection.

I recieved a bag of platlets today and will probably get at least one more before this process gets completed.

On the whole, things are going well. Except for the exahustion, I have been feeling good.

Since I got here I have been asking everyone where they are from. It appears that the traveler from farthest away is from Delaware. It really is neat to meet people from all over the country. It is also very neat when I find out they are believers. The strength that we draw from each other is really neat.

That's it for now, Frank