update from this week

All of the results from the tests and such this past week at Dartmouth came back, and the chest CT done showed no changes, the repeat bronchoscopy showed nothing different, and the lab numbers were all improved, except for the minerals that we knew about and for which I received some simple IV hydration while down at Dartmouth on Thursday.
However, this week, I wasn't quite feeling "up to snuff" when I went for my weekly IV immune treatment in Brunswick on Thu., so we met with the oncologist there and discussed things, in particular my breathing, which seemed to be more labored and difficult this week than last week. While I was getting my IV treatment, I tried being on oxygen, and it seemed to help some, so after looking at the O2 saturation numbers (how much oxygen is in your blood) and seeing that it was indeed making a difference, especially after any amount of exertion, it was decided to try the oxygen here at home for now and see how things went. The oxygen company arrived Thu. night and set up the oxygen machine here at home, and also left a couple of portable tanks, just so that I could have that experience of feeling like the evil doctor in charge of the lab from "the Pretender", who I also happen to resemble a bit now with my bald head! It wasn't difficult to figure out, and I have been on the oxygen here for 2 days now, and it does seem to make a difference in my ability to breathe easier and deeper. The chest xray and a follow up chest CT at Brunswick on Friday both showed no real further changes, and I am scheduled for another lung function test here in Brunswick on Monday morning, which should give some further information and results from which to determine what and if any the next step should be. We plan to leave for New Jersey on Wednesday, traveling down to be with family for the Memorial Day weekend, returning by way of New Hampshire the following Tuesday with appointments at Dartmouth on Wednesday. If all goes according to plan (and it never seems to!), we will return to Maine on Thursday.

Please pray for:
1) no progression of the virus and no changes in the test results on Monday.
2) safety in traveling and stable health during the trip.
3) increased strength and ease of breathing to return so that I could get off the oxygen as soon as possible.
4) stable health for the kids and Lisa

Thanks for your continued interest and prayers,
Jon & Lisa

quick update

We are finally back home after a long week at Dartmouth. A Tue. night trip over, appts. all day Wed. & Thu. (though only expecting a partial day Wed. & return home Thu.), then a return trip home Fri. and spent all day Sat. achy, in bed, & laying around from the long week. I am starting to join the "land of the living" again today. More later, but glad to be home and on the mend again. No trips anywhere until Memorial day weekend, and we don't have to go back to Dartmouth until the week after that.