Staying Alive: Arthur Buddy Pieper
Donation protected
To help paying medical expenses
Dear Family Members –
So much has happened since November regarding Arthur’s health, I just wanted to keep you in the loop.
As you may or may not have heard, Arthur’s cancer has resurfaced. He met with a Dr. Tallman who is the head of the leukemia wing at Sloan Kettering on Monday, December 17. At that time, they discussed beginning a series of stem cell blasts along with chemo with a biopsy in January. Arthur had not had a stem cell blast since April of last year. If you remember, his doctor told him in June that 100% of the DNA in his bone marrow was from the donor, which was the ultimate goal. Unfortunately some bad cells had been lingering and began multiplying.
Dr. Ponce called Arthur on Wednesday, December 19 asking him to return to the hospital on Friday the 21st. We rented a car and drove down together for his 11:30am appointment. Dr. Ponce had decided that Arthur needed a second bone marrow transplant, scheduled for February 19. This time the stem cells will be from a different donor. She (Dr. Ponce) believes that the bad cells have gotten smart and were not being affected by the stem cell blast or the chemo. She gave Arthur a strong injection of stem cells while we were there and said she wanted Arthur to begin chemo again in January. At this point, Arthur hadn’t had chemo since the week of October 15 (yes, the week of our wedding). Arthur began chemo the week of January 7. Arthur was also very pale and weak, so as of today, he’s had three transfusions or a total of four pints of blood and is scheduled for another pint this week.
Arthur is scheduled for a biopsy on Monday, January 28th and will be leaving for NY on February 19 for the transplant. He’s been told that unlike the last time, he won’t be receiving any radiation but will be receiving a “cocktail” of chemo and stem cells. If all goes according to plan, he will remain in the hospital for one month and will be released on March 20th. He’s to remain in NY for 90 days and will be staying at the Hope Lodge again. This time I’ll be staying with him for the entire 90 days or March 20 – June 20. This has prompted my decision to finally retire from the Y after over 31 years. My official last day will be March 22.
Arthur is adamant that no one visit him while he’s in the hospital, but visiting him while he’s at Hope Lodge should be fine. There is an activity floor (I think it’s the 6th floor) where guests can visit. Arthur’s laundry will be taken care of while he’s in the hospital, but he’ll get little rest and will be uncomfortable for that month.
That’s about it at this point, but I’ll keep everyone in the loop when I have additional information.
Please pray because a second bone marrow transplant has a 5%
Survival rate.......
Thank you so much
Bobbie and Arthur
Dear Family Members –
So much has happened since November regarding Arthur’s health, I just wanted to keep you in the loop.
As you may or may not have heard, Arthur’s cancer has resurfaced. He met with a Dr. Tallman who is the head of the leukemia wing at Sloan Kettering on Monday, December 17. At that time, they discussed beginning a series of stem cell blasts along with chemo with a biopsy in January. Arthur had not had a stem cell blast since April of last year. If you remember, his doctor told him in June that 100% of the DNA in his bone marrow was from the donor, which was the ultimate goal. Unfortunately some bad cells had been lingering and began multiplying.
Dr. Ponce called Arthur on Wednesday, December 19 asking him to return to the hospital on Friday the 21st. We rented a car and drove down together for his 11:30am appointment. Dr. Ponce had decided that Arthur needed a second bone marrow transplant, scheduled for February 19. This time the stem cells will be from a different donor. She (Dr. Ponce) believes that the bad cells have gotten smart and were not being affected by the stem cell blast or the chemo. She gave Arthur a strong injection of stem cells while we were there and said she wanted Arthur to begin chemo again in January. At this point, Arthur hadn’t had chemo since the week of October 15 (yes, the week of our wedding). Arthur began chemo the week of January 7. Arthur was also very pale and weak, so as of today, he’s had three transfusions or a total of four pints of blood and is scheduled for another pint this week.
Arthur is scheduled for a biopsy on Monday, January 28th and will be leaving for NY on February 19 for the transplant. He’s been told that unlike the last time, he won’t be receiving any radiation but will be receiving a “cocktail” of chemo and stem cells. If all goes according to plan, he will remain in the hospital for one month and will be released on March 20th. He’s to remain in NY for 90 days and will be staying at the Hope Lodge again. This time I’ll be staying with him for the entire 90 days or March 20 – June 20. This has prompted my decision to finally retire from the Y after over 31 years. My official last day will be March 22.
Arthur is adamant that no one visit him while he’s in the hospital, but visiting him while he’s at Hope Lodge should be fine. There is an activity floor (I think it’s the 6th floor) where guests can visit. Arthur’s laundry will be taken care of while he’s in the hospital, but he’ll get little rest and will be uncomfortable for that month.
That’s about it at this point, but I’ll keep everyone in the loop when I have additional information.
Please pray because a second bone marrow transplant has a 5%
Survival rate.......
Thank you so much
Bobbie and Arthur
Organizer
Arthur Buddy Pieper
Organizer
Fairport, NY
