Round 2, here we go!

My Dad’s week ‘off’ has come to an end. Being at home was an adjustment at first, but after a few days we were all able to sink into our new roles at the Albert/Moi homestead.

As my Dad cannot eat many fresh fruits or vegetables, Kelly has bought him a Panini maker- a George Foreman type grill. I came into the kitchen one day to find my Dad grilling up a storm:

Jer: “I’m quitting all my jobs, and going to work at Subway”

Me: “Oh yah? And become a sandwich artist?”

Jer: “Yah, I’m going to make sandwiches all day. Look at this one.”

Me: “They are called sandwich artists Dad. How are the lines on your sandwich, are they perfect?”

Jer: “They’re perfect. And yah, I’m going to be an artist.”

After a long pause…

Jer: “Or I’ll work at Starbucks…”

Me: “So you’ll be a barista? You should make me a coffee right now then”

Jer: “Yah, I’d work at Starbucks in the morning, then Subway at night.”

PERFECT plan Dad.

This was absolutely the funniest moment of my week.

Tonight we start round 2 of chemotherapy. Kelly, my Dad and I are going to need the Jer Diddy army to be in full force as we move forward through this next round.

Chemotherapy treatment for patients with AML is divided into 2 phases: induction and consolidation therapy. The goal of induction therapy was to achieve remission by reducing the number of leukemia cells to less the 5% and having normal blood counts. We reached that goal! Go us. The goal of this next round, consolidation therapy is to eliminate any residual undetectable disease and achieve a cure.

With leukemia, even after remission is achieved, leukemic cells are likely to remain in numbers that are too small to be detected. If consolidation therapy is not done, relapse is almost inevitable. Therefore, more chemotherapy is needed to eliminate all the leukemic cells that were undetectable and to prevent a relapse.

My Dad will be receiving a high dose of cytarabine twice a day, every second day for the next week. (Induction therapy was given as a 24 hr drip of cytarabine for 7 days, with the first 3 days getting an extra push of a different chemotherapeutic agent). We will be at the hospital every second day to receive theses treatments, and at home between dosages. Our goal is have papa Jer home as much as possible as it will help prevent infections, boost morale, and keep him active.