Recovering...

We got released from UW Hospital early yesterday afternoon and went home and did dialysis. All went relatively well (although I had to use a "sharp" needle on one of the buttonholes).

Sabine is still experiencing some arm pain (using Tylenol as the pain reliever but does have a more powerful painkiller standing by -- oxycodone). She is tough.

This morning's dialysis went well (no need for the sharp needles) but then I made a mistake (we have to tend to the four pin wounds in her arm and hand) and she got an extra dose of saline solution in the dialysis process before we corrected the error. But all ended well.

Now we are tracing down the surgeon (or anyone?) who can give us some info that should have been in her discharge papers. Like how much wound drainage is normal? They give us the hospitalist's phone number but when calling the hospital tells us that number is only available during an inpatient stay. (So why give us the number on the discharge papers?).

I also could not find the name of the orthopedic surgeon in the discharge papers. It seems foolish to say this" "Call your doctor or go to the ER if you have drainage or redness around pin sites..." That seems like an expensive way to answer an patient's question.

So we are winding up dialysis now and then going back down to UW Hospital to resume the chemo therapy cycle.

And, if I don't get a call back, we will ask the chemotherapy nurses what they think or go to the ER!

Nevertheless, dear friends, life is still good! And your prayers and God's presence, abundantly felt!

Breaking News

It's been a while since we have had a medical crisis -- and that's why there haven't been any posts on this site for quite some time. Up until yesterday evening both chemo and our life has been relatively easygoing.

After a wonderful mini-vacation including cycling, disc golf, stock car races, and a stay at a good old traditional Wisconsin lake resort, we returned only to have Sabine fall and shatter her wrist when a chair she was standing on collapsed while she was removing a window hanging.

The 9-1-1 call. The ambulance to our farm at about 7 p.m., seven hours in the E.R. and then an admission at 2 a.m. I went home to sleep for a couple of hours and then back to the hospital and the prospect of surgery.

Now up to this point, for most of us it's just a broken bone, and a cast for 6 weeks. But for a kidney dialysis and blood cancer patient, it's only just begun.

Here's what we may have to struggle with:

1. The broken wrist (both heads of the radius and ulna were snapped and one of the bones penetrated the skin compounded the fracture and presented an infection problem). Unfortunately, the injury was on Sabine's fistula arm (the access points for her hemodialysis) and that "buttonhole" site needs to be preserved (initially, it took three separate surgeries to establish the fistula).

2. If we cannot use her fistula, a tunnel catheter will have to be inserted into Sabine's chest (before the fistula was developed we dialyzed through one for over a year. It, too, could present an infection potential.

3. Sabine's cancer-caused compromised immune system makes the possibility of infection a dangerous situation.

4. Sabine's blood cancer (multiple myeloma) makes her bones less strong and both repair and healing can be compromised.

5. She is currently in a cycle of chemotherapy which we hope will not have to be ceased during her orthopedic recovery.

6. The surgeon may not be able to cast the arm and will have to put pins and a connecting rod in her arm as an "exo" support (see picture). This also could lead to the possibility of an infection.

Sometimes things get complicated. But Sabine is a valiant and joyful fighter. And we do teamwork well together for these past 30+ years!

If you are a believer, pray.
If not, project healing thoughts for her.

Stay tuned. And for all of you who have already sent emails and FB messages, we both are deeply moved and thankful.

p.s. as I was writing this, her surgeon came down and informed me that the surgery went well -- they did have to put in the "exo" structure -- pins and rod system (but not traditional plaster cast.) Sabine will be in the hospital for another night and will most likely be discharged tomorrow (Tuesday).

NEWS FLASH: Now for the dialysis problem: can her arm be used for dialysis given the surgery? Yes! The orthopedic surgeon says he has no problem with it and that will preclude having to look for a new dialysis site (tunnel catheter!). The doc says Sabine can be discharged tomorrow. Tomorrow will have to be a dialysis day. Next hurdle is Sabine getting her chemo shot tomorrow and keeping that cycle going. Whew!

The Life We Live...

My friend, Jeff, just alerted me to this powerful 4-minute video that seemed to capture for me our life in the medical system.

Currently, Sabine is back on the higher chemo dose for two more 3-week cycles. The last cycle of the increased dosage decreased the "numbers," but, at the same time, starts impacting her blood platelets. She continues to be positive and active. Thanks be to God!

As we make our twice weekly visits to the cancer center at U.W. Hospital, our monthly consult with her oncologist, Dr Sheehan, and our monthly group meetings with fellow cancer and kidney dialysis patients, this short video seemed to capture my feelings...

The Chemical Life

With Sabine at the Mallard's game -- 38 of us!

Some of the cyclists assemble before their ride --
the weekend theme: "Life's a Sweet Ride!"

Daughter Sarah, Sabine, Niece Teak, and Daughter Catherine
at the Ridgeway Station,

The families assemble!As I was expecting (with the rise in the "numbers" last month), Dr Sheehan has Sabine back on a heavier dose of chemo (Velcade + Dexamethasone) for the next month. In the past, Sabine has been very responsive to this drug combination and we will see how it goes.

We had a wonderful joint birthday celebration on July 6 which brought family and friends together from near and far. It was a joyful time for both of us as our birthdays fall on the same day. You are probably thinking, "At least with the same day you should never forget your spouse's birthday." Well, not quite, but that's another story.

We have had to cancel some summer vacation plans but we intend to do shorter day trips so that we are in the general area during the chemotherapy. In the past, we have worked together as a team, adjusted our schedules, and grieved together when it didn't work out the way we wished. We will continue to do so.

Enjoy the summer. Life is still good!

Moving Along

Peace flags at New Journey Farm

Another round of chemotherapy as we begin to try and control this disease.
Dr Sheehan was pleased about the "numbers" and it looks like to prescription is to continue this level of chemical intervention.... watch out for neuropathy... and decreasing platelets in her blood.

In the meantime... both Couper and Lobitz families will be assembling next week at our farm in the unglaciated hills west of Madison.

I will be leading (hanging on) a cycling group to celebrate my 75th year and Sabine will be biking in celebration of her 60th! (And entering her 6th year of the cancer fight.)

We have a beautiful (if somewhat damp) summer here in Wisconsin.

Life is good. And I continue to be reminded that it is not where you are going in life -- it's who we are becoming that counts!

A Check-In

Here we are enjoying beautiful summertime in Wisconsin. We just received a report on Sabine's latest cancer"numbers." The "normal" range of lambda light chains is from 6-26. Dr Sheehan started chemotherapy when Sabine's numbers got up to 142 and the last three three-week cycles of sub-cute Velcade (1/2 of her usual dose) with oral dexamethasome has respectively reduced those numbers to 127, 102, and now 85.

We meet with Dr Sheehan this Wednesday and expect he may continue to try and get those numbers down.

In the meantime, Sabine remains active -- cycling, kayaking, hiking -- and expects hike up to Granite Park in Glacier Park this summer after hosting a big family get-together in July to celebrate her 60th birthday!

Granite Park Chalet -- no vehicles -- you must HIKE there!

Recovery and More Chemo

We saw Dr Sheehan on Wednesday. Sabine's lungs remain clear. The calcium level within normal range. And with some progress in suppressing those nasty lambda light chains, another round of chemotherapy (Velcade [subcutaneous] combined with oral dexamethasone) was again prescribed.

The fight continues...

Other than that little setback a couple of weeks ago, the Energizer Bunny is looking forward to our combined birthday party (60/75th) on July 6 with lots of friends and family present for a barbeque, live band, dancing and appropriate amounts of beer.

And, oh yes, a 75 mile/60km bike ride at the Blue Mounds bike trail at 7 a.m. on that day.