Back in action

FROM CASSIE: Had another stay in the hospital this past week and just got out last night. It's great to be back home (or in our "home away from home" apartment in LA) especially in time for Christmas. My doctors decided to put me back in the hospital because I have some liver function issues due to graft vs. host disease, which is common after a transplant, and lowered kidney function due to the heavy duty anti-rejection medicine I get via IV twice a day. The doctors have always said that "a little" graft vs. host disease is a good thing because it also helps keep the cancer away. So I can't complain. It's basically remnants of my stem cells reacting against all my sister's healthy stem cells inside me. I was in the hospital for about 9 days while the doctors got things under control, did a liver biopsy and ultrasounds and readjusted my medications. While there I had lots of nice visits from Kurt and Aunt Susan and we had time for some Christmas crafts, one of them pictured here. We made bead angel ornaments for Aunt Susan's granddaughters. They looked very sweet lined up in the hospital room window. Here's hoping this is the last hospital stay and that the recovery continues on at this point. I'm feeling better every day and excited for Christmas! Happy Holidays to everyone!

Kurt's Birthday

FROM CASSIE: We had a great time celebrating Kurt's birthday last week (before the return hospital trip). Here's a picture of the Reed/Brushwyler family complete with silly birthday glasses for all. We all agree that Piper wore them best. It was great to have Aunt Susan out here to help celebrate. She had silly glasses too but, unfortunately, isn't shown since she took the picture.

One step back but moving forward

FROM CASSIE: Time for an update. I'm back in the hospital for a few days while the doctors figure out why my liver is under some distress. This is common after a stem cell transplant because of all the anti-rejection medicines I've been taking. I had a regular doctor's check-up this past Monday and they decided to admit me after some blood tests for liver and kidney function came back high. I've had quite a few tests and medication changes since I've been back in the hospital so everything should get straightened out in the next couple of days. Peace of mind comes from knowing that the doctors here have pretty much seen it all so it's just a process of elimination and pinpointing exactly how my medication needs to be adjusted. Being back in the hospital isn't exactly where I'd like to be right now I still feel grateful that I was out of the hospital for Thanksgiving and for Kurt's birthday. And I'll be out of here soon... fingers crossed. Thanks for all the well wishes!

A Thanksgiving to Remember

FROM CASSIE: Kurt and I have so much to give thanks for this year. We're a little behind on updating this blog because, all of the sudden, things got pretty hectic. When I went in to the hospital for the stem cell transplant on 10/26 I was told to expect to be there for at least a month or more depending on how long it took the cells to graft and whether any complications arose. Well, after the transplant on 11/5, my doctors were surprised that my counts started rising after only a few days indicating that the cells were grafting. And ten days after the transplant they were starting to say I could be discharged! So 12 days after the transplant, on 11/17, I was discharged from the hospital and sent home with lots of medication and lots of instructions. This was both exciting and a little bit scary since it happened so fast. Our house in Long Beach is a little too far from UCLA for the doctor's comfort level so we're lucky to be staying at our friend Kristin's apartment in LA, close to the hospital. She's doing us an enormous favor with this "swap" by staying in our house in Long Beach. We don't know how long we'll be here but are prepared to stay at least a couple months. The idea is that we'll be close by the hospital in case any complications arise with me, like fevers, infections or other rejection indicators.

And things are going well. We have quite a little routine going. I get IVs of antibiotics and anti-rejection medicine every morning and every night. Kurt has learned how to do it and is on his way to becoming an honorary nurse, I'd say. He's very good. Kurt's sister, Lisa, came out from Chicago to help us the first week I was out of the hospital and she was a huge help. Her nurturing spirit and good nature made the transition out of the hospital much better for me and Kurt.

A home nurse comes out to give me another IV medicine weekly. I'm beginning to venture out on car rides a little more which feels good. I'm feeling stronger every day and trying to be patient with my progress. Some very smart people keep reminding me that my body has been through a lot. Sometimes I forget that and get anxious to be feeling back to normal right now. My doctors have been happy with my progress at check-ups. And the only slight speed bump has been an infection I picked up which is the reason for the extra antibiotics. Apparently it's common. So right now I have the immune system of a 24 day old baby. But that's a day more than yesterday! It's counted from 11/5, my new bone marrow birthday.

We thought I'd be spending Thanksgiving in the hospital so Kurt and I feel extra blessed to have spent it here together with Piper in Kristin's comfy apartment eating turkey dinner from Kristin and our friends, Stan and Naomi. Life is good.

In other big/huge/enormous news, the Poker Tournament and auction benefit that my company, RAPP, threw last Friday 11/20 for us was a huge success. I wasn't able to attend since I can't be around crowds just yet, but Kurt went and had a great time. I'm so grateful to work at a company that would go to the effort to put on such an amazing event to help an employee in need. Being that employee in need is very humbling (and a little uncomfortable) but it helps to know that everyone who attended had a great time together playing poker and winning great silent auction items. Kurt and I are so thankful and overwhelmed by the support and outcome. Here are some pictures from the event taken by our friend Jasen: http://gallery.me.com/jasenreyes#100162

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving enjoying friends and family! Until next time.....

Cassie and Piper

cassie and piper on the way to the dog beach - 2005

Friends of Cassie Reed Fundraising Event Info

Some of you have asked for information on the benefit that Cassie's workplace, RAPP, is generously throwing. Here you go:

Join us for a night of poker and prizes where every dollar raised goes to support our friend & colleague Cassie Reed in her fight against lymphoma.

Friday November 20th, hosted at the RAPP offices
222 N. Sepulveda Blvd, Suite 500, El Segundo, CA 90245

Bar opens 6:30pm and first deal at 7pm
Minimum $50 donation & cover charge (please bring cash or check)
Beer & food included
Prizes awarded to finalists

Visit facebook.com/AllinforCassieReed to:
• Get the latest event details and read the complete tournament rules
• Volunteer to help & donate items for the silent auction

A landmark day for Cassie's recovery

Happy Birthday Cassie

FROM KURT: Cassie's stem cell transplant began at 11:00 am today. The whole process took about 30 minutes and everything went smooth. Cassie is doing great and very excited about this landmark day in her recovery. Thanks everyone for your support!

Final day before stem cell transplant

FROM KURT: Cassie has hit a wall today. She is very weak, nauseous and has a lot of pain in her throat. This is to be expected because of the treatments she has received to prepare for the transplant. All her blood level are nearly at 0 which is what the transplant requires. If the doctors can get her nausea under control she is a go for the transplant. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers for her big day tomorrow.

A much needed rest

FROM CASSIE: Words can't describe how amazing Kurt has been throughout this whole ordeal. Without his love and support I don't know how I would get through this. I can't wait to call him my husband. I thought I'd post a picture of him getting a well-deserved Halloween nap in my hospital bed today. He might not be too happy about it (sorry, Kurt) but it helps me to know that I can share something with him that gives him a little break from the madness. ("Rosove", the teddy bear, was my addition to the shot.)
Today is "Day minus 5" in transplant-speak which means there are 5 days until I receive my stem cell transplant next Thursday. I'll have some chemo every day until then to wipe out my marrow and make room for my sister's fresh, ready-to-fight cells. Pretty amazing. As always, the doctors and nurses here at UCLA Med Center are taking very good care of me.
My dad went back to Ohio today and it was bittersweet to see him go. We had a nice long visit and he was a great help and support to us. Piper was happy to spend some quality time with "grandpa" too.
Kurt's parents are coming out from Chicago again this Tuesday for 9 days. It will be great to have them here. Their positive spirits, unending support and energy are a great source of strength to me and Kurt.
Until next time.... Happy Halloween to all! Stay safe and eat lots of candy.

Allison's 5th grade G.I.F.T. class rivals Hallmark

FROM KURT: Cassie received a beautiful and creative array of get well cards from Sherry's daughter Allison and her class today. Sherry and Kim are Cassie's cousins back in Ohio. They have done so much to support Cassie. They were both also tested to see if they were a match to be marrow donors. Their mother Susan has been out to stay with us to help and she will be coming out again for two months to be Cassie's care-partner while I am at work. Her cousins and aunt are like sisters and mom to her. This was a heartwarming gift to get after her second day of radiation. The radiation treatments have made her very sleepy but she is comfortable and her spirits are good.

Thank you 5th grade G.I.F.T. class.

This cancer is about to get a beat down

FROM KURT: As one of the trainers that has been helping us, my Mom is shown here bravely playing the part of cancer. Cassie is all checked in to the hospital. She left her boxing gloves at home but brought the eye of the tiger. Her room has a beautiful ocean view which will be nice for the month long stay. Here is her new room info.

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
757 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90095


Room Number 6153
Room Phone 310.267.6156

Cassie is back in the hospital

FROM KURT: Cassie is back in the hospital to begin the transplant. Donald and i are here with her. She just had quick 45 minute procedure to place a catheter in her chest. The procedure required she be put under anesthesia. Cassie feels good and the doctors told us everything went very well. She had a very nice weekend with friends and family. On Sunday she got a pedicure with her good friend Julie, took a boat ride with her Dad and had her favorite fondue for dinner.

The Cancer's Gone! Cassie's follow up PET scan results are good!

FROM KURT: Cassie had a follow up PET scan on Wednesday and the results still show no sign of cancer. With this positive review and the donation from Carrie we have a green light for Cassie to start the transplant process on Monday. This is all good news but it's hard to be excited because of the grueling road ahead for Cassie. The first 8 days of Cassie's next hospitalization include 2 days of chemotherapy and 4 days of overall body radiation just before receiving her sister's cells. The recovery for this procedure means Cassie may not be back to our house for 3 months. One month at the hospital and 2 months staying minutes from the hospital in LA. So why go through all this when Cassie is in remission? Fortunately, this can be answered by thousands of stem cell transplant recipients that had Cassie's same diagnosis and have gone on to live long lives, free of relapse. Without the transplant, risk of relapse is very high.

Today we said good-bye to Carrie. She is happy to be going back home and I'm sure her husband and kids feel the same way. We are so grateful for the life saving gift she has given Cassie. Cassie's dad is here with us for 10 days and he will be helping make this weekend a special one for Cassie.

collection day

FROM CASSIE: Today was a big day and so much has brought us to this point. A lot has happened in the last 3 months and I'll try to be quick in summing it up. Being diagnosed with lymphoma on July 28th solved the mystery of the mysterious leg pain I had been feeling for much of this year. Since this particular lymphoma was aggressive, it had to be treated aggressively with in-patient chemotherapy until I was in remission and then a bone marrow transplant. After one full round of chemo which required 38 days (and long, sleepless nights) in the hospital I found out I was in remission on September 18th! My scans showed that the cancer, which had previously been in my leg and various lymph nodes, was gone. Many people require more than one round so I'm extremely lucky.... and grateful because chemo is not as fun as it sounds. And it doesn't sound fun.

Now on to the bone marrow transplant. While the chemo train was moving, the search for a donor was also in full swing. The first stop was my only sibling, my sister Carrie, who lives in Ohio. There's a 1 in 4 chance that a sibling will be a match. After a cross-country special delivery of blood for testing and a few weeks of high-tech matching, cross-matching and fancy scientific mumbo jumbo, we found out that she was a match for my marrow on September 18th, the same day we received the remission news. Quite a day! I was released from the hospital on September 24th and sent home to recover from the previous month and a half's events while waiting until preparations were in place for the transplant. And the biggest and most important preparation was getting my sister out to California ASAP. Which brings us back to today-- Collection Day!

My sister and I spent most of the day at the hospital while she underwent hemapheresis, a very fancy term meaning that for 3 hours her blood was circulated through a machine that separated out (or "collected") her wonderful, healthy stem cells that I will receive during my transplant. You gotta love modern medicine. I owe her big for this one. I'm not sure how I'll ever repay her, but I'll have plenty of time to think about it when I check back into my home away from home, UCLA Medical Center, next Monday, 10/26 for the transplant. Nice segue, right? I'll be there for at least a month to get a dab more chemo, a dash of radiation, then the transplant on Day 9 and a couple weeks (or more) for the cells to work their magic. Then I'll need a few months recovery and should be good as new. That's the plan.

Kurt and I will do our best to keep this blog updated through the remaining days of this not-so-fantastic voyage. We've been overwhelmed and humbled by the outpouring of support we've received from our families, friends, workplaces, neighbors, doctors, nurses. We're extremely grateful. Being diagnosed with cancer certainly wouldn't have been my first choice of methods for gaining a greater appreciation for life and those in it. But it sure is effective.

Thanks so much to all our family and friends who are helping us get by and get through.