Leland's second Provenge treatment began on April 7 with the aphoresis procedure in Vancouver. Again, Mark and Tina were able to come and entertain us for much of the three hours Leland was in the chair. As before, Del and Chuck drove us there and back.
On Thursday the 10th, the four of us left again for Seattle Treatment and Wellness Center and the 2nd infusion. Afterward, we met Chaunda, and went to dinner together, then took the Bainbridge Ferry across the Sound to stay at Raspberry Cottage until Monday. We had a great time, seeing part of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival on Friday, attending church in Paulsbo on Sabbath, and exploring Bainbridge Island on Sunday. On Monday we cleaned the house, and left for home. We got only as far as Bremmerton before it became very obvious Del and Chuck's car was not going to make it any further without a major transmission repair. We got a tow, they gave us a loaner car, and we returned to the Cottage until Thursday morning.
Not wanting to waste any vacation time, even though it was forced on us, on Tuesday, we again took a ferry to Seattle, this time as foot traffic. The streets going uptown from the ferry are extremely steep, but Leland had the idea of riding the escalators in the buildings on the corners to the next level, so we did that for 3 of the blocks then walked about 10 more blocks, caught the monorail and spent the rest of the day at the Seattle Center, where among other things we saw a 3-D movie about Madagascar and Lemurs. Very interesting and fun. And we love the ferry rides.
On Wednesday, it was back to Seattle on the Ferry again, this time for Leland to return to the SCTWC and have his central venous cathether flushed and the bandage changed. Then the ferry took us to Bremmerton and we picked up the car, now running very well, went back to the Cottage for the evening and then home on Thursday with a stop in Portland for a doctor's appointment for Chuck. We had Friday at home,then Sabbath after church we drove to Portland to spend Easter with our families. Cherilyn and Todd put up the 4 of us very graciously, and hosted a family dinner for both extended families, with a fun easter egg hunt and egg toss. It was great to see the cousins and babies together and get caught up with the news, as well as meet Ken's new and lovely girl friend, Bryn.
On Monday, we headed to Vancouver for the 3rd and last aphoresis procedure. Home again for Tue and Wed, then Thurs back to Seattle for the last infusion, then a drive to Portland to spend the night and be at Portland Adventist Hospital by 9am to have the central venous catheter removed. Leland is happy to be rid of the nuisance of having to cover it with plastic wrap for a shower, and taping it to his chest so it would not flop around when he moved.
Del and Chuck have been so wonderful to us during this time, giving so much of themselves to drive us to our appointments, always making us think they are happy to spend the time with us. I don't know what we would have done without them and their loving caring ways. We are truly blesssed with family and loved ones who are helping us through this time.
We will have another Circulating Tumor Cell Test done on the 9th of May, and get the results on the 15th when we go to the next appointment. Leland has not been feeling very well, very low energy and a lot of nausea. We hope that the medication he just discontinued was the cause and he will feel better soon.
