I'm doing very well. Still have some pain from the cancer cells. My bone marrow report shows 2% of my bone marrow still being affected. That is down from 11% 4 months ago. Thank you lord. The next step is the stem cell transplant. I'm trying to get a schedule for after Kevin's wedding in August on the 22nd. I sent an email to the doctor asking if there is a check list I should be working from to get ready and if I need blood for this process. I should get an answer this week.

Hope your all in good health. I am finally feeling good and working half days each day. I still need a nap and find it hard to move at about 2:00 when my pain killer wears off. I take 1 tablet every 12 hours. I take it a 6am and 6pm. so for a few hours I have trouble with my pain levels. I also dont have problems with my blood sugar since I stopped taking the steroids. what a releaf.

Steve

Saturday evening, I have been feeling great. Jill and I were out for dinner tonight. Red Robin for the fries and burger. I finally can taste the food for its real taste. The food would have a metallic taste to it before when I was taking the steroids. My doctor emailed me the results of the bone biospy. my cancer is down from 11%of the cells to 3% of the cells. Great news!!! I'm working toward getting my stem cell transplant just after Kevin's wedding. late August to early September. This will put me in complete remission. I really have felt almost normal these days since I stopped taking the chemo drugs. I even worked for 3. hours today at the carpet store as the back up sale person. David H was working the full schedule 8 to 4. Tomorrow night we are going to celebrate Jill's step mom's birthday at claim jumpers. That should be fun as well.

Thanks for praying and supporting me. best wishes to you and extended family.

Need prayer please send me your request via email at rietze6@roadrunner.com

Steve

Hi everyone. Its Friday and I'm feeling great. I have been doing very well the last couple of days. I have more energy and almost feel normal. Jill has commented that i'm doing much better and back to my normal self. We start a large job today that I sold. John Fitzgerald is doing some prep work and sealing the floor. This is in prepration for wood that will be installed next week.

My next step is to get a list of steps to get ready for the stem cell transplant. There is a check list of things that have to be done. Thanks for praying and supporting me in my illness. Have a great day.

Monica is dating a young man. Every morning they text each other a bible verse. Nice to see that communication tools are being used for the right reason.

prayer request: scheduled date for the stem cell transplant after Kevin's wedding.

Steve

i'm doing much better these days. I have been working and working longer hours. The result of dropping all he medications has made me feel weak but less ups and downs. We were at the river over the weekend. I was still recovering from weakness and naussea. thankfully Patty an Ted bought a window airconditioner which helped keep me cool. It seems the heat and my energy level dont mix very well. I was able to get out on the boat on friday night and enjoyed a couple of hours watching the kids wake surf. I'm feeling good today and look forward to a good day.

Prayer request: I'm scheduling my stem cell replacement for just after Kevin and Alina get married on August 22. So Pray this works out.

Steve

Its Thursday, Wednesday was a normal day. No chemo treatment any more the next step is the stem cell transplant. I have to see about the timing since Kevins wedding is august 22. hopefully the treatment time will be within the next 4 to 5 weeks and i can be done before the wedding. The stemcell treatment will make sure that i am completely free of the multiple myeloma and that i'll be in remission. How long I stay in remission is up to God. but i'm willing to go that route. we are going to the river this weekend. I'll try to have fun on the boat (HA Ha Ha). i'm looking forward to this trip. I will not have chemo to worry about.

have a fun 4th of July.

It's Tuesday am 1:40 am. I'm not sleeping again. I had the bone marrow biopsy yesterday at ucla and dr eradat at 5:00pm. It hurt of course. The most painful part is when the doctor extracts the bone marrow. The doctor can not numb the bone marrow. so this hurt and hurt does it ever. Dr eradat thinks it's time to do the stem cell replacement. The bone marrow biopsy will tell us how far along the chemo treatment has taken me. Dr Vakil thinks it is 50% improvement. The bone marrow biopsy will confirm what the actual numbers are. The only thing is the wedding is in 2 months and that is what it would take to get the stem cell replacement.