31/69/85

What, reading the blog's not enough excitement for you, you had to upstage the goings on down here with the fires!!! We've been keeping up with whats going on via tv weather, the fires are a very big story for them, and speaking to some of you with first hand reports.

We found out the baby is doing very well, a hefty 3 pounds.

It's been a bit frustrating here, the fevers go & the fevers come back. No one can figure them out. The good news about the fevers is that they have not been as high as 103 for many weeks. The solid food issue is a big push of Pam's but the doc's aren't worried as long as I get enough calories for the Boost, ice cream , smoothies etc.

We may be getting a handle on the blood pressue drop when I stand up. I was up and took a good walk around the floor [not on the floor] and we plan on another later today.

Every couple of days I seem to have a neverland day, when they give me the big slug of Benedryl prior to administering some drug or other. I sleep for a few hours then it takes the rest of the day before I can find my nose with my index finger. Of course to even out the Benedryl, sometimes the give me steroids which hype's me up so I'm in a constant state of tired, but anxious.

Another day is closing and here we are, waiting to see what tomorrow will bring.

Howdy y'all...Tis I, the blogette The "blogger" is snoring his keppe off in my right ear. I keep reminding myself that he is the pathretic little patient, to try to keep myself from putting a pillow over his face to mute the horrific noice eminating from it! How in the world can someone supposedly in a weakened condition sound like a convoy of armored vehicles all by his little old self??

Anyway, first to respond to your blogs, thanks for writing! We really do enjoy your messages. And, thanks for the info; Neil, your article was particularly interesting and we'll check on it (even tho it's a little late for us, it sounds like info it would be good to have). Re; Ruth and Ray, YES. it's our very own Ruth Cooper Manus. And all of you can certainly contact each other, either on the blog or your e-mail addresses, I'm sure you can figure it out. For Pete's sake, if I could learn to use the computer to blog, you guys can find each other's email addresses and follow up. I think we need to have a big reunion party to celebrate Mr. Rudman's recovery when this is finished!! How about it? Our place at 8, B.Y.O.B. Rene, thanks for the info on the fires, I was just trying to find out where they were; I hope they're gaining control of them!

And now, news from Houston...Unfortunately, Mike is having slight fevers again. He still has pneumonia in both lungs, it hasn't gotten any better or worse. The docs aren't sure why...The doctors also aren't sure what is causing the fevers, although they don't seem to think it's from the pneumonia. We've seen all kinds of specialists, pulmonary (lung), infectious diseases, kidney, etc., and they all just scratch their heads. They don't appear particularly worried, just baffled. Every time Mike gets a "new" fever (with some fever-free time in between), they draw blood for cultures, none of which ever have turned up positive for anything (he must have his own little wing in the lab with all of his cultures!!) It's frustrating, because it almost seems like we might be able to check out and then we start the process all over again. But, we certainly aren't the only ones with this problem; there are lot's of patients with pneumonia (which makes me wonder if there's some reason the patients are catching it here, or is it just a common occurance for transplant patients), and most patients do not seem to leave the hospital after only a few weeks, most end up staying for last minute complications like we did.

Mike also has a problem with severe dry mouth. This makes it difficult to eat; things either don't taste, they taste bad, or the consistancy is like "sawdust" quoteth Michael, so he won't eat. Well, he's already weak from fevers, and he's lost a lot of weight (we've been here FIVE WEEKS already...), and a lack of calories and nutrition isn't helping. This is definitely the issue that frustrates me the most!

Probably the biggest problem, however, if that Mike's blood pressure is tanking everytime he stands up. This causes him to get dizzy, and if he can't sit down quickly enough, he'll faint. This is another of those mystifying issues. The doctors are trying to come up with a remedy, but part of the solution is for him to be more active, and eat and drink more, which takes us back to the beginning of the circle...See?

Believe me, spend a few hours around this place and you realize just how bad things can get, and how " lucky" we are. We'll deal, and we'll win, it's just frustrating and icky going through some of it. Over all, Mike continues to be as agreeable and easy to deal with as he can (except about food!!), and I see how awful other patients can be to their wives/husbands/caregivers. I think I'll keep him!

Oh yeah, we'll keep you, too!!

27/73/89

Mike here, you know the stodgy accountant, not the comedy writer MFCT you're expecting.

The main part of Houston escaped Rita. There was still alot of damage in the outlying communities. We speak to our nurses and aides about it. Many drove 4 - 12 hours to get loved ones out of Houston then turned around and came in for thier shift at the hospital.

I'm reacting with some of the medication they give me and I'm ready to crawl intobed half an hour afer waking. Some of these drugs also make me a bit dizzy if I'm just going for a walk. You know, walk down the corridor, drag Mike. If I can't keep up, well they tell me some patients are never heard from again.

We've been good sports, time to get out of here.

Hi! It's almost 2am Sunday night/ Monday morning, so I guess this counts for our Monday blog. We slept all day, so now I'm not sure whether or not I can fall back asleep...Ah, who amI kidding? I can always fall asleep; it's the staying asleep that I'm not good at.

Mike has continued to sleep pretty much all day, as he has for the past two days. As a result, he is getting weaker and weaker. The doctor is totally unfazed, she says his fatigue is due to an extremely high level of a particular drug in his body, and that he'll feel better (she doesn't however, even hint at when). Apparently, because his kidneys don't work as well as they should, they don't filter out as much of "foreigh substances" like medications as would have been expected. This particular med, which has a million side effects, is one of the very most important...it deals with graft vs. host disease (which is the complicated reaction when donor material -- stem cells, kidneys, heart,skin, etc) is introduced to a recipients' body. Mike will have to take it for about a year all together. I think when the dose is corrected, the side effects are much more subtle. Right now, they're pretty lousy! Not only is he tired, but he is very unsteady on his feet, and his hands shake so badly it's hard for him to get food on a fork or into his mouth (which is of little interest to him anyway.)I wake him up every once in a while to try to eat something, or to do some exercises with the stretchy bands the physical therapists gave him.

The last few days have been a strange adventure, with the nurses camping out wherever they could find room to unroll a sleeping bag, and with any approved visitors" (like me") needing to wear an arm band for identification. Many of the staff either lived nearby or had family that lived in or near a storm battered neighborhood and so they were obbviously concerned and kept running to nearby tv sets to see the news whenever they could. All of these circumstances have diluted the worry we might otherwise have experienced about Mike. We are both convinced we are in the right place, with the best people watching over him, so we're gonna trust the doc that he'll perk up soon. And, trust me, the "he-owes-me" jewelery list is growing while you read...

It's Saturday morning, and I'm happy to report that we're still as fine and dandy as ever! The "hurricane" skirted around the city of Houston, causing all kinds of damage in it's path, but leaving the city (and especially where we are) pretty much untouched. I stayed awake until about 4 a.m., peeking under the window shade in hopes of actually seeing a hurricane for myself, but nothin' happened! My disappointment at missing what may be a once in a lifetime opportunity to actually be in a hurricane was offset by the knowledge that we could have been in deep do-do if the power had gone off in the hospital (and we had to choose between microwave/coffee pot and life support equipment...tough choice...)

Anyhow, it seems that the rest of Texas, and the poor folks in Louisiana are digging out from the mess left by Rita, and our biggest inconvenience is that meals aren't served by "room service" today...

Mike remains fever-free. He's trying to sit up in a chair more, (being in bed is bad for pneuomonia), and we walk around the eleventh floor as much as he can. He still seems pretty weak, and unusually exhausted, but the doctor insists that everything is coming along very well! So, for now we'll just wait and see; if he doesn't seem to perk up in a day or two, I'll make some noise.

And, in response to the old farts reading this blog, please note that I not only stopped using the pleasing and decorative green ink, but I also made the type BOLDER so your old eyes don't have to strain...

That's it for now. Maybe when "sleeping beauty" awakens, he'll write too. Until then, thanks for worrying about us, but now stop!

Hi...it's Friday morning in downtown Houston. It's really sorta freaky outside. The sky is just a bit overcast, and the wind is picking up a little, but you would never guess that a nightmare like "Rita" is lurking just around the corner. There is virtually no one out on the street. Our Hospital instituted a rule last night that no one else could come in, so no one who wanted to be here left. I'm supposing that the other hospitals probably have the same rule. It might have been a little easier if the staff in charge had warned us; there are people here who had no chance to go out and pick up extra clothing or food. Last night they just suddenly closed the cafeteria early and stopped serving family members from room service, but all in all I suppose this was a minor inconvenience compared to what people were experiencing out on the roads! It was really horrible, at least on the news. Thousands and thousands of people were trapped on the highways with no way to go forward or get off. Many just pulled off the road when they were finally able, and stopped in shopping parking lots or whatever, and made make-shift camp sites (using bushes or asphalt for toilets!) Authorities are trying to get help out to the stranded drivers before the storm hits; G-d help them!

Mike is, thankfully, still fever-free! He is still feeling a little unsteady when he stands up, but the doctor thinks maybe it's due to dehydration and /or some of the drugs he's taking. But, since he is not running a fever, no one wants to mess around with too much. For now, they're just going to pump in more fluids.

Right now, Mike is napping, and I still have coffee, so all is right with the Rudmans for now. Tune in for further developments...

Thursday evening, 9/22...Houston, pre hurricane...

Hi guys, we're checking in, while we can. JUST SO THAT YOU DON'T WORRY ANYMORE THAN YOU ALREADY ARE, WE PROBABLY WON'T BE ABLE TO GET PHONE CALLS OR USE THE INTERNET DURING THE "THICK" OF THE STORM. We're hoping that is the worst of the inconvenience, but we'll soon see. We may be crazy, or oblivious, but we're really not worried. We are just SOOO glad we aren't one of those million poor souls stuck on the freeway. Some of those people have been there for 10-l5 hours and they haven't moved ! The city of Houston was doing a great job of organizing the evacuation until it came to the population following the directions and actually leaving! Then, all hell broke loose! Traffic stopped, engines overheated, people overheated, cars ran out of gas, it's a nightmare. I can't even imagine if we were stuck there. We've been told that all the patients that were previously discharged were given several days of iv fluids to do on their own and told to get out of town with everyoine else. So, they're stuck too. We'd much rather be here. We're on the eleventh floor, and if the winds present a threat to the windows, we'll just move into the center of the floor by the elevators where there aren't any. (And then, we'll give them an estimate to replace the windows!!!
Good business arises from a bad situation!) The only problem that is expected is a loss of electrical power, as we already mentioned, so we probably will have trouble making or receiving phone calls, either cell phone or "land line". So, if you can't reach us, but you haven't seen our mugs on the t.v. or a milk carton, assume we're fine until further notice. As soon as the power is restored, and Pam's had her coffee, you'll hear from us!

We do want you to know that MR.R. is finally fever free!! We do believe we've found the "magic formula" of anti-biotics and whatever other drugs, so now we just have to outlast the storm
and break free of this joint. In the meantime, we're gonna make Mike hike around the floor and build up his strength. Until then, it's "Pamandmikeinhouston",over and out.

22/78/94 <== isn't a Star Trek Star Date for something. I can almost hear Captain Kirk say "Star Date 22/78/94 Our mission ... "

Houston in general, and the hospital in particular, is really gearing up for Hurricane Rita. All that is on any t.v.channel is hurricane coverage. It's actually very "exciting", there is such hustle and bussle; everyone is talking to everyone and anyone else about the latest prediction. One of our fav nurses told us the nursing staff was told to bring clothing on Friday and be prepared to stay for 5 days. Unfortunately, the excitement factor is overshadowed by the fear many people here have as they face the possible loss of their property .

According to people "in the know", we will not be in any danger...inconvenience, yes, danger, no. We're told that previous hurricanes flooded out much of the medical center. As a result, MD Anderson moved all their heavy building equipment to the eighth floor to protect them, and they're actually in the process of improving the city drainage system right now (their timing could be better!) We've been told that we will probably lose the electricity, but generators are in place to keep i.v. machines and other life sustaining equipment running (Will Pam's coffee pot qualify?) Pam went to the apartment yesterday to get some more clothes (and, junk food) so that she doesn't need to go out during the upcoming storm. The roads are already jammed, and the cabbies are testy!

As for Mike's current health status; we've had some "ups" and "downs". His blood test results continue to improve, so much so that his platelets are normal (?) (He was expected to need transfusions by now). As he has often said, on paper he looks like a thirty year old man (with hair!) In the flesh however, he has a way to go! He still has pneumonia (in both lungs...), he still has fevers, and he started fainting again. During the inaugural Houston episode, his lovely wife caught him and delicately lowered him to the floor (o.k. so it wasn't so delicate). At most hospitals they now have a paper "leaf" that the nurses tape to the outside of the door of patienst who tend to fall (Get it? Leaf/fall) Mike has now earned a leaf...Pam earned another piece of jewelery to make up for scaring the beejeezes out of her!!(To be selected at another date.) As a result of his fainting, and because he still has a fever, in spite of loads of anti-biotics, his doctor called in an infectious disease team. They're running some more tests and will attempt to come up with a new treatment protocal for him. In the meantime, everyone is hovering over him to be sure that he doesn't pass out and whack his head. He's still trying to keep his positive attitude, but it's getting to be more and more difficult to not get frustrated over the constant complications.

And finally.....Amy and Brian were one of the winning couples in a J-Date contest. They have a half- page photo advertisement in the New York Times that is GORGEOUS. We're hoping to see them in a L.A. paper, too. Offers of representation for the beautifuy people will be entertained buy their business manager [.. oh my, could that be me?]

It looks like we fell into more good fortune. Because of all of the new tests, they're not letting us go to our apartment. The good news about all of this is we're still in the hospital and we won't have to worry about navigating the flooded roadways that are to be expected due to Hurricane Rita, for me to get to the clinic every day.

There are 1000's of stories in the Naked Clty, this has been one of them.

19/81/97 <-- got it?

The doc's are trial and erroring the antibiotics to get rid of all this. This is not an unusual way to do this. In all the years I've been doing this, not one blood or other culture has turned up positive. Heck any one of you could have told the docs that I have no culture.

Enough about me [for now]. I want to give you a little insight into MD Anderson. The full name of the medical facility is "The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center". Every one who works here works for the state of Texas. I thought it was curious that all the sheets, blankets, pillow cases lab coats, scrubs ... you get the idea ... are all embroidered with "The University of Texas MD Anderson Can Center," Does it means anythin? I don't know.

Second interesting item. Ever day they give me lots of drugs [some are fun] I took a good look at what was written on one of the the other day ... ONE A DAY huh??

Third factoid [not necessarily interesting] One of the things they tell you here is to be certain to drink, drink. When I ordered lunch, I asked for bottled water. What do they give me, two 8 oz. bottles of OZARKA water. I'm not sure how comforting it is drinking water from the ozarks. Isn't that where some of the hurricanes huffed and puffed etc.


I was willing to be opened minded so I looked at the bottles. At first I thought I was looking a tequilla with that agave worm in it. Oy!!!

Oh, BTW, my platlets continue to go up and are very strong. We're hopeful not to need any platelets for me. More to follow.

Kobe FugetSound rock. No more please

new day 17
home day 83
Bozo day 99

Hey, hey, hey, think you guys all need to get your priorities straight. You seem to have lost sight about what this blog is about ... me, me, me. I'm the sick guy, so you all have to cut me some slack. I'll write off all of your comments about Pam being funnier than me as your way to boost her spirits and I love you all for it.

Today was a tough day, infections sprung up again so I'm getting the attention I need here. Seriously, things are popping up that are uncomfortable, but once again the doc's say it's not unexpected, but we sure didn't expect all this.

So its onward and onward. Some times 3 steps forward and 2 steps back. We sort of figured out that there needs to be a certain amount of aggragation, pain and junk during the life of this project. I'm getting my tough time now rather than early in the process.

No jokes from me today. As Joe Friday said, Just the facts, mam."


And, from Pam...I just want to thank all of you who have written in to us, your messages and especially your funny, funny blogs have given us a lot of laughs; you're not as funny as we are, but keep trying! When there aren't any helicopters, we turn to your blogs for entertainment.

Yo,Bloggers...here we are again! I'm happy to report that Mike is getting a wee bit stronger, and has actually been out of bed and "limping" around the nurses station a few times this morning. I think all it took to get him up and running yesterday was the knowledge that I had beaten him to the Blog...as soon as he realized I was leaving a new message he just HAD to wake up and have the last word! Well, if that's what it takes, he can have the last word, and the illusion that he is funnier than I am. WE ALL KNOW THE "truth". ( I accidentally hit the caps lock and I'm not gonna fix it 'cause it pisses me off!!) Actually, a LOT of things piss me off these days (that was NOT an accidental "cap"). For one thing, there is a Jewish mafia here at Anderson that insists on sending these saccharin old ladies (o.k., they're not so old...) to come to our door and look pathetic and whine "Is everything all right sweetie?" I smile and say "yes, thank you", but in my head I'm screaming "Yeah, sure b*#@*! It's WONDERFUL! We love being cooped up in a room that smells like disinfectant, having our body drained of blood and refilled with poison, and being entertained by strangers that ask stupid questions!!!" Whoa...Sorry! I think the real me snuck out for a moment. But I feel suddenly lighter for some reason! (The real humor here is that whilst I write this, the JewLady" just came again!!!)

Mike's temperature is normal this morning, and he's really trying get back in my good graces, after battling with me last night over not wanting to eat or get out of bed, so he dragged his sore legs out of bed and did some exercises and then walked a bit around the nurses station. I know that his legs are really sore; it's amazing how little time it takes to lose all muscle mass when you're in bed for two days--he went from doing a speed walk around the whole floor, to barely getting around the room! But he knows that there are several patients here who have been here for many, many months because they got so weak they can't get out of bed, so he promised to make a better effort. Now he takes a small am0unt of pain meds and then drags himself out of bed. He actually feels better once he's up. We're going OUTSIDE this afternoon if it doesn't rain! The floor Doc told us to get the heck out of this room and go smell the air outside (In Houston you can not only smell air, you can pick it up and throw it, it's so darn heavy!)

That, friends, is pretty much it for now. Hopefully we'll bust out of this joint before too long. Please keep blogging, some of you are actually pretty funny (the others just think you are; you figure wh0's who...) We look forward to your messages and jokes. I'm gonna post this now, but I'm sure Mikey will add on when he wakes up (he's currently in a benedryl stupor...)

Hi out there in blogland...sorry that we haven't posted an update for a couple of days, but we really weren't sure what was going on , and frankly I think we were both too bummed to write in. So, here's the scoop...we're staying in the hospital until further notice. Mike has developed pneumonia accompanied by surging fevers (up to 103.5), and the combination has just wiped out his energy. As frustrating as it is to have missed our opportunity to get out of here, we're actually lucky that this happened before we went to the apartment and then had to come back through the emergency room. Mike has had all kinds of tests (including a bronchoscopy), and everything is "normal", his temperature is actually hovering around normal on occasion, and the doctors keep saying that although all of this is frustrating, it isn't uncommon. We just have to wait it out. It's just particularly annoying because we thought we were going to breeze through this, judging by how "easy" it was for the first two weeks.

So, we're regrouping and recovering. Instead of taking three fast laps around the eleventh floor, we're taking two slow "laps"around the room. Mike isn't eating much, but I'm eating everything so our weight is balancing out. I am constantly on his case to get him to eat something, although that is not his best subject when he doesn't feel good. I'm trying not to drive him crazy, but he tends to want to curl up and not do anything when he doesn't feel good, and I'm nudging him to eat, or get up, or whatever. I think he'd probably prefer to be nagged by some cute young thing like at Tarzana Hospital, but there ain't any that match that description here!! He actually is VERY appreciative of my efforts, and he thanks me all the time, but he's afraid of me now 'cause I'm stronger than he is, so who knows ...he's just thanking his lucky stars that there aren't any jewelery stores within walking distance of this hospital like there were at UCLA!

Honestly, we're disappointed and bored, but we understand that this is just how things sometimes go. We haven't driven each other crazy YET, but we're working on it And, we do have fun reading your comments on the "Blog", so thank you! We love you, we're thinking about you, we "feel" your love and concern (Geeze, I sound like Billy Graham...), and we're looking forward to coming home ...in 85 days!!!(101 days to "our" baby!)

MIKE HERE

I was tryin to get you all excited sbout things like the glossary, so I was waiting to offer you the Preminum Version of our BLOG, at a nominal additional charge, but when Pam found out, she was ready to do great bodily harm to me. So with no premium service, here is the glossary;

phantom fevers - - fevers that come up with no apparant cause. Test after test, blood cultures, yada, yada , yada and nothing shows up.

bribe - - we've gotten some really awesome cookies, candies, home made mandel bread etc. In order to avoid pam and me getting diabetes, we've used some of the goodies to make special friends.

BTW - - This is chat room stuff that stands for "by the way"

spiking fevers - - fevers that jump way up then go away. They follow every change here to make sure no little thing sneaks by.

warm blankets - - I've found one of the great pleasures of life is when you have a little chill and the nurses cover you up with a specially warmed blanket. They're very cozy. I ask for one someimes just because I don't have a warm puppy to warm up my bed. BTW a warm blanket is not the samr as an electric blanket,there are very important, suble differences.

New day 12
Home day 88
Bozo day 104
* * * * * * * *
Update!! The latest is ... [drum roll] ... we might not get out of here Monday. Things have been doing so well, I've been taken for granted the last few days. In orer to get some attention, I had some phantom fevers [see the glossary attached]. I managed to have fevers from 100 to 103.4 and that got everone's attention. After I had everyone paying attention, I took some med's and asleep at about 4:00 am. Poor Pam was up all that time too. After that episode, all was back to normal [I hesitate to use that word]

One of the many things Pam and I have wondered about was why hospitals tell you to rest so you can recover faster, sometimes even giving some medication to help you sleep, then proceed to wake you four times between midnight and 6:00 am for tests. How do you do you're rest when you're being awakened every two hours.

Pam has managed to sweet talk and sometimes bribe [see glossary attached] the CNA to check my vitals at about midnight then wait until 5:00 to do it again. We also have convinved the RN's to do the same for med's.

Revised departure date is Wednesday. BTW [glossary] spiking fevers [glossry] is not an unusual occurance. Spiking fevers could be the sign of the onset of an infection that must be treated ASAP. As an out patient, we would have to go to the hospital [do not pass go] immediately. It's much easier to buzz the nurse and let the nurse get drugs, IV's warm blankets [glossary] than it is to get to the car, zoom over here and wait and wait and wait, sometime 2 to 3 hours, until I could be seen by the ER. The ER will give me some high dose broadband [not DSL] antibiotics before telling me to wait for the doc.

So, I guess we've been blessed again, the spiking fevers happened while I'm still an in patient. Now that I've had my phantom fevers, maybe I can avoid another episode. I think, however, that the reason I'll be avoiding the fevers is that Pam told me not to do that again. She never told me that before ...

New day 10
Home day 90
Bozo day 106

So far things are moving along nicely. [No, actually things are great!] We're still making plans to be sprung from MD Anderson on Monday. It'll be a busy day because they [Anderson people] will remove the central venous catheter [CVC] I have now and replace it with a slightly different model that has two lumens - - the tubes that are used to pump goodies into me, including the new bone marrow. The CVC they put in when we got here is a triple lumen. They like to change out the triple for a double beause I won't need the triple as an OUT PATIENT [emphasis added gratefully] and the extra lumen could be another spot for unwanted infection. [That part is really redundant because all infections are unwanted.] After the CVC swap, we have a lot of training on medications and things. They are changing a number of drugs from IV to oral. so we administer them ourself.

We are all really thrilled that they are allowing us to get out, but when Pam and I started thinking about it, we wern't thrilled that we had to be discharged [we are thrilled that I'm doing well enough to be discharged] . The in-patient nurses and support staff are wonderful, they take care of everything. When we're disgharged, I'll have to be in the clinic every day for three to six hours. How many jig saw puzzels can one person do??

The clinic does help by providing special areas where we can lie down and nap or watch TV or movies, [but no room service delivery of food] but it's always better to be in your own space than in a shared environment. This is another thing that we didn't get a vote about. Oh well!

Thanks for all the goodies [chocolate, cookies and brownies]. I think we have enough to share with the people who were bussed in from New Orleans. We love them but we're afraid of me contracting diabetes from all the sugar!!

There is one aw shit!! Yesterday I started to lose my hair and MY BEARD in large chunks. A small price to pay, but I needed to complain about something. I guess if this is our big complaint, it hardley counts.

Love to all of you and keep up the prayers and good karma.

New day 9
Home day 91
Bozo day 107

We just finished a DISCHARGE CLASS. Yep, it is just as is sounds, they are letting us out of the institution on Monday. [They don't discharge on weekends.] We were thrilled at my blood counts this morning. White count went up into the NORMAL range. [And just when you were convinced how abnormal I am.] Platelets today went up yesterday and the increase was significant especially because today or tomorrow are typicall the lowest blood caount days of the entire treatment.

BeginingMonday no one should be calling us on the hospital room direct line. The best way to reach us is via Pam's cell phone. We will do our best to put pictures of our apartment complex common area's onthis site. If we have difficulty doing that, call Pam or leave a message and we will email them to you.

No jokes today except the story about the young blond who went to her gynocologist, found out she was pregnant, she was surprised and said to her doc, "are you sure its mine?"

I'm not preggers, Pam's not preggers, Amy's not preggers [whew!!], but Jody is preggers. This is the best coming home present we could ever get. Bozo will be the best chanukkah present of all times. All of you chellava havurah's ... this is one gift that will never go into the white elephant.

New day 8
Home day 92
Bozo day 109

The doc's just left us and boy were we surprised when they started talking about going home [us, not them! We havn't scared them away yet] - - getting out of MD Anderson and going to our apartment. My white bood counts jumpedd way up [that's good] so it appears that the new cells are starting to kick in. [THERE IS NO "THAT'S BAD"]

There is still a very strong liklihood that I'll be readmitted to the hospital. It's more common than not.

Thanks for all the prayers, well wishes, good karma, big smiles and giant hugs we have been getting. We're grinning like Cheshire cats.

Hi...it's Pam again. (Boy is Mike gonna be suprised when he sees this and discovers that I can "BLOG" on my own!!) We're bored, but well. Mike is (poo,poo, knock on wood, whatever other bubbemises dispel "kennehoras") feeling and looking great. The "pee-pee" spasms are a definite problem, but other than that excruciating pain, he's good! We are a little bored, however, which probably accounts for the fascination with the helicopter landing pad scross from our window. (Just wait until you have to sit through our photos of every single helicopter that lands there!)

Regarding our request for platelets...we've discovered that donations made outside of Houston, while being a GREAT and desperately needed service to the general community, will not really benefit Mike in any way that's worth the extra effort it would take to get a "credit" to him. (The "credit" is actually a small cash credit, not an offset of products used, as we thought.) Only blood products donated in Houston can be directed to Mike. so call your friends and relatives in Houston, will ya...If you plan to come to Houston, we can set up an appointment for anyone who wants to donate . If you donate anywhere else, just consider the enormous benefit you are providing to the community as its own reward!

And...yes, there are victims of the hurricane here at Anderson (as well as in Houston in general). We were told that one patient here was 1 day post transplant (!) when the hurricane hit and his hospital was flooded. He actually saved another patient from drowning before they both ended up out on the street and in the muck before they were rescued. Boy will he have stories to tell!! Here we are avoiding "germs" from every little thing, and these people end up out in the mud and assorted other junk from a demolished city!!

Lastly, we miss you all desperately (Maybe not really desperately, but alot). Almost every day we are bom- barded by someone from the Jewish community trying to be our new friends, but we just send them away 'cause we got our OWN friends at home! So, please don't replace us while we're gone...

O.K., I'm done. Love to all of you. Thanks for your messages, we really do look forward to reading them. Thanks for your concern and response to our request for blood and platelets, and thanks for being such good friends, in every sense of the term!!!

new day 6
home day 94
bozo day 110
* * * * * * * *
Big day today. I start a regimine of neupogen. Neupo is a drug developed by
Amgen [based in 1000 Oaks] that enhances white blood count. There are other names for slight variations of neupogen. Newlasta is the long acting version. I think the use of neupo means the doc's are trying to jump start my bone marrow into producing my new white blood cells. Producing new, clean white blood cells it a large part of what our Houston trip was all about,
well. that and finding a reason for all of us to learn about a BLOG.

Neupo is a cousin to Epogen. Epo is the red blood cell enhancing drug also developed by Amgen. I have had plenty of Epo which was used to boot my red count and heomoglobin so I didn't get tired as easily. Now you know why I haven't been racing in the Tour d'France the past few years. Allegations have been flying that Lance Armstrong used Epo to boost his white count which would increase available oxygen in the blood. It's such a relief to unburden myself. The stress of keeping my secret about using performance enhancingdrugs has been difficult. I hope the IOC stops running around with that little plastic cup with the blue top when I shower at the gym. [That's not a prety visiual is it?]

Hot topic for water cooer discussion around here is the people displaced from New Orleans by Katrina. More about that in future blogs.

*!!$** sh** Bitch complain ... ##!@#$ [I felt like complaining today]

Its another day in paradise ... day 4 and all is moving along quite well.

Good shabbas. The Chabad rebbe came in to see us again today. He is really what your personal sterotype would conjur up for a Chabad rebbe, white shirt, no tie, black pants, a Manaschewitz belly that stretches is his shirts buttons, black hat, bushy beard that looks a little funny poking out beneath the mask he is obligated to wear when he visits a patient's room. He is very nice and only stays a few minutes to offer prayer or assistance if wanted. Chabad also leaves us a small, freshly baked challah to assist us celebrate Shabbas. Very good challa, I want you to know.

Thanks to all who have family, friends, business acquaintances etc. in Houston and whohave offered to get in touch with them about donating platelets. Generosity and selflessness shown in efforts like these is extremely humbling and appreciated. Keep it up. I have not been told when I will need platelets, but it looks like it will be soon. When I need them, the time is very short to obtain them, so all must be in place beforehand.

Keep it up all of you. I'm doing my part and you must be doing your part 'cause ... so far so good, but there's a lot more to come.

We Need Platelet Donors! [This part is a pitch for platelets, there is reguar info blog following.]

The biggest need at this stage is to address Mike’s need of blood platelets by transfusions of single donor platelets. Single donor platlets is when all the platelets give on a particular day are from one donor rather than a group of donors who’s platelets are aggregated to make one transfusion.

Donating platelets is a simple process that lasts about two hours. The donations must occur at the M.D. Anderson blood bank here in Houston. A volunteer we met via the Jewish Chaplain's office, by the name of Anita Osman, will answer any questions a potential donor might have and will coordinate the donation schedule. Ms. Osman has graciously provided us [more importantly you] with extensive information on the platelet donating process, information that is included below

A donation of platelets on your trip to Houston is very important. If you are going to be here and you are not sure that you qualify to donate, please call Anita at 281-488-3356 before your trip and she will answer any question you might have.

FROM ANITA OSMAN:

The chemo that Mike has recently undergone will depress his immunity and because of this he is in a special hospital room for a sort of "protected environment." He will most likely be having many transfusions of blood components, and will especially be in need of many platelet transfusions for quite some time.

Platelets are a component of our blood that makes the blood clot. Platelet donors are desperately needed by Mike. The platelet donations need to be coordinated with the timing of his transfusions. This is because they must be used for the patient within about 24 hours after the donation. Because of this, the donors may need to be called upon with fairly short notice.

Anita Osman is going to be coordinating the volunteer platelet donors for Mike and is very knowledgeable about this process. She does this work as a volunteer, out of her home, and has been coordinating platelet donors for patients at MDAnderson for over 12 years now.

Please contact Anita by phone and feel free to leave a message with your name, phone number(s), and blood type on her voice mail, or by email. She will be available to schedule your platelet donation appointment and coordinate it with Mike's needs.

If you contact Anita by email, please let her know:
Your First and Last Name
Your Blood Type (assuming that you know it)
Your phone numbers (home, work, & cell)
email addresses (work & home)
what prescription or over the counter medications you take
whether you have donated whole blood or platelets before & if so, when?
your availability (when you will be visiting the Rudmans in HoustonTX)

The platelet donation must be done for Mike in Houston, TX at the M. D. Anderson Blood Bank, which is located at 7707 Fannin (diagonally across from the Astrodome). Their dedicated appointment times for donating platelets are:
Monday - Friday at 8 am, 10 am, 12 noon, 2pm, 4pm and 5, 5:30 or 6 pm
Saturday, Sunday and Holidays at 8 am, 10 am, 12 noon, 2pm

The process takes about 2 hours and you can even bring a movie on a VCR tape or DVD to watch while you donate. Your body reproduces your platelets in about 48 hours and a person can donate platelets again in approximately 48-72 hours (but no more than 24 times per year.) The entire process is simple and safe.

Some basic eligibility requirements for Platelet Donation are:
- must be at least 17 years of age
- must be in good health
- must weigh a minimum of 110 lbs.
- must have a photo ID, Social Security number or Foreign Passport
- must have eaten in the last 4 hours before donation
- may not have had dental work 24 hours prior to donation
- may not have had ibuprophen, Motrin, Nuprin, Advil or Aleve for 48 hours prior to donation
- may not have had aspirin or aspirin containing products for 48 hours prior to donation
- may not have had Garlic, Ginseng, Ginko, or Ginger Herbal Supplements for 48 hours prior to donation (food flavorings are fine)
- may not have taken antibiotics for 72 hours prior to donation
- may not have had skin tattoos, body piercing, acupuncture, or some major surgeries (for a period of time prior to donation - check for latest updates on this)
- there are some restrictions with respect to Travel Outside the U.S. (check for latest updates on this as to length of stay and locations)

Acceptable Conditions:
- most medications (blood pressure, diabetes, antihistamines, asthma, etc.) are ok
- most vaccines: Influenza, Tetanus (some require a 2-4 week wait) are ok
- allergy shots are ok

Anita will most likely phone you back and answer your individual questions, like: where, when, how, and what is involved in platelet donation, etc.

Some extra info:
- Platelets are the blood elements that stop bleeding. They are vital to patients receiving cancer therapy.
- Platelets are donated through a process called plateletpheresis which is a special blood donation process that allows you to give just one part of your blood, the platelets, while safely giving you back the rest.
- During plateletpheresis, your blood goes into a sterile blood cell separator instead of going into a plastic bag, as in a regular blood donation. While the blood is in the separator, the platelets are carefully removed, and the rest of your blood (plasma, red and white cells) is returned to you.
- Since plateletpheresis returns the other blood components to you, minor side effects associated with whole blood donation are avoided. Some donors may feel a slight tingling sensation around the lips and nose, or a slight chill when they donate platelets.

I know this does not give you much time to plan ahead, but for those of you who are able to do so, Mike and Pam and the entire Rudman family appreciate your help with this desperate need.

Thank you, in advance, for your assistance with this life-saving endeavor!

Anita Osman, DirectorVolunteer Platelet Donor Network15714 Pinewood Cove DriveHouston, Texas 77062-4714Phone: 281-488-3356Cell Ph: 832-723-6175 (if needed)Email: PlateletsAnitaOs@aol.com

This is day whatever, and the blogger is Pam, because I'm tired of the "old man" getting all the strokes! I'm exercising too...I lift the two pound box of chocolates that Lois and Barry sent several times a day, then for the smaller muscle groups I open it and stuff my face with the cute little chocolates! I am developing "muscles" in places that I never knew I had.

I'm getting plenty of rest; if you count sleeping in two hour increments "rest"...someone is always coming in to do something...it's quite disturbing. And, when they come in and ask how "we're" feeling, they interupt me everytime I start "kvetching"! For some reason, Mike gets all the attention around here! Next "vacation" I'm choosing another "hotel"!

Speaking of Mike...he's so damn healthy, I think we should leave before something changes. The nurse came in with his latest lab report, and except for the fact that he has absolutely NO IMMUNE SYSTEM, he's healthy as a horse! Honestly, on paper he looks like he's a much younger man...(But, on paper, I look like I'm much thinner, so go figure). He continues to have a disgustingly positive attitude, and does everything the doctors and nurses tell him to do, which I don't understand at all! Hopefully, things will continue to go as well! Understand that his immune system will continue to drop for a while, until the new stem cells "kick in" and start to boost his blood counts, but in the meantime we hope he'll avoid any opportunistic infections!

Seriously, we both look forward to your comments on the blog. It really boosts Mike's spirits, so keep those messages coming!

One last IMPORTANT NOTE: Mike will be needing blood and platelets soon. Even though he can't use blood products donated in California, we would greatly appreciate it if anyone would donate blood and/or platelets and have it "credited" to Michael's name in order to "replace" the blood products that he uses. To do so, the donations MUST be made at a "AABB" facility (American Association of Blood Banks); local ones are UCLA Blood Bank (310-825-0888), Kaiser on Vermont (323-783-6667), or the Red Cross, (800-448-3543). Please be sure to tell them you want your donation credited to Michael at MD Anderson in Houston

MIKE HERE - You probably remember that I'm partial to Jaime and Fernando at UCLA [just ask Ron Maurer and Maggie Mandel about them].

Anyone planning a trip to Houston, should donate here. Its better for all concerned. You can do so by calling us and we'll set up an appointment at our hospital. I have attached a separate POST about blood donations. Blood and platelets donated here in Houston might be directly used by Mike.

We already miss you all, and we appreciate your prayers and good wishes more than you could know!