November 28, 2009

Today was the Swim for Casey at Lancaster Aquatic Club.  What a great time.  Thank you to Casey Mann who put the whole thing together as her graduation project.  She definately gets an A+ in my book.  She had t shirts and wrist bands made incorporating orange (the color for leukemia) and Carolina blue (Casey's favorite color).  One of the grandmothers made orange ribbon chocolate pops.   A special thank you to Diplomat Swim team for bringing your whole senior team.  There were kids there from Parkland, Ephrata, Wilson, Bloomsburg and more.  It was nice to see the kids from the different teams all getting together for a common goal.  The camaraderie was evident everywhere.  I've always felt swimming has the best and kindest atheletes.

Last Sunday in church the pastor said "Only during the darkest moments can you really see the stars."  Today, I felt like I was in Big Sky country, surrounded by bright stars of all shapes and sizes. 

Monday, November 23, 2009

Saturday night a friend, Ian, called and asked if he could interview Casey for a school project that was due on Monday.  Yesterday Casey had an appointment for his every other day check-up, and you never know if it will take 1 hour or 6 hours.  So in order to get the interview, Ian went along to the infusion room with Casey.  Well Ian lucked out, Casey didn't need any blood or platelets.  I was secretly hoping he would need platelets, because they are kinda funky looking.  I mentioned that to Casey and asked him if he thinks Ian might get freaked by looking at them.  Casey in his true form said "It can't be any worse than what he sees everytime he looks in a mirror."  Poor Ian has been the brunt of so much banter from the Cobles, but that is only because we love him!  I'm not sure if Ian got the interview he was hoping for, but I know Gary and Casey liked having him along.

Today they told Casey they want to admit him to the hospital on Friday.  But it is real important to Casey to be at the Swim for Casey on Friday, so they pushed it back until Thursday, December 3rd.  I hope everyone can attend on Saturday from 12-3 at the Phoenix Academy.  Even if you aren't swimming, please stop by.  No Speedos required.  He would love to see everyone and personally thank you for your ongoing support. 
As always,
Peggy

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Yesterday Casey had an appointment to get some chemo and have his counts checked.  He need to get a couple of bags of blood, so he was up at the hospital all day. Today he starts on steroids again.  Fresh blood and roids should have him feeling good in no time.  I'm thinking he will be ready, willing and able to eat Thanksgiving dinner.   Not much to report, which is a good thing.
Peggy
  

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Lancaster Aquatic Club is graciously hosting a swim for Casey on Saturday, November 28th from 12:00 - 3:00 at the Phoenix Academy.  Casey is hoping to be able to attend.  If you would like to participate, or for more information please see www.Lancasteraquaticclub.com.  I think it sounds like a great day! We will never be able to tell everyone how much we appreciate everything.

Today they postponed Casey's appointment until tomorrow. He is going to get a chemo treatment and have his counts checked.  He had a laid back day today, hanging out with the puppies.  His friend Jen Rehm sent him Roy Williams book "Hard Work, a life on and off the court"... and she had it autographed for him.  He was really excited.  He was looking at the book today, I'm not sure if he was reading it or idolizing it.  For those of you who do not know Roy Williams, he is the beloved basketball coach at University of North Carolina.  His teams have won 2 of the last 5 national championships (including last year and 2005, the year Casey graduated).

Thank You All,
Peggy

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Casey had an appointment yesterday to get another injection of chemo into his spine, so he is laying low and watching college football today.  His counts are still good, but has a bit of nausea today.  A good day to do nothing.  They have him back on the schedule of coming up to the hospital every other day to check his counts and give him blood as needed.  They also told him they found another 8 out of 10 match for the transplant.  I think they are still hoping to find a 9 or 10, so we will wait and see.  I am interested to find out if anyone from the drive is ever contacted for further testing.  Even if you are not a match for Casey, I think it is a great thing to do for somebody else.  Thank you again to everyone who participated in the bone marrow drive.  I am still overwhelmed by all of your kindness.
Peggy

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Casey came home from the hospital last night.  It is good to have him home.  The puppies were soo excited to see him.  They have really bonded.  We had to go back up to Hershey today so he could get his blood counts checked and to get a shot of nuelasta (which helps his white blood counts recover).  He will go back up to the hospital on Friday to get another dose of chemo in his spine.  We also found out that they have some leads on a possible donor match.  Let's say our prayers!
Peggy 

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Today was a warm and sunny day.  Way too beautiful to be confined to a hospital room!  Aunt Cheryl and cousin Ashley came to visit and brought Casey pizza, since he will be missing pizza night tonight.  When they left Casey walked out with them and enjoyed a little time outside.  I take the dogs for a walk....he takes his chemo for a walk.  When we came back inside, my parents were on the first floor of the hospital.  They came upstairs and to find Casey had broken out!  This hospital is big with plenty of places to wander.  Yesterday his spinal was postponed (they held his food and drink all day), and he was ready to eat, so Casey took his chemo out to lunch.  We wheeled his IV stand downstairs to the cafeteria and he ate sitting at a table instead of in his bed.  He has grown very used to having tubes coming out of his chest.  Casey is prepping for this transplant, like he did for a big race.  I guess you could say he is in a taper.  Let's hope he hits his taper right.  He is taking it like a true champion!
Peggy

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Casey is back in the hospital for another round of chemo.  He is doing real well with it, but today he is scheduled for an injection of it into his spine, which is never his favorite.  He has discovered Mah Jong on his computer is a great way to pass time.  He showed me how to play and I was there until 10:00 last night.  That's a dangerous game!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Last night Casey and Stevie had a great time at the World Series.  The win made it even better.  Stevie has really been a huge help taking over a lot of the coaching and taking him to Hershey for his treatments.  I don't know what I would do without all of her help.  So for them to be able to go see the Phillies play in the world series last night was a well deserved night out for both of them.  She is also able to keep Casey up to date on what each of the swimmers are doing.  They talk sets and intervals, and who went what, daily.

Casey went to practice tonight.  One more day of freedom before he gets admitted into the hospital and they beat him up again.  I was at his house tonight and saw he had a phone message from his oncologist, asking him to call the hospital and have him paged.  I called Casey immediately and told him to call (you don't get a direct call from your doctor very often).  Casey lashed out at me telling me he was on his way to practice...... I could tell by his anger that he was concerned.  About 10 minutes later (a really long 10 minutes), Casey called me back to tell me Dr. Ehmann wanted to let him know the results of his bone marrow biopsy show he is in remission!!!! Yeah!  They will continue to give him chemo treatments until they are able to come up with a match for the transplant.  With blood cancers you have to keep treating, because it keeps regenerating.  But this is a huge step in the right direction.  Thank you for all of your prayers!

I hope your Tuesday is as good as ours!
Peggy