Its Thurs am,1:15. My counts are all so low I keep getting transfusions, 2 more platelets, and 2 more blood. Was too busy today dealing with the blood stuff and sugar stuff. It's getting sorted. My cousin Peggy paid me a visit around 1:30, she lives down the street, and brought to me a beautiful healing shawl. When Peggy was dealing with some health issues her sister Barbara was creating hand knitted healing blankets/shawls with a church group. She's healed. Today she gave to me her healing blanket, I huggged her tightly and felt the power again of our family. I love my cousins, Barbara, Pam, and Peggy are all from Dads side. Bless them,
So tonight my nurse was very concerned about my constant heaving to get word out. She hooked my up with Oxygen, Wahlah, comfort, I'm more relaxed. Probably should have done this weeks ago!!
Listening to new Ray Charles/Count Basie gift from Susan, gas!! Carol came back in to support me tonight after work. Great to have her support. We watched that amazing JT show on 13; then Renee Fleming and Trevor Pinnock from Mainz,,,,,Such beauty in music. Well I'm still only just beginning to eat somme, I love the Consomme with a touch of Peppr. It takes me a 1/2 hour or more to eat a bananna!!! I ain't goin anywhere. After 64 years of running my ass in the ground excited about too much, I 'll now take the time to heal. I'm pooped!!I'm gonna watch the Aruba video, Carol and my 40th Anniv. trip. The honeymoon we never took!!! PEACE. Carols asleep next to me. JIMBO

11:15pm, Tues.

This morning after my shower Carol said I looked better so I took a pic. It's a hellish journey since Thursday night when the Chemo ended and my body shut down, but I have a huge team of doctors/nurses etc. all brewing up a cocktail of anti- biotics, inti-virals,, anti-fungals, blood transfusions, platelet transfusins,anti-nausea meds etc....We had a quieter day today. The sugar has been problematic and I can't stomach pills, so I was a mess.3 days on diapers, today I got rid of that. I'm now learning to use diabetic pen systems, working good, new system, wait till I tell Leon in the office. Ellen, the Diabetic Eduucator spent agood session with me yesterday, suggesting a BRATT diet, Bananas (yum), Rice (chicken soup with rice is nice), Apple (sauce, like mom used to give me), Toast and Tea (again, what Mary Buchanan gave us as kids home from elementary school with a cold, digging Martin Bloch or William B. Willams and the Make Believe Ballroom). So, through those awful days, Thurs-Mon., my fevers were multiple, and a big drag. Tylenols ( we finally remembered liquid tylenol the last night!!) One night the nurse changed the bed and me 2x!!, the second time she gave me a heavenly body wash, what relief!!. But next time I try to sleep up popped a spike. So, Cat scans of intestines and x rays of lungs,some colitis, eventually we got it under control, no fevers today, which is why I can write. Tonight I played Vivaldi's String symphonies and imagined going back to Luzerne, Mt. Riggi (YOEC 2000), swimming in Gerry and Dawns lake (next spring guys, I'll be there, Freddie too, and Bruce and Judys too). Clear free floating in a mountain lake. Thats what I'm aiming for. I miss you all. I love you all. Thanks for the cards and e mails, and support for Carol, she's been here with me the past 2 nights and more and she can tell you how little sleep we get. They tell me I may up for another night of Blood transfusion and platelets tonight, we'll see. I can sleep throgh that. Peace. JIMBO

Update

This is Jim's daughter Rebekah writing for him. Dad is too sick to write or talk to anyone today. He will get back to you when all this lifts. Thanks for your support and love and prayers.

Chemo ends

It's12:40 am Fri. Last bag finished about 7 pm. Then the body started giving me hassles. Bloated, needing Lax. Chilled a bit, needing blankets. Nurses and Docs are all right here checking vitals etc. but I'm in a an uncomfortable time. We're dealin'.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!! Riv and Greg werehere most of the day, as were Elfin, Debra and Matt. Carol has a cold but should be ok tomorrow. Katrina will be happy my daughter decluttered the room a bit. Looks and feels better.
Of course we had a good Turkey dinner here at Hotel/MSK!! Took a few walks. Opened some wonderful mail. Thanks everybody.
I'm getting alot of rest now, no roomate and it's been quiet here. Poor Katrina is running like crazy, I assume there is a reduced staff. In any case thanks for the calls, cards, greetings. Before you come up call me or Carol 1st to check my ability to have visitors.More tomorrow.

5th and last day of Chemo

Caroline is hooking up my last blast. Our numbers are way down, everything is working, and I'm feeling good. Especially since my delicious Sole Filet. Glenn, Jerry Tedesco and Gary Shippy were in to see me. All great loving men. Carol has a cold and is on antibiotics so she can't come, maybe later tomorrow, we'll check with Dr. Nicole LaManna in the am rounds.
Thanks Jerry and Dawn for the wonderful concert video. Joy. Tonight I'm going to try to do some video messaging with Kim and Justin in Fla.Tomorrow with Bruce and his gang in Jersey. I'll let you all know how we do, then we can all do it. Alex is setup also in Millburn. I'm sure Austin is setup too, so, time to communicate.

Just got back from X Ray on 2nd Floor. Riccardo brought me back. Such a nice man. He's been an EMT, worked across the street at NY Hospital where Benjamin was bornCarolyn is my nurse today. Rounds are on the way. Since it's a teaching hospital, and a well organized place, they have teams of doctors and students on rounnds, just like TV!!!

Carolyn, like all my nurses, is trying to control the sugar with finger stick to gather numbers before a meal, here breakfast (it was high, 300 plus!). Then they use the new Pen to shoot me with insulin. 4 nurses so far said I was their 1st Pen patient. Carolyn explains she's experienced and handled everything with confidence.

I'm gonna lay down and put my feet up. That relieves the Edema bigtime.
Peace guys. Happy Thanksgiving. Carol and I will enjoy it here at MSKCC, that is Mem. Sloan Kettering Country Club!! I still haven't found the golf course or the steam room!!

He Got Me!!!!

Its 4:20 am Wed.. Instead of moving me down to check the line, they move a portable X ray machine up to my room. I'm sure all is ok, just extra precautions.Systems. This place is amazing.
Gotta go to sleep. Later.

So it's 2:45 am. Been flushing myself out of Chemo. Urinating into bottles which are measured. 1/2 hour ago I got up to go in the dark and lost my balance, falling backwards straining my port. Frightened, but not hurt. Moshe called the nurses. ,Doc. I may have torn 1 stitch Call for a temporary into my right hand to keep the Chemo going, turn off the fluids. They are loading me up on a gurney or wheelchair for a trip down to x ray this port to be sure it's ok.Doc was practical, "Mr. B, please turn on the light when you get up at night." They just put a RED wristband on me."This tells us you fell once, so we watch you". They watch all of us anyway. I'm branded now. Not so bad. Hey Jon, I'm RED. Can I go on the next RED tour with you and Bono??
(That's Jen, called to put in the temporary to keep the Chemo going.).
I had a busy day. Dealing with high sugar,insulin. Good food, gaining weight. Edema set in, Debra visited and comforted. Brian came up to see me, and Travis too, what joy. But I was told officially I'm now in a very vulnerable state with no defense, no immune system, just antibiotics pumping in. So, any colds, sniffles, coughs, anywhere in your family, don't come to see me.
The edema was starting, but Katrina told me to put pillows under my legs. Debra stuffed 3 under me. It worked. I'm much relieved. I rested good until the mishap. Feel fine. They pump me with anti nausea meds before the introduction of Chemo and I've had no problems eating, shitting etc. Lucky me. Well I'll stop here waiting for gurney, and get my legs back up.

These quotes from some e mails to Fran in Cal.

So far it's been a relaxing bump in the road Fran. You know how hard I work, creating too many things to do all the time. Well here I'm resting, being pampered. No effects yet. The shit will hit the fan soon, but so far I have not been resistant, angry,or too sad. I am motivated to get back to my regular life with an adjustment I should have made years ago, and that I can thank the disease for. It brings a certain clarity to lifes path. For sure it has brought forward all the love in the world toward me. And a self appreciation as well. Strange isn't it, being forced to take stock?
I have never evidenced the incredible medical system like this before. What deep knowledge, skills,inventions,tools,coordination. Amazing.
I'm doing fine so far. No pain, no discomfort. Can't tell I'm sick, which is scary, cause my body is fuckedup. If I hadn't gotten that bloodtest Franny I probably would have gotten one of my many Bronchitses and into pneumonia and out of here. So I'm again a fortunate guy. Fell into being a musician (meek little Jimmy Buchanan falling into his brothers footsteps) and
I keep hitting the bar and sending messages in the middle! Hah!
Anyway, I have to thank the disease for shutting down everything, giving me a much needed rest and offering me time to evaluate my life. I'm OK. I'm not angry, or scared really. I'm missing alot of good things outside the hospital, like Benjamins 6th birthday bash yesterday, but, I had alot of nice talks with people here today, visitors. My meeting and spending time with Michael Brecker has become a highlight in my life. That encounter may not have happened anywhere else. We both have the same disease, and talk on that issue, and such. But it's so comfortable because hes a musician. He says we're "Chemosabbies" and the "Sloane rangers" Hah!!
Oh well, hit it again.
Great to talk to Geoff the other day. I love you guys very much, you know that. I recently watched the video of us all in Woodstock. I'll checkout Karas stuff on Google. I spoke to John Sepe this week, and Jerry Tedesco has called many times and has showered me withh love. Feelin Good Baby.
Peace. Again soon. Keep talkin to me. I'm probably going to copy these messages into my blog. I guess its your therapist skills which brought so much out of me 4 am in a NYC hospital.
JIMBO

Playin a morning Blues on my classical axe. No roomate today. Frank went home yesterday, so I can play guitar alot. Feels good to work on some changes.

When Jon Flower comes to visit the room changes. He's awesome. Bassists tend to do that to a space. We have energy!!Jon and Josh came to hang.

The view from my room of todays beautiful sunrise. I'm usually up for that, wherever, Cape Cod, NJ Shore, Woodstock. Love the sunsets and rises. The sun is glowing in my room at 7:08 am.Warming my soul.I'm hungry, damn if I didn't forget to save some bananas for overnight. I'm off for a cup a Joe.

Bob came by today from Maplewood.

My guests, Neice Randi and Glenn.

More caring!!



I'm glowing!!

So today is day 3 of 5 for Chemo. Lotsa good care. Still feel fine. Doc says after Chemo I'll feel low.Now with this great MacBook I dig comedy dvds and cds. Enjoyed Honeymooners last night, old Woody standup tonight.
Carol was here today so I feel well cared for. She brought the videotape of Benjamins 6th Bday prty. Fun. Delicious.
I guess this what I'll look like next week!!!
There are other guests, nurses and caretakers here to see. Enjoy, these are dedicated wonderful people. JIM

Marissa and I around the old pump tree (see what I mean about beautiful nurses. They are all so caring,professional.).

Gotta add bag a Joe to this tree

Continuing Bassman's story

2nd post.
So I'm in the second day of Chemo (Michael Brecker refers to us as "Chemosabbies and "Sloan Rangers"), but I still have energy, enthusiasm, I can't believe I'm sick. Maybe this is a cheap way for me to be on ER or something. Somebodys making footage and money off this charade!!
But I'm sure my feel good days will be moderated soon. Carol and Riv and Debra and Randi and Glenn have set me up well with MacBook, Videos, PJs, books (Thanks Rabbi Greg, you're a dream of a son-in-law; you too Travis, you're a wonderfully loving nephew) and Julie setup the blog. And everyone is helping.
Got my guitar bedside. We got 24/7 coffee (hey Katrina, just add a bag a Joe to my tree!!!) and ice water (very much needed for Chemo flush) etc. It's 4:45 am I'm going for a walk around the hood. See whassup! Who's new, who's moved out, etc.
Everybody keep sending those e mails, and check me out.
I've been wanting to do some writing for a while, so here we go.

1st Healing Blog 11.19.06

Well folks I had my 1st Chemo Sat at 5 pm. All going well. I still have color, energy, enthusiasm. My wonderful nurse Katrina (as Irish as Paddies pig my Mom used to say) said "we'll fix that". Of course as the days continue I'll tell you how it's going. Meantime, my story.

Early Oct. I asked Dr. Loeffler for a checkup, I wanted to be sure my hemerrhoids weren't masking something else. Blood work comes back low Hemoglobin, low reds and according to Dr. Condren alarmingly low whites.Redo. Worse. Go to Hematologist, do not pass go! Dr. Michael Wax in Summit Med Gp does Bone marrow biopsy. Go home and sweat it all. Carol and I had a beautiful weekend in Bev and Brians shore home. Mon Oct. 30th (mind you less than 20 days ago) diagnosis MDS(RAEB). Oi vey!!! Make apptmt.
for Chemo (Vidaza). Family screams "2nd opinion, 2nd opinion!!". Carol sends papers to Memorial Sloan Kettering. Bob Harris
(the Machatunen sp?, I don't spell Yiddish) calls doctors who get me an appt. Dr. Ellin Berman calls me personally and gives me an appt, for Mon, 10:30. She and another examine my papers, slides, new bloodwork (now showing blasts in my stream, more than Oi gevult!!!) . She sees a sore on my leg and says "Mr. Buchanan, you must be in a hospital today. You can go back to Michael Wax (who she knows and respects, like everyone else) at Overlook, or we have a bed upstair here at MSK. 5 minutes of CB and I alone, decision:stay here. Eliin does another Biopsy on right side this time. She says I have tough bones, she had to go in 4 times. Ouch!!. Not really, thank God for Novacaine.
So, this hospital environment is comfortable. The bed adjusts to my every move, as does the entire staff. (Metaphor, gotta compose a poem or tune about that). 24 hour services of all types. I bet you only have beautiful nurses waking you up in your dreams, I on the other hand....