Mon. Jan. 15, 2007. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

SING ON IN HEAVEN CHEMO-SABBE.
Thanks Michael . You were so kind and gentle and encouraging. We all love you and your music.
JIMBO "The Sloan Rangers"

And so that love note sits on my wall here next to Michael Brecker's Obituary. He's left us a great Legacy in music, and in caring about this disease, encouraging all to sign up to be a blood marrow donor. Get on the International list. You can find out more details on his website. He was so kind to me in the hospital and over e mail. And always with a bright sense of humor. I'm sad we didn't have more time together here, but the short time remains precious in my heart.

Riv is coming up from DC on the train. CB from home. I expect to be released early. The Chemo finishes at 10 am. What with inspections, instructions etc. I suspect I'll be on the way between 2 and 3 pm. It's been busy here, they seem to need the rooms. Past 2 nights have been brutal for sleep as 2 older gentlemen in very sick conditions come in for emergency treatment at 2:30 am as I'm asleep in the same room. I can manage, no big deal, but it's a very difficult scene for the private and hospital nurses communicating, helping and aiding such disabled patients. But, thank God we have this hospital here to help. What a place.
One of my finest nurses, Mariah, a blond beauty who Carol and I respect very much, told us that she joined the Guard after 9/11, and she's been to Iraq for 14 months, as a Captain, and is expecting to be redeployed in Summer. She, like so many here, seem to dedicate their lives to trying to make the world a better place, and to help people in need. Amazing.
Breakfast is here. Gotta go. Peace and Love. JIMBO

Sat. 12 noon.
Nursery Rhymes from a bored musician/cancer patient..

Baa Baa Black Sheep have you any Chemo??
Yes sir, Yes sir, 6 bags full.
One for your evening, one for your morn,
Two for your third day same as befor'n

Now we have just 2 more full,
How shall we fix them up for you??

On the rocks with a twist please! And make it quick, I miss the home squeeze.

Are you sleeping, are you peeing, Brother Jim?, Brother Jim?,
If you don't produce much, we will fix you up such,
Lasik's here, Lasik's here!!

On top of old Sloaney....
On the 12th floor you know...
There sits an old croany,
With a corn on his toe...

He awaits his next Chemo...
without too much fear,
but what's up with his insides,
we all wait to hear.

Will he belch, squeeze and fa..hrt???
Or vomit and puke??
Or will he simply lie down,
And snore like a Duke??

On top of old Sloaney...
All quiet and slow,
I'd rather be ho-ome,
and waiting for snow.

Well, that's enough for now. I'll try to be more informative and interesting next time. Love to all. Thanks for your notes of support. JIMBO

Consolidation

Friday, 9am. Sent a post last night that never got on. Oh well, try to catchup now. Been here since Wed. Checked in, bloodwork, X rays, dinner, 7 pm 1st Chemo, 7am Thurs 2nd bag. Now no bags until tonight 7 and tomorrow 7 am. So far so good. Visits are still ok. Probably reactions will be moderate and from home next week. Deb and Carol last night. Bob's coming over today if he can. I've been seeing Dr. Berman daily since this is her week for rounds. All very clear and encouraging. 1st day nurse was Mariah, and I see Katrina. Yesterday and today Bob is my nurse; he's very experienced and confident/competent as all the staff is. Food is still good. I'm in my original room, 1221A. New curtains and new Vitals station. Some folks have been here since before the holidays. Oi!! I'm glad I got home for that time. Enjoying gifts of music CDs and DVDs. Thanks. Cool. Also thanks for all that blood and platelets guys. Cards, prayers, the works. Enjoyed playing some music before coming back in. Had a session at Bob's . Fun. So far so good. Carol is amazing with all she deals with, bills, running in and out of town here. Thanks Baby. Riv calls me everyday on her lunch hour. Beautiful. Thanks for all your support and prayers. See you soon. Should be home sometime Monday barring any problems. JIMBO

Thurs. at 8:30 pm. Just got our internet connection back. Thanks Carol and Larry. 1st 2 bags of Chemo are done, no problemo Chemo Sabbe!! (Ode to Mike). This is Consolidation Chemo, so it appears I will not be as troubled as last time. I thank all of you giving blood, platelets etc. It all helps me and others who are in need. Tonight a Balladeer came by, sang a tune about a painter. Turns out it was autobiographical and the painter is his girlfriend. Another patient asked him "Did you Marry this girl??" Hah!!
So, I'm able to see folks if you want to come by. No appointment necessary, I'll be here at least until Mon morning barring any complications. It's been amazing seeing the wonderful nurses again, Mariah, Katrina, all of them. What a team. Docs too. The room and bed I'm in is the exact one I first came to Nov.13th. 1221A. Weird!! New curtains and vitals machines, but other than that the same. Thanks to friends I'm surrounded by wonderful CDs and DVDs to dig on my MacBook. Fun. So, I gotta pee, into that little bottle. They count every ounce!! Love and Peace and Thanks. JIMBO

Debra tells me the proper Zip Code for cards to Azwan is 10032.

Sat. Jan 6th, 7 pm. So Doc called to pull me into H on Wed. for 5-6 days. Before that we're heading to Brandywine. Saw Steve, Judy and Mary and Brent today. John and Phyllis; Len , Bob and Ian; Suzy and Austin, who changed the bass strings. Bel Canto. Warm. Busy day. Please send Get Well cards to my nephew in C/P Childrens Hosp. Razwan Ahmad, Morgan Stanley Pavilion, 3959 Broadway, Rm. 510, New York, NY 10001(??) not sure about the zip. He's dealing with ALL. Speak to you again from the H. JIMBO

Wed., Jan 3rd. 6 pm. Just got back from MSKCC. Checkup was excellent, no real problems, so, Dr. Berman wants me back in hospital asap to do new Chemo, next Thursday, Jan.11th. 5 days Chemo, then home for 5 or so weeks, checkups 2 or 3 days a week back to MSK. We will need help during those times transporting me. This round is 5 times as strong of ARC (1st round 500 units per day, this round 2500-3000 units per day) 1st, 3rd and 5th day. Complications could result in kidney function problems, or Cerebellum problems (balance etc.) either (probably) temporary or permanent. Docs have to warn you of all possible problems. I don't expect any of these problems. So, CB and I will get away Sun-Tues., probably to Brandywine area (Longwood Gardens, Winterthur, Brandywine River Museum etc. Either a BnB or a hip hotel room with amenities.)
Also, a prelim search for possible Bone Marrow Donors cameup with more than 20!! A high number to begin with. We may not need this, but we might, so Docs are starting the process, and we'll try to move to a position of strength in possibilities. We're really a long way off from this. Probably a year, but wise to get started now. I just saw my bill from the 1st round, over $120,000. So...get your health insurance in place, you never know when something hits. This past week our family found out about a 6 year old (Bruce and Judys grandchild Raswan) who also has Leukemia. 2 in the same family within months of each other. He's in Col/Pres Childrens Hospital and needs our prayers. I'll get his address so we can send cars and games for him.

So, I'm trying to enjoy my strength and freedom. Driving to Big Band rehearsal tonight. John H, Gerry C and I played Blues for an hour this am. Hot!! Then tomorrow we got NYPhil rehearsal with Johnny S and Jerry T, then over to MSKCC for a conference with diet doctor (probably to read me the riot act).
Gotta go eat. Later. JIMBO