A Slot Date of July 10th has been set...

 I received some great news from Kate at MD Anderson. I have officially been given a slot date of July 10th.

This timeline works well for us, as we already have a flight scheduled for June 28th. Following my discussion with Kate last week regarding the four available donors, she outlined the next steps: I will undergo outpatient testing with results expected by July 3rd. If everything looks good, I will begin the pre-transplant chemotherapy drugs then.

I was surprised to learn that my doctor will be administering the pre-transplant chemotherapy on an outpatient basis. Although I expressed concern about the side effects, Kate assured me that I should be fine. She did note that I will likely feel quite poorly for a while after the stem cell transplant on the 10th. However, a major advantage of the Orca Trial is that it aims for a better outcome with a less intensive chemotherapy regimen beforehand.

They say the date of a stem cell transplant is like a second birthday. Since I had my heart transplant on January 29, 1993, July 10th will mark my third birthday and the official start of "The Double Bonus Round."

Donor Match in Progress...

I called Kate at MD Anderson. She said the good news is they have 4 donors who sent in samples and are in process. As she says it only takes one to match. From the info it looks like it might take a while longer. So I am going to push out the date we leave until the 21st of June. She said to check back next week.

Last day of Treatments This week

Today marks my last treatment for the week. I have been doing well over the last few weeks; I was able to drive myself to work for three days last week, and I drove myself to all of my treatments this week. I am happy to take these small victories.

If everything continues to go well, this should be my final treatment before I head to Houston.

A possible Donor has been found...

I spoke with Kate in Houston last week, and she had some great news. A donor has been located, and samples have been sent to her for testing. She mentioned that it takes about two weeks to verify the match and noted that a backup donor is also available.

Regarding the timeline, Kate suggested mid-June. I have booked my flights to Houston for June 14th. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for a positive outcome.

Link to Orca Bio Press Release

I found a link to a December 2025 press release on the Orca Website. This has more details if you are interested. 

The Stem Cell Transplant Trial...

Initially I was referred to Johns Hopkins and Duke University for evaluation for a stem cell transplant. We went to Johns Hopkins and visited the Doctor. He was very thorough. He said the big problem with that is unusual is they would need to match both me and my transplanted heart. After careful consideration he concluded that I would be better off with just treatments. At Duke we talked to the doctor and he flat said he would kill me if I had the stem cell transplant.

Enter MD Anderson. They said I would be eligible for a current trial. It is called the Orca Trial. This trial has been going for 6 years. I am told it will be the standard of care when it is released.

The Orca trial is better because it uses lighter Chemo at the beginning. it also has a much improved outcomes. My doctor says that they are highly interested in transplant patients. All in all this looks very promising. I have posted more info on the Orca-T trial. on a separate page.

Good News from MD Anderson in Houston!

We made our second trip to MD Anderson in Houston during the last week of April 2026.

My initial evaluation in December 2025 with them was difficult, as my blood levels and general condition were not yet where they needed to be. However, in the interim, my kidney levels have improved, and my heart procedures have been successful.

During this most recent visit, I underwent several tests, including a pulmonary PFT, an Echocardiogram of my heart,, and a Bone Marrow Biopsy. On that Thursday, I met with Dr. "S", who informed us that my results look good and I now qualify for a stem cell transplant. This is the news we were hoping for, and we left the appointment feeling very encouraged.

The team is now beginning the search for a donor. I expect to be in a holding pattern for the next six weeks or so while they work to locate a match.

Fix the heart valves first...

 In March 2026, I had a stint in the hospital. I had previously been diagnosed with severe mitral and tricuspid regurgitation. Basically i had a couple of heart valves leaking. I had been talking to the Structural Heart Team at Norfolk General. They had informed me they had a new procedure which actually place what are little clips at the valve site that help with the leaking. Its called MitraClip and TriClip. They believed It would be beneficial to me to have it done.

 I went into the hospital for a right heart cath. They did the procedure. My pressures were high so they decided to check me into the hospital and work to get the fluid off of me. They put me on IV Diuretics and I lost almost 20 pounds of fluid. 

The Structural hear doctors then did the procedure. It was a success. They were able to reduce my MR from Moderately-Severe to Mild. Basically, they got all the blood to flow more efficiently through my heart going in the right direction. 

When I got out of the hospital I felt much better. With the heart pumping better and the fluid reduction I was able to move much better.

About the Header Picture...

 I was recently reflecting on a family trip we took to Hawaii in the late 70s. At the time, my father worked for a company that represented manufacturers to military commissaries and exchanges. Since they maintained warehouses in Alaska and Hawaii, they held their sales meeting there and we were able to join him.

My parents were avid golfers back then, and I have fond memories of us playing a round together overlooking Pearl Harbor.

 

We also visited the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. My father, who served in the Army, was deeply moved by the experience, as were we all.  

The header photo is a picture of me from years ago during our trip around Oahu. We had stopped at the famous North Shore and spent the afternoon watching the surfers. It was a wonderful day and remains a very fond memory for me.

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First Blog Post

 Welcome to my first blog post. Over the years, I have generally avoided posting online and have never had a Facebook page or other social media presence.

The purpose of this blog is to provide a centralized place to keep those who are interested updated on my current medical condition. I hope this platform makes it easier for Susan and me to share news, rather than managing multiple text threads to keep everyone up to date.

Thank you for your support.