Dean Update October 22

Hello friends, family, music folk–

Here is another update about how Dean is doing…

As most of you know, Dean had to go back into the hospital at the end of September. We originally thought it would be a “short stay”, but he wound up being back in for nearly two weeks.

While in the hospital, Dean was diagnosed with GVHD (graft versus host disease), which basically means that his new immune system was attacking the other cells of his body. This diagnosis is kind of a “good news bad news” thing… the good news is that his new immune system is robust and doing its thing. BMT physicians are often glad to see a mild case of GVHD- it often points towards a better long-term prognosis. The bad news is that his Dean’s immune system is almost too robust, and needs to be calmed down.

So, Dean will be taking steroids for a couple of months to treat the GVHD. He started out at a very high dose, and will gradually taper down.

It took a few days for the steroids to kick in, but they have made a tremendous difference in how Dean feels physically. Since coming home, Dean has continued to improve, which is beautiful to see. His strength is increasing, he is able to eat more (and keep it all down), and he is playing music several hours each day.

His physicians have nothing but positive things to say about Dean’s healing- his “counts” (white blood cells, hemoglobin, platelets…) all continue to steadily rise, which is exactly what they are looking for.

This continues to be a long and difficult journey- I cannot begin to imagine the depths of strength Dean is drawing upon as he continues to heal. Some of the research I have done describes bone marrow transplant as “one of the most taxing treatments used in conventional medicine… The extreme nature of this treatment is described as nothing short of a healing hell.”

So thank you to all of you—for your love, for your time and energy spent organizing and holding benefits, making and dropping off food, for your prayers and phone calls and emails and cards… and most of all, for your love.

It absolutely matters.

Please keep sending it Dean’s way.

Thank you, and love –

Megan