Monday, June 28, 2010

Monday, June 28, 2010 - We met Dr. Appel

It all began at 7am this morning. After our 6 minute walk to the 11th floor of the West Pavilion, we arrived with wide eyes and an unknown feeling. Everyone we met and talked to today was so helpful and nice....Methodist sure knows how to pick their employees....we are grateful for that. We are definitely in the right place.

We were assigned a room, on an outpatient basis, where we were given our own nurse. Then on our white-out board in our room, Rose Marie RN put our itinerary for the day in black and white. Listed Peter's vitals, what tests would be run and who we would consult with during the day. The list was long and intense and kept us busy throughout our 8 1/2 hour day today.

We met with the Chief Resident to Dr Appel to go over personal information,to complete a strength test and memory/speech analysis to get ready for the visit from Dr. Appel. We did 2 tests that we had done about 7 weeks ago but they were more extensive and done with better accuracy and precision. Now we know we are in the right place.....professionals at their finest.

Peter underwent a Pulmonary Function Test and literally blew the needle off the chart. We were so happy and were jumping up and down for this wonderful exhibit of grand lung compacity. The Pulmonary Dr was so happy with her findings. As many of you know, this horrible disease, in the end affects the swallowing and breathing compacities of its patients, in our case, we were sitting pretty without any sign of this taking place. Yea for Peter.....happy dance.... So after that experience, we waited for about 30 minutes.

Then we got to meet the man that we had been reading about and so blessed we made it into his program. Dr. Appel, a bow tie wearing, distinguished man in his early 70's with a big following. He was so personable and eager to get to know us, especially Peter. His chief resident, Usha Thapalia gave a 5 minute overview of the recent tests given, history and findings she had collected on Peter. Dr. Appel had his own notebook and jotted down information that Dr. Thapalia was relaying to him with a fine tip black sharpie marker. Listening the entire time, soaking all the information in. He confirmed our diagnosis that Peter does in fact have ALS. However, with the A+ results from the Breathing evaluation, Dr. Appel felt Peter was in a very good position. We all began to cry and looked at each other with the best news we have heard in 3 months. Peter has weakness on his left side which makes his left leg clump when he walks. When he wears his orthotics in his shoe, it is alittle better but still uneasy and a possible threat of tripping when he walks is a scare for Peter at this point. Dr. Appel said that we don't want to fall because not only do we have to heal from the fall but getting injured makes ALS worse and it progresses faster. We definitely want to avoid this. We meet with the PT/OT tomorrow morning, so some of the questions will be addressed.

In the end of our 25 minute conversation with Dr. Appel, he wants Peter to be a part of his Level II clinical trial study that involves studying certain specific cells from younger ALS patients in mice. Peter, of course said he would be happy and honored to be a part of his study. Dr. Appel said that this was leading edge of clinical research. This study may not help Peter but it will surely help to hopefully find a cure for ALS. Stephanie is so proud of her Dad. The time for Dr. Appel had expired and he told us that he would see us tomorrow morning. We can't wait to see him and to see what color his bow tie will be tomorrow. Ha!

After lunch, we met with a Dietician and then the Speech Therapist. Peter passed with flying colors in both these departments. We like acing these tests. Go Peter!!!!!

We finished around 3:30, a long day but very productive. Thank you so much for all of your emails, phone calls and thoughts. They are greatly appreciated. We don't have to check in until 8:00am, we will definitely get a better nights sleep. So sorry for this long post on the blog. Lots of information happened today. Thanks for being a follower.

Hugs to everyone, DeeAnn

11 comments:

  1. Peter,
    You get Gold Stars for Monday's tests. Keep up the good work, and you will graduate with flying colors.
    We're proud of you.

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  2. Don't appologize for a long post, especially one so well written and informative. We welcome it!It is great that you are pleased with the Methodist Hospital people and program. We think you are clearly in the right place, and we are grateful.

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  3. Go team Anderson's....We love you and were encouraged to hear of Peter's good results with his breathing. I love Methodist. It's where I have always landed when I have had my medical events!! You are with the best and brightest...
    God Bless,
    Georganne and David

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  4. Wow! What a day. Peter kickin' B** on his tests, DeeAnn keeping us all up to date on the day's activities ... a real Fightin' Team Anderson report. You have a mascot and a team name, now all you need is a fight song. Let's see, Peter on trombone, DeeAnn on flute ... will that work?
    We're so proud of each of you. Keep kickin B**

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  5. I'm going to steal beth Dorman's PTL (Praise the Lord)phrase from when she e-mailed us up-dates on Mike's progress. I could not be happier to hear this wonderful report. I am doing the happy dance to "if you like it you should have put a ring on it". (I am doing that dance from the video as well) My girls are BEGGING me to stop! Quite the sight! I think I'm good at it...Anyway so good to feel so close to you and be in the know!
    Love, Beyonce's back-up dancer

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  6. So glad to hear today was indeed a good day. You have all been in our thoughts and prayers throughout the day. Hope tomorrow is full of promising news, too. Enjoy the evening and get a good night's sleep.

    Love,
    Susan, Van and Chris

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  7. Oh, good! I can go to bed HAPPY tonight! Keep showing Methodist how to BEAT THE HELL OUTTA ALS!
    Much love to you both!

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  8. Thanks for the great update, DeeAnn, and happy to hear it was a good day and Peter doing well on the tests! Yea--great to hear that and thankful for the good breathing outcome. It sounds like you have found the perfect place to be with such a professional/caring staff.

    Get some rest; positive Fort Worth thoughts shooting down to Houston.

    Love to you all.

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  9. Thanks so much for keeping us updated . . . so glad to hear how well today's tests went! I loved your post about Dr. Appel, DeeAnn . . . you are such an incredible writer, and so wonderful to keep us posted!
    Go get 'em tomorrow, DeeAnn and Peter!!!! Looking forward to hearing how your day goes . . . all the best for more excellent results!

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  10. Can't wait to hear MORE great news tomorrow...and what color bow tie the doc is wearing! Lots of prayers coming your way...so thankful for the Blog to keep us all posted.

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  11. Way to go with the superstar lungs, Peter! I've read about a lung strengthening device that provides resistance when you blow out. Apparently some athletes use it to improve lung strength. It sort of looks like an inhaler. Wonder if something like that would help Peter strengthen his lungs even more? Glad to hear such positive news from the first day. Keeping you in our thoughts.

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