No, he really doesn’t have the flu, but today at the clinic, the doctor reiterated that the “flu feeling” is going to last six months to a year. When was the last time Dave had the flu? Well, neither one of us can recall the last time he was really sick, except for the two times that he had cancer. In fact, he is probably the healthiest person I know.

Today, his counts were as expected. While the white blood count expectedly dipped a notch, the hemoglobin headed north and the platelets rose slightly. Is the Karmanos contingent worried? No. Is Dave on track? Yes. Is he still doing better than the average person after a bone marrow transplant? Absolutely.

The doctor also suggested that if his counts hold through Thursday, and we have no issues, going home and recuperating there would be the next step. So, here is hoping we can leave the Crowne Plaza in Detroit and are home by the weekend. We hope to watch the Wolverines continue their “revenge tour” on Saturday with a win against Penn State. Additionally, we hope to sit by the water and have a quiet cup of coffee on Sunday.

For those of you who have stood near home plate waiting for a teammate to cross the plate -and then celebrate with high fives, pats on the back and raised fists – this one’s for you. If you have not had that experience, picture yourself at the World Series at Fenway last night. With the Red Sox holding a tenuous 5-4 lead, Eduardo Nunez delivers a three-run bomb over the green monster to help Boston seal Game 1 of the World Series. High fives, pats on the back and two fists raised await Nunez as he crosses the plate. What a feeling!

The Tag Team spans coast to coast, even touching Hawaii and Alaska. Teammates often support you at your lowest of lows. They are there to celebrate the small victories and the Herculean wins. Today is a prodigious win day. We want to share it with all who proudly have been a part of the Tag Team, #teamtags and the Sontag fan club. The team consists of family, close friends and acquaintances. We thank you all for your love and for your support. Jefferson staff members, former students and players fill the scorecard. Of course, we know that they are standing at home, waiting for Dave to finish his race to the plate.

Add the community of Monroe and to all of the youth to whom Dave has given hitting lessons. And thank you to our faith-filled friends. Thank you to all of the churches that have placed Dave on their prayer lists and continue to pray for him daily. The lineup also includes the community of Saline, which has always welcomed us as one of its own. Saline Area Schools staff, baseball coaches and players have proudly supported #teamtags. Collectively, they have been standing near home plate, pumping their arms and clenching their fists with every small victory. The close friends and the Monroe County Officials Association have made last minute changes to the lineup, making our life easier leading up to and during the BMT. As we sit here in the Crowne Plaza during the seventh-inning stretch, we have you to thank.

We salute the team of doctors and nurses, which has spent countless hours on the mound, pitching medications and delivering strikes to cancer. You recorded out after out to seal this colossal win. You need to be hoisted on all of our shoulders. Between Beaumont Dearborn and Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit, there is no general manager who would deny them All-Star status.

Dave touched home plate today thanks to all of you. The Tag Team (that means you) brought him home with all the love and support that has been poured out the last seven months. The last two innings actually constitute the next 100 critical days of avoiding infection and rejection. I will continue to update the blog, though not as frequently. If you wish to receive automatic updates, click the “+follow” at the bottom right-hand corner. Dave will still be on close watch at Karmanos, reporting 2-3 times each week for testing and blood draws. His counts will dictate any additional treatment.

We can’t begin to thank everyone, so please consider this our most humble and gracious thank you. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers, as all of you have been in ours. Finally, please share this with anyone who is on our team.

Go Tag Team!

It’s Friday night football. What a donnybrook against the big arch-rival from across town! The next morning you feel like a Mac truck used you as a tackling dummy. No pain. No gain.

The centerfielder is going back…back…back. He feels the warning track and leaps, crashing into the wall but feels the swoosh of a ball in his glove. He crumples to the ground, not quite sure if it is his back, hips or legs that hurt the most. The batter is retired. No pain. No gain.

Multiply that pain by ten and that is how Dave is feeling right now. The good news is our nurse informed us that this “good pain” is more than they had hoped. His bone marrow is “chugging” and working overtime to regain normal counts. The WBC is now above normal. The platelets are rapidly rising and his hemoglobin is in a safe range to avoid transfusions today. The BMT is proving not only to be successful but incredible.

The Karmanos staff is now taking Dave off anti-fungal and anti-biotics in preparation for releasing him to home care. They have discontinued steroids and many other medications that either protect organs or inspire bone marrow to produce efficiently and effectively. His body will need to be a well-honed working machine without much assistance from medications before he can breath some fresh air.

Dave should be crossing home plate sometime this week. Standing up. No slide needed. No pain. No gain.

The day that we have been waiting and praying for has arrived. Dave just slid head first into third and is the dirtiest guy on the field. A big smile is plastered on his face and the third base coach is giving him a high-five. We just received the results and his white blood count (WBC) went from a nonexistent .1 to .5 WBC. This means his body is now producing on its own and is rebuilding his immune system. Running the bases with that gritty two-base mentality is paying dividends. Next goal? Home plate.

Added bonus: U of M beat Michigan State. What a day!

“I hope I’m not disappointed tomorrow,” Dave said.

“Well honey, you can’t rush your counts,” I responded.

“No, not me – Michigan,” he said. “I hope that Michigan wins.”

This was our conversation this afternoon as we were walking the tenth floor. I was assuming that he was focusing on engraftment as he was willing his counts to rise in order to see improvement. It was a relief to know that his focus was to anticipate a big win for Michigan football against the arch-rival Spartans.

The nurses told us that Days 5-10 would be the worst on his body. That has held truer than you can imagine. Counts are very low, requiring platelet and red blood transfusions. The mornings are the most difficult, with pain levels reaching a point that require controlled meds. Because of restless nights, he has finally resorted to resting in the afternoons. That hour of sleep is better than any medicine. We are on Day 9, and this afternoon, Dave was willing to put in a mile walk. It is the first time since the BMT that I have seen some giddy-up in his step, which makes me feel that we are turning the proverbial corner. As Dr. Maggie put it, “You are now rounding second.” I will certainly broadcast when he makes the head-first slide into third.

Happy Wednesday. “Make this day count and know why you are grateful.” Susan just sent me this as a reminder of how far we have come to arrive at this particular point. I’ve started today’s update three times already with little success until now. That may give you an indication of the ups and downs in a single day. While Dave’s counts have bottomed out, we wait for the day when things begin to turn around. This is simply a good lesson in practicing patience, continuing courage and having hope. Happy Wednesday and remember there are so many things for one to be grateful.

Sitting in the family waiting room at Karmanos on the 10th floor, I am reminded of those who are challenged with a loved one being sick. I can’t help but talk with them to see what day the patient is on, and I ask how he or she is doing. I always ask the name of their loved one and I place that person in my prayers at 5:05 p.m. What I should be doing is including all of the family members in my prayers as well. Many of you are praying for not only Dave and for me, but for the rest of our family. It has been difficult for them to see such a strong man fight so valiantly to conquer this threatening disease.

The latest update has Dave struggling to eat one of his favorite things – a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. His mom’s homemade applesauce seemed to work a little better, but the mouth sores have started and will make it even more difficult. He has to force himself to eat, but he really can’t. I think we call that a double-edged sword? We are counting down the days to October 20  because on that tenth day after the transplant, we hope to see the engraftment begin. Everything is going as planned, and the doctors reassure us that we are doing everything right. So I thank you for praying for all of us, and if you could, pray for all who battle any crippling disease. So many need our thoughts and prayers.

Hanging Impressions 

… may not be a good day, but there’s good in every day. My sister-in-law, Ann, just texted this to Dave, and it’s so appropriate for today. He has collided with the brick wall that the doctors and nurses warned he would hit. Normally, Dave would spin off and keep going, sprinting for the end zone. However, that’s not happening anytime soon. Since the transplant on Wednesday, it’s been slow going. No food sounds appetizing. Riding the stationary bike and walking seem like a chore. Even drinking water takes an  extra effort for a guy who drinks water like a camel. But, the good in today is that the television is back on and he’s watching sports. You can bet he will be watching UM tonight as the Wolverines battle Wisconsin.

The doctor doesn’t expect his counts to turn around and engraftment to take place until around October 20. And, of course you know what Dave is saying about that. He’s planning on setting a record and banking on engraftment happening by the 17th. And, I know you are all chuckling right now because you know just how true that is. Go Dave Go!

Every day may not be a good day, but there is good in every day.

Just a quick update that Dave is feeling better this afternoon. He was able to eat lunch and even walked 1/2 mile so far today. The doctors have encouraged him to accept that there will be days that he just won’t be able to move as much. Of course, this falls on deaf ears because he is normally like the Roadrunner. His goal still remains to be released by October 31 so that we can take the kids trick-or-treating. So, he will do what he has to do in order to do what he wants to do.

Last week, we asked Dr. Uberti if Dave was going to feel as crummy as he did with his first four rounds of chemo. He replied, “crummy-er.” Of course, being a Superman prototype, he flew through the first four days unscathed pretty much. Nothing stopped his workout routine as he continued his bodybuilding regimen. Yesterday was as Dr. Uberti warned, and today proved to be the “crummy-er.”

Total body irradiation this morning left him whipped, followed with side-effects that we were warned may appear. The afternoon was even crummier, but his body cooperated just in time for the transplant. It went exactly as planned and we watched in amazement that this procedure will be the cure. It arrived in a cooler, was hung like an IV bag, and entered through his triple lumen in his chest. It only took 25 minutes, which is much quicker than what it took for the donor to give.

Two hours later, he had a few side effects that the nurses and nurse practitioner said are normal. They jumped into action, took Superman’s cape off and grounded the big guy in order to let these foreign stem cells acclimate to their new environment. At the time of this posting, he is doing better and is resting comfortably.

The next five days will be rough and we continue to wait until the engraftment, or signs of new stem growth begins. Generally, it takes approximately 10-14 days before this happens.

We did celebrate the first day of the rest of his life, and the 10th floor nurses declared this his new birthday – 10/10/18. What a way to receive gifts twice a year, huh?