Farhad's Health Update

My dear friend,

Hope everything is well and you are getting ready for the holidays.  I am doing great, and my last blood test showed that I am getting very close to be normal.  The test also showed that there is no DNA of my own bone marrow and the DNA is from the donor 100%!!! It is a science fiction to me but I am alive.

I owe my life to GOD, to my country USA and its superior doctors, and to you my friend being with me along this tough journey.

God bless you,

Love, Respect and Peace

Freddie 

Farhad continues to do well. There are some little signs of CMV, but, the doctors are not sweating about it. His medications are down from twenty to only four tablets a day, mainly to prevent GvHD. Farhad has started to work out to build some muscles to be more attractive!

The latest blood test results show that there are no signs of cancer or CMV. Blood counts are at a healthy level and Farhad seems to have a better energy level. His appetite is also back that allows him to enjoy good food, especially chelokabab. Please continue to keep Farhad in your prayers as they have already been answered.

Farhad is resting at home with his family. Knock on wood, there are no signs of cancer and the CMV has disappeared. He feels weak with a very low energy level, which is really normal.

Farhad was released from hospital about two weeks ago. The good news is that there are no signs of CMV and his blood counts are fine – even the platelets seem to be normal.

The primary side effects of the CMV drugs are vomiting and coughing. Farhad has also lost his appetite and, as a result, lost some weight. This week, however, he feels a little bit better. He has a follow up visit with his doctor on Tuesday.

Good morning my friends,

Today is a good day, Passover, Easter and my 100 days probation is over.  That means I can come out and start seeing my friends of course I still have to be careful, because my immune system has been shut down with immune suppressant drugs.

I am very exited about this, but CMV virus has not left my body and for past few days the level of virus is going up exponentially.  Drs do not know what to do!  They are waiting to see if I will get the disease eventually.  So far so good no symptoms and I am hoping not to get the CMV disease.

Some of you asked me about CMV.  80 to 90% of people had this but because they have normal immune system, their body fought it away.  For immune suppressed people like me this is a very serious life threatening disease.  CMV is an opportunitiest virus!  It attacks when the body is weak.  I received this virus through the blood transfusion.

Well At this celebration time I do not like to think about it.  My Lord promised me that I will be saved from this one too.

I miss you all and hopefully I will visit you sometimes next week.

Love, Peace, Respect

Freddie

I started acting like a woodpecker; because each time someone is telling me how well I am doing, I knock on the wood.

I am doing great!(Knock on the wood) My body started making it's own blood and blood products(Knock on the wood).  Doctors are amazed of my progress(Knock on the wood).

Yesterday, with my Dr's permission, I went out but stayed in the car.  Soheila came and took my mother and I to Malibu.  AH after 73 days staying at home this was a treat and only 23 days left! (Knock on the wood).  I saw real people, I saw BLUE ocean.  I loved it(Knock on the wood).

I am getting my strength back only my legs are weak.  I lost lots of mussels and I gained weight and puffed up in the upper departments due to medication and lack of exercise.  Now I look like a spider.   My legs can not handle completely my weight.  Maybe that is why spiders have many legs!!!!  I am working on them by walking 20 min a day.  I should be ok soon (Knock on the wood).

I miss everyone of my friends. Till our reunion, enjoy life and do not be hard on yourselves. We will meet very soon (Knock on the wood).

Love, Peace, Respect.

Freddie

Good Morning,

It’s 5am Sat morning and how good it is to wake up early in the morning.  I can feel the ocean breeze, fresh air.  I had to wake up to connect myself to a new IV they gave me yesterday.

I was called to UCLA yesterday to tell me that I came down with CMV infection.  How?  I do not know.  But it is a new challenge.  I know I will beat this one too.  I am very much determined. 

It’s told that the destiny can not be changed?!  Destiny, CMV, Cancer can not stop me cause I have a superior mission, and that is love, compassion, and helping those in need. 

God has a purpose for me and I am not questioning the universe WHY.  All I know is God gave me the strength to fight and during this process I learn to purify myself and get ready for my mission.

God gave me good friends like you who cares and holding me in your positive energy and kind thoughts which gives me tremendous strength.

Well after I pass all these minor bumps, we will have fun together.

Love, Peace, respect

Freddie

Good morning,

What a beautiful day is today.  Try to enjoy every precious moment.  Love yourself,  Do something special today just for you.  You are the best and your prayers are happening.

I am doing great. Yesterday after spending 10 hours at UCLA, my doctor called me with the results of my bone marrow biopsy.  NO SIGN OF CANCER.

By the way I changed the word CAN.CER to CAN.SIR.  , cause if you have enough desire, YES; you CAN SIR overcome all the obstacles.

As of the engraft, my cord blood is still in the stage of infancy and it will take long time to reach to it's maximum potential.  Just a matter of time.  I am not in rush.

I still believe that it is a Girl cord blood, because now I understand my wife and my daughter better!  And I have feelings that I never had it before.  NO NO NO, not to that extend.

Well I think I am the luckiest person , having you as my friend, I love you, I cherish you, and I am looking forward to seeing you sooooooooooooooooooooooooon

Xoxoxox

Love, Peace, Respect

Freddie

The following is Farhad’s response to a friend who asked, “did u you forget us?”

Sorry for the delay.  How could I forget my friends?  They are like air to me.  I can not live without you.  I am back to my mother’s house in Brentwood. Because my own house we have tons of traffic, lots of plants, flowers and two vicious gigantic dogs (just kidding two toy  Maltese that will like to lick you to ….”

Well I am doing great, but I became a drug addict, not by choice but by force,  I am almost hooked to IV 10 hours a day, and tons of drugs.  They keep me away from reality.  Also every day I have to go to UCLA for more blood products and tests.  The cord blood has engrafted.  Doctor will confirm this after tomorrow when he does bone marrow biopsy on me. Ouch….

The 1^st 100 days of engraft is extremely important, 30 days passed, now another 70days to go, I have to be in Isolation,  Because now the engraft makes immune system but this immune system is new and is not familiar with my body cells,   They may attack my own body (GvHD) Graft VS Host Disease.  So these drugs put immune system into sleep and they gradually wake her up.  Yes it is she,  I have a great relationship with her, just doctors do not believe that and put me on tons of drugs.

So my mind is pre-occupied with these day to day mind boggling things.  I promise I will write more.  But do not doubt my feelings for you, I miss you tremendously and can not wait for our reunion,

Till then

Love, Peace, Respect  

Farhad

Farhad has some more white blood cells, but, it really fluctuates on a daily basis. He has to continue taking platelets daily until he makes his own – the process for platelet transfusion takes about 4-5 hours and should be done at the clinic.

Farhad was released from the hospital yesterday. He is now resting at his mother’s home, which is more comfortable and relaxing, with better food and TV programming choices. However, he has to go to the clinic every morning to get a platelet transfusion.

Today’s blood test has confirmed that his body has made some white blood cells, which is great news. His doctor is happy with the progress so far.

There are no signs of new blood cells yet. Farhad continues to get daily platelets transfusion, which causes some bruises from the shots. He may be released from the hospital as early as Monday. In preparation for that, he is not taking antibiotics anymore. And he takes other medicines in the form of tablets as opposed to IV. At home, a nurse will monitor Farhad on a daily basis. If needed, he should go to the hospital to get platelets transfusion.

Farhad’s doctor is happy with the progress so far. A very insignificant number of white blood cells have been formed, which is better than nothing, but nothing to get really excited for. It just takes some time to see the results of the cord blood transplant. His appetite is back and Farhad enjoys some home-made food now.

Farhad’s blood counts are still low. His doctor has indicated that it would take about four more weeks before the body makes bone marrow and blood cells because of the cord blood transplant. As such, on a daily basis, Farhad gets sedated to get a transfusion of platelets to help control bleeding. Other than that, he is feeling good and waiting for good results.