Chip and Judy Miller

[Rick A.]

Folks,

Please keep Chip and Judy Miller in your thoughts and prayers. Chip (owner of Carlisle Events) has been diagnosed with AMYLOIDOSIS. This RARE disease affects many of the major organs, and in particular the bone marrow. He has undergone numerous tests and is being tested continuously to see if he is eligible to enter a program at Boston University.

[Gary Bishop]

Re: Chip and Judy Miller

He has been trying to answer everyone's messages but finds the following
support group/page helpful.
Below is the first of his update messages. You can find follow-ups at:

http://www.caringbridge.org/pa/chipmiller/index.htm

> >> Journal
Tuesday, December 30, 2003 9:10 AM CST
It's Chip. I have Amyloidosis. Not proud of this. Not overjoyed! But not
scared. Not without a clear vision of what my "new life" will be after the
treatment I am hopeful to receive.
I'll give the background of what led up to my dianosis in another message.
For now, what you care most about is my mental and physical state. Both are
good.
Last Monday, December 22nd, Amyloid was confirmed. I think a couple of my
doctors and I were fairly certain of it a week or two prior.
Confirmation was made from blood tests and a scrape made during my
colonoscopy a couple of weeks ago - again, this will be a part of my next
"history" entry, but boy do I owe that doctor!
Instead of letting the Amyloid get me down, Judy and I are moving ahead
towards a potential cure (or at least a way to extend my life). A positive
mental attitude replaced the shock of the discovery day. So did word of a
place that can help me: The Boston University Medical Center, Amyloid
Treatment and Research Program. They are not taking calls
during the holidays, so we are moving ahead locally getting the tests done
that they will need to give me an appointment for evaluation.
I've read the evaluation will take three days - what's a few more tests when
I've had seemingly a hundred already. If they think I'm a candidate for
their treatment (we all know I am), they'll set the stage and Judy and I
will move to Boston for treatment which will take five to eight weeks.
It'll most likely be harder on Judy than on me - she'll be Nurse Judy, Wife
Judy, Spic an' Span Cleaning Lady Judy, Phone Answering Judy, Pill
Administer Judy, Transportation Specialist Judy, and on and on. Me, I'll
probably be out of it most of the time.

In a nutshell in layman's words: The doctors will remove bone marrow from
me. It contains stem cells which are good and I suppose plenty of those
nasty little Amyloid cells. Somehow, their success depends on separating the
good cells from the bad and preserving the good cells to be placed back in
my system after my immune system has been shut down.
As I understand it, they kill the cells remaining in my body withchemo.

There will be a period where my immune system is devoid of cells to fight
off infections and germs. My good stem cells get placed back into me and
start anew. Simply put, the good replace the killed cells and generate new
good cells. As I become more educated, I'm certain it will be necessary to
eat or change a few of these words - but I think the
concept is clear.
That's my future and about all I focus on now. Get the tests to Boston.
Get an invitation for an evaluation. Convince them I'm a worthy (healthy
enough) candidate for their program.
Again, I have a team of doctors pulling for me - more on that in a future
edition. Above that, I have total dedication from my wife of 37 years - she
can't bail on me now! Add friends and prayers - how can Boston say no?

Upcoming topics over the next few days will be:
1. A history - when did it start and why did it take so long to diagnose?
2. Some small miracles - mostly centering around my business parnter and
friend, Bill.
3. Some special doctors to my rescue.
I'm finding Judy's discovery of CaringBridge an unbelievable help to
me.
I've been speaking too much on the phone which takes me away from my main
missions: tests, estate planning and getting to Boston.
CaringBridge allows me to spill my heart out for everyone. You all get the
same info. When on the phone it's hard for me to remember what I've told
each caller in past calls. There will come a time we can all catch up on the
phone or by email, but for now this is a logical way for me to stay in touch
with you. I don't know if we can have a sign in sheet on
this page, but I'd love to know who visits.

Just like on the phone, I've carried on too long in this message. I commend
you for reaching the end. Much more to come in future days and weeks. Stay
tuned, and thanks for your concern and prayers.
Chip