If you haven't heard, Chip Miller is ill. Please keep him and his family in your prayers. Hang in there Chip!

CHIP MILLER:

You may or not have been aware that Chip Miller has been ill. Chip was trying to keep it quiet while he searched for answers. After many tests and a long, drawn out extensive search this past week he was diagnosed with Amyloidosis. Chip and Judy have now gone public with his illness. They have set up a web page via CaringBridge so that everyone concerned can be updated on his condition along with sending any well wishes from family and friends.

You can double click onto the site listed below to further read from Chip's self journal or sign in on his guest book to send your well wishes.
http://www.caringbridge.org/pa/chipmiller/index.htm
If you would prefer to contact him with a written card or note please address it to:

Chip Miller
c/o Carlisle Productions
1000 Bryn Mawr Rd.
Carlisle, PA 17013

I have copied and pasted below part of his journal, actually it is his first journal entry, in his own words explains his condition.


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 diagnosis 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 with chemo. 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?

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

|UPDATED|1/6/2004 7:52:24 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Just keeping this in the front of the list.

Ken Styer