Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all of you!  I made the decision not to send out cards this year and use the blog instead to wish all of you the best Christmas and a very Happy New Year!  I can only do so much while recuperating so the blog will have to do.  Yes, we were able to come home again. Next trip they won't be able to tear me away. I eat better, I sleep better, I move around more when I am at home.  Being here is the best medicine for me!  I have a Dr.'s appointment on Wednesday so we will see what they say.  If you ask me, I am doing great.

I have so appreciated all of your cards, emails and any other form of a message. To know that you continue to remember me in prayer is humbling.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I did not know how big my world is with all my friends until this experience.

I received a lovely letter from my donor this week and thought I would share it with you. I hope it will touch your heart as much as it did mine.

Hello!

Thank you so much for your letter...I received it a few days ago, and it was so good to hear from you!  I have to tell you that it has been my honor and privilege to be able to donate, and there have been so many people praying for you, your family, and me since I found out that I was going to be able to donate to you!  It absolutely boggles my mind how much doctors can do...we are such complex creatures!

I would love to continue to correspond with you; please let me know how you are doing, and I do hope and pray that we'll be able to indeed meet when all of this is over or you.

Please know that you and your family are being thought of, and I pray that you will have a phenomenal Thanksgiving and Christmas this year.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon,

Your donor

Now enough of me, let me catch you up with the rest of the family.  Jen and Glen are doing great. Glen changed jobs not too long after the New Year and it has been everything he hoped for. We are very happy for him.  Jen continues her part time job at the elementary school as a Lit coach and is chauffeur of the year as she gets everyone where they need to be. Eli (15) and Anna (13) are deep into basketball, Emma (8) is also playing. 

The Simpsons are just as busy with Seth finishing his 2nd year of Medical School (at MSU).  Sarah will be filling in as Assistant Dean of the Midland Charter Academy soon after the start of the new semester. It is a challenge and something new for her. I can tell she is going to love it when we talk.  Rising to a new challenge has always inspired her and this is no different for her. Ella (6) is very involved in gymnastics, she is now "Level 4" and much like her parents in how she loves a challenge. Grey (3) is still loving going to Miss Jodie's. He just goes with the flow most of the time.

Herweyer's also are keeping busy. Liam (7) has joined a swim group so that takes care of the energy a few times a week plus Cadets on Wednesdays. Thijs (5) goes to Young Kinders every morning and loves school. Dave continues his busy schedule and Kate tries to stay on top of everything. 

Same thing could be said for the Cunningham's.  Chad leaves mid-January for a 2 week stay (for his Master's program) in South Africa. Beth has cut her work week back to 3 days a week so that she is more available for me. Luci (22 months) has grown so much and we greatly enjoy her.   

I am grateful as I have said many times over for the love and care that I receive. Den has turned into the best nurse ever. Seriously, giving me shots, transfusions and just being in charge of my care, he is doing a fantastic job.  Who would have thought he would become such a caretaker for me? 

May all of you enjoy a blessed Christmas and may the New Year bring good things your way. I am mindful of the sacrifice the Lord has made to provide for us, beginning with the birth of the Christ Child. What a beautiful time of year!

Grace and Peace to each of you.......with much love......Peggy

December 17, 2012

Mom had her weekly appointment with Dr. Magineau today and we thought it would be nice to update the blog.  Mom's levels are looking good. She received her results of the 30 day bone marrow biopsy and we are headed in the right direction.  Her doctor's look at 2 blood lines the CD33 and CD3.  The CD33 line indicated 100% donor stem cells and the CD3 line indicated 65% donor stem cells and 35% mom's stem cells.  The doctor is very pleased (so we are too)! At 100 days out when they begin to taper off her GVHD medication the numbers may change which could be an indication her disease is trying to come back, but they will monitor this very closely.  The reason they would begin to taper off the GVHD medication is because the longer mom is on it the more immune-suppressed her body becomes so there is a very fine balance.

Mom's energy level is still quite low. Probably a result of her medications and nonexistent appetite.  Sleep is good and allowing mom's body to heal.  However, our goal is to increase mom's nutrients and fluid intake so she can become strong and medication can begin to taper off.

At this time mom will go in for further blood work on Friday morning and if everything comes back "normal" she will be able to go home to Holland for Christmas and then her next appointment with her doctor is the 26th.

Dad is a great caregiver.  Mom says he gives the best shots, even better than the nurses.  Who knew!
Mom and Dad are enjoying all the Christmas cards and updates from friends and family.

Please continue to pray for healing and mom's "fighting spirit".

Merry Christmas,

Sarah

An Unexpected Trip....

HOME!  Mom and Dad arrived in Holland late Wednesday evening and are staying for a few days at home.  It's so wonderful to have them here and they are loving every second of being back in their house.  Its been long time!

So many of you ask how Mom is doing and she is doing so well.  However, stem cell transplants are  really tough and the recovery is very long.  It is only day 44, we still have a long journey ahead. 

Mom had a really busy week of appointments.  On Monday, she had her normal clinic appointment and was given a double blood transfusion.  This really gave her the boost she needed.  Her energy perked up and she felt so much better almost instantly.

On Tuesday, Mom had her first bone marrow biopsy since the transplant.  We are told not to read into this biopsy too much.  The 100 day biopsy will be more telling of her progress.  The biopsy went well...they really knocked her out and she didn't have too much discomfort afterwards.  We should have these results in one week.

Mom's weight has been declining since she was released from the hospital.  We are trying to hang on to 100 pounds.  She has no appetite and nothing tastes good.  Eating is a very big struggle.  There is reason to believe that this is because she may have upper GI GVHD.  On Wednesday, doctors performed an exploratory endoscopy of her upper GI and took several biopsies to confirm if this is the case.  We should have these results in several days.  Upper GI Graft Verses Host can be treated and could be the cause of this weight loss.

Mom hopes to make more weekend trips.  I cannot express enough how good this has been for her soul.  Thank you for your continued well wishes and prayers.

Love,
Beth