Dear friends and family,
"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever, his faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100.
We rejoice today that Becky is doing so well. The ache in her chest seems to be better today which makes us think it was muscle after all. She said it still bothers her when she bends over at times but it isn't as bad as it was the last few days.
We went to another part of the hospital today called Queeny Towers to have the antibiotic breathing treatment done. They were a little disorganized and it took longer than we expected but she did well and we were back to the apartment by 2:30. Since I drove to the appointment we decided to take the "scenic route" back through Forest Park. It is a beautiful park and maybe when she's stronger we'll be able to go enjoy it more.
We came back and I fixed "lupper" (combo lunch and supper) since we hadn't eaten much since breakfast. Becky is still doing well with eating and drinking for which we're grateful.
Not much else from here. A friend is coming by tonight to show Barb some more of the shopping places around the area and where I need to be at what time of day. They said this area is safe during the day but a woman doesn't need to be out alone at night. Of course that's about any place anymore.
Love,
Becky and Barb
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
August 5 Day +20
Micah 6:8 says, "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God".
We have had a good day today. Becky is still having the soreness in her chest but it hasn't gotten any worse and she hasn't started running fever so we're just going to wait and see for another day. She has the appointment tomorrow for the antibiotic treatment so they will check her lungs then. The treatment will probably help with the ache too.
Barb went out today and did a little more shopping. OJ goes quick with Becky so we had to get another gallon. Of course vitamin C is good for her. Becky watched the Cardinals this afternoon while Barb was gone for a while. We did 2 laps this morning and need to do more now and another tonight before bed.
We don't have a lot to report since she is doing so well. The saying "No news is good news" is applying to us right now.
Love,
Becky and Barb
We have had a good day today. Becky is still having the soreness in her chest but it hasn't gotten any worse and she hasn't started running fever so we're just going to wait and see for another day. She has the appointment tomorrow for the antibiotic treatment so they will check her lungs then. The treatment will probably help with the ache too.
Barb went out today and did a little more shopping. OJ goes quick with Becky so we had to get another gallon. Of course vitamin C is good for her. Becky watched the Cardinals this afternoon while Barb was gone for a while. We did 2 laps this morning and need to do more now and another tonight before bed.
We don't have a lot to report since she is doing so well. The saying "No news is good news" is applying to us right now.
Love,
Becky and Barb
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Day 19 August 4
Becky suggested the Scripture tonight be I Peter 4:11 which says, " If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen".
Becky slept until after 8 this morning and I was beginning to wonder about her. In fact I went in to make sure she was OK. She had gone to bed about 9 last night. I think she was in withdrawal because the Cardinals weren't on TV. Ha!!
We got our first mail today at the new apartment, (except for the last residents mail). Becky got a note from a lady she knew from one of their first ministries who heard about her illness from the blog. She was so thrilled to hear from her and hopes to keep in touch now.
Becky walked the hallway twice today with 2 laps each. She has not felt as good today as the last few days. She has some achiness in her chest so we called the office since it's something new and they said to call if anything was different. After talking to the nurse they decided to just watch her temperature more today and if the ache went further in the chest or hurt more that she should call them back. She did a lot of deep breaths yesterday when they were trying to get the port to work and she also pushed the wheelchair a little bit on her own when we were going through doorways. Hopefully it's just a muscle strain and it will resolve in a few days.
While she took a nap today, I watched the video they gave her on the transplant procedure and got a few more tips on things to do. One thing that was said was "fatigue from a stem cell transplant is not the same as being tired. Too much sleep causes fatigue to get worse and you need plenty of exercise". We are going to try and do more exercises in the room at first and then maybe do more walking.
We watched a ballgame today, on the computer, of our niece, McKenzie Martin, playing in a tournament in South Bend, IN. They got beat but it was a good game.
Not much else from here today. She continues to rest and eat well.
Love,
Becky and Barb
Becky slept until after 8 this morning and I was beginning to wonder about her. In fact I went in to make sure she was OK. She had gone to bed about 9 last night. I think she was in withdrawal because the Cardinals weren't on TV. Ha!!
We got our first mail today at the new apartment, (except for the last residents mail). Becky got a note from a lady she knew from one of their first ministries who heard about her illness from the blog. She was so thrilled to hear from her and hopes to keep in touch now.
Becky walked the hallway twice today with 2 laps each. She has not felt as good today as the last few days. She has some achiness in her chest so we called the office since it's something new and they said to call if anything was different. After talking to the nurse they decided to just watch her temperature more today and if the ache went further in the chest or hurt more that she should call them back. She did a lot of deep breaths yesterday when they were trying to get the port to work and she also pushed the wheelchair a little bit on her own when we were going through doorways. Hopefully it's just a muscle strain and it will resolve in a few days.
While she took a nap today, I watched the video they gave her on the transplant procedure and got a few more tips on things to do. One thing that was said was "fatigue from a stem cell transplant is not the same as being tired. Too much sleep causes fatigue to get worse and you need plenty of exercise". We are going to try and do more exercises in the room at first and then maybe do more walking.
We watched a ballgame today, on the computer, of our niece, McKenzie Martin, playing in a tournament in South Bend, IN. They got beat but it was a good game.
Not much else from here today. She continues to rest and eat well.
Love,
Becky and Barb
Monday, August 3, 2009
Aug. 3 Day +18
Psalm 147:1 says, "Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him".
We spent most of the morning at the Siteman Cancer Center having blood work and seeing the Nurse practitioner. They had trouble getting blood from the port again and almost had to stand her on her head but it finally came. Her appointment with the ANP was for 10:30 and she finally came in about 11:45. Becky's labs were better with the WBC 4.3, ANC 3.0, Hgb 12.2, Hct. 35.4 and Platelets 80. The platelets and Hematocrit was low but increased from the last labs. We don't have a Tacrolimus level back yet but should hear from that this afternoon. They were so pleased with the way she's doing that they cancelled the labs and appt. for platelets on Thursday. She still has an appointment for the Pentamidine antibiotic treatment at 1:00 though. She will go to the 24/7 clinic on Sat. for a dressing change and port flush and then have labs, a dressing change and see the ANP on Wednesday the 12th. She is scheduled for more labs on the 17th, see Dr. DiPersio and have a Bone Marrow Biopsy. That will tell them how well the donor cells are engrafting. All in all they were thrilled with how well she is doing.
She's doing better than most of her family back home that are all sick. There's evidently a bug going around there so we're sorta glad to be here.
Unless something changes we will blog once a day. Continue to pray that she gains strength and her Platelets continue to improve.
Love,
Becky and Barb
We spent most of the morning at the Siteman Cancer Center having blood work and seeing the Nurse practitioner. They had trouble getting blood from the port again and almost had to stand her on her head but it finally came. Her appointment with the ANP was for 10:30 and she finally came in about 11:45. Becky's labs were better with the WBC 4.3, ANC 3.0, Hgb 12.2, Hct. 35.4 and Platelets 80. The platelets and Hematocrit was low but increased from the last labs. We don't have a Tacrolimus level back yet but should hear from that this afternoon. They were so pleased with the way she's doing that they cancelled the labs and appt. for platelets on Thursday. She still has an appointment for the Pentamidine antibiotic treatment at 1:00 though. She will go to the 24/7 clinic on Sat. for a dressing change and port flush and then have labs, a dressing change and see the ANP on Wednesday the 12th. She is scheduled for more labs on the 17th, see Dr. DiPersio and have a Bone Marrow Biopsy. That will tell them how well the donor cells are engrafting. All in all they were thrilled with how well she is doing.
She's doing better than most of her family back home that are all sick. There's evidently a bug going around there so we're sorta glad to be here.
Unless something changes we will blog once a day. Continue to pray that she gains strength and her Platelets continue to improve.
Love,
Becky and Barb
Sunday, August 2, 2009
August 2 - Day +17
II Chronicles 32:7,8
I'm a little later with the blog today and may only do one time today. We both slept well with the exception of the monitor I bought making static during the night. I think I'm getting interference from something else either in the apartment or outside. I finally just turned it off.
We had a late breakfast and got showers and then listened to Tim, Barb's son, preach on Stephen and having confidence and being under the umbrella of God and had communion together. We enjoyed listening to him. If any of you want to hear him you can go to Community Christian Church, Frankfort, IN on the web. I'm just a little proud of him.
We have a few friends who have called and are going to stop by this afternoon. Becky continues to do well. She still has been fever free and doesn't have any of the other Graft Versus Host symptoms yet. We keep a close eye out for any problems but Praise the Lord for His blessings thus far.
We will be going to the hospital in the morning to have blood drawn and see the doctor so I'll post late in the morning tomorrow with a medical update too.
We continue to thank God for all of you and your prayers and thoughts.
Becky and Barb
I'm a little later with the blog today and may only do one time today. We both slept well with the exception of the monitor I bought making static during the night. I think I'm getting interference from something else either in the apartment or outside. I finally just turned it off.
We had a late breakfast and got showers and then listened to Tim, Barb's son, preach on Stephen and having confidence and being under the umbrella of God and had communion together. We enjoyed listening to him. If any of you want to hear him you can go to Community Christian Church, Frankfort, IN on the web. I'm just a little proud of him.
We have a few friends who have called and are going to stop by this afternoon. Becky continues to do well. She still has been fever free and doesn't have any of the other Graft Versus Host symptoms yet. We keep a close eye out for any problems but Praise the Lord for His blessings thus far.
We will be going to the hospital in the morning to have blood drawn and see the doctor so I'll post late in the morning tomorrow with a medical update too.
We continue to thank God for all of you and your prayers and thoughts.
Becky and Barb
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Evening of Day +16
It's been a rather quiet day here at the apartment. We finally got the lab results about 4 this afternoon and her Tacrolimus level was 5.1 which is low so they have started her back on the medicine at 1 mg 2 times a day instead of 2 mg 2 times a day. She will have another level drawn on Monday and will see the doctor at that time too.
She continues to have a better appetite and ordered Hamburger Stroganoff for lunch and a BLT on toast for supper with corn on the cob. She has also been drinking well with about 2 liters in today. I am amazed at the difference in her since moving over here but praise the Lord for how well she's doing. We walked the halls a couple times today also. She did take a little nap this afternoon while watching the golf channel. I think she had to get her nap in so she could stay up for the Cardinal game tonight!
We have had several calls from friends and family and always enjoy talking with them.
We pray you all have a good Lord's Day tomorrow.
Love,
Becky and Barb
She continues to have a better appetite and ordered Hamburger Stroganoff for lunch and a BLT on toast for supper with corn on the cob. She has also been drinking well with about 2 liters in today. I am amazed at the difference in her since moving over here but praise the Lord for how well she's doing. We walked the halls a couple times today also. She did take a little nap this afternoon while watching the golf channel. I think she had to get her nap in so she could stay up for the Cardinal game tonight!
We have had several calls from friends and family and always enjoy talking with them.
We pray you all have a good Lord's Day tomorrow.
Love,
Becky and Barb
Day +16
Jeremiah 29:11 says, "I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord,"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". The Lord just continues to bless us each day. We slept well last night and Becky is eating well. It's not got a thing to do with my cooking since I haven't fixed a full meal yet. I think it's just the difference in being in the hospital and being in a more relaxed atmosphere.
We went to the hospital at 8 this morning to the 24/7 cancer clinic to get her levels drawn again. They were 11 yesterday and the nurse today thought that was good but the one that called yesterday said it needed to be about 9 so who knows. We should hear from it by this afternoon to see when she can start the anti-rejection drug again. She has been continuing to take one of the two anti-rejection drugs anyway.
We came back and got breakfast and I have some laundry going now. I think we're going to relax today and enjoy life. I may even cook a meal!!
Becky and Barb
We went to the hospital at 8 this morning to the 24/7 cancer clinic to get her levels drawn again. They were 11 yesterday and the nurse today thought that was good but the one that called yesterday said it needed to be about 9 so who knows. We should hear from it by this afternoon to see when she can start the anti-rejection drug again. She has been continuing to take one of the two anti-rejection drugs anyway.
We came back and got breakfast and I have some laundry going now. I think we're going to relax today and enjoy life. I may even cook a meal!!
Becky and Barb
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