Slow and Steady

I apologize for the delay in updating the blog. Dad has been on a 'slow and steady' recovery path that doesn't always make for good blogging. We have much to be thankful for in that regard. No news is good news as they say.

Dad still has GVHD and the doctors say he will continue to have this for probably another 6 months. The symptoms change from time to time but right now he has a bit of a rash on his legs and some swelling by his ankles. Also he has the feeling that there is always something in his eyes. His tear ducts are not working properly so his eyes are quite often dry. The doctor says all of these things are normal and is happy with the progress Dad is making.

The GVHD means that the bone marrow transplant is working. So even though it is uncomfortable and often annoying it is part of the healing process. We thank God every day for his goodness and protection!

Dad is also still on a lot of medication. Having the GVHD means he needs to stay on medication that keeps his immune system really low. This means that especially this time of year he will need to avoid large groups and sick people. Mom and Dad like having coffee drinkers as long as they are healthy.

Dad and Mom try to stay busy but the rainy weather keeps them indoors more than they would like. Dad has trouble focusing so reading books and playing games are pretty difficult. Keeping busy is probably the most challenging part right now for them. I encourage you to stop by for coffee sometime or if you are unable to do that send them a card.

Thank you for your support; please continue to pray for healing.

Latest Appointment

Dad had a visit with the oncologist yesterday and he thinks everything is going well. The skin rash and body ache Dad has is from GVHD (graft-versus-host disease). The doctor altered his medication a bit and also added something to help with the GVHD.

We are thankful for the positive reports and pray for continued strength and health.

Dad's sister Helen is healing from her surgery and awaiting the start of chemo. For further updates please check out her blog at helenshealthupdate.blogspot.com

Restful Summer

There is not much new to report which really is a blessing. Dad is still in recovery mode and takes it easy for the most part. He went for a skin biopsy a few weeks ago and we are still waiting for the results on that. Dad is itchy sometimes and has very dry and sensitive skin. They have given him a special cream for this and this does help some.

He and Mom are enjoying the summer visiting with friends and family and spending a few weekends at their cottage.

With the two new babies added to our family this summer Mom and Dad got the itch to have their own 'baby' and are very much enjoying their new dog Pepper.

That's all for now; thank you for keeping Dad in your prayers.

Exciting News!

Today Dad had an appointment with the doctors in Vancouver to go over the results of his CT scan. The scan showed that his lymph nodes looked completely normal, just as yours or mine would. This is very exciting news!

What's even more exciting is that before Dad began his treatments they told him there was a 20% chance of a cure but today they told him that number is closer to 60%!

He still has a long road ahead for recovery because his condition was so low before he had the transplant but we are very thankful for this good news. As you can imagine this news has lifted both Dad and Mom's spirits.

We are extremely thankful to God who has answered our prayers and has watched over Dad during this difficult time. It is our prayer that we never take what God has given us for granted but that we thank Him each and every day for all he has done for us.

While Dad has moved on to the stage of recovery we have recently learned that his sister Helen has been diagnosed with breast cancer. We ask that you please pray for her and Uncle Herman and family as she undergoes tests and treatments in the coming weeks.

Test show positive results!

We are thankful to report that so far Dad's tests have come back very positive. The bone marrow is working well and there is no sign of cancer there. Dad still has to go back for a few more tests but so far everything is fine and going according to plan.

It will still be a long time before Dad will feel like himself again, he will be very tired and not always feel well but the doctors say this is par for the course. His medication will constantly be adjusted and this will also affect the way he feels. He did get his Hickman line removed so that is one less thing to worry about. 

It will still be a long time before he can be in large crowds because his immune system needs to be built back up first. So as he has been doing these last months he will spend most of his time at home and continue recuperating.

Dad and Mom are thankful for all the support they have received throughout this journey and ask that you continue to keep them in your prayers.

No longer an out-patient!

Dad has been continuing to recuperate nicely at home. He has been going to Vancouver twice a week for checkups for two months now. At his appointment today he learned that he doesn't have to make these trips anymore; what great news!

Dad has gone for some tests the past few weeks and next week Tuesday he has an appointment with the bone marrow transplant doctor to get the results of these tests. These should tell us what has happened since the transplant and if things are moving in the right direction. I will update the blog again when we get these results.

It also looks like next week Dad may be able to have his Hickman line removed which is a good step in the right direction as well.

Dad still tires easily and doesn't always feel good but we are thankful that he has been able to recuperate at home these last few months. We hope and pray that the test results will be good news but in all things we put our trust in our Heavenly Father.

It has been and will continue to be a long road for Dad and Mom. Some days are better than others. Please continue to keep them in your prayers. 

Praying for continuing improvement

Dad continues to recuperate nicely at home. He is still going to the hospital twice a week for check-ups and alternate medication. He keeps the house quite warm as he is always cold and still tires quite easily. 

He does get bored at times having to stay home a lot but is still very thankful to be at home getting better instead of at the hospital.

We pray that his health may continue to improve and that he gets stronger each and every day.

Feeling pretty good

Dad continues to feel pretty good over all. His appetite is coming back nicely and he feels he is gaining weight ever so slightly. He does tire easily and feels cold most of the time. 

He is now going to Vancouver twice a week instead of every other day which is good news. He is still on a ton of medication and so far his appointments are mostly about adjusting the levels. His rash from GVHD is gone but he is still on medication to keep it at bay. 

Mom and Dad have fallen back into a routine at home. They have even gone out for small outings when the weather has been nice; even just for a short drive. They have had some visitors since they have been home and I know they appreciate that. 

We are very thankful to our Heavenly Father for what He has done for Dad. We are so happy they can be home and for the progress Dad has made to date. We pray that his health continues to improve.

So happy to be home!

Dad and Mom have been home since Monday afternoon and are loving it! Dad is considered an outpatient right now which means he will have to go back to Vancouver for tests and things every other day. We do not know for how long this will be; they are trying to take it one week at a time.

This week Dad's tests were good and the stay in Vancouver was not a long one. We're hopeful all the trips will be like this and they can be back home again quickly. The drive to Vancouver is about an hour from Mom and Dad's place so it's nice to not have to stay too long at the hospital and get back on the road again.

Dad has an appetite again and is almost like a pregnant lady craving certain foods. He is enjoying being home and being able to watch Canucks on his own tv with his boys.

Mom has given the house a big spring cleaning and keeps busy caring for Dad. Dad still tires easily and rests a lot but it is sure nice to have them back home again.

I will most likely update the blog once a week to update on how Dad is doing. Thank you for your continued support and prayers!

Dad's Going Home!

I am very happy to report that Dad has been given the go-ahead to go home! It will still be a few hours from now when they can actually leave but after almost 9 weeks in the hospital they are so excited to be going home!

All of us kids visited Mom and Dad yesterday for their 35th anniversary. We brought dinner along and had a very nice time. It was good to see Dad out of his room and in plain clothes, and without his medication tree. He looks better every time we see him. How truly thankful we all are that this day has come!

Dad is on prednisone (steroids) for his GVHD and will continue to take that at home. He will be an outpatient for the next while and have to go back to Vancouver every other day for tests and medication etc. 

At home they will need to continue the health and safety protocols they have learned at the hospital. This means constantly washing hands, no flowers or potted plants and washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly to name a few. As much as Mom and Dad would appreciate baking or meals they will not be able to accept them. As Dad's immune system is not like yours and mine everything he eats will have to be carefully prepared. 

We THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH for all the cards and visits Dad received at the hospital. It was the highlight of Mom's day to get the mail and read all the well wishes. I know the visits lifted Dad's spirits and made the days go by faster. Only a few weeks ago we didn't know if this day would come and we prayed every day for God to spare Dad's life. We put our trust in Him that His will be done and now words cannot express the joy we all share in Dad's progress.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Graft vs. Host

A quick update: 

Mom is feeling better and is now back with Dad.

Dad has been hungry of late and he's been eating toast with jam, so far so good!

The rash Dad has is graft versus host disease and they are treating him for this. We've been told GVHD can come in many forms and also come and go. The rash may go away and then something else may come later in a different form. We're always learning new things!

The doctors have requested when visiting Mom and Dad that we do not hug, kiss or give them a handshake just in case of colds and other potential illnesses.

We haven't heard much more about going home, the rash will most likely need to go away first and Dad will have to have more continued success with eating.

All of us kids plan to visit on Sunday for their anniversary; I'm sure Mom and Dad are looking forward to having all their kids together!

That's all for now, thank you again for your cards and best wishes!

Out of isolation

Just a quick update...Dad is out of isolation now. No symptoms developed so he is able to leave his room again. He did have a blood transfusion today and then was given Benadryl so he was drowsy for most of the afternoon.

We are still waiting to hear about the rash that he has to see whether or not it is graft versus host disease. It has spread to his chest, arms and legs and if it is GVHD they will start him on steroids tomorrow.

The eating is still not going as good as it should - every day he tries and his body has other plans. This frustrates Dad a lot but he is trying to take one day at a time.

Mom is feeling better but will be staying at the hotel again tomorrow to make sure she is fully healed before visiting Dad again.

It would be wonderful for Mom and Dad to be able to go home this week but it's not looking like that is going to happen. This coming Sunday (the 15th) is their 35th wedding anniversary and it would have been so nice for them to celebrate at home. How thankful we are however that Dad is doing so much better and that they are able to reach this milestone!

Please note that just like at the hospital Mom and Dad will not be able to have real plants or flowers at home. Good thing Mom prefers fake plants!

Still trying to eat

There is not much new to report, Dad is still trying to eat so he can go home. He is having trouble keeping food down and this is discouraging to him as he wants to eat. 

Dad does have a red rash on his face and neck which may be Graft versus Host disease but we have not had that confirmed from the doctors yet.

He loves having visitors to help pass the time and likes leaving his room for little trips around the hospital. However for the next 24 hours at least Dad is in isolation. Mom is currently sick with a cold and sore throat so she has not been at the hospital with Dad these last few days. They want to make sure Dad doesn't get sick so any visitors will have to wear a gown and mask and Dad will not be able to leave his room during this time. We pray Mom will recover quickly so she can again be by Dad's side.

As a reminder if you would like to visit Dad please make the arrangements with Ed jr. or Ang de Haan. Thank you all for your kind words and support! We are taking it one day at a time and praying Dad can come home soon!

Patience

There is not much to update since the last post. Dad is waiting to hear from the doctors when he can start to eat as there are things he is hungry for. This is a good sign but we think the doctors are giving it a little more time to let his body adjust. 

It is hard to be patient especially when you see the light at the end of the tunnel but we do know it is important not to rush the body. 

Dad has still been getting out of bed and going for little walks but this takes a lot of effort. This too can be frustrating for the mind when you know how to do it but your body just won't cooperate. We pray that God will give Dad the patience he needs and the strength to start feeling like himself again. We know this healing will take many months and we also pray for Mom as she cares for Dad and is a support to him. She too is anxious to be able to go home!

Dad and Ally

Dad and Jared

Dad doing better!

We've just come home from a visit to Mom and Dad and I am happy to report that Dad is doing quite a bit better, he looks so much better too! This is an answer to our prayers! 

He is off the morphine and the oxygen so there are no more tubes around his face. With help he can get out of bed and walk around a bit. He has lost a lot of weight but today he looked like Dad again. He doesn't remember much of the last few weeks (thanks to the morphine) but he did laugh tonight when I told him some of the things he said last week. 

He does have two bags of food they are feeding him via the Hickman line and for now all he can take orally is water. He still has trouble with diarrhea so until that gets better he can't have solid food. He is hungry for some things which is great news but what's funny is that he's now craving the fruit candy Uncle Ron loves.

We are very excited to report that the doctors are actually mentioning going home. He does have to start eating and get the diarrhea under control (sorry if this is over-share but it is what it is!) and his counts have to continue to climb but if they do he can go home! They've even mentioned in or around the next 10 days! Dad is so wanting to go home and after 7 weeks in the hospital he is very motivated to get to that day.   

He is up for visitors but we do ask if you'd like to visit to please schedule it with Ed or Ang de Haan. They are coordinating the visits so it doesn't get to be too much for Mom or Dad.

We do know that anything can change but we praise our Heavenly Father for what he has done for Dad. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good! 

Counts are climbing nicely!

Just a quick update to let you know Dad's transplant counts are climbing nicely! His white blood cells are at 10.1 (should be 4-11), the hemoglobin is at 86 (should be 135-170) and the platelets are at 71 (should be 150-400). The white blood cells are especially important because they are continually on the lookout for signs of disease.  Whenever a germ or infection enters the body, the white blood cells snap to attention and race toward the scene of the crime. 

Although there are other side effects he is dealing with right now we are so thankful that his body has accepted the transplant and that he is able to fight infections. 

We have been told that there is a possibility that Dad will be getting GVHD (graft versus host disease) which is a complication that can occur after a bone marrow transplant in which the newly transplanted material attacks his body. There are several symptoms that will occur and then the doctors will treat him in order to suppress his immune response without damaging the new bone marrow.

We do not know when this will happen but we pray his body will be able to fight and overcome this disease. We do know by his counts that he has grafted nicely and we praise God for this!

Rough few nights

There is not much new to report. Dad has had a rough couple of nights and as a result sleeps most of the day. We are not sure of the reason but right now he is suffering from diarrhea again. As a result he is not as active and makes for a long and tiring day. 

They have taken out the feeding tube and have been giving him nutrition via the Hickman line.

We are hopeful this uncomfortable side effect will soon be over. 

A good improvement

Today was a very good day for Dad. He got out of bed with help and was walking around a bit which he hasn't done in a long time. 

He had a little bit of soup and some chocolate milk but they haven't resumed feeding through the tube yet. They want to see if he will start eating solid food which is always better than via the tube. 

 

They also took out the catheter which is very good news. Dad is committed to getting better and he wants so much to get out of the hospital and go home. He often jokes about making a secret operation to have us help him escape, even just to go to Tim Hortons for coffee.

His counts continue to climb little by little and we are so thankful for this!

That's it for today. We're so thankful for the progress Dad has made, our prayers are being answered! 

Feeling nauseous

Once again it's been a busy day for Dad so far. He's had another chest x-ray among all the other tests they've needed to perform. He has some fluid in his lungs and they do this x-ray to keep an eye on the fluid level.

The nausea medication they gave him yesterday has not proven successful as the food he has had did not stay down. This is discouraging as we were hoping the food would settle in nicely via the tube and give him more strength. We're hopeful as the days pass Dad may be able to get some sort of nutrition.

The fluid around his stomach has also increased again today and they are testing it to see what's going on. We need to be patient and wait to hear from the doctors as to some of these tests.

On a good note, Dad's counts are back up again today. He's back to 5.1 for the white blood cells and the others are still high enough that he doesn't need a blood transfusion.

Thank you all for your prayers; please also pray for Mom as these days of uncertainty can be emotionally draining for her.

Another busy day

Today was a busy day for Dad again. There always seems to be a lot of nurses and doctors coming in and out checking his vitals etc. which takes time and makes it a busy day for him. 

Late Friday afternoon Dad got a feeding tube put in. He has been unable to eat much and the doctors were worried he would lose too much weight. He was on TPN (total parenteral nutrition) which provided nutrition through the veins but there were complications with this and as a result Dad has not had any real means of nutrition for 15 days. He has now been getting very small amounts of food via the tube. This morning Dad started feeling nauseous and now he is getting medication for the nausea. 

That's about all there is to report. We are all taking things one day at a time and thanking the Lord when Dad has a 'good' day. We do not know what lies ahead but we are looking to Him for all we need. Thanks to all of  you for your words of encouragement; it means more than words can say!

A good day

Yesterday was a relatively good day for Dad. His counts were up and towards the end of the day the doctor informed us his liver is doing much better. The liver is the only organ that is capable of natural regeneration so even as little as 25% of a liver can regenerate into a whole liver. How complex the human body is! We praise God for this!

Dad sat up in a chair again this morning. He is still quite weak but with help can get out of bed and it nice to see him able to do this more and more each day. He's now singing a little bit with the cd I have playing, he likes to sing along in harmony. This is classic Dad and is nice to hear!

His counts are a little lower today but he was dehydrated yesterday so the extra fluid they are giving him has altered his counts a bit. We are hoping by Monday he will back to having his kidneys functioning better again too.

There is not much else to report; we are so very thankful to the Almighty Healer that Dad is much better than last Saturday. He gave us all a good scare last weekend and since then has definately moved in the right direction. There will still be rough days ahead but we are trusting in our Lord for his guidance and protection. Psalm 23 has come to mind this week and has been a comfort!

A busy morning

This morning was very busy for Dad. There were lots of doctors and nurses taking up time and space in his room so there was no time for me to update the blog until now.

His transplant counts continue to climb, he's at 5.1 on the white blood cells so this means his body will be able to fight infections. His hemoglobin and platelets are not in range yet but are still up enough that he doesn't need a blood transfusion. How nice it is for Dad to have one less thing.

He got out of bed yesterday afternoon and also this morning with the help of someone from physio. It's so wonderful to see him sitting in a chair! He does some leg and arm exercises but is so stiff that the movements are very slow. Every little bit counts and I know he feels better getting out of bed. Now he is sleeping soundly after a rough and busy morning.

They are still monitoring the fluid build up around his stomach but it has become less which means his kidneys are functioning better. The doctors are still concerned about his liver, he is still quite jaundiced and is still on oxygen.

Thank you again for all the cards and blog comments; they especially help Mom and give her a boost on the rough days. Dad is still only at the start of his long journey and the encouragement and prayers from friends and family give them the strength they need for this journey.

Day 29 after transplant...a long road ahead

Today is so far looking about the same as yesterday. It's my feeling that Dad will be having a lot of days like these. We knew this would be a long journey but I don't think anyone knew exactly what to expect. The numbers for his liver are still dangerously high and we need to be patient to see if they will start to come down. That is our biggest concern right now and we need to bring it to God in prayer.

His transplant numbers are good again today; he is in what they call grafting mode. He's been holding his own on the hemoglobin and platelets so he hasn't had a blood transfusion for the last two days. His white blood cells are up to 3.9 today so that is awesome!

Now Dad looks over at me and says hi sweetie. So nice to be able to be Dad's nurse for a little while. He hasn't been eating and we've been trying to give him some yogurt. He also has been lying on his back for 6 days now and we need to try to get him to sit up; he needs to keep as active as possible. This is easier said than done however as it is extremely painful for him to move.

It's another beautiful morning and I've put one of Dad's favorite cd's in the player. He talks to me for a few minutes about welding and then drifts back off to sleep. I wish he didn't have to be in so much pain and I pray his body will continue to fight. We all want to see a healthy Dad again that can be home holding his grandchildren!

Thanks again for all the cards that are sent here; it's the highlight of the day for Mom!

About the same...

Today is about the same as yesterday. Dad's kidneys are functioning quite well but the liver is the same. He still has a build up of fluid around his stomach that makes him very uncomfortable and they continue to drain this a few times a day. This is still cause for concern as his body is not able to get rid of it on its own. He has trouble sleeping at night due to being uncomfortable and as a result is quite drowsy during the day.

He sees me this morning and says he couldn't wait for us to get here. I think he rests easier knowing we are here as it is a comfort to him. There is a beautiful view from Dad's room of Vancouver and we look out today on a beautiful sunny day.

The transplant results are quite good. The numbers keep rising each day and we are thankful for this. His white blood count should be between 4-11 and today it is 2.9. The hemoglobin should be at 135-170 and it is 97 and the platelets should be 150-400 and he's at 30. We are very thankful for these results.

Although the transplant numbers are coming up this has not remained the focus. The first priority right now is to get Dad's organs to function again. The liver is still the biggest concern at this point and we are praying it will start to heal. We know he is in God's hands and that is our comfort!

A Slight Improvement

Today so far is a good day. There is a very slight improvement in his liver again and also his kidneys have been working much better. Dad is quite jaundice and says his chest hurts quite a bit but his breathing is better and his pain a bit less. He has had more fluid removed from his stomach and this helps him feel more comfortable. He is quite disorientated at times and often tells stories that don't make sense. As he puts it the more times he pushes the morphine button the more he goes into a different world.

Mom is doing well, she feels more at ease leaving the room knowing someone else is with Dad. We gave Dad a manicure this morning which he loved, he's always loves people playing with his nails.

The doctor was just in and says he is not out of the woods yet but the trees have gotten a little thinner. We are so thankful for any improvement and thank the Lord that his pain has gone down somewhat.

Thank you so much for your prayers!

A better day

Yesterday all of us kids were at the hospital together and it was a nice family time. I know it lifted Mom's spirits to have all her kids together with her. Dad did not look so good and it was hard to see him in pain. He was quite bloated and you could see his breathing was labored. The doctors told us even though his counts were coming up his organs (specifically his liver) are not functioning properly and that was quite critical. We will need to take it one day at a time to see if his liver will start doing what it is supposed to.

Today I am writing from beside Dad's bed. It is nice to be here with him as he knows I am here and once in a while asks me a question. He is doing better than yesterday for which we are all very thankful. He is more talkative and even asked for something to drink which he hasn't done for a while...he wants coke.

Mom got mail today at the hospital and is reading Dad the cards they got. There is one cute one in particular that is from one of the classes at John Calvin School. How they appreciate the cards and kind words!

I am so happy to see that he is still the same old Dad with his smirks and jokes and it is so wonderful to hear his sense of humor is still very much active. He is in less pain than he has been mostly due to the 2 gallons of fluid they drained from his stomach. This has also allowed him to breath more easily. He is still very tired but can hear when we talk and chimes in once in a while.

Mom and I talk about the baby for a minute (I'm 6 months pregnant) and Dad tells me that it doesn't matter what gender the baby is as long as it is healthy. He says my health is not to be taken for granted. Such true words, how we do take our health for granted!

Anyway, there is not much more to say. We'll pray that tomorrow will be a good day!

Please pray for Dad

Just a quick update to let you know Dad is not doing so well at the moment.  His liver and kidneys are struggling, and he has had a catheter inserted to relieve him of the bloating caused by the buildup of fluids.  Last night he was in a lot of pain, despite the constant drip of morphine he was self-administering.  Thus, the doctors are watching him more closely than ever and talks this morning are that he may be moved to the ICU.
 
Mom wasn't feeling well last night, but is better this morning although she is very tired. 
 
Please continue to pray for Dad, and for the treatment he is receiving, and we will trust our benevolent Father...
 

Day 22 after transplant

I apologize for not updating the blog that often but there simply isn't much to say. It is day 22 after the transplant and still no change. 

The doctors have assured us that what Dad is going through is normal and that each case is different. Although it is difficult for us and especially for Dad we must be patient to see positive results. Please pray with us that Dad will be relieved from his pain and that He and Mom will be given strength from above.

Not much has changed

Not much has changed. The tests Dad had done last week came back fine. He is still feeling sick however and we are waiting for his counts to come up.

Still feeling lousy

Not much to update at this time. Dad is still quite sick and the doctors say he will continue to feel like this for at least the next 6 days. As tough as the days are for him he still maintains his sense of humor and likes playing tricks on the nurses.  

He has had some routine tests done and we should get the results this week sometime. His white blood count, hemoglobin and platelet counts are quite low and need to come up.  

Thank you for your understanding about not coming to visit for at least the next week. We will post when Dad is feeling up to visits again.  

Mom and Dad wish to THANK YOU for all the encouraging messages, cards and phone calls; they love getting mail at the hospital.

Not up for visitors

Just a quick update; Dad is still quite sick and as a result is not up for visits for at least the next week. In addition to all the medication he is getting he is also now receiving nutrition through the IV.  

The doctors have said the next week will get worse and we are praying for Dad that he takes one day at a time. It's hard to think of Dad feeling worse than he already does but we pray this means the transplant is working. Thank you all for your prayers!

Dad feeling pretty sick...again

There is not too much to report at this time. Dad is still pretty sick and once the bone marrow travels to where it is meant to go he is supposed to get sicker. He gets antsy lying in bed all day and does walk the halls but this too makes him nauseous. 

Mom is holding up well and appreciates the cards and encouraging comments. She has brought her laptop to Dad's room so now she can relay messages to him and also keep busy while Dad is resting.

If you do plan to visit them please do not wear any perfume, after-shave or bring food along. Dad is super sensitive to smells right now; it all makes him nauseous.

Thank you again for your love and support; we thank God for keeping watch over Dad and pray that He will bless the transplant.

The big day has arrived!

So far so good! Uncle Ron was put under around 11 this morning and was out of the hospital around 3pm. He has some stiffness in his lower back but overall is doing fine. 

Dad's portion of the transplant started around 3pm and finished at 7:15. Once the bone marrow started dripping in he felt nauseous and is still sick with flu-like symptoms. The nurses were on hand every 15 minutes during the transplant to check his blood pressure etc. 

As mentioned before we will not know how it is affecting Dad for at least 10 days, possibly more. 

We are so thankful to God that Dad was able to have this transplant and that Uncle Ron was a match. Please continue to pray with us that this transplant will be a success. Thank you so much for your love and support!

One week down...

Well, one week has gone by for Dad in the hospital. As Mom said it has gone quickly for her but not so for Dad. The reaction to the chemo has subsided a bit and Mom said Dad had better color and was more alert today. 

Uncle Ron was at the hospital today for some blood work etc. and will go in around 10 tomorrow morning. Dad should start receiving the bone marrow in the afternoon. It will take approximately 2-3 weeks to see if it has a positive affect on him. As always, more waiting! As you can imagine waiting is very difficult for all of us.

Dad is not able to have flowers in his room but if you wish to send a card the mailing address for the hospital is:

Room 410
Vancouver General Hospital
Leukemia-BMT Unit
855 West 12th Ave.
Vancouver, B.C.
V5Z 1M9

P.S.: It's his 55th birthday on Thursday!

Dad's feeling pretty sick...

The past days Dad has been doing okay. He has been very tired but always has a sense of humor. Yesterday however they gave Dad a different, stronger dose of chemo and as a result he has been very sick. This will be the case today as well and then hopefully it will get better. Mom has been at his side and has proven to be a wonderful nurse! I know Dad is very thankful to have her there with him. 

Uncle Ron will be at the hospital on Tuesday and Dad will be starting the transplant on Wednesday. 

Uncle Ron's bone marrow will most likely be removed from the top of the hip bone. The bone marrow is then filtered and treated. Transplant marrow will be given to Dad through an IV. It is naturally carried into the bone cavities, where it grows to replace the old bone marrow.

Dad has prepared for the transplant by getting high doses of chemo serving two purposes; it destroys his abnormal blood cells or cancer and it slows his immune response against the donor bone marrow.

We are all a bit anxious (especially Dad) on the outcome of the next few days and weeks but we pray that God will give Dad the strength he needs. Thank you so much for the comments and cards you have sent; they mean so much!

A week of chemo

Dad was admitted to the hospital yesterday and so far all is going well. He has been very tired of late and spends most of the day sleeping. He will start chemo today and most likely this week he will also need a lumbar puncture. The transplant will start next Wednesday the 21st after 7 days of intense chemo.  

Mom will be staying nearby the hospital for the duration and we ask for your prayers for her as well as the road ahead will not be an easy one.  

We also think and pray for Uncle Ron who will be undergoing the other important part of the transplant. We know all things are in our Heavenly Fathers hands and what a comfort that is!

Transplant Back on Track

We got news today that if all goes well Dad will be admitted to the hospital next Tuesday the 13th. He will begin chemo and the transplant is then scheduled to start on the 20th.

We are very thankful for this news. Please continue to pray for Dad and Mom and also Uncle Ron. Thank you so much for your continued support and prayers.