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May 14th, 2005 Journal

“In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust:   let me never be put to confusion.”

Psalm 71:1

 

It's so great to be alive.   I am so thankful for the opportunity to just breathe the spring air, to sit in the grass and watch my kids run track or play baseball, or to be woken up in the morning by the sound of rain on the rooftop.   I want to take in the joy of the world around me and to be a source of joy to the people around me.

 

Last Friday I was at my youngest son's baseball game when I got a call that a friend was in urgent need of computer help.   I didn't want to leave the game, but she was sounding very frustrated.   So I decided to leave the game for a little bit to help her.   Instead of being welcomed at her home by a frazzled computer user, I was surprised by a group of my good friends who had decided to throw me a surprise 1-year birthday party.   We had a great time, sharing great conversation, all the crab you could eat, and delicious chocolate birthday cake.   This is definitely a very special birthday and I am so happy to be able to celebrate it.   I look forward to celebrating many more.

 

The following day, Saturday, I had my Team in Training ride.   I have really been enjoying these weekly rides.   The rides have been making me stronger on the bike, as well as blessed me with the opportunity to meet some wonderful people.   It is a special feeling to be riding along side fellow cyclists who are all riding for the common goal of finding a cure for cancer.   This Saturday was a very special ride, however, for the Team dedicated the ride to me in honor of my one-year transplant birthday.   One of the Team members was a doctor on my transplant team.   She did the ride dedication and shared some wonderful words.   I was very moved by what she had to say.   It was a great moment.   The rest of the ride I enjoyed everyone making comments about how well I ride a bike for a one year old.

On Wednesday I traveled up to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, with my friend Brad, for some of my one-year follow up appointments.

 

 

The day's appointments would consist of a bone marrow draw and a CT Scan.

 

 

 

 

I am due to come back on May 31st and June 1st to finish up the rest of the one-year appointment.   I am praying all the test results will be good news.   If how I feel is any indication, I think the tests will be good.  

 

It's kind of a strange feeling returning to the SCCA.   Many memories of my transplant were running through my mind.   Even though my transplant went relatively smooth, I am glad to be on the other side.    It was nice to see some of the people who helped take care of me while I had my transplant.

 

 

I also ran into a friend, Joane, who is in her second month post transplant.   I met Joane through her daughter, Kelley. Like myself, a few weeks after transplant Joane had a tough stretch, but she made it through and is doing very well.   Keep Joane's recovery in your prayers.   She's a very kind and courageous lady.

 

I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish he didn't trust me so much.

Mother Teresa

 

Despite how well everything is going, recovery from transplant continues to be a bit of a rollercoaster ride.   On Friday night my doctor called to say my recent blood cultures showed I may have a bacterial infection in my blood.   It could just be a contaminant from my skin that got into the culture during the blood draw.   They ran another culture last night to check that out.   However, it will take a few days for the new culture results.   In the meantime, the doctor wants to play it safe and give me IV antibiotics over the next few days.   So my Friday night was spent at the hospital getting the IV antibiotic, Vancomyacin.   I will come back on Saturday and Sunday for additional infusions.   Hopefully, Monday will show a negative culture so they can stop the infusions.

 

I am also having a skin GVHD flare.   The symptoms include redness of the skin, kind of like a sunburn.   My skin also itches.   The itchiness was so irritating last night that I was up most of the night.   I have some pretty baggy eyes today.   The Vancomyacin I am on also causes redness and itchiness of the skin, so I am getting a double dose of skin irritation.   I am going to pick up some anti-itch cream at the pharmacy so I can get some sleep at night.   As a result of the GVHD I have to temporarily increase my Predisone dose.   I'm not too excited about that, but it's what needs to be done.   Hopefully, the GVHD flare will settle down quickly and I can return to my lower dose.

 

 

I took this picture of my oldest son at his recent track meet.   I am reminded of the old Nike poster that say's, ‘There is no finish line.'   In my battle with cancer there appears to be no finish line.   There have been many victories along the way, but there always seem to be new races to run.   I am OK with that.   I am grateful to continue being in the race.   I pray God, through His grace, continues to allow me to win the races set before me, making me a stronger person in the process.

 

 

  Please remember the following in your prayers:

•My GVHD Flare subsides quickly, allowing me to reduce the Prednisone and the clearing of my suspected bacterial infection.

•Joanne's continued recovery from her recent transplant.

•Jane's Lymphoma battle.   Praises for her shrunken tumor and prayer that all of her cancer is eradicated through her chemotherapy treatments.

•Karen's Breast Cancer treatment is successful and as unevasive as possible.

•My other friend Karen's Leukemia recovery.   Help her through some of the recent challenges she has had.

•Britt's brain cancer and his daughter's leukemia.   Comfort and a cure for both of them.

•Ability for all of us to experience the joy meant for our lives.

 

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