Saturday, October 31, 2009

Saturday October 31

I'm just sitting here trying to fit in this couch and be able to type my Blog sorry for the long delay.  I'm sleeping more then I had expected and also going to bed early not sure what part of days like this I am aware enough to think clearly.  Sharen and I were at hospital all day Friday for multiple testing and will know results by Wednesday next week The Doctors believe that I'm following the normal path for this type of procedure so no bugs yet.  Introduction of new test procedure which is called Phosphorecis they take your blood out and use a strong UV source to irradiate it.  My understanding of what happens is it twists the white cells to die without leaving a trace which should keep them from attacking my organs.  Well another system using UV why couldn't I come up with that not a nit light.
 
Thanks for all the prayers for us it continues to help.  So please continue and may God continue to Bless us all.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Monday Oct 19th and still 09

Well time continues to go by and I seem to be getting stronger I don't seem to remember getting this low from the last one but I continue to feel good.  I just seem to need allot of sleep so how bad can it be.  We seem to be set up to go in to Ann Arbor two to three times every week each day consist of many tests so those days are test and in the car driving back and forth.  well it seems time for another nap.
 
Please continue to keep us in your prayers and may God continue to Bless us all.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Where has the time gone Oct 17th

Well at last I am in my chair trying to update my Blog this won't be to long but I will see what I can do.  Just to do a quick over view We were inserted back in the hospital September 9 Th and released September 30 Th witch was very wonderful.  We moved into our home in Jackson.  How wonderful it is to be given a home until our treatment is over.  We had been Here a few days and I woke up back in the hospital people were looking at me with strange looks talking softly.  Sharen finely mentioned that the reason I was back was I started acting wired but how was that possible.  As a reason it was dissided a small change in my meds needed to be changed then snap I was back.  Not sure what happened over those 2 days but I was happy to be back.
 
Please continue to pray for us and may God continue to hold us up take care.  

Friday, October 16, 2009

Friday October 16, 2009,

Who would believe October is already half over.  Where does the time go?  When you are in the hospital you totally loose track of time. 
Today was a busy day.  Blood draw at 7:30 a.m.  Dr. visit 8:30, bone morrow test 9:00,  That all lasted until 11 so we went off to lunch.  Ralph ate most of 1/2 a roll up (meat and cheese only) I on the other hand ate a whole one with the shell.  Then it was up to photoparisis to get his white blood cells exposed to ultra violet light.  This is part of the clinical trials to see if it slows down or stops GVHD from happening.  This process runs for 3 hours so it was almost 4:30 before we got out of there.  (traffic back was horrible)
 
This was Ralph's 30 day checkup we will know the results of the tests on Tuesday when we go again.  They have a PET scan set up for him on the 30th so when we get the results from that we will know how well this transplant has gone. 
 
Ralph continues to sleep often but he is no longer (as Sue said) goofy.
We miss all of you. 
Please continue your prayers.  God has been so faithful and has meet or exceeded our needs.  He is so merciful. 
 
Sharen

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Wednesday October 14,2009

Well, Ralph and I got home from the hospital yesterday evening and got unpacked and settled into Jackson again.  Ralph had a central nervous system reaction to his anti rejection drug so they had to take him off that and start him on another.  We are waiting to see if it will also cause a mental status change or if it will be alright.  They have one other they can try if it does , but it can cause low blood counts and as he has low blood counts already because of the BMT they do not want to use that yet.  Ralph and I both are a bit homesick and so we are going to take a trip home to Delton to visit friends for supper at Grove Street.  Then we will spend the night at Suzanne and Vinnie's. 
We will come back to Jackson tomorrow to rest before a long day Friday at the hospital doing Dr. appointments and his first Photopharisis treatment (irradiate the blood with ultra violet light.)
 
Sharen

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Tuesday October 6, 2009

Ralph continues to sleep and sleep and sleep.   I remember this from last time but we were still in the hospital then.  When he first wakes up he is a little confused and forgets what the day is.   I think he must be having interesting dreams because he asks interesting questions about things I have no knowledge of.  Once he is awake for awhile he does much better.  Paul was here to visit last night and Ralph was awake for 1 1/2 hours.  This is a record, or maybe Paul is just more interesting. 
 
Ralph's health continues to be stable.  He went to Ann Arbor yesterday for blood tests and will go again on Friday for more blood testing and a Dr. visit.
 
 
We think of all of you often.  May God continue to bless us all
 
Sharen

Sunday, October 4, 2009

October 4,2009

Wow, where has the time gone?  Ralph has wanted to write but is always sleeping.  So, here is the update.  We are in our little house in Jackson.  (1000 E. Porter)
The Nuns are very sweet and interesting.  We do not see them a lot but the three of them came over to introduce themselves.  God has been so good to us through out this whole thing meeting our needs one after another.  The house is a flat roofed limestone to match the other buildings on the property.  The Father use to live here but is no longer on campus.  The house has all new carpet and floors.  What looks like new cabinets in the kitchen .  It is very clean and cute and just what we needed. 
 
Ralph went back to the Dr. on Friday for blood work and check up.  Dr. Levine was very pleased with the progress.  They adjusted some of his meds. and made an appointment for Monday for more blood work to check on his levels to see if his meds need more adjustments or if they are correct.  The Dr. said that we need to keep a watch for graft vs. host as now and for the next while is when it is most likely to hit.  The study that Ralph is in is to see if by giving the meds. that are used for GVHD before it happens will keep it from happening at all, or make the use of steroids less needed if it does happen.  Ralph will get his first irradiated blood treatment on the 16th.  His blood will go through a machine be radiated and then put back in him.  Kind of like dialysis.
 
We miss seeing all of you and are praying that you are well. 
 
Sharen