Saturday November 28 th

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving with no thoughts of me sitting in the hospital eating caned peaches.  I thought I would start trying to build a little sympathy for poor me.  I hope that didn't work because I had a wonderful Thanksgiving I was in the hospital but Sharen went back to the apartment and had Sonja's family and Jessica's family Sharen stayed in our apartment with grand kids and the kids came to the hospital to see me She stayed at the apartment over night and left me with no one to bug me all night so over all a nice Thanksgiving.  Other good news they think we can go home Monday this stay was not expected and it's wonderful to have an end date.  Of course things can change on a dime, but this time I am starting to feel healed keep that in prayer for us.

 

Years ago Sharen myself and Mike and Linda K were youth leaders and we as a group decided on a mission project which was to go to New Mexico and work on an Indian reservation.  I'm still not why we world go so far but thanks to leaders being young we were up to the task.  first thing to do is plan on how to get there so the church let us use the beater bus that the church owned I hope.  so started cleaning and removing the normal bus seats and replace with seats from an old Gray hound bus and build a room for a porta pody and some tables we thought that would make the trip shouter.  Then we put at last 200 pounds of paint on the bus.  Then we had Paul check the mechanical condition and his opinion was the engine might not make the trip so he agreed to rebuild I remember for free but we could have got some parts needed.  So the big day was on and on Friday night we were off.  So to speak the deal was to go straight through with minimum stops and keep changing drivers so one more detail we needed drivers licences for drivers.  we read books and got the check list and we all passed then we were on the road. so we were going very well I got first drive at about 1 AM couldn't.t drive any more so Mike took over and I got in back to sleep I discovered I could not sleep in a moving vical and why I continued to try it all of a sudden it got very quite which meant the bus stoped in sight of the St louse arches.  So first time under the hood at 2 am near the arches.  Also first known miracle of Trip Dewayne B.  whose Dad ran a garage thought to bring some spear parts and he had a set of points so we got it running and off we went Next stop was 30 miles outside of Hayes Kansas still no good sleep but the bus stooped and the clutch would not come up as luck would have it was a 24 hour truck stop we all got out and pushed the bus into parking lot ask if the 24 hour guy could help us he got into the seat and the bus would move a few feet so things continue to be good.  However after several trips up and down it wasn't looking good Kids and adults become concerned I noticed a truck pull up with two men drinking beer the driver got out and walked over to the bus and asked in a commanding voice who is responsible for this so I stepped forward and happened to see his hat and what do you know he was the sheriff so he lead me away from the bus and said if there is anyway we could get the bus going go on down the road Because this 24 guy didn't have a clue.  Mike and I looked at the clutch pedal got a small rope tied it to the clutch peddle it seemed to work so off we go to hays Kan. I held the rope Mike drove on to Hayes 30 or forty miles down the road Stoped to check the phone book for truck repairer on the weekend found one parked in tuck lot by that time it was 3 AM I got up from rape detail told kids to turn off their Walkmans and go to sleep.  They could not believe we were going to spend the rest of the night seeping on the bus not moving I informed them that was the plan all along only we were going to keep rolling.

 

sorry for the length of this but I could continue later if anyone wants to read about the rest of the story.

 

Please continue to pray for us and may God continue to Bless Us all.

November 23ed

As I continue to say time flies.  We are still in the hospital they think we could be home sometime after thanksgiving.  Due to the steroids I continue to get weaker I'm not sure why sports people use them.  I would not be able to win at arm weaseling with Sharen.  I normally have no pain but need to get to the point I am eating normal food.  The sad thing is Therese no normal food in the hospital.  

 

May God continue to bless us and thank you for all your prayers. 

late Thursday night,November 18

Well, if it isn't one thing its another.  Ralph came back from a walk, and fell down on to the floor bumping his head.  So, it was off for another scan of the brain to make sure he didn't start a new bleed.  They said the bleed was the same size as it was when we came in but that it looked like there might be some new blood so he will have another scan tomorrow to make sure it stays the same size.  He is on total fall precaution  so I am saying tonight to help him.  He said that he is fine and that he is not in pain.  Never mind the goose egg he has on the back of his head.  I think he must have a high tolerance for pain.  About the GvHD, he is starting to reintroduce  foods one at a time to make sure his GvHD doesn't flare up again.  So far he has had broth, crackers, and tonight apple sauce.  You know if its OK if diarrhea  doesn't happen, there is no pain, or no vomiting. Tomorrow we may add rice!  This is a  very slow process and before Ralph fell the Dr. was saying that we would be pushing Thanksgiving.  We are starting to realize what they meant when they said we would have a new normal.  GvHD may be always with us and when it flares up it will mean long hospital stays.  We are praying that because the match was 9 1/2 out of 10, a male, and a young (19 yr.old) that Ralph's GvHD will get better with time. 

Please continue your prayers, It seems so long since we have seen you all and you are all missed so much.  We want to come home, but I am not ready to second guess Gods plans for us so we will just keep on keeping on.   Your cards and letters mean so much to Ralph and I thank you. 

Sharen

No it couldn't be its all ready November 15 th

 

 

The last few blogs has been done by Sharen. I have not had time to review yet so could be some repeats.  I will now give you my side. Of course it will be a much more truthful and clear story.  The beginning started 3 weeks ago Sharen noticed I had turned into an imbecile.  So back to the hospital because we do not have a straight jacket. I was fogged for 4 days and then I came to, out of the fog.  The nurses said I was very pleasant I got the idea they brought friends in to watch me. If it happens again I'm going to see how to get it on U tube.  The cause was from some of the drug interactions they did a quick remix and I'm right back to what is my normal self, what ever that is.  So we got home again for few days I notice pain in stomach.  at first it was keeping me a wake we called our nurse she said to try some oxicodon just before bed in that  moment I could see The new path for my life.  Going from doctor to doctor finding new drug stores just for my hits.  I was informed that this was not the same drug that was used by Rush Limbaugh. 

 

Back to hospital two days testing they found no cancer which was great, however the pain was caused by graft vs host so much more treatment to come will let you know.   We are still in hospital looks like for awhile.

 

I continue to ask for your prayers and may God continue to bless us all.

 

 

Nov.10, 2009 Tuesday

Well we are back at Ann Arbor again, and have been for 6 days.  Ralph was having intense side pain on the right upper abdomen and was getting weak.  They had us come into clinic and after a full day of testing put Ralph back into the hospital.  He was dehydrated, had a low red blood cell count, and they needed to find out about the pain.  Yesterday they told us (after more tests) that it was his gallbladder that was the problem.  No stones but full of sledge that was clogging the ducts and making it infected.  They increased the antibiotics and were talking about whether to drain it with an inserted tube or to remove it.  Ralph is no longer in pain and is starting to eat again so the have decided to keep up the antibiotics and see if it will continue to heal itself with out any invasive procedures.  I am glad of that I wasn't looking forwards to having another nursing procedure taught to me.  So, I think we are in here for one more day to see how every thing is coming along and hopefully home by Weds. night.  I am again staying with Louise and Ken and am very comfortable there.  What a blessing they have been for me. 

May God continue to bless us all.

Sharen