Quite a milestone to hit a week past the transplant. According to team's hopes, we are half way to seeing the first response of the new stem cells. May the Lord continue to bless this process!
Had another good day. Received platelets again ( 5 days running), but a break from receiving RBC. I am just above the line so hopefully I can stay there for another day. Blood cultures show a staph infection, exact type not yet known, but my Central Line is safe from being taken out. A good blessing, it sure saves a lot of pokes with needles. They would have put a PICC line in instead but they prefer the higher volume, multi port of the Hickman. Bilirubin was down today quite a bit so that is a relief. Liver doing okay. But these days food is not having much appeal for me, doesn't taste right, look right, smell right. Having a hard time forcing myself to eat much although I know I need to. With those eating issues and the rest of chemo's side affects, I am on a calorie count. They note what I eat and drink, and what I output. Life in the oncology floor. But as I sat here today thinking on these things, I can't help but be struck by my relatively good health compared to so many on this floor. I am here for the first time, getting things done that they have good hope may heal me, while so many others are here for treatments again, and often with healing not the end goal anymore. We have so much to thank the Lord for!!
I had a haircut in late August, and by now it was a length that my Mother loved. I was fine with it too, until last night I started shedding. Barb came with clippers and now I am bald. I was imagining my oldest grandsons looking at me when we Skype and saying "Grandpa, what big ears you have!" Did not go quite like that but they all survived the shock :)
An email I received referred to Psalm 33, my parents wedding psalm. I heard it put to song and sung at one of our services last Sunday. Powerful.
PH56vs2
His eye is on all those who fear;
To those who hope, the Lord is near
According to His Word.
Death cannot touch those in His hand,
Nor famine conquer in the land;
We wait upon the Lord.
Our hope is on Jehovah stayed,
In Him our hearts are joyful made,
Our help and shield is He.
Our trust is in His holy Name,
Thy mercy, Lord, in faith we claim,
As we have hoped in Thee.
9 comments:
Bald is beautiful Richard-Just think when it grows back in it could be black instead of gray-lol
Love the little red riding hood comment!!!!! You have a great way of writing Richard and a wonderful sense of humor.
Keep it coming :-) All our love.....Henry and Mona
Now you wont have to spend so much time grooming in the morning or worry about a bad hair day. And the grandkids will get used to it and love you just the same. So good to hear that you are doing pretty good, such a blessing. Praise the Lord.Arlene
Richard, good as always to hear your update - Psalm 33 is our wedding text too! Neat to see it come up here - it's such an encouragement and wonderful hope for God's people! Praying for those numbers to stabilize and for an appetite for you too!
Richard, going with what Pat said... bald is beautiful, but if you get sick of that, I have some lovely wigs I'd be happy to let you borrow;) You could try blonde... or curly... or long... you name it, I got it :D
Richard, you are such an encouragement. May the Lord continue to bless you richly.
Gail
We continue to pray for you and your family. Thank you for keeping us up to date on how things are going!
Will and Chris Dokter.
Reading what you type reminds me so much of time in the hospital with Julie. She had a Hickman (which we were very thankful for once they inserted it because before that she was poked so many times), blood infection, fever, multiple antibiotics, hair loss, no appetite, recorded intake and output, multiple transfusions (but not as many as you), xrays done in the room, no energy.
I'm so glad to read that you can remain positive and thankful while you're in the hospital. It's not an easy thing to do. Imagine those who don't have faith in God. You and your family remain in our prayers.
Cathy Linnell
Thank you for another moving blog entry, this time making light of something that is a very vivid reminder of what you and your family are all going through. Thank God for the courage and the strength to face this disease and all of it's ugly side effects head on. (no pun intended!)
Praying for an increased appetite, minimal negative side effects from the chemo and for signs of activity from those donor stem cells soon!
Wishing you all strength to continue to see God's 'big picture' as you are so clearly are able to testify to today.
In Him, the vanB's
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