19 Apr 2007

To All,

On Monday, 16 April, I was released from the hospital and got home around 6 PM, Praise God!!!!! They put my pic line back in prior to releasing me and sent me home with two new medicines, an antibiotic and a pill with pancreatic enzymes (the latter is to help me absorb the food I eat to help me begin to heal...I believe it is doing some good).

I am now on a regimen of several medicines throughout the day. I believe the most I take at one time is in the morning, something like 17 pills / capsules.

On Tuesday I had to go back to clinic and was to have another bone marrow biopsy. However, as sometimes happens, the doctor was busier than she planned and as a result the bone marrow biopsy was post-poned until this coming Friday. This is the biopsy for my 6 month follow-up post transplant.

I would like to ask, once again, for a concerted effort in prayer on Friday. If everyone that receives this e-mail would take a few minutes from their day and stop and pray for me and the results from the bone marrow biopsy. I would like prayer that the findings would show that the cancer is in remission, that my body has started to produce more of the required blood cells and that I am either healing properly or that I am healed miraculously.

In addition, I would like prayer in the following areas:

• Praise that I was able to go home so quickly this last hospital stay - it is my shortest stay on record
  
• Praise that I am starting to feel better, still very weak, but I believe I am improving
  
• Praise for all of you that have faithfully continued to pray for me and my family
  
• Pray for my physical strength to return - On Wednesday, I fell in my driveway and received a rather ominous black-eye. Fortunately the neighbors found me and helped me to get up, I am to weak to pick myself up off the ground. Gene said that he has had plenty of shiners, but never one as big and black as mine....but that is his story.

Many of you have expressed the desire to help in a tangible way and I appreciate that very much. After much thinking I offer a few suggestions listed below:

• Gas cards to help offset the expense of driving to clinic twice a week
  
• Meals two or three times a week for a short period
  
• If needed maybe help with weeding the gardens or other lawn work - I could visit with someone while they do this
  
• Just come visit me while I can't get out, I miss all of you so much. (Please come only if you are not sick and haven't been around someone who is sick)

I continue to look to God for answers and fully believe that if it is His will that I be healed by a miracle it will happen. However, if it is Gods will that I bear this heavy burden longer, then I know that it is by His strength that I will survive.



Love in Christ

Cheryl

13 Apr 2007

To All,

I know it has been a while since my last update. As of 12 APR I have been out of the hospital and home enjoying my family time for THREE whole weeks.

Yes I still had to go to clinic twice a week for the various transfusions and other medicines as the doctors deemed necessary, but no matter how long of a day it was, I still got to go home.

As of 2 AM this morning (Friday, 13 APR), that all changed. Due to a bacterial infection in my blood I am back in the hospital. They have removed my PIC line and are pumping me full of anti-biotics.

Due to the amount of steriods I have been on it wasn't apparent that I actually had an infection, they tend to mask many of the sypmtoms. For the past two days I have had little to no energy and in-fact have slept almost the entire day away.

In clinic on Thursday, 12 APR, the doctor notice my lethargic attitude and took some blood samples to analyze. At approx 12:30 AM, Friday, 13 APR, the on call doctor called and told Gene that I had an infection and that he needed to bring me up right away. So he did and now you know the rest of the story.

Praise God for:

• The doctors careful attention to detail - I thought I was just weak from all the medicine
  
• The fact that Gene was home to take the call and deliver me to receive the proper care
  
• That my children are strong and carry on even in my absence
  
• The fact that many of you are still praying for me, my family and my illness - going on over two years now
  
• The fact that I am still here to praise and worship a loving God

Please Pray for:

• My emotional strength - I found if very hard to come back to the hospital
  
• My physical strength and the courage to work towards rebuilding my body
  
• My spiritual well being - that I may not falter in honoring God for his will is devine
  
• that this will be a very short hospital stay,

My room phone number is (608) 267 - ####, my room number is B#/###.

May God bless you all

Love in Christ

Cheryl

1 Apr 2007

To All,

I have now been home for a week and three glorious days. I enjoy being around my children and in my own house so much.

I am very thankful for my time at home, but I pray that I can get off this roller coaster ride soon. I have one good day and then one or two bad days - with continuation of the diarrhea and abdominal pain almost every day.

Gene takes me to clinic on Monday's and Thursday's and with everything I have to get done at clinic - transfusions of stem cells, platelets, magnesium, Ifleximax, the days can be very long. However I still get to come home.

The good Lord continues to give me reason to praise his name and rejoice. I am continually thankful for:

• My sister Sandy (aka "The Donor") and her girls - they came all the way from Denver, Colorado to visit me last week - what joy they bring to my heart - her girls are four and seven.
  
• My children who continue to stay focused on doing well in school and helping keep up with things at home.
  
• The men, women and children at my church, in my community, at Gene's work and those across the country who pray for me and my family daily.
  
• The fact that I can rise to greet the sun each day and seek to serve the Lord one more time.
  
• All those people that take time out of their lives to donate blood and blood products. I am proof that without them I would not be here.
  
• The generosity of all my friends and family. Almost everyday I receive wonderful cards and e-mails that continue to encourage me to face the fight with courage.

Gene and I are approached very often now by many of you in our family / community inquiring about ways that you can help us, beyond praying. I am so thankful to know that if my family or I have a need, that is beyond our ability, that through God's loving kindness and mercy all I need to do is ask and he will work his miracles through you and your loving giving hearts.

Oh yes, I was reminded that on the last e-mail I sent out, the day I was getting out of the hospital, I made a mistake. It seems that I said I was in the hospital for 3 weeks and 3 days, when in reality it was 4 weeks and three days. I guess I was just so excited about going home I lost count.

For Ever Faithful

Love in Christ

Cheryl