Post Stem Cell Transplant

Life has its ups and downs post stem cell transplant. Ups and downs seems like a terrible way to describe it. More like good days and scary days. Billy is pretty far out from his transplant, and is doing well for the most part. It doesn’t appear his leukemia has returned. That’s a big praise – the BIGGEST. He has had some set backs, though. He’s been hospitalized twice with “pneumonia”, once in May and once in October, just last month. The doctors ran some tests, chest x-rays and CT scans and suspected he could, could to be emphasized, could have Graft vs. Host of the lungs. Well, that was a scary time. The doctors treated him as if he did have it, with high doses of prednisone and an anti-viral to be safe. They have scaled back his prednisone to 40 mg a day, which is more bearable. His doctor said he doesn’t really believe that he has GVHD. But now, starting yesterday or so, he’s having lung issues again. Coughing, runny nose, hard to breathe. God, please heal this man.

You know, life goes on and you start to take it all for granted once again. When Billy was in the hospital last month, he was really sick. He has some kind of something in his left lung, in both his lungs really, but in the left the most. We both humbled up and started looking hard at all we had very quickly. We appreciated every word, every moment together. Its how life should always be, but its not how it goes in reality.

The grandkids all just had birthdays, and little Jesse made his appearance in September. Sophia is now 11, Ransom is 9, Nora is 8, Judah is 7 and Evangeline is 5. I’m lucky their birthdays are so easy to keep track of. Jason and Janice’s kids are all 2 yrs. apart – except now for Jesse, who is 5 years younger than Evangeline. I love them all so much words cannot describe it. I hate that they’re growing up so fast. Every day is like a treasure, and I’m trying to hold onto every precious moment in my mind. I take a furious amount of pictures of everyone! Its how I keep my memories, I guess. Everyone is doing well. No one has any serious health problems. On Thursday, Nov. 4, one of Jason & Janice’s foster kids came to live with them again – Rebekah. Rebekah is 17 yrs. old now. Hard to believe. Jason & Billy started building a bedroom in his 2 car garage. They painted it day before yesterday. Wow, they got it done so fast. Its a cute little room, with a big closet. They have welcomed her in with open arms. I hope and pray she will appreciate her home, and try to do well these last couple of years in school and get ready for college. Joseph and Trisha are doing well, Joseph is working weekdays again at the TV station. Trisha is teaching at Nora’s school, and Nora is in gymnastics and loves it. Joanna and Nick went away last weekend to celebrate their 2nd anniversary early. They went to a magic show and stayed at a fancy hotel. It looks like they had fun.

I’m hoping and praying that Billy can kick this thing on his own, without ending up in the hospital again. I’ve told him that his lungs are his kryptonite, and I believe I’m right. Praying that it won’t stay that way. Praying for healing, always, for my Billy.