Round 5 - Complete

Joe has completed his 5th round of chemo!!!! He is more sore than usual, but that didn't keep him from putting in a few half days of work. Joe's counts are looking good, so continued praise for that!

On Thursday evening, Joe had the opportunity to spend time with Mammen. It was a great time for them hang out with out the annoyance of nagging girls...ok, ok. Without the nuisance of annoying ME! :)

Friday night we went to fellowship. This morning, we got to spend time with Joe's parents. They even brought over some yummies!

That's about it. On to prayer requests and praises!

***
Please pray for Baby Livi and family. They have been stuck in the hospital, because poor Livi got the flu. She is doing
better now, but she won't be discharged until she is off of oxygen for 24 hours. That hasn't quite happened yet.

Pray for Amy and family. Amy was diagnosed with AML around the same time Joe was diagnosed. Her journey has been rough, but she has such strength, and so much faith. Monday is her "Day Zero." She'll be going through a PBSC transplant, with her brother as her perfect match.

***
PRAISES!!!!!

Christine received news (As of Nov. 6) that she will be able to go HOME! She is the girl who had the risky partial-match transplant. She was on hospital grounds for 134 days at the time of her last update. I hope she is home now!

Thank you to Mammen for treating Joe to dinner! It was fun for him to get out of the house.

Marcus celebrated a birthday on Friday. HAPPY belated birthday!!!!!!!

And...the 12th is another SUPER SPECIAL day!!!!!! It is my In-loves' (I've discovered that sounds much better than In-laws....) anniversary! Such a beautiful couple. Happy happy anniversary Mamma and Dad!

And, a very HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my MOMMY!!!!!! She's turning...uhm...39. :)

My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long. But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.
~Psalm 71:8,14

End of Round 4!

We didn't get a call today stating that Joe's perfect match was found. We haven't lost hope either. There is always next week!

Today Joe had the last of his injections for round 4. YAY!!!!! I know he is way happy about being done for a few weeks. Me too! The results of Joe's blood draw showed a little dip in his WBC, so they are back to "right under average." Not too bad. Joe's platelets look good. And funny enough, his RBC are now on the high side of normal. Hopefully they stabilize. It seems weird that they suddenly just keep going up.

I snapped a picture of the view from the top floor of the hospital parking garage. Can't tell from the photo that the weather is getting COLD!

Please pray for Christine. I've mentioned her in the past, and posted some of her poems. She is an amazing person, and is very much a poster girl for minorities who need bone marrow and PBSC transplants. We were so excited a few weeks ago when we found out that after a very risky partial-match transplant the marrow had grafted. Unfortunately, this past week things haven't been looking so good. Christine is experiencing many complications. We don't know her, but she has been such a source of inspiration. Keep her in your prayers.

On the same note, there will be a fundraiser and bone marrow drive in LA, in Christine's name as well as her friend Jeremy. Click here for more info.

And of course, lest you think I've been slacking! I have more bone marrow drive info from CLLF!

Friday, Oct.20
11am-6pm
Drexel University
Creese Student Center
Philadelphia, PA

Mon, Oct. 23
11am-4pm
John Hopkins University
3400 Charles St.
Baltimore, MD

Wed, Nov 8
11am-5pm
Virginia Commonwealth
011 College Ave
Richmond, VA

Tues, Nov 14-15
10am-8pm
Virginia Tech
Williamsburg Room of Squires Student Center
Blacksburg, VA

Spread the word, spread the word, spread the word!!!!!!

Thank you to Yi-Ting and my 3rd auntie and uncle for the sweet cards. You are the best!
Thank you to hubby Joe for the second best gift ever. (You being all better will be the BEST gift ever! Of course, if we want to get all technical and sappy, you are the best gift ever.) I'm praying for you always!

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life - in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
~Philippians 2:14-18

Poems

Today I'm just going to post two poems written by Christine Pechera. She is an amazing, beautiful and talented girl who has been all over the news as she courageously battles non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Her story was brought to our attention shortly after Joe was diagnosed. Today Christine is 59 days out from undergoing a risky partial-match bone marrow transplant. Despite a long a desperate search, she was unable to find a perfect match. She is still fighting though, and taking joy in living life, even as she is healing. Her story is so inspiring. Her poems speak volumes...

How Beautiful is this Life and how Blessed Am I aka I Thanked the Illness

There was a time when I could smell the blossom of a Rose,
When I could feel the warmth of the Sun on my skin,
When I could hear the Laughter of children

But then one day my whole life collapsed underneath me,
And I began to fall.
It became dark. It became painful.
It became lonely.
I curled up into myself and cried and said,

"I just want to die."

My subconscious Mind heard me,
And my Body said,

"Okay."

And soon the illness came.

When the illness came, I feared it.
I didn't know it was to become my greatest Teacher.

It showed me the Love of Family, Friends and Strangers
That I couldn't see before.
It revealed the Beauty and Presence of God,
Living and Vibrating all around Me.
It gave me Gratitude for this so very brief Gift of Time on this Earth
And it taught me to say,

"Thank You, for I am Alive."

I thanked the illness for coming and teaching me these things.

It nodded,
and then
went away.

So now today,
I can see the Soul in the Blossom of a Rose
I can feel the Power of the Sun within Me
And I can Laugh like a Child again.

The illness taught me how Precious is each Moment,
How Beautiful is this Life,
And how Blessed Am I .

November 2003
Christine Pechera

No matter the outcome(An open letter to my loved ones and caregiver)

I know you're scared. I'm scared too.
But no matter the outcome, I will always love you.

You tell me you don't know what to say.
Don't say anything. Just listen.
You tell me you don't know what to do.
Don't do anything. Just hold me.

No matter the outcome,
I need to know that I am loved.
I need to know that my love is accepted.
I need to see that my life has made a difference in this world.

No matter the outlook,
I need to hear "Everything is going to be alright."
I need to be supported, not smothered.
When I am exhausted or hurting, I need someone to hold onto.
And sometimes I just need time alone.

No matter the outburst,
When I shake with tears don't try to "fix" it.
When fear and frustration lead to shouts and anger, forgive it.
When the trials of the day leave me despondent, acknowledge it.
When I can find humor in the darkness and laugh, enjoy it.

Have courage. Keep faith. Be strong. Don't wait.

And please don't forget to hold my hand.

I know you're scared.
I'm scared too
But no matter the outcome
I will always love you..

Christine Pechera