Long time/No news, but some great stuff now!

I realized on the way home from Dartmouth last night that it has been over 2 weeks since I last wrote, and while I don't like going that long between updates, not much was happening. My last visit to Dartmouth was on Fri. June 6, shingles and all. I went down there while I was hooked up to my portable IV pump, and they went ahead and did a bone marrow biopsy (on the left side, since the right side is where the shingles were). I was unsure how I would feel afterwards as far as traveling back home after all that, but between the pain meds from the biopsy and the lingering effects of the anesthesia, we went ahead and drove home right after the procedure on Friday, arriving home late Fri. night. Not much happened since then, other than my shingles healing up and going away.
Yesterday, during our visit at Dartmouth, we got the results from the bone marrow biopsy 2 weeks ago, which was clear of disease, and also showed full chimerism (I continue to hold the donor graft, i.e. the transplant has fully "taken hold"). I began the day yesterday by having my first PET/CT scan since the transplant (it's usually done between Day 100 and 120, and I was at Day 111 yesterday). After getting some breakfast (I had to fast for the scan), having my labs drawn, going for a Pulmonary Function Test, and waiting almost 2 hours, we then saw Dr. Hill, and since there was such a time gap between the scan and seeing him, he was able to give us the results of the PET/CT right there! This has never happened before, and usually takes 2-3 days at minimum for him to get a look at the film. My scan, which was from top of my head to mid-thigh level SHOWED ABSOLUTELY NO SIGNS OF CANCER ANYWHERE! PRAISE GOD!!! This is the first completely clear PET scan I have ever had during this "unexpected journey", and it feels good to be on the road to remission (they don't use that word until you've been cancer free for at least 1 year, but I'm 1/3rd of the way there!)
We are very excited, but are "cautiously optimistic", as there are still 8 months to go to remission. Continue to pray with us that we'll get there! Thanks for all of your prayers and faithful support during this long and difficult journey. Rejoice with us at God's gracious hand upon us today!

home for my birthday!

I am being discharged from the hospital here in Brunswick shortly, and will be home for birthday dinner with Lisa and the kids! All the arrangements have been made to continue to get my IV treatments 3x/day at home through Sat., and I was able to get up with my dr. at Dartmouth, and we're going to keep the schedule down there this week, as long as the shingles and/or pain don't get worse or spread in the next day or two. So, sometime Thu., we'll head down to NH, and on Fri., I'll see my doc, get an IV treatment (different than what I'm getting here), and then have my Day 90 bone marrow biopsy. We plan to return home to Waldoboro on Sat. During this time, you can pray with us that:
1) pain would remain under control
2) the shingles would not spread and begin to resolve themselves
3) we would have safety driving down and back to NH
4) all would go smoothly with the home treatments this week

Thanks for continuing to check in and lift us up in prayer. I'll update again when we get home from NH, and sooner if something changes, so stay tuned!

shingles all the way!

I was admitted last night to Midcoast Hospital in Brunswick for IV treatment of shingles, and will probably be here for at least a couple days, perhaps up to a week. They would like to get the rash and pain under control, and then send me home to complete the 7-10 days of IV treatments there, but a lot is up in the air since it is the weekend – insurance coverage for home care, communication with my transplant doc @ Dartmouth, actual home care arrangements, etc.

Please pray with us that:

1) the shingles rash and pain would subside and not spread any further

2) arrangements would work out so that I could get back home ASAP, rather than spending a week in here – home by Tuesday would be great, as that is my birthday!

3) Safety for Lisa and the kids as they travel back and forth to visit.

I do have access to email and internet while I'm here.

doing well, doing good!

I had a good visit with the doc at Dartmouth this past Friday - we found out that I gained 5 lbs. over the last 2weeks, which is great news! I will visit my local oncologist here in Brunswick for the first time this Fri. (he was on vacation 2 weeks ago and I saw another doc at that visit). All of my blood numbers are checking out OK, and the only issues are my weight, my energy, & my stamina, all of which should get better with time. Now that we are home, my appetite seems to be coming back a little, and rest just feels more...restful. I will have another bone marrow biopsy on June 6, and my first post-transplant PET scan on June 20th, so you can pray that both of those are clear. You can also best pray with us right now for:
1) continued weight gain
2) an increase in energy and stamina
3) wisdom and discernment for when to call it quits and rest. Now that I have some energy, it is sometimes hard to tell when I've "hit the wall"
Thanks for continuing to check in. I'll update again when and as things change. There's still a lot of healing and recovery ahead, so don't stop praying now...even though things are looking good!

Feeding from the source or eating scraps?

As I was sitting on our deck, eating lunch with the family today, we were able to enjoy several sparrows eating their lunch from our bird feeder. I noticed that some of the sparrows, after scouting out the area from a nearby branch, flew right down to the bird feeder and dug in, eating their fill right from the bird feeder, an almost inexhaustible store of food (to them) – there’s plenty there for many birds to have a filling meal. However, other sparrows, rather than eating from the bird feeder, flew to the ground below the bird feeder, and got their lunch by eating the bird seed that their friends dropped as they ate from the bird feeder above.

If I may, allow me to draw a spiritual connection for us. Some believers have developed the habit of getting their spiritual nourishment from the Word of God, digging into it regularly and consistently, feeding on its spiritual food and nourishing our souls. However, other believers, like the sparrows that fed off the scraps of their friends, get their spiritual nourishment from Sunday’s sermon, perhaps a book they’re reading, a sermon they hear on the radio, or a conversation with a friend who recently had a good “meal” from their own time in the Word. Allow me to encourage each of us that calls ourselves a follower of Jesus to follow his example, and get your primary spiritual food from a regular, consistent time reading God’s Word to us; his letter that gives us instruction, encouragement, comfort, challenge, reflection, and so much more. The more I do this, the more I find exactly what I need in the pages of the Bible. Don’t allow the sum and substance of your spiritual nourishment to come from “the scraps” of others feasting on the Source of all wisdom, God’s Word. Go to the Source, the never ending Supply, and don’t simply survive on the scraps of others.

There's no place like home!

We arrived home in Waldoboro on Sat. about 3:30pm, and after spending the weekend settling in and putting things away, it has been a rather busy week. Monday, I spent a few hours at church catching up with people. Tuesday, I had an appointment in Rockland, and we went shopping for a shed, which will be delivered in a few weeks! Yesterday, I went and picked up my new car, a red 93 Honda Civic (same year as my current blue Civic!) that has no rust and only 17K miles on it! It should last a long time, and help me avoid thinking about how long my car will last and always keeping an eye out for a better ride at a good price. I also was able to be a part of a meeting for church last night.
I am at home today, resting up and recouperating from the busy 3 days, and will visit the local oncologist here in Brunswick tomorrow. They have moved into new offices, so that will be nice to see their new digs! We are starting potty training with JJ today. My next appointment with Dr. Hill at Dartmouth will be next Fri. May 23, and I'll have my Day 100 bone marrow biopsy at my next visit on either Thu. June 5 or Fri. June 6.
I have been able to do more than I imagined these last 3 days, but I am really tired and worn out today, so I'm going to rest today and hopefully be ready for the doctor's office tomorrow. Keep praying with us for healing, rest & recovery, and wisdom to know when to call it quits for the day.

Home again, Home again, jiggety jig!

We just arrived back in Claremont after a day at Dartmouth, and I was give the "all clear" to return home. Lisa is loading the car as I write this, as she had most everything packed last night, and we will push off in the morning to return "HOME" to Waldoboro! We are all excited to be going home. As gracious and giving as Lisa's folks have been, there's just "no place like home"! The kids have been asking the last day or two "How much longer til we go home to our house?" and last night it was "Can we go home to our house for a sleepover?" What a question to get from your kids...we know beyond a doubt that it's really time to get back to our own digs.
I have come a long way in the last 6 weeks, since being released from the hospital for good, and now we turn another corner and enter another new stage...further healing and strengthening - at home! All of my lab reports and numbers were good today, and I even maintained my weight since the last visit. Keep praying for continued healing, strengthening, and safe travels back and forth over the next month or two, as we continue to return here for checkups every 2 weeks.