Hello there everyone! Sorry if you have been checking in on this blog the last few weeks with nothing new...Things have just been crazy busy, but all in the things we are happy to be busy with.
Work, Pre-School planning and preparations, Family gatherings, Church activities, working in the yard, cleaning up the house, a few doctors appointments, feeding Ronald all we can as his appetite is great right now, but best all just loving being home all together!! .... because Ronald goes in to begin Bone Marrow Transplant (also referred to as Stem Cell Transplant) this next Wednesday.
LOVE to see him so Shooting Water bombs with his Spent a great day with
hungry and eating!!! awesome brothers...Look at that Ronald's family that
boys face!!! Good times really help charge up up!!
As we have many people wondering what is ahead I thought I would fill you in if you may be wondering yourself.... so here goes....
He will get 4 days of hard chemo ( they told us yesterday that it is so hard that if he didn't follow with the transplant he would die from the chemo..... isn't that crazy??? but all is set to follow through with the transplant so were good :-) then he will have a day off and then receive the bone marrow stem cells and NEWNESS OF LIFE on September 1. The doctors told us that he should feel pretty awful for about 7-10 days and if mucocitis appears it cold be a bit longer and then about day 14-21 they look to see if the new marrow cells start to become ENGRAFTED which is a big deal! We have no reason to believe they won't since he will be receiving he angel sister's bone marrow cells and that presents a really wonderful chance of it grafting! He will be at Huntsman until his numbers come up to a safe level, he is eating, has no infections/high temperatures
and is in overall safe health to leave.... at that point (most likely about 3-4 weeks following transplant) we will move him into a small apartment (owned by an angel family friend) that is near the hospital for between 30-60 days... this is due to the fact that apparently he may get unexpected infections and complications that can come very quickly and may need immediate response, also during this time he will be under constant 24hour supervision for any complications and evaluation for a highly possible reaction calle Graph vs Host Disease (GVHD) that arrises because of the "conflict" between his body and the new cells multiplying within him. He will be on Immuno Suppressant Medication for about 6 months which cause his T-Cells to be suppressed as to decrease his chance of rejection new cells and complication so during that time he will be more susceptible to infections and illness an may take longer to get over such infections, but we are told the greatest possibility of illness/infections during that time will come from exposure to elementary age children and especially children three years old and younger due to a bacteria they naturally carry and transmit (didn't know that till yesterday) so if all goes as smoothly as we hope, he will be very tired off and on for many months but should be able to try to carry on as normal life activities as he is able to within reason of staying away from possible places and people who may increase the chance of illness .... by the time our darling missionary arrives back home in Glory just about November 17th... although his magical 100 mark will be December 10th ( 100 days from transplant day is the time that the doctors say we can breathe just a bit easier and begin doing more and more :)
WHEW!!!!! sooo,.... if your still with me..... Please know that we rely on and truly hope and count on
your fasting, prayers and continued faith filled lives to help bring to live action every miracle and tender mercy that the Lord could possibly have reserved for us contingent upon our faith!!! We also ask for your prayers not only of deepest gratitude but also health and safety for Ronald sister Rhonda who will be going through the process of marrow preparation, donation and recovery this next week. She quite literally is gifting Ronald his great opportunity of renewed mortality and life. No words can express the value and love that is attached to such a priceless gift as she is extending to us so freely and with such a generous,loving, and unconditional heart.
We will check in again... most likely the day he is admitted again ( Sept. 26th)
For now..... The future looks unfamiliar, a bit daunting and a little overwhelming but it also looks
very VERY BRIGHT!!! We love you all and continue to pray as well for you to receive all the comfort, guidance, understanding and magnified blessings that you and your family stand in need of as well!!
Daily Devo
Try VERY hard not to take time with your family and love ones for granted. We have learned for
ourselves that time in the home, family dinners together, sitting outside in the yard and even working on the yard together , not to mention having Family Home Evening, and just reading a few scriptures together in the same room is a precious, precious opportunity and blessing!!! We have felt so very thankful to have these past few week all at home together as we never thought we would have this opportunity before Ronald's transplant and we have been absolutely SOAKING it up.... As much as we loved spending time together BC (before cancer) we have found we truly took it deeply for granted........ feel free to learn at our expense or more at our mortal experience.... don't wait for something dramatic, traumatic or tragic to strike .... Just SOAK UP TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY TODAY... and tomorrow... and the next day..............!!
Daily Laugh
Did you hear they're changing the flooring in the daycare centers?
They're calling it "infantile"!
How do you make an octopus laugh?
With ten-tickles!
Did you hear about the hungry clock?
It went back for seconds!
What is the difference between a school teacher and a train?
The teacher says "spit your gum out" and the train says "chew, chew chew"
Have a wonderful last few weeks of summer!! We love you!!
Thanks so much for letting me be a part of this journey with the family. Praying daily for ALL to go well, and for strength mostly for Ronald, but everyone else in the family too! Especially Rhonda! Love, hugs, positive vibes and all good things,
ReplyDeleteAunt Natalie