Life Returns to Almost Normal

On Monday, Terry and Alyce both went to WORK. On Tuesday, he went to Montgomery with his partners to see the new store that SCS is opening. By Tuesday night, his feet were swollen and he did not sleep well at all. Alyce said she was letting him sleep late this morning. They were going tonight to celebrate her Mom's birthday. I won't tell you how old she is, but believe me you would never guess because she looks so much younger. Happy Birthday, Gloria, and we wish you many more!! We love you, Karen

Family Birthday Party

I am attaching a picture of our newest grandson, Dylan. We wish we could see him in person and get to hold him. We enjoyed a Birthday Party for my great nephew, Logan, (Butch's grandson)who is turning 6 years old. My niece, Sherri, and husband Pete and Madison and Logan have moved here from Orlando. They bought a house in Trussville that has a wonderful swimming pool. The entire family was invited to Logan's cookout and party and to see the house and swim today. I am attaching a picture of me, Butch and Terry.(why do these pictures always make me look fat??) I think I need a new camera!! I am also attaching a picture of the kids in the pool. From left to right: Logan, Seth, Grant, Madison and Morgan. That is Traci with the sunglasses holding on to Grant and Pete in the background. It was the first time all our family had been together since before the transplant on Mother's Day. Terry has had a busy weekend because Saturday evening he was best man for David, who plays in his band. Congratulation, David!! He said he did sing 3 songs with them before tiring too much. He just does not have the lung capacity he had before. I told him not to get discouraged, he is doing so well and with time, he will be his old self again. I went to see Mom Saturday morning, she is doing about the same. She just could not understand why I was not going to take her home with me. I hope she will get to the point that I can take her to family functions like today. We all missed her. Have a blessed week.

It's Off To Work We Go!!

Last Sunday, Terry and family went to church together for the first time in a very long time. They went in late to avoid the handshakes and crowd in the hallway and sat in the balcony and then left before the final announcements. At least they got to go. On Tuesday, he had lunch with his SCS partners and then rode with the salesman who took over Terry's clients to a couple of job sites. I heard that all work stopped when they saw him so they could come over to hug him and tell him how much they have missed him. Getting to go to "WORK" was such a wonderful treat for Terry. He will be so happy when he is able to do that every day. Alyce even got to go to her office too. Then on Wednesday, because of some problems with his kidneys, he had to go back to the doctor and then to have more blood work done. He is OK for now, just uncomfortable at times. Little set-backs are definitely downers!! He and Alyce and John went up to Cook Springs to see Mom today and then I went to see her when I got off work. Today would have been Mom and Dad's 66th wedding anniversary. While I was at the nursing home, Rick called to tell me that our newest grandson had been born. His name is Dylan Matthew Bradshaw and he weighed 8lbs. 9oz. and is 21 inches long. He was born around 4pm in Idaho to our son, Todd and his wife Rebecca and brother Caleb age 3. They used a mid-wife and drove about an hour to her clinic. He was born under water. That sounds a little strange to us in Alabama but I hear it is actually a wonderful experience for Mother and baby. I just wish it was not so far away. We probably will not get to see them until Thanksgiving or Christmas. We are thankful that God has again answered our prayers for a safe delivery and healthy baby. We are so blessed.

Best News Yet!!

Terry got his best news yet today when the doctor told him, "the fish is clean." That was his way of saying that for the first time since this all began in January 2007, he is COMPLETELY clear of all Leukemia cancer blasts. He does not have to be back at UAB for 2 weeks unless he gets sick or gets some sign of the graft vs. host. He will gradually be taken off the cyclosporin (anti-rejection drug)and will probably begin injections soon to increase his energy. He can gradually resume a more normal life of being around people without his mask. He still needs to stay away from sick people and germs until his immune system gets stronger. It will probably take about a year to get back to Normal. (what a beautiful word) Well, we are attaching a few pictures from the Light the Night Walk. There is also one of a little masked man that looks like Robin (from Batman) but is actually our youngest grandson, Grant. We have another grandson due this week in Idaho. I saw Mom this evening and the graft on her leg has taken so well that it was not even bandaged!! You do not know what a wonderful blessing this is unless you could have seen it 2 months ago. The bedsore on her heel is still not healed, but is being treated. Her dementia seems worse every time I see her. God has heard our prayers and has put his healing hand upon Terry and Mom too. I am overwhelmed with joyful emotion. Love and Hugs, Karen

Light the Walk

Sorry I forgot to remind you that tonight was the Light the Walk at the Hoover Met to raise awareness and money for Leukemia and Lymphoma and any blood cancers. I donned my tennis shoes and my Bone Marrow Donor shirt and left home about 5:20pm. It rained so hard traveling on I459 that I could barely see at times. When I got past the Galleria, it suddenly stopped and did not begin to rain at the Met until about 7pm. Alyce, John, Susan, Randy, Randi Lynn, Noah and I were there to walk for Terry. Terry was there but after about an hour went to sit in the truck. It got a little windy and he did not need to get chilled or wet. We saw Dr. John, nurses Wendy and Diana from the UAB BMTU there also. There were a number of other Survivors and many supporters on hand for the event covered by channel 42 News. There was free BBQ and other food, games for children and a live band playing Beetles music. We got balloons that light up and a banner for our group. Terry and Alyce go to UAB tomorrow at 9am for the results of last week's tests. Please pray for encouraging news and strength for Terry. I will try to get Rick to help me post a few pictures tomorrow night that I took at the Met. It was wonderful to see Terry's smiling face. Even though he was not feeling very well, he still smiled. Be sure to log in Saturday for test results and pictures I will post Friday night. Have a "Fun Day - Friday" and please drive carefully in these "showers of blessings."

Anxiously Waiting

Still no word from the tests from last week. As we are ANXIOUSLY waiting.....I found a few scriptures to help. Prov. 12:25 An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. Phil. 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. *** Isn't God awesome? He has the best advice for our lives, if we would just listen.*** Mom ate well tonight and was in a pleasant mood. Terry, hang in there!!! I'm expecting good news!

Monday Again !!

Well, I live for the weekends. We had a great but busy weekend chocked full of football and 2 precious grandsons that spent the night Saturday. They are 2 and 4 and think Nana and Pop are so much fun, so we just eat it up while we can. We realize that it won't be long until they will outgrow us and their schedules will be too busy to include us "old folks." I always dread Monday mornings but if you are like us you know the little ditty "I owe, I owe, it's off to work I go." It does help to have a job that you enjoy and I feel very blessed in that category. I realize it could be much worse. Mom is about the same. She was sleeping Sunday when we went to see her and just could not wake up enough to talk. I'll go back tomorrow. Not much news with Terry. I had a message from Alyce tonight that they will NOT be going to UAB tomorrow. The hospital had called and delayed it because they have still not gotten the results of all the tests they did last week. I am sure Terry is glad but anxious to hear GOOD news. I will keep you updated when we get more information. Since we survived Monday, the rest of the week will be a cinch!! Hugs to all, Karen

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Terry and Alyce were at UAB Tuesday and Wednesday. The Good.....the test on his lungs turned out good. The Bad....his blood pressure is very low and his heart rate is high. The Good....they decreased his Cyclosporin dosage from 400mg to 300mg. The Bad....his bladder is not emptying completely so they put him on a drug to help and he is feeling dizzy. He was also very dehydrated and had to stay from 9am to 4pm Wednesday getting the Bone Marrow Test and had to have 2 bags of fluid to help hydrate him. Results from the test will be given on Tuesday when they return to UAB. The Bad....Terry is feeling down, the Good....Alyce is such a good wife and nurse. The Ugly....Cancer of any kind. It is worse than any 4 letter word. It wrecks your life. It takes control of your body and tries to pull you to the depths of depression and anger. It has no compassion for the young or the old. It shows no sympathy for your family or financial situations. It is something we all silently dread but cannot imagine it actually ever happening to us. I'm sure everyone who has ever had it has thought "Why Me?" I wish I had the answers and the cure but I know that MY GOD will stand by us if we just reach out to Him. He has a plan for our life and even if we don't understand, we have to trust in his judgement. Please pray for good results from the Bone Marrow test and other tests they are doing on Terry. There is power in the prayers of believers. Call his prayer pager or drop him a card this week. He needs our encouragement. I went to see Mom this evening. She cried to come home and does not understand that she cannot walk or take care of herself. It is so emotionally draining to see her like this. Thank you for your prayers and concern. Love to you all, Karen

Happy Labor Day

It was nice having an extra day this weekend. Our weekend was packed full but was very enjoyable. We spent today with our girls and their families at Rick's sister's house. Her children, including our nephew, Chris and his wife Danielle who lost their baby girl, Chloe, in that tragic auto accident 2 months ago, were also there. It is still so hard for them to really enjoy any occasion. They try to act like they are having a good time but you can see in their eyes when they look at our little grandchildren that their hearts are aching for their own sweet angel that has left such a void in their life. Please pray for them. I went to see Mom on Saturday and again on Sunday. It seems her dementia is getting worse. Sunday evening, we got to see Terry and family and enjoy a great meal with them prepared by Alyce's sweet Mom. It was so good to see them because it had been so long. He was going fishing for a few hours early this morning before it got too hot. They go to UAB for some tests on Tuesday and then back on Wednesday for the Bone Marrow Test. He is still not feeling very well and has no energy. We are hoping and praying for good results from the tests this week. May God bless you with happiness today.