More Great News!

I am so sorry for not updating earlier! I was reminded last night that it had been a while since an update had been done. Thanks Mike and Steve! T went to the doctor for photopheresis this past week and they took him off 25 mg more of the immune meds. So he is only taking 25mg in the AM and 25mg in the PM. Still on other meds but this is the one we want to come totally off of. Got a new photo schedule through December so we know that will be going on until then and possibly a long time after that, even the rest of his life. But rather do that than face other things that could happen! Kristina, Garrett and Harli are adjusting to their new life in North Carolina. Miss them greatly! Will have to make a trip sooner than I thought! T is fishing in his new boat and hopefully will be able to go back to work soon! Just gotta stay out of this heat! His doctor was very pleased with is progress and hope he will continue to grow stronger and GVHD stays away. We are almost at the point where we were before when he got the GVHD and that is when he started the photo process. So hopefully continuing the photo will make a BIG difference. God's grace and your prayers is what taking care of us all! We love you and BIG hugs and kisses to all of you!

Time to Reflect

We had a GREAT trip! It was so nice and fun too! Haven't relaxed like that in a long time! Will go back there anytime! Kristina and Garrett picked us from the airport that night and we started packing her up for North Carolina. He got alot done while he was here! We, me, Kristina, Harlie,T, Ginger and Jeff drove up to Jacksonville, NC last Thursday. Took 12 hours pulling the trailer and driving her car up there. When we got there Garrett wanted to start unloading. We worked until 1 am that morning. We were exhausted! So we got a late start on Friday but got alot done! Saturday T went fishing with JB(Jerald Barrett) and caught a flounder and a red fish. So JB cleaned them and we had fresh fish for dinner that night. JB gave Kristina lessons on cooking fresh fish and shrimp. It was delish! Thanks again JB! We love you!We started home on Sunday, not without shedding a tear or two, and ran into a wreck(bus at that)that delayed us 2 hours in the Atlanta area. Anyway, I thought since I had not updated in a long time, I would let you know our house is feeling empty!!! John is still living here but we don't see him much. I guess its time to start that next faze in life. I will get Kristina and Garrett's new address and let you all know what it is. Say a pray for all of us as we go through this, especially me! We love you and hug your children every chance you get!

Taking a Trip!

We are actually getting to go on a trip for the first time since T was diagnosed! We are going to Cabo San Lucas for a week. A resort where they wait on you, sounds like a good idea to me! The doctor approved it of course and we are having to arrange a few things but all in all it will be GREAT! When we get back Garrett will be here and we will be preparing to move Kristina to North Carolina in the middle of July. We have had a few scares lately but thank the Lord they have all turned out alright! Two people we love had to be called back for tests done again for breast cancer. Ginger, Garrett's mom and Kristy, who is a key employee at Thrasher Brothers both in the same week! Both are cancer free! Thank you Lord! When we met with the doctor, Dr. Salzman, for the long term visit, she told us that he would not have to have any more bone marrow tests in his back unless they were suspicious about it. So he was SO glad to hear that. After three years of remission, they consider him cured. Isn't God great!!!!! Lots of things to do before we go so got to go and get busy! We love all of you! God Bless You and BIG hugs and kisses to everyone!

Great News!

Lidia called me yesterday afternoon and gave me the GREAT news! He has no leukemia disease and he is 100% Karen!!!!! I would have posted yesterday evening but the power was off when I got here. He goes for photopheresis Tuesday and Wednesday and he will see a doctor on Tuesday but will have the long term follow up next week. They are looking at all the tests and are going to put together a new plan. Not sure what that will be but excited they want to do this! He was fishing, of course, when I got the call and Lidia tried to call him herself but could not get him, so I had the priviledge of telling him. First thing he said was "Praise God". He is the reason he is here and all your prayers have lifted him up. We picked Kristina and Garrett up last night from the airport. Just glad to have them back in the U.S.A.!!! They had a great time but they just didn't want it go so fast! We all came back here and they opened up all the presents they got at the wedding! They are so blessed! We just want to thank all of you who have stuck by our side through this and prayed us through. God has listened and is still listening. Terry is still here for a reason because we were told that the disease he had he is not supposed to be here. They said so many that had what he had have gone on to be with the Lord. So we know God has a plan for him too! We love you all and hugs and kisses to you too! God Bless!

Happy 3rd Birthday T!!!!!!!

I am so proud and blessed to say everything went well today! He has gained 15 lbs in a year, I know that's not much but its good for him! His lung test went SO much better and they told me if they suspected anything, the bone marrow test would have been done much sooner! So I am at peace with all of it and know God is watching over us every moment! We hopefully will hear something before the weekend and if not it will be Tuesday or Wednesday when he goes back for photopheresis. They have to gather all the information together and go over it with a fine tooth comb! Kristina and Garrett's wedding was BEAUTIFUL and they are in Jamaica, on the other side from the fighting, thank goodness!!!! I could hardly keep from tearing up but I fought it hard when I saw T walking her down the isle. It has been very emotional but so sweet and so happy for them. Although, when he leaves Saturday going back to North Carolina, I am NOT looking forward to that! But they are married! We will find out where he will go after he completes his training with the marines. T is sleeping off the meds they gave him and I will update after we hear the results from the tests. Gotta go help him get up to go to the potty! We love all of you for going through this for the last three and a half years with our family! God Bless You!

Great News!

We got great news today! Met with Dr. Vaughan and they are setting up his 3 years tests for May 26th, his third birthday from transplant! Kristina and Garrett will be in Jamaica but she is alright with it! They will thoroughly check him out and of course the dreaded bone marrow test but I know everything, and T does too, will be alright! God has gotten us this far! They will look at all his tests and evaluate him and make a plan for the future! They will measure his donor cells(Karen's cells) and his immune system, heart, lungs and draw about 15 tubes of blood to look at and study. Hopefully when we get the results the next week it will be great news! The doctor even mentioned him going back to work, even maybe part time! But he said we had to wait and see what the tests results are to be sure what to do and not to do! We left there feeling good about it all! Tomorrow we go and get Kristina's wedding dress! No pics of that will be on facebook you can bet on that! Only 17 days until the wedding, WOW!!!!!!!!!!! Just SO glad T. is here to walk her down the isle and be by my side through it all! Thank you to all of you who have stuck this out with us and been by our side through it all! God Bless All of You! Will update after the tests are done! Hugs and kisses to all!

3 Year Birthday Coming!

WOW! Can't believe its been a month since I updated this! SO SORRY! He is doing well, still fishing! In fact, he is fishing in his second tournament today. He had cataract surgery two weeks ago on his right eye and last Tuesday had the left eye done. This was caused by the heavy steroids he was on for the GVHD. They told us this would happen but it came earlier than we thought. So for the wedding, he will be able to see everything so much better! Wants to make sure he gives her away to the right guy, HA!HA! I am sure Garrett would think that was funny! Garrett will be home in two weeks and we are excited! I more than T of course! Giving his little girl away is killing him. BUT, we new this day would come and am just so glad he is here to be the one to walk her down the isle! Just 21 days from today! We see the doctor this week because he is going for his photopheresis on Wednesday and Thursday so one of those days we'll go through what's been going on in the last month and discuss when to set up the 3 year tests. This is the one where they will go into his bone marrow to see if anything looks different. And then alot more tests to see how his lungs and heart are holding up. Plus about 15 tubes of blood to check everything else in his blood system. But he tells me he is fine because he would know it if he was sick. God has really blessed us, we know this!!!! Since Kristina has been working at the BMT unit, we have found out how things could have turned out. Its so sad to hear about people that have gone through what we have gone through and don't make it. So kiss your loved ones and tell them you love them, because you never know!!!!! Say a little prayer for Butch too, he is having an arteriorgram(spell check doesn't recognize this word) on May 7th! Michael and Margie are now husband and wife so many additions added this year to the family! Hugs and kisses to all of you too! Alyce