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

Hoppy"Happy" Easter!

Hope everyone has had a great day! We went to church, ate at Ruby Tuesday's, then took Harlie and Jake for a walk and played ball in the park. It was a nice relaxing Easter day! He went to photopheresis this week on Thursday and Friday. We saw the doctor on Friday. Kristina is now working up there at the BMT unit, in case you didn't know, and we are so proud of her!!! He has been fishing alot and the doctor asked him if he could not fish so long at a time. Imagaine that, asking him, you have to tell him! She told him it wasn't good for him to stay out so long. But the problem with that, as most of you know, is getting him to come in especially if he is catching fish. And he has been catching alot of BIG fish lately and putting them in our lake. He has been in hog heaven and so he is over doing it of course! They did not take him off any of the immune suppression meds and said it would be a while before they did. He is still having problems swallowing and they do not want to take any chances if it is GVHD. So he now has a better chance of getting stuff again. Which is NOT good, especially handling fish and bacteria in the water. All I know is God is watching over him and that is what is keeping him here with us. I just want him to not do anything to make it where he can't walk Kristina down the isle!!! Pray he stays well! He pretty much is doing ok. He's got sinus stuff going on and they did a chest x-ray just to be sure. Hadn't heard back from it and I am going to call Lidia tomorrow to make sure everything is ok. The fishing is making him stronger! They will set up to do the yearly tests when goes back the first of May, just not before Kristina's wedding! Sorry so BAD on keeping this up. If he wasn't doing well, you would know it! Hugs and kisses to everyone! Alyce

Almost 3 years

We are counting down the days until his third "birthday"!!! He went to the hospital the last two days for his photopheresis and he saw the doctor yesterday. They increased his immune suppression medicine because they suspect he could have GVHD in his mouth and esophogus since he is still having problems swallowing food. He had it stretched not too long ago but it didn't seem to do much good so I think that is why they are suspecting GVHD. We really thought he might come off of it completely, but not the case! So please pray it is not GVHD!!! We've come so far and are planning Kristina's wedding for May 22nd and are just so grateful that he is here to walk her down the isle. I told Lidia yesterday I didn't want his bone marrow test done before that. I just don't think we want to have to deal with that until after the wedding!!! My mom is still dealing with high blood pressure and is wearing a heart monitor now. We have to get her straightened out! I know God only gives you what you can handle and he is really testing me!!!! Please pray for me to have some relief! Working and taking care of two people having health problems is enough! My brother is still in Vancouver working and will not return until the end of March, for the paralympics now. Kay, his wife, has been great! Sorry so long posting this and complaining as I read back at this. Just been a little busy and too tired when I get home! Thanks for listening and hugs to all! God Bless You!