Sorry So Long To Write!

I can't believe a month has gone by and I haven't posted anything! Time is flying! Not much has been happening since his bacterial infection thank goodness! He did go for photopheresis but they did not bring him down off any suppression meds. I got it approved for him to go Las Vegas with me last weekend but after the trip he was dehydrated and had to go get fluids. So Lidia was NOT happy! We are supposed to go to North Carolina in two weeks so hopefully he will be doing better and she will let him go! I sure hope so! Kristina's 25th birthday is today and I am really missing her! Garrett is making sure she has a good day though so knowing he is taking care of her makes me feel better! Garrett's is Oct 30th so when we go up there we will be celebrating both birthday's!!! We had to put our dog Jake down and she did get to come home to help us with that, and made it alot easier! Its so hard to let go of pets especially when he has been there for us through everything we have been going through! He was our protection coming home from the hospital at night, his tail wagging happy to see you and watching your back! Now he is in doggy heaven with Pebbles, who we lost during T's transplant. We will miss him dearly! Kristina told me Garrett maybe going to Afganistan in November Friday night! Please pray for his safety when the time comes! We love you and forgive me for not posting anything for so long! God Bless You!

Shingles!

Well, another bump in the road on the way to recovery! Our anniversary was Friday and we spent the day in the new boat on Lake Guntersville! It was SOSOSOSO nice! 27 years! Oh, Rick and Karen, Butch and Jackie "Happy Anniversary to you too"!!! They both have alot years on us! We had noticed several little bumps had developed on the side of his head but didn't really pay much attention until yesterday morning. When he woke up I could tell it had spread on the whole side of his head. I called the BMT unit of course and they said to come in and let them look at it. Shingles, is the diagnosis. Alot of post-transplant patients get this and it is very serious! They didn't admit him but gave him some heavy duty antibiotics and pain meds to help make him comfortable. We were afraid it was GVHD, just didn't know what it looked like. I guess out of the two we'd rather it be shingles. We were supposed to go to a Tarrant high school small reunion but was told not a good idea. If he is contagious, it could make others sick. Of course, I googled it and we learned alot about it. Hopefully we have caught it in time for it not to get to bad. Alot of people have this, you just don't know it. Otherwise, he is doing really good. He goes for photopheresis this next week but don't know if they will reduce the immune meds since this is going on, my guess is they will not. They don't usually when there are problems and don't want to make any other problems arise by taking off medicine. I will update after his visit this week, I promise! Watching our preacher on TV and going to listen to the service live on the computer. We love you and send out hugs and kisses to everyone!

Hospital Visit

Well, instead of going to church, we went to the hospital. He has a bacterial infection in his throat. He could hardly swallow early Sunday morning. They gave him fluids and a shot and antibiotics to take and so far they are working. If I can just keep him out of this heat! Not an easy task! Just wanted to update everyone! Sorry, could have been better news. Everyone pray for the Sharon Owens family! She lives two doors down from us and she developed a brain tumor last summer. She fell at the pool and Garrett picked her up to make sure she was ok. They started doing tests and discovered the tumor. She made us home-made bread when Terry was re-cooperating at home and she was such a sweet lady! She passed away yesterday morning, a year from the time the tumor was discovered. Thanks for keeping us in your prayers! Hugs and kisses!

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!