Over-Due Update

Sorry it has been so long since I've updated. I have been busy with snydergraphics work and figuring out the new schedule now that Mark is out. We have really enjoyed this last week of NOT being in the hospital. Mark is doing good. He feels good. Nothing big is bothering him. We are working on gaining back strength and endurance as well as gaining back weight. Doctors say he is doing great. They are slowly tapering him off of the large dose steroids. He was originally started on them to treat all symptoms of GVHD Mark had in hospital - which are all gone now. They will continue to taper them through the 3rd week in November. As they decrease the dose the GVHD could show up again. That is our real prayer right now - that NOTHING shows up again. We are hopeful. Mark's body is doing really good and we have no reason to think that will change.

We got to see the boys this weekend. It was GREAT!! Boy, did I miss them. Jim and Debbie brought them over and we all spent the weekend hanging out and having fun. We did a little shopping on Saturday and to the Aquarium again (this time with daddy) on Sunday. Noah was very persistent in asking "Paka Jim" for a ride on the giant Ferris wheel....... Paka finally gave in. Mark, both boys and Jim went for a ride while Debbie and I hit the sourdough bakery. All had fun!

On Sunday afternoon we sent the boys home again... but not for LONG! I am headed to Spokane this Sunday for some work on Monday and Tuesday and bringing the boys back to Seattle with me for GOOD on Wednesday! Jim and Debbie are going to take care of Mark in Seattle while I'm gone. I can't wait!

We will get Elijah all set up with school over here and get busy making some memories as a family.... finally back together everyday. Halloween trick-or-treating, pumpkin carving and some visits from friends are all in the works.

Keep praying for Mark's health. We are doing good but still have at least 67 more days here.

Oh, and enjoy some pictures:

We went for a walk at the sculpture park and along the water.

My wonderful husband.

& We're Out!

Tomorrow will be the LAST day in the hospital for Mark!! Discharge orders have been filed. We will get all kinds of instruction on monitoring blood sugar, IV's and Medications tomorrow. I will get up early and CLEAN the apartment really well - then go get Mark and BRING HIM HOME!!

We are so excited - yet a little intimidated. But mostly just happy to be together and at "home." We are on day 15 of our 100-ish day seattle-bound post-transplant journey. Mark still isn't feeling great, but his counts are up to almost the "low" range of normal.

Keep praying.

Rejoice with us today. Thank you Jesus for your blessings!

ENGRAFTMENT!!

This morning the doctors made it official... Engraftment has started!!! Mark's body is one huge step closer to being healthy! We are thankful and relived. (see below for definition)

The doctors have decided that all of Mark's skin and rash issues late last week are related to a drug reaction and Hyper Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease. (more info in definition below) No need to worry. It all falls within the "regular" things that can happen to a transplant patient. They put him on steroids and anti-biotics and he is feeling much better. In the next few days as they slowly back off on the steroids and anti-biotics - if he doesn't get any fevers or skin issues back - we will be another step closer to being out of the hospital.

We are both doing good. We are mentally tired. Tired of our family being apart and plain tired of being in the hospital/not feeling well. Pray for peace of mind, strength to endure and joy each day. Praise God for what He has already done to get us this far!

Definitions:
Engraftment

This is the process of transplanted stem cells starting to grow and develop. It means your bone marrow function and immune system—which were weakened or destroyed by conditioning—are beginning to recover. Signs of engraftment usually appear about 10 to 28 days after the transplant. The first sign is a rising white blood count.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)

GVHD is a common side effect in people who receive cells from a unrelated donor (allogeneic transplant). It occurs when the transplanted cells recognize the recipient’s tissues as foreign and attack the tissues. This can cause a variety of problems, including skin rashes, liver problems and diarrhea. There are two types of GVHD: acute GVHD, which often happens in the first three months after a transplant, and chronic GVHD, which can develop any time between three months and three years after the transplant. Both acute and chronic GVHD can be mild to serious. Medications and other treatments that suppress the immune system are used to treat GVHD symptoms until the donor cells stop attacking the body.

(In Mark's case the "Hyper" before Acute GVHD - means that it happened before engraftment.)

Keep on keep'in on

Day 11 post transplant and we are doing well. Mark's body is showing the first signs of "grafting." We need his numbers to continue to go up the next couple days and it will be official. Grafting is the stage of the transplant where the donor cells start taking over and creating new cells.... a new immune system - and is a very good sign that Mark will be getting stronger soon.

Mark's skin is getting better. It was a couple tough days there. He is on steroids to help the skin which challenge his mind. He is doing his best to stay motivated and positive. Please pray for Gods supernatural strength to help Mark power through the tough days ahead.

I had to go and re-read my post today about: doing what we don't want to do - I needed that reminder. I need to trust God and keep moving forward with joy. I can do this. We can do this. We are strong enough. May God be glorified each day.

Thanks for your love, encouragement and support.

I Need Thee

I need thee every hour, most gracious Lord
No tender voice like thine can peace afford

I need thee every hour, stay thou nearby
Temptations lose their power when thou art nigh

I need thee every hour, in joy or pain
Come quickly and abide, or life is vain

I need thee every hour, teach me thy will
And thy rich promises in me fulfill

I need thee, O I need thee
Every hour I need thee
O bless me now, my Savior
I come to thee