I have been in the hospital for over 3 weeks! It has been a very difficult road to travel. I appreciate the covering I have had in prayer. I appreciate the good thoughts and the financial aid some have sent. When I was told a bit about my donor, I was told he was a very motivated young man of 27. Well friends, I believe his stem cells are very motivated as well. My counts from yesterday are phenomenal today. Hemoglobin is holding steady at 8.6; platelets are increasing by 10 a day (63) without any transfusion; and the big news is that my white blood count went from 0.7 yesterday to 3.8 today!!!! The normal range for wbc is 4-11. So I am almost there! Praise God!

I do still have an infection that has to get under control before leaving the hospital. So at least a week or more for that. I ate chicken noodle soup and crackers for dinner. Other than cereal that is my first meal in a week!

Thanks for your faithfulness in prayers and thoughts. Love, Kay

Good Morning All…..

After nearly 2 weeks of ZERO white blood cells (intentionally was supposed to happen), as of this morning my WBCs are 0.2.   This is a sign, per the doctor, that INGRAFTMENT OF MY DONORS CELLS has BEGUN!   Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My hemoglobin and platelets are also starting to stabilize on their own— Another good sign.   

Thank God for this, and thank each of you for your thoughts and prayers to date.  

My central line, after nearly 3 weeks, needed to come out again yesterday.  So they are converting me over to more ORAL meds.  A new line may be placed later this week.  We’ll wait and see.

As of today, have been in hospital this time 21 days.  I am forecast to leave hospital in another week!  Again Praise God!!!!!

PS:  Dave says that my outlook is better, the last day or so.  “May your whole life and outlook be radiant with hope.”  

She has entered the ‘Boring’ Phase, according to Dr. Marin (pronounced Marine, he’s from Spain). She is having some side affects from the earlier in the week chemo (Cytoxin). All to be expected, and on course they are telling us. She will be weak, not feeling like eating, etc. One day at a time is how she is taking it, one day closer to the goal, she told me this morning. Of going back to our tiny house, then finally being able to go home to see all our loved ones and friends again.

Thank you to all who send cards, pictures, updates, etc. Those come every day in some way and it has been a real blessing! We continue to meet and gain new friends, almost every day. Lots of stories, paths of suffering and patience. Endurance. Heartache. Setbacks, Rebounds. It takes the Lord to keep us upbeat and encouraged. The nurses they try so hard, but they are not perfect. The medicines, the creams, the ointments, not perfect either. Many who have come here to MDA are at their last chance. Other places have given up, or don’t know what to do.

18 year old, Liam, he just got his stem cells earlier this week. He is the youngest ever, on this transplant floor, according to a couple of nurses we have talked with. We have met he and his mother in the hallway and had a brief chat. Kay shared some info. to help the mom find some help for their travel expenses.

I have met Tommy and his wife, he 77, and she around 70, back in the RV park. He may be the oldest stem cell patient ever (with MDS and AML). He got his cells back in early July. He looks great, is out walking, doing odd jobs to stay busy and sane. They are from Carson City, NV, over 2000 miles from here. Note: normally patients over 75 cannot qualify for a stem cell transplant, but here he got one!

Mark and Bea, back at the park now. Bea is only 46 and had a rare blood Leukemia. They are from Georgia. He is a tri-athlete, and trains others. Has a national business. She got her stem cells back Mid August, and is just in the last week or so developing an appetite and starting to have some stamina to be out walking more, eating normally. They are prayer warriors for us too. And we for them.

I just met David in the laundry room here yesterday. Very despondent. They are from DesMoines, IA. No family nearby or back home to help. Her leukemia (his wife’s), and after the doctor’s back home gave up. They are retired, in their early sixties. They have been traveling back and forth every month since earlier this year. Now he is stuck here not knowing what will happen next. They are keeping her in the hospital and treating hoping CarT cell therapy will help. I gave him an old business card of mine (I had it in a book I was reading, using as a bookmark), after asking him if he would like to use me as a contact or support. He said ‘yes’, and thank you. I hope he will call.

Barbara and Earl are on there way back again today, from Daphne, AL. They were just here last Monday. The neuroscience team wants to see her right away to propose a treatment for her breast cancer which has now spread to her brain. She is upbeat and put her life in God’s hands. They have lived here in Houston for the better part of this year at the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge, where Kay and I also stayed for a month for free back earlier this summer. They have served and prayed for so many, they truly are remarkable. Both in their late seventies. So special to know and be a part of their lives right now.

I met Dewey just this a.m., with his dog out walking, across the street from our tiny house. His wife is 78 and a survivor of mantle cell lymphoma, for all of these last 9 years. They live in LaGrange, KY. Dr.Wang is her doctor also. She just was hit with 6 days of cytoxin, more or less as a last resort to bring her lymphoma under control one more time. Because of her age and condition, they may or may not be able to offer a stem cell transplant to her. (You have to have the cancer close to remission before a stem cell transplant will work). We agreed to stay in touch. His wife, Cheryl, is just there in the camper, after being released from the hospital a couple of days ago. It makes me thankful that Kay is actually still in the hospital, so the great nurses here can attend to her needs, much better than I (David) could do all by myself.

Regardless of cancer or not, we all are looking for re-assurance, comfort, encouragement from wherever we can find it. For some, they look to the wrong places, persons, or things. But when you are at a place of life and death decisions, not unlike what the Ft.Myers, FL residents went thru during Hurricane Ian. I heard one man say, ‘It was the worst decision of my life’, referring to his decision to stay by himself with his dog and ‘ride out the storm’ on his own.

Some of us are like that, until we realize we can’t afford to make a wrong decision any longer. If we are a true believer in Christ, we know where our only lasting, effective comfort can come from. As I listen to Pastor Larry on the broadcast this morning, he is talking on 1 Corinthians Chapter One. And it fits perfectly with what I am feeling and sensing for Kay and I this morning. I hope this verse will impact you, as it has our lives. The verse says this:

I Corinthians 13

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.6If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which accomplishes in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we experience. 7And our hope for you is sure, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you will share in our comfort.

Grace and peace to you all,

David and Kay

Day plus 7. Not the best. Super tired. Doctor says chemo is making me feel this way. No fun. Dietitian says liquid diet will be best to consider for this coming week. I am now getting both magnesium and potassium electrolytes transfusions because these numbers are so low. All normal and to be expected the Dr. (MARIN) says. Day 15 for being in the hospital. I really hope this is no less than the half way point of my stay

II love you all. God is good.

((This entry was translated by my husband)) 👍💪

Wednesday morning update! Today is DAY 5 since transplant.

Grammy Kay had a great night sleep last night. Ordered some cereal for breakfast. And juice, some tea also. She is outta bed. Yesterday she needed 2 naps.

ALL DONE WITH CHEMO. Praising God. Today she starts anti-rejection drug called Tacrolimus (all patients get it) for next 30 days. She drinks her Boost for some protein every day. Doctor just here and says she is doing well and right on schedule! Still quite tired and nothing tastes good, as expected for this week and into next.

Papa went down to donate blood here on the 2nd floor. No can do. Since I have had a blood cancer myself (2.5 years ago) they won’t take my blood. Even just for platelets. So I was kinda bummed at first about that but then I remembered my wonderful kidz who are donating when they can.
Thanks to all who give as they can! So many who are waiting and in need for blood products.

A couple more weeks yet for her in the hospital. We’re close to half way point!

Luv you bunches!!!!
David and Kay

Day 3 was pretty uneventful. Got a chemo/ immunosuppressant medicine. Mostly tired. Not much appetite but they are happy if I eat anything.

Watched an episode of The Chosen, read a little, played Scrabble. I suspect the same for today (Day4). With the addition of needing platelets. Basically they have put my blood/bone marrow into a non- productive mode so they stem cells will step up and start to mature. Thus the need for so many transfusions. My blood just isn’t working anymore. I am reliant on others donating their blood to keep me going right now. A cancer friend’s husband donated here at MDA yesterday and asked it be for me. He has the same blood type. What a gift!!!

I am thankful for moments of nausea but not actually vomiting. I am thankful for the rest I am able to get at night and during my afternoon nap. I am thankful for my beyond exceptional care here at MDA. I am thankful for my excellent husband/ caregiver during this time. I am thankful for each day I awaken. And I am thankful for each of you, your prayers, your thoughts, your love. 💚Kay

Sunday is called Day 2… Doing ok. Had to have red cells today since my iron got too low. I am tired and still not much appetite but haven’t lost any weight since check-in 11 days ago.

I make myself take in something – a Boost protein drink, a bowl of cereal, a yogurt, a muffin, or fruit at every meal.

Tomorrow I start two days of post transplant chemo/ immunosuppressive medication. Then hopefully I am done with chemo for a long time! Soon I will be on an anti-rejection drug for an unspecified period of time.

My blood numbers will keep going down my number of transfusions will keep going up. Until these new baby cells mature and begin to do what they are meant to do! About 7-10 days after the chemo is done. Prayers appreciated for my appetite and energy to walk and do my exercises. Keep looking up- to the Lord! Love you all, Kay

Well Hallelujah Day went well until about 8pm. I started to get chills and a fever. Because of some meds I am on, I cannot take Tylenol or Ibuprofen. So the team started broad spectrum antibiotics, drew blood to culture looking for infection and had me get a chest X-ray (yep that was around 11pm). All tests came back clear of infection which is good. I had to ‘sleep’ with 18 inch long bags of ice between my body and my arms to bring temp down. The team said fevers are to be expected; they just need to do all the tests to make sure there isn’t a specific infection. Have been good since waking up. I took a much needed nap and woke up with actual hunger pangs. I haven’t felt like eating for several days. David stayed the night with me last night. I am so blessed with a wonderful husband and caregiver.

Once again I want to give God the glory for leading is to this amazing medical facility four years ago. The staff is so caring, kind and knowledgeable. It is a rare person that comes through my door without a smile or look of concern/compassion.Hoping for a better night tonight! I keep looking up to the hills from where my help comes. From my Lord!

Kay