Day 22...and counting.

Well folks, I know its been awhile since posting, so I wanted to update you on dad's progress.

Thought I'd go with some musical inspiration tonight....the blog has been dominated with the Beatles but tonight I'm going with another one of his favorites, Kenny Loggins!!! Click play, picture my dad playing the drums (love), and enjoy while reading the rest of this update.



Obviously he is tired (and that is NO where near the correct adjective :/) of being in the hospital.  Despite getting the best care at City of Hope, living in a 10x10 hospital room is starting to wear on him.  It has been 22 days since the start of this hospital stay and 13 days since his bone marrow transplant.  So far he is doing well, considering, but over the last week specifically he is battling intense and severe nausea/vomiting, diarrhea and exhaustion.  However, his white blood count is starting to climb.  It's up from  <.01 to .7 just within the last two days and it remained at the lowest point for what seemed like forever... so we are excited about this development!  Once he hits 1.0 he will still have a weakened immune system, but the 1.0 marker is considered a bare bones immune system.  As the days pass and Char's cells multiply he will get back into normal range (4-11).  The white blood count rising means Aunt Char's cells are starting to "settle in" and are replicating!!  We continue to ask for prayers for the long term success of this transplant, no graft vs. host issues or any other complications, and improved physical and mental health.

I think it goes without saying, but they are feeling a weeeeee bit isolated.  So text messages, emails, letters, pictures, cards, silly dubsmash videos, etc. would be AMAZING!! We are begging for some extra cheerleaders.  (We need fresh pom poms, if you will!)

So here's the mailing address...

City of Hope

1500 East Duarte Road

C/O William Ray

room 6103 Helford Bldg.

Duarte, CA 91010

Get those stamps out and send some love via snail mail.

My dad is a card lover.  He will truly LOVE this.  So, go get your cards people!

I know SO many of you are praying and cheering him on daily in your devotions. 
Thank you.
The prayer team in his corner throughout this long journey has been truly remarkable.

In lighter news....
Tony brought their RV down to the City of Hope campus last week and so now they have a taste of home right in the parking lot.  (HUGE thanks to Tony!!)

Hopefully in a week's time dad will be released and can stay in the RV and check in with the hospital every other day.

Also, Jenny and I got dad a cross and dog tag necklace and had it mailed....he loved it! One small way to encourage while we are away.

Thanks to Kenny and Stevie.
"Day by day, we can see, In every moment there's a reason to carry on"
"Sweet love showing us a heavenly light."
"Never seen such a beautiful sight."

Keep kicking ass dad!!
Nicole and Jenny

Donation Day

Hey all!! Thank you for your continued prayers and support, despite our absence for the past few days.  Jenny and I both have slightly scratchy throats, kids with funk, etc. so we were unable to make the drive to City of Hope this weekend to visit with mom and dad. (which has me completely heartbroken- because I know they treasure company and visitors, but its whats best for dad) We are missing them immensely, but FaceTime, silly Dubsmash videos, and phone calls will have to suffice for a few days. (They LOVE messages, cards, phone calls, etc....if you are able I know they'd LOVE to hear from you!)

Overall, he is doing AMAZINGLY well!! He has had the five doses of chemo needed before the transplant, they have done two days of anti-rejection medications, and now it is the eve of the bone marrow/stem cell transplant.  Dad is feeling a bit down today, my mom reports,  but that has a lot to do with him having zero immune system again.  So he's tired.

In other news, my aunt Char went down last night, and began her part of the transplant process this morning.  She had to have a port put in for the procedure itself and by about 11:00am, she was ready to begin.  They have her hooked to a machine that is pulling out blood, spinning out the cells they need from her blood, and then she gets the rest of the blood put back into her body. Sounds creepy, but she is in GREAT spirits and reports that it has been pretty uneventful!
(Tomorrow Dad will get these cells that she is donating!!!!!)

I asked my mom for a few picts of Dad's angel, aunt Char, and I cried.  She looked so peaceful.  Char is so completely thrilled that she is able to help dad in this miraculous way.  And to top it off, she brought her own picture of him to put in her room during her hospital stay.
Full on tears.

Sweet Aunt Char donating to Dad today!

Obviously, there are no words to express our sincerest gratitude to Aunt Char and the amazing gift she was able to give my dad!!!
How lucky he is to have found a perfect bone marrow match in her.
SUCH BLESSINGS!

Thank you faithful followers.  We appreciate you.  Thank you for your continued prayers.
Prayers for Char to have a smooth and speedy recovery.  Prayers for Dad to be free of infection, free of host/graft issues, and that his body accepts these cells and rebuilds leukemic free cells.
Prayers for my mom to remain his constant cheerleader.
(I don't know how she does it!)
Love to all,
Nicole and Jenny