Bone Marrow Drives for 1/31

Hi everyone, just a quick note that there are 2 bone marrow drives going on tomorrow. See the details below and forward on to anyone you know in Richardson or LA.

Jodie is getting a platelet and blood transfusion today. The sinus pressure and headaches are going away too!

We hope to see Jodie this weekend, its been 2 weeks since she has been able to be with the kids.

Take care!
The Gees

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Saturday, January 31, 2009
8:00am - 10:00am

Chinese Christian Herald Crusades Street
110 N. McKinney Street City
Town: Richardson, TX
(972) 690-0100 - www.dallascchc.org
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Saturday, January 31, 2009
10:00am - 6:30pm

Chinatown Los Angeles Street
Broadway Street (call helen for booth number)
Los Angeles, CA
Contact Info: (626) 616-6765, HWU@LTSC.ORG

Gee Family Update, 1/28/09

Lots of ups and downs last week, but for now Jodie is doing really good!!!

Jodie's blood pressure returned to normal levels last week so she was able to resume her Cyclosporine treatment on Monday. Cyclosporine may help Jodie's bone marrow recover temporarily while we wait for the transplant.

Right now she's fighting a sinus infection that is giving her headaches and painful pressure, but allergy medicine and Tylenol Sinus provide some temporary relief.

On a lighter note, Jodie has started doing pilates to keep her strength up. Our doctor also told Jodie that she can eat fresh fruits and vegetables as long as they are prepared at home where they can be washed thoroughly. She's cautious about this one, but really enjoyed an apple yesterday for the first time in a long time.

Bone marrow drives, to everyone that has coordinated, set up tables and chairs, publicized, made announcements, put packets together, taken pictures, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! And to those that have actually gotten swabbed and registered, WOW, praise God!
Thanks to everyone at Plano Chinese Alliance Church, almost 80 people got registered last Sunday.
If you missed that one, there are 7 scheduled marrow drives coming up in the next few weeks, plus potential drives at Jodie's treating hospital and my workplace, AT&T.

I mentioned the "downs" from last week....they don't really seem that bad right now:)
If you really want to know, just imagine me and the kids all with a stomach virus this past weekend.

We ask for your continued prayers that God would deliver the perfect marrow donor match for Jodie, we are hopeful that it is one of the 3 remaining donors from the original search.

Full of hope,
The Gees

For a video and more information about Jodie
> www.savejodie.com
> Facebook - Save Jodie Gee (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=49735991409)

"I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."

Romans 15:13

Update for Jan, 20, 2009

Today started out just fine. The kids were home from school for MLK day and my sister-in-law Joyce (a teacher) was able to watch them all day at home.
For Jodie, Monday's usually mean blood work in the morning, doctor's visit to review blood work and a trip to the hospital for a platelet transfusion. But today she had to get a blood transfusion too, that usually adds on a few extra hours in the hospital in outpatient services.

Around 4pm is when things started to get a little crazy, Elizabeth threw up in her crib after an afternoon nap. I rushed home in a panic hoping it wasn't something more serious. There was no fever, just a little extra cranky, but all in all she was fine.
By this time Jodie was just starting her second unit of blood, with still a platelet transfusion to go. At this rate she wouldn't get out until 8 or 9 pm (she arrived at 12:30 pm).
Already feeling helpless that I couldn't do anything for Jodie, I didn't have much patience with the kids so it was a rough night.
After getting the kids down for bed, I got a call from Jodie that she was having an allergic reaction to the platelets (first time). She had just walked out of the hospital, but could not go back to Outpatient services because they were already closed. She can't go to the emergency room because the risk of germs, viruses etc. She was breaking out in hives and all she could do was rush home and wait for our doctor to call us back. I met Jodie at her mom's house and we spent the next hour praying and calming each other down waiting for the benadryl to do it's job.

It's midnight now, Elizabeth and Jodie are both doing ok, they are resting comfortably. Thank you God!

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Regarding bone marrow donors, the 22 potential donors is now down to 3. The other 19 were either not a good enough match or were unavailable for further testing and typing.
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We prayed a lot today. We prayed that He would deliver Jodie from her SAA. We prayed that he would lead a perfect match marrow donor to us very soon. And we prayed that God would keep watch over the kids.
We approach the throne of grace with hope and confidence, but the hard part remains the waiting. But we wait on the One that can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, the One that can and will move mountains.

We praise God for every head bowed and knee bent for us in prayer.

In His Care,
The Gees

Gee Family Update, 1/15/09

Hi everyone!

Let's start with GREAT news. Over the last few weeks my dad has been taking a drug called Sutent, it's a targeted drug that specifically treats kidney cancer. He met with his doctor today to discuss the effectiveness of the medication, "significant improvements in all areas" were the words from the doctor. Praise God!!!!
The medication is having wonderful success on my dad's kidney cancer, in fact one of the masses has shrunk to half the original size! The doctors are very encouraged by the results and have asked my dad to continue the medication and come back for another visit in a couple of months.

Now Jodie, she's been on a drug called Cyclosporine. It's supposed to help her bone marrow recover and start to produce blood cells by suppressing her immune system. But today she stopped taking the drug because it is elevating her blood pressure and causing increased levels of bilirubin in her body. To treat the high blood pressure the doctor prescribed another drug for her, but that has brought on another side effect, severe nausea.
She continues to stay at her mother's during this time. But it's difficult being apart, especially right now since I can't do anything to help her. But we're hoping this measure reduces her exposure to germs, viruses etc and improves her chances of staying healthy.
Jodie has been feeling well otherwise, no fevers, good energy and a good appetite.

Just a few prayer requests:
-Praise God for my dad's improved health!
-Pray that Jodie's blood pressure and bilirubin count return to normal levels
-Pray that the nausea goes away and she's able to rest comfortably
-Pray that our kids continue to adjust well and stay healthy

Thank you all for walking along side us, we praise God for His love and grace.

In His care,
-The Gees

Very Busy Monday Morning

The kids started their new school today. Elizabeth did fine, but Tyler had a rough time getting started. Daddy had a hard time saying goodbye to them too:(

While I was dropping the kids off, Jodie went with her mom for blood work and then I met them at our doctors office for a weekly visit.
She will need platelets again today.

We just ask for your continued prayers for Jodie as she gets platelets today and for her to keep feeling well.

We also ask for God to protect the kids in their new school. Help them to feel loved, secure and nurtured in this new environment. Give their teachers extra patience as they care for the kids.

We PRAISE GOD that almost 100 new donors signed up yesterday at the Bone Marrow Drive at Austin Chinese Church. We are blessed by everyone that participated and helped organize.

Blessings to all,
-Alex

Jodie is Home!!!

After 13 days in the hospital Jodie was discharged today and allowed to come home. Actually, she went to her mom's house. Since the kids are in school and I am back at work, it's safer for her there and less likely that she will be exposed to germs and viruses.
We feel the Lord's blessings covering us right now. Both of Jodie's parents are here from Taiwan, her sister JoAnn is here from California and her sister Joyce are all together tonight. And staying with me and the kids helping out is my sister-in-law Jennifer from Arizona.

And if that was not enough to encourage us, we know that so many of you are praying fervently for Jodie's health and lifting up our family to the Father.

So much has happened since the last time I shared with you all, good things. I've returned to work, Tyler returned to school and Elizabeth went to school for the very first time on Tuesday. She did very well! We praise God for orchestrating the kids schedule, they will be in school 5 days a week. That will allow me to work a normal schedule. Plus, Jodie will be cared for by her mom to get her to doctor appointments and hospital visits.
My dad is doing well too! The fluid that was collecting in his lungs has all but gone, so he no longer needs the use of a catheter.

Where we need your prayers:
-Jodie's ongoing health as we wait for a bone marrow donor
-Health of those surrounding her, the kids, me, Joyce, her parents
-The kids would continue to adjust and handle all the changes that come our way
-A BONE MARROW DONOR! There are 22 potential candidates that could match Jodie's tissue type. They still need to be contacted (harder than you would think as many people have outdated information listed), agree to donate and go through add'l testing.
-The search for more potential matches, pray that we can quickly develop material that anyone can use to bring awareness to Jodie's need and urge others to become a bone marrow donor.
-Wisdom for our doctors and nurses to give Jodie the best care available

"The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."
Exodus 14:14

This verse give us much confidence and comfort. We know that God alone is sufficient. Sufficient to heal and sufficient to relieve burdens that make our way easier.

In His Care,
The Gees