Day 70

Well we've just returned from another great weekend in Houston visiting Jodie and her sister Joyce.  Jodie's parents joined us for the drive down.  Boy that 4 hour drive is a lot easier with extra hands to help with the kids.  I tried to go it alone a couple of weeks ago and let's just say I'll probably wait until the kids are about 18 before I try it again.

Before the weekend even started there were a few health concerns with Jodie and my dad.  First off Jodie's blood counts have slowly started to decline over the last couple of weeks.  Even requiring her second blood transfusion and another shot to boost her white cells.  The nurses weren't even sure what was causing the drop.

And then my dad developed some kind of cyst on his chest that had to be drained and cleaned.  His doctor thought it could be a bacterial infection, but would not know until further tests.  Maybe the worst part of it all was the doctor said it could be contagious and advised that he not see Jodie or the kids this weekend for risk of passing it on to them.

Another little scare, a rash developed on Jodie's hand after lunch on Sunday.  Just to be safe, she went to the ER to get it checked out.  All part of keeping an eye out for Graft vs. Host Disease.

I did mention it was a "great" weekend in Houston right?  We really did have a great time, we stayed at the Rotary House hotel, it's attached to MD Anderson by a huge sky bridge.  That sky bridge was really all we needed, we ate there, napped there (me), read there (not me) and best of all let the kids run around while we relaxed.  We also had some friends come and meet us to catch up and get a chance to see Jodie.

Tuesday brought some really good news for both Jodie and my dad.  Jodie's low blood counts are probably being caused by one of the drugs she it taking for a virus, well that virus is now gone and the medication will be stopped.  It will take a week or two for her counts to start moving back up again.  Her rash, nothing to be concerned with the doctor just prescribed some cream for it.

My dad's wound is healing and there's no longer a concern of him passing it to someone else.

So we are on day 70 after the transplant, we hope to have Jodie home at the end of July.  And my dad will have another appointment with his doctor next week to take a look at his kidney cancer.  We're hopeful that the medication has continued to reduce the cancer.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support for our family.

Blessings to all!!!

-The Gees  

Day 46 - Together Again

Has it really been 46 days since Jodie's bone marrow transplant?  Amazing, just amazing.

We were in Houston this weekend to see Jodie.  What a great time!  We also got to see my parents, Jodie's sister Joyce and our good friend Cindy.  Praise God for Joyce and Cindy as they shared caregiver duties for Jodie this week.

Jodie is doing just WONDERFUL! 

Her blood counts look pretty good, they are still on the low side of "normal" so there is still more to look forward to and hope for.

Her pneumonia is still there, but each time they check, it looks better and better.

Her hair is still there tooJ  We thought the chemo would take her hair away, but so far it has only been thinning.

Jodie has improved enough that her doctors have even relaxed her scheduled visits to the hospital.  Until recently, she's been at the hospital every day, even the weekends.  But a couple of weeks ago the doctors started to give her the weekends off and this week she got Thursday off too.

We cannot thank you enough for all the encouragement since last November when we found out about Jodie's Aplastic Anemia.  The walls in Jodie's apartment have all the evidence of your support as they are covered with cards and notes from so many of you.  

Until next time…

Blessing to all,

The Gees

Day 30

Day 30, that's right it's been 30 days since Jodie's bone marrow transplant.  WOW, God is good, so very good!!!

Jodie's blood counts are improving. 

Her white cells were at 4 today, they've been as high as 7.  Normal range should be 4 to 12.  Remember, her white cell counts were 0.01 prior to the transplant.

Her red blood cells, 8.4 today.  Normal range should be 7 to 10.

And lastly platelets, they were at 116 today.  Typical range is 150 to 400.  Prior to the transplant, Jodie's highest counts were around 50 and that was after a platelet transfusion.

Praise God, all of these new numbers are a result of her new bone marrow.

Jodie has been out of the hospital and in a local apartment with her sister Joyce for almost two weeks now.  She's still at the hospital everyday for blood work and IV medication, but she's normally done by the afternoon.

She's really been enjoying a more normal life since being in an apartment, eating out once in a while and trip to Target every now an then too.  She just uses some caution when going out, wearing a mask and going out during less crowded times of the day.  Earlier this week we got more good news on Jodie's pneumonia.  "Considerably better" in the words of the doctors and nurses.

 

My dad continues on his regimen of chemo drugs, 2 weeks on 1 week off.  Overall he is doing well too.  While we were in the hospital, he was our main errand person, food, laundry, transportation whatever we needed.  My dad gets around so well most of the time, I sometimes forget about his cancer, I think that's the way he likes it.  He wants it less about him and more about taking care of Jodie and everyone else, that's how he's always been.

 

Prayer requests:

-We praise God for Jodie's improving health, pray for her new bone marrow to continue making blood cells.

-We praise God for my dad's response to his cancer medication

-We praise God for Jodie's sister Joyce who is her full time caregiver

-Pray for our health in Dallas.  Elizabeth (ear infection and pink eye), Tyler (pink eye)

 

While typing this update, a movie called The Rainmaker was on tv.  It's a lawyer drama and the main story is about a family whose son dies because their insurance company denies coverage for a life saving bone marrow transplant and sadly they had no other resources to help pay for the procedure.  Oh how blessed we have been.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you."

Indeed it is,

The Gees

Day 20 - Jodie Leaves the Hospital

Good news continues for Jodie.

 

Jodie was released from the hospital on Monday.  She will now spend the next couple of months in a local apartment in Houston.  The apartment complex is minutes away from the hospital and also provides a shuttle service for convenience.

She will have daily visits to the hospital for blood tests, visits with her doctor and continued IV medications.

 

The doctors say it takes 2-4 weeks from transplant to see signs of engraftment.  Praise God that we are starting to see signs of it with Jodie.  Today (Wed), will be 1 week since her last white blood cell transfusion and her counts are beginning to normalize.  What we really want to see are those counts increasing and not falling off.

 

Despite a couple of restless nights this week and some nausea, Jodie is feeling well overall.

 

Blessings everyone!

The Gees

Day 14

14 days after the bone marrow transplant and Jodie is doing great!!! She remains in the hospital as we wait for her new bone marrow to show signs of grafting. She's been receiving white blood cell donations every other day, but the doctors are going to discontinue it for now to see if her bone marrow is starting to graft. They say it typically takes 2-4 weeks for grafting to start. - We pray that Jodie continues to feel well and shows no side effects from the chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant or blood transfusions. - We pray that Jodie's new bone marrow grafts soon and starts to produce normal blood cells. - We praise God for surrounding Jodie and our family with a loving community of supporters. Blessings to all,

The Gees

Day 5

We are now on Day 5 post bone marrow transplant.  Jodie is doing great!!!  The only trouble so far was on Day 1, she had a very severe sinus headache during the night, the congestion and sinus pressure even caused swelling in the right side of her face.  But after some pain medicine, Benadryl and a good nights rest she was feeling better by the morning.

Overall, Jodie has a good appetite and her energy level is up.  She's usually good for a couple of walks during the day too.  We can't get her outside or around crowds of people yet, so she's just walking around the bone marrow transplant floor. 

For now, Jodie will remain in the hospital for at least a couple of more weeks, the doctors need to see the bone marrow start to graft and watch for something called Graft vs. Host disease.  If all goes well, she will then get discharged from the hospital, but stay locally in Houston for another couple of months for regular visits to the hospital and follow up with the doctors.

 A few praises and prayer requests:

-Jodie's mom visited us in the hospital this weekend, it was great to see her.

-White cell donors, thanks to all of you who have considered and are even going through the process of donating white cells for Jodie

-We praise God for the skill and expertise of the doctors and nurses here at the hospital.

-Pray that the new bone marrow starts to graft soon and shows signs of producing normal blood cells.

-Pray for good health for our kids back home in Dallas.  They are well taken care of by Jodie's sister Joyce and their mom.

Blessings to all,

The Gees

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

John 10:10

Day 0 - Transplant Day

At 12 CST today Jodie started her bone marrow transplant and at 4 CST it was done.  The actual procedure is just a blood transfusion given in the room, there is no surgical procedure at all.  Seems a bit anti-climactic after everything that its taken to get us here.

The transfusion went smoothly, the next few weeks are really important.  

Starting with tomorrow, Jodie will get white cell transfusions to fight the pneumonia she got prior to the transplant.  Thanks to some very loving friends and family here in Houston who are donating their white cells to Jodie.

And then in 2-4 weeks we hope to see the new bone marrow producing new blood cells.

What a great day!!!!

God is Good,

The Gees