No Bad News PLEASE

I have a quick note for everyone that talks with someone going through cancer treatments. 

• No matter how much you want to empathsize with that person.  Do Not Talk About Your Friend or Anyone and end it with "But they died".  What an easy way to kill all hope and thrust someone into deep despair.
• No matter what you think you know about cancer like Lymphomia, unless you are an Oncologist, there are too many different types of cancer to make any kind of association with a friend - that died in 3 months.
• Listen to them, hug them, pray for them (with them if they are OK with that), get them on a prayer list.  BUT Do Not say anything that is Negative.  It Does Not Help At All.  Those words just hurt and bring down the person with cancer.  Be supportive and uplifting, not down and dreary.  Love the person, they do not need to hear about death.

Adele is attempting to get her First Yearly checkup arranged, so she can get back to the second grade classroom in January.  I feel that the cancer is gone and beaten.  Pray for that to be the case. 

In the mean time we will be traveling to Georgia and Christmas in the south.  Eric, Julie and Ruby are anxious to see us and spend Christmas with us.  Julie will be working most of the time, but we will get tons of Ruby time in.

Thanks to everyone that has been watching these pages. - Rick

Final post until January Yearly testing

Ruby Rose and POP POP & Nanny 10/08/2009

Today is "Day 236" post transplant and everything is pretty much normal. Except for the need to get back some stamina, Adele is very much just as she was pre cancer. Her hair is a bit shorter and undyed, but she is delighting in the ease of getting ready in the morning with her new "doo".

Cancer is gone, life and all its quirkyness is back to normal. Sometimes I wish for these past 2 years to disappear and never have been, but I know that is not posssible. I do thank God everyday for healing Adele, and giving me the strength to care for her. Now I need strength to carry on while she prepares for getting back to work next year.

So much else to say, just no need now - you all know how much I appreciate everything you have done for us. Thank you many times over, and may God Bless You Always.

With Love - Rick

Day 209 - Normal days

We got back from Georgia on Sunday the 9th. Since then I have mown the yard 4 times, to get it to the right height, weeded all those monstors that grew while we were gone, and killed the ones around our flagstone path. Work is slow, but that's OK, I get to use the Vette on sunny days.

Adele is on track and having "fun" making up for lost time. She has seen the eye doctor, dentist, family doctor, gyn, had a mamogram and treated at the foot doctor for another ingrown toenail. We had an interesting talk last week, as she was crying about having to see all of these doctors. My take on it was, "Be happy that you can go see alll of these doctors, without having to take antibiotics first. You are OK now and should be happy you can do this."

She got a laugh out of that, thinking about it and realizing that I was probably right - one of the only times in my life!

We visited with our other grandchildren (Tom & Shannon's) before they went to Maine - yes in the same cabins we always used. I fixed their PC and they were happy to be able to email again, especially since the motel reservation was in the email. Talked with Tom last night, and he said it was high 80's to 90 degrees in Bar Harbour, so they did not escape the heat.

Not much more, other than normal life, going on around here.

Thanks - Rick

Day 196 - also our 39th Anniversary

Today is Adele and my 39th wedding anniversary and we are enjoying it in Augusta, GA with Julie, Eric & Ruby Rose. Last Thursday was Adele's 6 month full checkup and she passed with flying colors!

She had blood tests, bone marrow extraction, a cat scan and got probed by a nurse practitioner and a doctor. Everything was great, the cat scan showed no active sign of lymphoma!

We left Friday for GA and arrived here Sat around noon. We used Adele's new Malibu to come down with 31 + mpg the result. Love the way it handles in traffic and the OnStar is a plus, along with our trial of XM/Sirus satellite radio. 50's, 60's and jazz the whole way down without worries of losing the signal.

Today Ruby is at the day care. She is a really active little girl and we needed to take a rest day or two, we are only grandparents and getting older, not younger. She is such a sweet little girl and busily crawling all over the place, chattering as she goes!

Thanks for listening - Rick - edited by Adele

July 7 - Day 167 Post transplant

Our little Bathing Beauty Ruby Rose last week

Today Adele leaves me for Solebury and a visit with her sister. She will be back Wed afternoon - but this is the first time since transplant that we have been apart, shy of her being in the hospital. I am so glad she is going, and that she feels good enough to do this herself.

Oh, I guess it would help to say, I was so worried about her car, we bought her a new Malibu last week. Then I know she will be OK going by herself. It even has OnStar - so I really know she is safe. Of course with under 80 miles on it I am making sure she knows not to drive it too long at one speed. Need to break in that engine properly. Regular gas instead of Premium and much better mileage - what else could I ask for! When we travel to Baltimore on July 30th, and Augusta in August (HOT!) we will see more what traveling mileage is like. With me driving I would be happy with just the 33 highway it advertises.

July 30th is our "6 Month John Hopkins Full Checkup" and I am sure it will show everything to be great. Adele is not of the same feeling, but has times where she wants to believe me. After that we can get to GA for one more visit this summer, and then Julie, Eric and Ruby come up to PA for his brother's wedding in late September. We convinced them to come for a week and see everyone while they are here - instead of just 4 days including travel.

That's everything for now. Status is "Hopeful and Happy". Pictures still on picasaweb.google.com/rstauffer43 .. Both Adele and I have joined Facebook (email lookup is rick@ephrata.com or adele10@ptd.net).

Thanks for everything - especially your prayers.
Rick

Tuesday after getting home

Sunday afternoon we traveled 7 1/2 hours to Harrisonburg, VA, continuing on toward home Monday with a 3 1/2 hour ride. We stopped by the Health Campus in Lancaster for Adele's monthly blood draw and the continued home. After unpacking the car and dropping to sleep for awhile, we woke to go to the doctors appointment. The oncologist pronounced Adele fit and well. Blood numbers continue their way toward normalcy and she is getting stronger all the time.

We stopped at Oregon Dairy for burgers afterwards, as neither of us had enough energy to make supper. After supper we got home and turned on the TV and I immediately fell asleep. 6 pm and there I am asleep, so around 7:30 I went up to bed and sacked out. Slept until 7 am and now feel much better. Adele promised she would get up at 8 am.

Oh, I would be remiss if I did not mention that our neighbor called Monday (as we were getting into the Carlisle area) and said not to rush, as the cat and yard were both fine. He has been feeding Bathory and he had just mowed our 10 day growth (some call it hay at that point). Thank you for everything you did Daryl, we can not express how much we appreciated it!

So, after 10 days of sun, cloudless skys, and 95 - 105 degree days, we are finally back in PA. We knew we were home, since almost as soon as we hit PA on 81 North, the skys clouded up and we were seeing dark clouds again.

See you all later - Rick

Last few days in Augusta

We spent Friday and Saturday having fun and swimming and shopping. Basically, doing nothing but having fun. Julie and Eric prepared a steak dinner for us - after a burger dinner by Mike - and we had a great Father's Day weekend. Eric's first Father's Day, and he had a great time. I opened my 2 cards and got all choked up on both of them.

As you can see, I am always the "Kid &/Or Nut" in the water. I will do almost anything to get a smile from my grandchildren, and they know it.

The ride home was done Sunday and Monday, with a stop planned Monday at the Health Campus for a blood draw.

More later - Rick

Friday AM - Augusta, GA

We are still in Augusta, with almost perfect weather. Of course a thunderstorm or two have been here in the past week, but only one last evening interrupting our outside fun. We were just thinking of grilling burgers, blue cheese steak really, when Adele & I noticed a dark sky. Well, that changed to a breeze, and then quickly changed to "Wow, look at those trees bend in the wind!" Picked up everything and got in the house - oh well, swimming was fun for an hour - and watched the warnings on TV.

Everything passed us within an hour, and Eric went back out to grill. Haha - he ran out of propane, and had to finish in the stove. Oh well, we were all HUNGRY by the time the burgers were done.

Adele is getting somewhat more comfortable without her wig, I think she is so cute with her short hair. Ruby looked at her like, "Who are you?" when she did wear it. The weather is staying around 95 - 102 or so and sunny, and it is way more comfortable without it.

Adele & I are both getting a work out keeping up with Ruby's demands and playtime. Just getting her up and off the sofa or floor is a challenge sometimes. Adele is finding more strength everyday, while I am hurting a bit in the back. But, we are both having such great fun with Ruby, we don't think about the physical part of it much, just when we get to bed later. Loving having Ruby to ourselves every day for the week! She is such a smiling doll. She even wakes up smiling, just so happy to see your face when she wakes.

Tonight the girls (Adele & Julie) go to a movie (chick flick) and dinner, while Eric, Ruby & I have decided to go out for dinner only. Barbecue anyone??

We leave for home Sunday after lunch, so we want to get everything in before then. Stopping in VA for the night, allows us to leave later Sunday afternoon and get home refreshed, not beat up.

See everyone soon.
Rick - from sunny Augusta, Georgia

Oh - I also started on facebook, as a way to stay in contact with family and all their friends. So far, much better than myspace. Looking for my new iPhone next week, if I get any breaks from work.

Wed AM - while everyone sleeps

Yesterday was Ruby's 9 month birthday - so we got her a cake and let her have her first finger food ever. She was having so much fun eating the cake, took many pics - see them at picasaweb.google.com/rstauffer43. They are at the end.

Today will be cooler - high looks like 86, not in the high 90's like it has been. This will be our second day to keep Ruby. Tons of play, reading and other things yesterday.

Hear her stirring, gotta go

Rick

Day 144 - In Georgia

Adele & I came down to Eric & Julie's Friday (arriving Saturday around noon). We stayed overnight in Jonesville, NC and finished the last 4 hours of the trip on Saturday. Making it a 2 day trip really allows us to enjoy the time we spend here immediately, with no "driving time lag" from driving 12 hours or more.

Julie, Eric & Ruby had a picnic planned for us. Mike, Erica, Eva and Gwen were here along with Scott and Jordan (who stopped by on his way to work. Eric used the Orion cooker to do 4 racks of ribs, and then gave one to Jordan for work. Wonderful - glorious - smoked in cherry, and rubbed with a great rub. Spicy and almost too hot, but Sweet Baby Ray's calmed it down a bit and finished off the taste. We had a great time with all and got to catch up with everyone. Even found out Sid & Jordan (Florida for the past few years) are moving back soon - now that they are engaged. Two more of the crew to get together for picnics.

Today the guys are going to soccer games. Mike is playing, and I will do my best to keep Eric next to me without playing - yeah his knee is hurting again - and of course the half cast ion his arm should (but doesn't) stop him from playing.

Not sure where the girls are going, maybe to soccer also, but wherever they go I am sure Adele will be holding or playing with Ruby. We both got a good measure of her yesterday, while I am really making sure I do not hog her when Adele is there. Ruby & Julie were home in April? but I want to make sure Adele gets more than her share of Ruby this week.

This morning I am working on Eric's PC and making it as complete and fast as I can. Tons of work, but mostly waiting for the computer to finish tasks I give it. The disk defrag has already taken an hour and is only 65% done, so I wait to install more until that is done. Eric & Julie had it mostly done from hints I gave earlier, and yes I found the CD I kept telling her she should have, so she did not need to get anything from me - Oh well, that's the way she is sometimes. She was just a bit stressed and wanting to get the PC going again after a lousy cable ($1.50) knocked out her first hard drive. She is glad to see her private PC support team here.

That's it until later - I already have rambled too much - too much caffeine this AM while everyone else sleeps.

Thanks - Rick

Day 136 - Kids are here

OK - Saturday morning and Kaelyn & Mason are here with us today. Yes, just in case anyone wonders, my back is hurting more. Not sure if it is from picking up Mason for his nightly chores or sitting too long yesterday. Whichever it is, both were wonderful experiences, and to be enjoyed while doing so, and therefore no more complaint than - "Yes my back hurts".

We were with Tom's family yesterday at his graduation luncheon and had such great fun. Wonderful speeches (or talks) by everyone involved. Especially liked the Colonel's portion - he had an interesting perspective and I enjoyed it. Brought the kids back for a day with the Nanny & Pop Pop.

Almost forgot, but Adele had minor foot surgery (very minor) for an ingrown nail yesterday and she has a bandage on it since then. She cleaned and soaked last evening - while the kids and I watched "Bolt - The Super Dog!". I think she is OK with the toe now, especially since she got it checked out before we head south next week.

Adele has been growing stronger every week. She has been cleaning again, cooking and doing much more around the house. I can stop doing my bi-monthly cleaning finally (or when it gets too dirty and I can't ignore it anymore cleaning). She is amazing in what she has been doing for the past week and more. She is finally feeling more "normal" but there is always the mental image of cancer coming back. Not sure if she will ever lose that - probably not. I try to be as UP as possible and need to keep reminding myself to be aware of her and what she is saying. All husbands know what I mean, we get too immunized in what our spouse is saying, we miss a lot of what they really are saying, and suffer from it. I remind myself about every week, I need to hear her and what she is saying...

Next Friday we head off to Augusta, Georgia and our baby Julie. Eric, Julie and Ruby are all looking forward to our visit, and I think Julie got a day or so off to be with us more. We will stay over 2 weekends, so Eric has a chance to show off his barbecue prowess (and his Orion grill). I know I already said something about buying some slabs of ribs and beer for the first one. I looked at the weather today for that area, and there is a 30% - 40% chance of rain - until the day we arrive, then it goes to 0% and 92 degrees. Hope our luck holds out for most of the trip - as I do want to enjoy their pool and deck as much as possible.

OK - gotta go, the kids are awake, and I will be expected to make the pancakes and bacon.

See you all later - Rick

Day 132 - a good week

The last week, since our last oncologist appointment, has been good. Adele and I have enjoyed being able to laugh a bit and most of that was at me - as I struggled to get up while ignoring (muttering, hissing, and groaning at the same time) all the pain in my back. Never really ignored it, just took vicodin and muscle relaxers when at the worst. Yes, even tried morphine, and vicodin does just fine usually.

Oh well, the pain has subsided to a dull roar, which is the usual level, so I am back to carrying computers around again.

Adele has gotten back into cooking and cleaning up while I was disabled, and enjoying the normalcy again. We went to Kitty's funeral last Friday, and are on the way to Cyril's this morning. Both were brought down by cancer in the past years, Kitty being a 20 plus year survivor of breast cancer. Cy had a brain tumor that brought him down for the past 2 1/2 years. They were both fighters, doing everything to stop and reverse the cancer, God love them both for their courage in the fight.

Not too much else to talk about - except in less than 10 days we will be on our way to GA and our extended family down south. The Ruby slide show runs on our home page, and I have been working at getting new pics there constantly. Yes the sock monkey is about the same size as her! Hope you enjoy the slides. Some of her first pool time are there now.

Thanks to all - Rick

May 27 - Day 126

One Hundred Twenty Six days ago, Adele had a Stem Cell Transplant (also called a Bone Marrow Transplant "BMT").

Last Wednesday she had a cat scan and today the doctor told us, there is almost no change from the scan taken at John Hopkins on day 64 - or 62 days ago. That means the cancer is still in remission! PTL Adele was finally able to breath and believe that this worked. She is still a bit swollen in the groin but, maybe (just maybe) she is getting some fatty tissue there and finally gaining some weight.

The doctor agreed with me also, that she looks better without the wig. Her hair is growing back and she looks cute with it that way. We almost have matching haircuts, but I should color mine silver to match. He also said, her blood numbers are coming up, slowly, but coming up and are close to being OK. Her platelet count is 60,000 and should be about 150,000 - 400,000, but is OK and she should not worry about the counts any more. In fact, he said she could go to once a month for blood work, making it less of a hassle and helping with the worry about "what if they are down".

She is also allowed to be in groups now, so we can get to our son's graduation? party - he has been taking courses since Feb this year. We also are planning a week in GA to see Eric, Julie and Ruby! We leave June 12th and will be back the 22nd for our next doctor appointment. Well - there goes June. I think I might even have to get a tattoo to celebrate.

Great day for us, now all we need is for my back to start working again, and we will be fine!

Thanks again to everyone
Rick

Tuesday after Holiday

OK, I admit, my back still hurts way too much. I had so much fun Sunday, I am still paying for it. I think I will need to stop picking up the grandchildren. Mason loves to be picked up and turned upside down - kinda like a roller coaster ride - scary but he always says "Do it again Pop Pop".

I sat, lay down and took pain killers all day Monday, so I cannot do that again. I think I even gave Tom a backache when he offered to help me get up from the floor, just before we left for home. I was stiff and hurting already, and came up slowly.

Adele is up and 'looking forward?' to tomorrow when we get the cat scan results. It has not been easy waiting for the past week, I do wish they could have called and said "no problems" or something. But we wait for the Oncologist appointment with - fear, trepidation, worry?? All the wait does is prolong the feelings about what it "might, or could" be.

Adele is also growing hair again, and is looking better every day. More strength and filling out again. I have asked her to ditch the wig around the house, as I think she looks better without it. I am just not into hugging a polyester wrapped head - or running my fingers through the stiff polyester hair on the wig and being careful not to dislodge it again.

Any way - watch tomorrow night for news on the cat scan results.


Thanks - Rick

Memorial Day

We celebrated with our regular family picnic Sunday afternoon. Had way too much food to eat, the taco dip was decimated, the dinner was also, as was the desserts - everyone had a blast. Frisbee played with my hat at first, then a real Frisbee. Later Bocce Ball on the front lawn. Kaelyn is great at Bocce, as is her daddy.

I was in a bad mood most of the day, until I started having fun with the grandkids. Adele started the day off worrying about her cat scan again. I took it bad and could not get out of the mood. Feel down today also. Hopefully the day is bright and I get a chance to escape with the Vette.

Thanks to all - Rick

Cat Scan is done - Now we wait

Since last week, and the oncologist visit we have gone through a range of emotions. The Cat scan was done by 9 am this morning and now we wait until next Wednesday for results on our Oncologist visit then. Adele is resting, nerves caused a bit of bowel problems, so she is a bit weak.

My dad had a tooth extracted yesterday, with some unusual events before. Hopefully the weird stuff he was saying is all from the abscess. I hear there is an old Chinese saying "Abscess makes the fart go Honda" - well his sounded more like a Yamaha.. ;) Last night Mom said he seemed to be better and comfortable, so hopefully he had a good night rest.

Our neighbor Daryl is in the hospital for surprise surgery this morning, so I have been letting out their dogs this morning. He should be fine, but any emergency like this could be devastating on the nerves, since it was so unexpected. Adele saw him outside yesterday - and he said stay away, I am very sick and not sure what it is. Turns out - it is not contagious at all, just painful.

Our friend in Laos is having more chemo treatments again, so he still has a way to recover.

We celebrate the Memorial Day weekend with a cookout at my brothers house this Sunday, with kids and Mom & Dad there. Everyone should be there except the GA portion of the family. We will be visiting that portion over the Father's Day time. I have been displaying their pics on this blog - as a slide show. Hope you all enjoy them.

I wish all a good weekend with family - remember all the soldiers you know and have known the weekend.

Thanks - Rick

Day 111 post transplant

OK - visited the oncologist last night and he gave us good news. The swelling is probably due to the 24 days of antibiotics Adele had in the past weeks, ending only around two or three days before she noticed the swelling. He asked her about any antibiotics she had recently and she forgot that she had just finished them. I spoke up and he immediately was asking about how long and which did she take. He thumped and prodded her, and said gas is what it is. Prescribed Beano or GasX to relieve it. I ran out so I guess we need to get some today.

Also he talked about a CAT scan, and that the end of May would be the right time (2 months from last scan) to do it. So we will have some more blood testing (going to every 2 weeks in June) and a Cat scan, and then see him at the end of May again.

I believe this was the best news we could have asked for. Not only did he surmise what the cause was, but also that it is a minor disturbance for Adele. We both felt relieved as we drove home last night. Made more beef, mashed potatoes and gravy for supper and had a good evening at home.

Thanks to all who are praying for her - it is working!

Rick

Next week will tell a story

Monday we have an oncologist appointment, to check if the swelling that Adele has is anything. Possible outcome is wait - or get a CAT scan for a closer look. I believe Adele is looking for a CAT scan to be done to put her at ease about what is happening.

But for now, this has been a good weekend.

Saturday was Mother's Day dinner here. Shannon & Tom, with Kaelyn & Mason, along with Mom & Dad all had a great eye roast dinner. Mashed potatoes with plenty of butter, half n half and Philly cream cheese with chives (almost forgot the garlic salt and nutmeg). Green beans, cole slaw, cranberry relish and rolls finished the dinner nicely. Hand sliced the roast thinly and everyone loved my spices I used on it.

Today, Adele and I went to church services - probably first time since November for her. It was good to go together and not so crowded at the 8:30 service, so easier to slip out after the service. Walter had another great sermon on Coming Out Into the Rain (of the Holy Spirit), with displays asking us to take off all rain gear, so we could be soaked by the Spirit. The series started last week, when it was pouring rain outside, I think God did that one just for Walter.

If I am quiet this week, it is because things are going well, and we are busy. Otherwise - I will see you all later.

Love ya all - Rick
Ruby Celebrated in GA

A good week

It's been over a week since last posting - I have been dreading somewhat the putting down of what has been happening.

Last week on Friday evening, Adele noticed swelling in the groin area, and spent the weekend dreading the possibility of cancer coming back. Friday night and Saturday were not easy times here in the Stauffer household.

Sunday, I went to "Young Eagles Fly-in" at Capital City Airport. We had 6 Corvettes there, CPCC also had 6 - 8 Corvettes there and there were also Vipers, a Prowler, some hot rods, many police cars, Harleys and of course planes and helicopters. The State Police helicopter was on display, as was a military plane. The kids enjoyed riding with us - getting to 70 mph as fast as they could and just having fun. The police cars had sirens blasting and lights flashing during all of their rides - kind of spooky gunning the engine and having a police car behind you with the siren blaring, and not stopping you. I left early when I called Adele and she said she had called Mom and was with her - another bad day.

Monday - oncologist appointment at 4:15 and he was very pleased with her progress so far, and downplayed any possibility the cancer could possibly come back so soon, even after his exam. Adele started to feel better almost immediately and we stopped in Lititz for dinner with Mom & Dad before going home.

Tuesday - Thursday, very minor breaks in the good feeling for Adele. She is trying to get out and do more, for strength building and just to get away from the house. Good idea is what I think. Next Monday is another oncologist appt. so I will probably wait to post more until then. If he feels concerned, or a least bit suspicious about anything, he will order a Cat scan for next week.

See you all next week then - Rick Stauffer

2 good days in a row!

Sunday was the pits as a whole.

Monday morning, the doctors office called about the CT Scan and chest X-Ray from Friday night. Both were normal with no abscesses. Made my day and Adele's. Had a good visit with Dr Balepur (oncologist) also, and now Adele is on once a week blood tests.

Tuesday she woke up and was cheerful all day so far. Took a walk after lunch, and a nap right now.

Thank You Lord for such peacefulness, she deserves it.

Thanks to everyone - Rick

A Day of peace on the surface - Day 95

Monday is the day Adele gets her report back on her sinus CT scan. She of course is preparing for a hospital stay, or not. She has been worried all day, and so I stayed around the house working on the yard all day. When I did have to go out for 1 1/2 hours, she finally decided to have Yvonne over to talk.

She is still convinced that she will have to have something else done to cure her sinus problems, even though Dr Meade from JH says - get used to it, it is normal for BMT patients to have this on and off.

Tonight she has decided to stay in the lazy boy and try to get some sleep sitting up, so the sinus can drain all night. We shall see how that goes.

Pray for yet more good news... If it keeps coming, maybe she will believe it soon.

Rick

Here we go again

Today looks like a day to be upset.

Rick

Again - What a difference

What a difference a doctor can make in this journey.

Adele has been suffering for 2 weeks with this sinus condition, and since Sunday has been suffering mentally as well. She keeps worrying that her sinus condition is more sever than it is, and will not stop. She emailed Dr Meade @ John Hopkins this week, and received a reply on Tuesday? morning. The reply was short and simple, but it was taken in a different way than it should have been.

He told her that childhood immunizations will be given to her at 12, 14 and 24 months after transplant. Then went on to say that he recommends against being with sick children. --- Whoa --- I emailed a response to that, since Adele said she might not be able to teach until 2011, and got a quick reply from the doctor that he wants to talk with us, Wednesday between 2 and 4 PM. OK, I forget going to PA Breast Cancer and installing a hard drive, and wait for the call.

Wednesday he called and went over everything, and also said (without saying you can go back in xx months) that - after 6 months from the transplant, you are OK to work if you are strong enough to do it. Basically the Dapsone they have her on for 6 months is the key, after it is done, then she is OK to do more (ie work). He also said that with her "New" immune system, "you are like a toddler, and will get many of these sinus problems. Your body and immune system has to reacquaint itself with all of life around you." Cat hair, pollen, mold, etc.. She will need to develop her own way of dealing with these things, she is in for many more sinus conditions in the next year or more, according to him. This is the norm, not the exception.

Today (Thursday) she woke up and seemed to be in a much better mood. Of course we watched "Thou Shalt Laugh" last night and just laughed so hard we hurt. Anyway - the mood, perception, outlook, of a person can be altered drastically by a good or bad word. A good word in this case was, the doc saying this is normal, expect to have more like this. The bad, last week when another doc says we might have to do surgery on your sinus, and that it is dangerous surgery.

She has already planned to babysit the grandkids this weekend, and is feeling much better. Now to get her doing things without doing too much. She just need to get stronger and keep being as positive as she can. Of course - Positive Rick - is always there to make sure she knows that, hopefully without being too much of a pain.

Pray for peace with her condition and knowledge that this will be a long slope up to health again. She is capable of knowing that, she just needs a push once in awhile to keep going up the slope. It is no longer a hill to climb, just a mild slope.

Sometimes slopes are hard to bear, but eventually you get to the top and can rejoice in that, it just takes longer.

Thanks - Rick

Also pray for Somsavath as he is back in surgery for a small leak in his intestine.

Day 90 after transplant

Only 10 days from Day 100 and the first milestone.

Adele is still suffering from a sinus condition, which blocks fluids from draining and puffs up her nose and cheeks. She is trying to sleep on 2 pillows, but is uncomfortable and fitful all night. Can't even cuddle properly, but that's not so new as it was worse when she had 2 catheters in at one time. She is still taking antibiotics, using a saline low pressure nasal wash and other measures every day. It seems to take forever to get better. She did make another doctors appointment for this week, just to make sure everything is OK.

I have a major problem with wondering every day what mood will Adele be in? Is she going to be positive? Is she going to be down about her slowness to recover, if it really is slow, we don't do BMTs every day. Will she want to go somewhere or sleep in and stay in PJs all day? Ha, that has not happened for awhile - Thanks God. Anyway, I am trying to get things done and get out of the house as many times as I can, without running away all the time. Have to balance the running away with sitting, hugging and soothing.

Mornings are the worst, and by later afternoon Adele seems to be much better. I have started saying when asked how she is "She is doing well right now, not sure about tomorrow yet." That is our life for the past 18 months since this NHL was found. We have gone from quick highs to lasting lows BUT we have had much more help than I ever thought we would see from everyone around us. Hopefully by the end of this summer she will be strengthened and not suffering from any more problems.

We are looking at the possibility of her teaching starting back next year (2010) after her immunizations are done and she is immune from all the childhood problems again. Thats another 9 or 10 months - wow what a thought, alone with her for another 10 months. Free to travel anywhere we want for 7 - 10 days (as long as by car, and free lodging). Maybe Georgia will see us 2 times this summer and fall?

Thanks to all - Rick

Saturday afternoon

What a difference a day or two make. Adele had a doctor appointment Friday morning, changed from Fri afternoon as she was super concerned about her problem. The doctor took one look at her and exclaimed how much better she looked. He gave her hints (use 2 pillows to keep her head higher when sleeping) after I said her face was more swollen in the morning than the evening. Wow! One night and she woke up this morning looking more like herself than anytime in the past week. Her face really looks better now, for awhile it looked like she was on steroids.

Her mental attitude also changed after the doctors appt. She came out feeling much better and we stopped at CVS, Weis, and PA Breast Cancer Coalition afterwards. She has had a great Saturday, and is feeling much more like her normal self. We are going to small group tomorrow, so that is a big change again.

I pulled the top down on the Vette and ran to Reading and the Outlet and Lowes for supplies. All that after a 3 hour lawn duty break. All the mulch is gone, I need more, grass is mown and all the weeds are pulled. Tomorrow looks like another nice day - maybe I will be able to get out the high pressure hose and clean the shed and house. We, like many others, are also battling ants in the house. This is the BIG time for that, and the ant killer aisle was jammed at Lowes.

Thanks to all for the prayers. Pray for continued healing in Adele's sinuses.

Rick

What a long week

Adele is on antibiotics for a drip in the nasal area. She is also on two other meds for the same problem, and using saline wash for her sinus every day. We have gone the gamut of emotions - from "Why am I so weak" to "Why am I feeling so normal" in this week.

Today is her Doctor appointment - family physician - and I plan on attending to make sure I get everything right. Tuesday night he called and mentioned many items, including a Cat scan for the sinus, surgery, immune system compromise, etc. Wednesday I found out by calling both doctor offices, that he did in fact speak with the oncologist and agreed to wait until Friday (today) to access the condition then.

Of course in all of this, my new LCD arrived and was totally damaged beyond repair. Waited for the last 2 years and finally had some extra - IRS did not need any extra in April for 2008 or 2009 - so I ordered the LCD and it is already dead. I am attempting to resolve the problem with the shipper but have not heard anything yesterday, after great communication Wednesday. I am now losing sleep over worry about that, and Adele. Adele is the more important one in this.

Pray for better news from the doctor today. Pray for a strengthening of purpose and help in keeping positive thoughts in the forefront.

Wednesday, I went to church to work on the projection PC and had to call a vendor for support. After the call was finished I quickly mentioned that I had delayed in getting the problem resolved because of my need to be with Adele over the past 6 months. The support person immediately knew that she would need to listen, and offered a beautiful prayer for Adele and I. Such a wonder to have people like her on the support line. Of course, it was CCLI and SongSelect, a church oriented service, but she helped me tremendously that day. I just cryed and cryed when I finished the conversation, just needed let it all out and released all the hurt and stress. I felt God next to me while she prayed and was able to stay positive about all this afterwards.

Thanks for all the prayers - Rick

The Vette Rocks

I had a chance to have a dynometer run on my '90 Corvette today. It was a rainy Saturday, but we had more people there than had signed up, so it was a good day.

My L98 is rated at 245 horsepower and 340 torque as standard from the factory. I have wondered for the past 8 years, what does this car have in it. Well, I got my answer today.

Modifications are limited to K&N air filter and a redone exhaust with Flowmaster mufflers.

Rear wheel horsepower was 214.81, with all three runs being consistent - from 212.41 - 214.81. Translated into hp at engine, Bob said was around 286.4 horsepower and 396.4 torque. Way over factory numbers, and I was very happy. No wonder I have so much fun. BTW, he got the car to around 140 MPH which is a new high for it - as I have only been to 125 MPH in it.

Wow - was that fun or what?

Good Friday is here

Since I took Julie and Ruby to the airport last Sunday morning, we have had an almost normal week. Make sure to check out all the Ruby Pics we posted.

Adele was certain she was sick on Sat evening and Sunday morning and called the family doctor for an appointment on Mon morning. She also cancelled and then un-cancelled her therapist appointment for Monday. I was not too happy about her cancelling such an important date.

Monday morning was foot doc for me, family doc for Adele and then therapist at noon for Adele. Yes, she has a very slight drainage down her throat and has received 3 or more medicines to take care of it. She started taking all of them, and then on Wed realized that the antibiotic gives her other problems, and called back for another type of antibiotic. She is weird sometimes, but knows what ails her more than I do - sometimes she is just over reacting and other times she is serious. It becomes harder and harder to differentiate between the two.

Dr Meade at JH was emailed by Adele Thursday and replied that her bone marrow sample was done and looked perfect! His words were, "Fresh from the oven .. your marrow was beautiful." She cried tears of joy when she saw that. I had kept saying he would have contacted us had the sample been a problem.

I plan on church this Sunday - she still is hesitant to go and be in crowds, even with the balcony almost deserted, she is not going. I want to get there for the service, as I know everyone will be there.

My friends are all better:

Somsavath in Laos is home, his son is back in the house again and he is recovering, and trying to get back to work.

My brother-in-law Jim M. has sent his manuscript to an agent in the UK and is hopeful that it will be printed. He has spent many years writing his story and it is a very interesting read, with his many years of service as a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War.

Molly is back from JH - wow a short 3 night stay there - and I have it from good sources that she is getting better every day. Last I heard, she was concerned about moving from the bed to a chair, and now she is sitting in the chair comfortably! There is much more healing to be done, but she is a survivor.

Thank you all again for the prayers of hope, strength and healing. We appreciate everything you have done.

Rick & Adele Stauffer

Last full day with Ruby & Julie

We started the day with a breakfast with Mom, Dad, my brother Jim, his wife Shirley and the 4 of us at Oregon Dairy. The breakfast was good, talk was loud and fun, many conversations flowed around the table. We left for home and a few hours rest, with Adele going to bed to try and sleep. I think the morning was too much for her.

She tried to sleep for a few hours and then came downstairs to join us. Around noon, Pete & Cathy (Eric's mom & dad) and Eric's brother Scott and Amanda (his fiance) all came to visit with Ruby. Again, talk flowed around the room while people were taking pictures. Again, this was very tiring to Adele. We had a great lunch around 1:30, with Pete cooking most of it. Eye of round, sliced thin and covered in gravy, stacked on good Italian rolls with horseradish and cheese. Paula Dean's orange brownies, some tomato pie (like pizza without the cheese), chips and soda.

After they left, Adele went back to bed to rest and was not successful in sleeping, again. Around 7:30 or so, we tried to get Ruby ready for bed, and then the fun started. Ruby cried, and cried, and screamed. We tried gum numbing solution, gas drops, Tylenol drops and much walking around with her and holding her tight. She did not want us to sit down, just walk and keep her moving. Scary feeling, not knowing what was the problem. She tried to take a bottle, just did not want it after a few gulps.

Finally she quieted enough that Julie was successful in getting her to bed. 9 pm, I think, it was all a blur. We stared at TV for awhile, with Julie, then Adele going to bed. Of course, here I am an hour later, blogging.

Julie & Ruby are flying out tomorrow morning. I added more pictures to the picasaweb page.

Peaceful night to all - Rick

Back from JH with good news

We met with Dr Meade around 2:30 today and he greeted us with, "I am so happy for you two!" Talk about a great way to find out the tests results were very good. The CAT Scan was clear and free of cancer. The lymph nodes were the correct size (under 1 cm) with only one slightly enlarged at 1.2 cm. Some were over 3 cm when we started this last September. He did find a blip in the heartbeat and had us get a EKG right away.

We also had a chance to drop into Molly's room on the 4th floor of the same building as our appointment. She was looking great after having a 8 - 9 hour surgery yesterday. She will need some help once at home, and I am sure Larry is working on that. We were there just after Larry and some friends left for lunch. So it was nice to talk with Molly. I had not been sure she would be ready to talk by then. She might come home Sat or Sun this week.

We got home around 5:30 and had a good supper, cooking all day in the crock pot. Bottom round roast, potatoes, onion, mushrooms, beef broth and cream of celery soup. Forgot to add the carrots this morning...

Thanks for everyone's prayers. Adele is declared in remission and is greatly relieved with this news. The Lord has helped us greatly.

We continue to love having Ruby (and Julie of course) here for the week, but that will come to an end on Sunday morning. I have spent every possible moment with Ruby and Julie, stopping work to be with them. We hope to visit GA in June and get in another possible visit later in July or August.

Thank you all for being so supportive. We appreciate it all.

Rick & Adele

Day 71 - Back to JH for Doctor Appointment

Today, Adele & I travel to Baltimore for our 60 day evaluation. The tests were done last week and should be ready to see today. We are both praying for good results from the BMT. We plan on visiting Molly & Larry on the 3rd floor of the Weinberg building, we will be on the 1st floor for the appointment.

Julie & Ruby will be going to Lancaster and a visit with Krisha in her studio, and probably a walk around town. Julie has not seen her for quite awhile, probably since the wedding. She is excited to get to see one of her friends while here in Lancaster County.

I spent the past 2 hours playing with Ruby and walking her around the house - looking into mirrors, at pictures, out the door and watching the cat. She loved it all, until her tummy said "FEED ME" :-). Had to get her diaper changed and then feed her - of course her mommy did that, I just help. The best 2 hours of my day are when I get to be alone with Ruby and just talk with her and enjoy holding her. I am up early, so I let the girls sleep and I take Ruby with me.

I know the tests are done and the results are in, but Pray for good results anyway. Also for safe travel for all of us as we go different ways today.

Thanks - Rick

Ruby's visit 03/30 & 31/2009 - Pics Posted

Hi all - you will find pictures of the last 2 days at my picasa site. Have to get to Lancaster for blood work this morning. Had a great visit with Tom and Kaelyn last night, we laughed many times as Tom did his voices for Ruby.

Later - Rick

Ruby is here!

Julie and Ruby arrived about 1 hour late at Philadelphia Airport - 9:45 or so. We got her bag soon after and went to South Philly to visit Ba-Ba (her paternal great grandma). Had a nice visit and got back home to Adele around noon.

Ruby is a charmer, always smiling and active - just like a happy 6 month baby. She crys when hungry and gulps the bottle and then a whole jar of food down. I thought I ate fast! Anyway, she slept well last night - only woke a time or two and needed her binky again. This morning I got to play with her 1 1/2 hours while everyone else slept. We had great fun, watching TV and rolling on the floor. Then I changed the channels to Contemporary Christian music and she enjoyed that for a while.

Adele is getting tons of Ruby time in so she is feeling great. She does need to rest and watch how much she does, so she does not relapse at all.

See ya later - Rick - I will post pics as I get them off the camera and have time - now off for supplies.

Back from JH already

Adele's appointments were like clockwork and early in every case. We were out of the lab early, so we went upstairs to sit in the CAT scan area until her appointed time. Well, they took her paper work, got her in line and finished early. We got to the bone marrow around 10:30 and they took her almost as we arrived. The doctor came out and said he was running ahead, was that OK??

Adele finished up at 11 AM and we were in the car and out of the garage by 11:20 this morning, after we stopped and talked with Joanne in the Housing and patient center. We stopped at Cracker Barrel again and had lunch, with Isaac's on the menu for tonight (BOGO coupon arrived this morning).

Adele is feeling well and very happy right now, not at all worried about the tests, at leat not showing signs of that.

Thanks to all - Rick

JH Visit is started

We arrived at 8:20 after fighting through mild to heavy Baltimore traffic. I did make the fortuitous decision to use Rte 10 instead of Rte 100, which was packed as far as I could see. Rte 10 was 55 - 65 mph the whole way to 695.

I dropped Adele off at the front door, parked on the 3rd level down in the garage, in one of my 3 most favorite spots. Adele got a chance to go to the bathroom, and then checked in and took a seat. I of course needed to talk with the most gorgeous woman here, she helps people with questions in this area. She remembered me and gave me a hug, we talked about getting rid of the boot and how her daughter also had one, after a cast. Anyway, Adele got called in for the blood work, and I sat down to watch the belongings.

Schedule is blood work first, then radiology (probably CAT Scan) at 9:30, then bone marrow aspiration at 11:00 and that is all we need to do today. Should get home by 2 or so after stopping at Cracker Barrel either in York or Shrewsbury for a dinner.

Adele is contemplative - but seems good this morning. We talked about how these tests are just tests and not to worry about results, those will come April 2nd when we meet with Dr Meade.

Thanks for all the prayers! Rick

Day 64 and off to JH

We both had a good night's sleep last night. Debbie had a dessert for us when we got here, while I was able to get her Verizon FIOS internet working and her Outlook configured for email. I think excited is the best word for her reaction.

We leave soon for JH and the 8:30 appointment, so a quick breakfast and then drive to downtown.

More later - Rick

Day 63 - back to JH tonight

We are going to Deb C's house tonight to have an early start at John Hopkins and Adele's 60 day checkup, by my count about 4 days late. She will have many blood tests, bone marrow samples (from the hip bone) and probably CAT scans done. I offered to have her "cat scanned" here with Bathory, but she opted out of that scan.

She has had a good week so far, except for a possible "false positive" on the blood culture done last week. She had to go back and get it cultured Tuesday. That was the day she planned on getting blood work anyway, so it was no biggie, but mentally draining. She had a good discussion with Pastor Walter yesterday and seems contemplative since, but not depressed (hallelujah).

We will leave around 5 PM and stop at Cracker Barrel in Shrewsbury for dinner before getting to Pasadena MD and Debbie's house. Tomorrow morning we will probably start around 7:30 AM and join the rush hour to get to JH in downtown Baltimore. I will take the laptop and let you know what is going on as the day progresses.

Pray for good test results and a lack of any cancerous cells anywhere in her body. That is what I have been praying for all along, just want these tests to confirm it.

After this tests will be at 6 months and then yearly for five years, once we confirm all is going well.

Thank you all - Rick

Mason's Birthday Party

Yesterday we went to our Grandson's birthday party. Just getting out and thinking about something else was very helpful to Adele, as she did not even think about cancer for a whole afternoon. She is tired today, as we left here before 1 and got home after 6, so we had a full afternoon for her.

Today is a outside work day for me, and I hope to get her out sometime this afternoon in the Vette for a short drive. Hoping a get away from the house will help her again today.

She did improve yesterday and sent the JH doctor some questions about her blood numbers. Dr Meade @ JH sent a reply, which she got when we returned last night, and he said not to worry - it is all within a normal range of recovery. The doctor in Lancaster is just not used to seeing slow recovery, while the doctors in JH do hundreds of these a year and have the experience with them. Again, we need to trust the doctors and let them (and God) worry about what might be later. We still should be living today for what we have today, and not keying in so much on what could possibly go wrong all the time.

Adele will probably be on an up and down cycle for many more months.

Ruby & Julie are coming in 7 days and we are looking forward to having them here. Adele was wondering about holding Ruby - I said "You had better hold your grandchild!" Counts, even though low, are still not at a point that we need to be so cautious as to keep away from everyone.

Thanks to all for the support

Rick

Day 59 - Mason's Party Day

Today is Mason's 5th birthday (family) party. A beautiful day outside, perfect sunny skies and fairly nice in temp - around 55 for today. We should be celebrating and joyful, but after a night of little sleep and worry about the doctor's call last night - Adele is still in bed - almost 9 AM.

The oncologist called last evening before supper and was a bit worried about some of Adele's blood work. Apparently the platelet levels are not coming up as well as he had hoped for. There was also confusion about what he said about the white cell count - she says 2,800, I say impossible without him wanting her in the hospital right away. Probably was 28,000 but without calling him, I will never know.

She is still planning to go to the party, but did say last night she will need to wear her mask. If that is all she needs, OK, but I am worried about her mental state right now. She just wants to go where I personally do not want to go.. I am the positive person in this partnership and want to know that this disease is gone, and these numbers are just a glitch.

Pray for her peace with waiting on the tests next week, and letting God take care of tomorrow.

Leave the phone calls to a bare minimum this weekend, she can call out if she wants. She needs rest, peace and something to take her mind off cancer more than anything else. Hopefully that is what the party today will do for her.

Thank you all - Rick

Day 55

OK, since we pulled the IV on Saturday, Adele has been enjoying showers that do not need a lot of preparation to take. Her arm (torn skin) is getting much better and she is no longer having to cover it every day. Everything is healing well, and she has driven to an appointment yesterday and today - for the first time in a long time.

Today was the bi-weekly blood work, so we will know more tomorrow about that. She also has been walking around the block, and is doing it without any feeling of exhaustion, like last month. She is cleaning up meals, and washing dishes. Light cleaning and laundry also. So - she is feeling great and better every day. Today with the sunny weather, she is really feeling good about how she feels.

We have been blessed so many times, and I am so happy to see her feeling so good.

Thank you all - Rick

Last Infusion done

We celebrated the final IV antibiotic at 9 PM when we took out the final treatment and removed the IV line. I took a stubborn Adele outside and lit the fuse on a 16 shot firework. Had a great time watching the fireworks, went inside and returned to the movie we were watching. Finished the movie around 11:45 and now to bed.

This is the first night in 6 months that Adele can (and probably will) turn on any side she wants to. She can sleep any which way she wants. Finally!

Good night to all - Rick

Day 52 is last day for IV

We started the second to last IV infusion of antibiotic at 7:30 this morning. Tonight at 7:30 is the last treatment, and the IV can then come out. This will be the first time since last September that Adele will have no catheter in her body. The ability to be free of them and take a shower without using "Press 'n Seal" to cover them will be a freeing experience for her. Fireworks are planned for tonight - unless wind or rain keep it from happening. I will also love that I will no longer have to hold 2 or 3 times a day open, to flush the IV or catheter or change dressings.

We are planning on attending small group tomorrow, for the first time in a year or so. Excited to see Adele is willing to get out a bit more, after we talked about it yesterday. We visited the snow geese yesterday, and actually saw some hunters setting up quite a lot of snow geese decoys. I noticed the poles sticking out of the ones that seemed to be landing - and remembered the article about this in the Lancaster newspaper.

Today I am making some brownies and Chicken 'n Rice for Molly. Hopefully I can also get out and do some yard work for the spring. Maybe all I will do is just pick up the old branches that this winter pulled down. Backyard also needs to have old ornamental grass chopped off, tons of debris raked and other plants trimmed. The tulips are already coming up and I guess the snow flowers will be there soon, just to be eaten by the rabbits. Or did I dig all of them up last year?



Small problems last night, but the home nurse called back and said it was OK to have the IV looking like it does. The IV seems to be out 3/8ths of an inch, but is feeding into the vein OK, so everything is good to go. Adele's arm is also healing nicely, with the washing and triple antibiotic being used once a day. Only one spot looks like it stuck last night, and that should heal OK in the next few days.

So - things are looking good and we are both able to do more with Adele getting stronger every day. We do need to keep our eyes and faith looking up to Jesus and His healing touch. He has helped us many times in the past year and a half, during this entire journey. Thanks to Him and all our friends for everything.

Our friend Somsavath had to go back to the hospital last week, but I think he is home again. Pray for his healing.

Thank you all - Rick

Friday morning and good so far

OK, Day 51 is here without any big events in the past few days. We had (2) VNA nurses here on Wednesday to change the IV to the right arm and take blood. The IV they put in has an extension and is much easier to use than the LGH one. And - the blood tests were checking out levels, specifically hemoglobin (Tuesday it was 8.6, and should be 12) and platelet levels. We are guessing they both were OK, as the doctor did not call and have us go to the hospital for a transfusion to get the hemoglobin level up.

So daily tasks are down to infuse Adele's antibiotic twice a day, flush with saline and heparin before and after, and secure the IV. Sometime around 2 - 3 PM we also flush with saline again. Every morning (and evening before yesterday) we also wash and soap down Adele's arm where the skin is torn, and treat it with triple antibiotic gel and cover it with gauze. Of course, I am still in charge of cooking, cleanup and all laundry. Gotta vacuum sometime also.

Other than that we are doing well and have very few problems right now.

Pray for Molly's quick healing and future surgery.

Thanks to all - Rick

Day 48 and it is getting better

After last Sunday at the emergency room and all the bleeding, it seems like nothing is happening. All we need to do every day is an 8 AM & 8 PM antibiotic IV - started with a flush of the line, and ending with 3 separate flushes of the line. Then everyday around 1:30 PM or so, we also need to flush the IV line with saline again. Of course there is the removal and repositioning of the stretch wrap over Adele's hand every time we flush... Also we clean and dress, twice a day, Adele's torn skin on her right arm. Clean with a warm towel, then with soap, then clean again, then triple antibiotic gel and finally dress it with gauze.

Gee nothing is going on during a normal day, only takes a few hours to do all that anyway.

Today the doctor allowed us to have Bathory back from Bob & Bobbie. She (the cat) has been gone from our house since Dec 15th or before, and Adele is seeing her for the first time since. Bathory is on her throw at the end of the sofa and watching news with us right now.

Tomorrow, the visiting nurses will be here to change the IV from her left hand to the right, and allow us to finish the antibiotic IVs - going through Saturday. Sunday they are scheduled to come and remove the IV as that is all it is needed for. Finally, nothing sticking in Adele, first time since about last September, guess I should look that up. Adele will love taking a shower without having to waterproof some object sticking in her body. As I will love not having to get that all prepared and flushed.

So - if all goes as it should - these postings will become fewer and fewer until some appointment or test results are in. Days should start being much more normal than they have been for 6 months or so. Our next test at John Hopkins are on March 26th with a follow up with the lead doctor, Dr Meade, on April 2nd. He will go over all the scans and let us know what the first major tests show.

Oh - our grandaughter (and daughter) are coming in from Georgia to visit from March 29th through the 4th or so. That will be a great time for us also, as Adele has not seen Ruby since she was born last September and misses being able to hold her. Adele will also be able to visit our Harrisburg grandkids, whenever they get a chance to be free for a visit. Oh - Kaelyn did cartwheels for Cancer for 10 minutes last Saturday, and she was so excited to let us know that she did 148 cartwheels in that 10 minutes. Shannon said she was still standing even after all those cartwheels. We had nurses here during the time we would have had to leave, so we were unable to get there.

Thanks again to all who have helped. My broken foot is healing and as spring is coming, just in time. Hopefully I will be able to do some yard work this weekend.

Again - thank you all
Rick & Adele Stauffer

Day 46 - What a wonderful Day - Spring is here

We woke early (at least I did) and had a lazy morning reading the paper, giving Adele her antibiotic and enjoying the fact everything looked OK. Mom & Dad stopped by after church service and we called Isaac's for our lunch. After a great lunch and conversation, they left and Adele laid down on the sofa to read and keep her arm stable.

After so many dressing changes this past week, her right arm is missing patches of outer epidermis and is very sore to the touch. Again everything looked OK, so I went upstairs to compute and have a relaxing afternoon.

Then at 1:30 Adele called me in a weak voice, and when I went downstairs, she was holding a towel against a bloody and dripping (blood) arm. Just laying down apparently started the blood flowing again. We called the nurse again, and after 2 return calls they said they would be there soon. She got here around 2:30 and after spending 20 minutes taking the old dressing off, and trying not to get blood everywhere, spent 15 minutes trying to stop the flow.

OK, now the home nurse said to call the doctor. Which one? The Infectious Disease one or the Oncologist? Figured the ID doctor ordered the PICC line and that was the one bleeding, so called them. The on-call doctor called back, and agreed we should go to the emergency room, but asked us to call the Oncologist and have them as the admitting physician. OK - got through the second time, as we were getting to Lancaster, and he OK'd the emergency room approach.

Got to the emergency room at 4:30 and just got home at 7:45. Short version is the PICC line is removed and a regular IV line is being used. The IV nurse had to hold pressure on the wound after removing the PICC line, for over 10 minutes. She then cleaned up Adele and added a pressure dressing over the IV dressing. Also advised cold compress for the next 24 hours.

So - Adele has a problem with any of these catheters that have been used in her the past 7 months. We should know by now - problems will occur. We are both exhausted, weary and just waiting to get to bed. IV is running now for the night's edition of antibiotic and then we flush the line and can do something else - like sleep.

Praise to our Father for allowing us to have such wonderful care while Adele is going through this. I did pray for patience last year, and I am guessing He is teaching me that right now.

Thanks to everyone - Rick

Day 45 over

On Friday Adele had her dressing on the PICC line changed twice. We had the nurse here at 8:15PM to do the evening change. She put gauze under the dressing in hopes to stem the blood flow that keeps happening. The same nurse stopped Saturday morning around 8:30 AM and checked it, changing it to have no gauze under the dressing. Well, Saturday afternoon when Adele took off her sweater, the sleeve of her shirt was bloody and the nurse again had to come this afternoon and change to gauze under the dressing. If it looks OK tomorrow morning, we will be OK until the normal appointment around 8:30 AM, when they need to draw blood and check many other items.

So a few long days and Adele has done well during them. She is looking a bit better every day and we also took a walk this morning in the 70 degree weather. Tonight we loose an hour of sleep, so now is the time to get to sleep.

Good night to all - Rick

Day 44 - Emotions are all over the place

OK, I admit it, I want to be joyful, happy and celebrate the "Last Rituxan Treatment" today. Barb F just picked Adele up to go to the Cancer Center at LGH for her last treatment. BUT, she noticed a bit of blood on her arm where the PICC line dressing is. Not surprising to me, and it probably happened during this mornings IV treatment. Somehow the line got tugged and started the bleeding again. I got it stopped, and used gauze to dress the area where the blood was seeping out oif the dressing.

My reaction was as normal, "Let's fix this then call the VNA." Adele on the other hand is all emotions and rightly so, she seemed OK, but then tears about how this will stop her Rituxan and she will need to reschedule everything. This before she had even called the VNA.

OK - she called them, they returned the call and setup a date with her at the Cancer Center to redo the dressing while she is there this morning. Should be OK now, but I found her mumbling about how heavy the bags were (some books and blanket, and in her purse about a 1/2 lb of change). Of course we needed to get in another cry about this. I know she is ok with the crying, just her way to release feelings.

BUT, I keep trying to Rejoice in the last treatment idea. I want to take her out this weekend, but I am now more and more sure she will not want to set foot outside of this house for a few more days. We do hope to see Kaelyn turning some somersaults at Harrisburg - 10:30 AM on Sat.

Gotta go - customers are getting demanding. More later - hopefully with a brighter tone.

Thanks all - Also wanted to say, Somsavath arrived back home in Vientiane today

Day 43 - Emotions overflow

Today we had the VNA (Visiting Nurse Assoc) here and she taught me how to care for the PICC line they have for the antibiotics. Was easy to understand as I had cared for Adele's hickman and pheresis IV lines before this. The nurse showed us how with an extension, I could start the IV and Adele could disconnect it and flush it after if it was necessary. We plan on 7AM & 7PM for the IV, so I should be here at all of the times needed to start and finish the IV. Oh, didn't mention it is an hour long process for the IV to complete the infusion.

The VNA will be back Monday to get blood for the doctor and change the dressing.

Once the nurse left, and Adele was able to think about breakfast, she broke down and cried for awhile. I had a bowl of oatmeal with her, to stay with her and talk if she wanted to. She is just wanting so much to be "normal" again. I thought a trip Saturday outside the house would be good. We will see what she wants to do, and then try to do that.

Pray - as always - for strength.

Somsavath is going home Friday! I am sure that pleases him and Thip. Continue to pray for his healing and strength.

Thanks for everything - Rick

Day 42 - Adele is HOME again

WE got home around 6 - had some homemade potato soup (Thanks Elaine) and I finished up the small amount of dish washing. Now we can read, TV, talk - whatever - without having to get into the car to get to each other. What a freeing experience this is.

Adele will be getting IVs twice a day for 10 more days - make sure we kill that infection. Home nursing is coming tomorrow 8:30 - 9 AM and planning on teaching me (the klutz) how to do this myself. Should be a cake walk.

Now to the relaxing! - Oh a new pic of Ruby and her mommy Julie just arrived..

Thanks all - Rick

Day is done - 41 is over

Adele had a good day, with all the visitors and good news. Her blood work was negative for infection, and they tested her again today to look again tomorrow morning. Dr Balepur told her to go home Wednesday, and if she really liked staying there when she said something about waiting for the blood test results. He is positive it will be OK, and has ordered a PIC line done tomorrow, just after the results are back.

So I will be at LGH from 10 AM or so, until I can bring my girl back home again. New sheets arrived today, but with a new PIC line in, we decided against using them right away. After 20 or so years, I decided new sheets to go with the paint in the room would be nice. Good deals online, so 2 sets are here and waiting.

I just got back and will make supper and watch some TV tonight, but then to bed and up early to get prepared for Adele coming home. Wash to do, things to clean and such.

Thanks for all the prayers. - Rick & Adele

Day 40 - Still at LGH

Adele is getting tired of being in a hospital and I agree.

The doctors have decided on what antibiotic to use, and it happens to be the same one they have been using all along. They continue to take blood for cultures, to see if the staph infection is gone. They plan on insetting a PIC line, which would allow her to be at home and have home nursing come to do the IV of antibiotic. I think it will be 10 days of IV 2 times a day, at least that is how they are doing it now. The PIC line will not be inserted until all the staph infection is gone, so she remains at LGH until it is out of her.

Her platelets have come up, but then again she got a bag of platelets on Sunday morning before the surgeon removed her hickman port. White counts are dropping, but again her body is fighting the infection.

Tom & Shannon are visiting tonight, I am not sure if I will even get a chance to see her tomorrow, so much to fix in Lebanon.

She canceled the blood work appointment tomorrow, and the Wednesday scheduled rituxan will be put off until Friday or later. So - everything is in a state of ever changing flux and we thought that we were at a point of getting into a routine. Hard to be jerked out of that hope of normalcy, just to be pulled back into the "What are they going to do to her today" mode.

She and I are both taking this much harder than we should, but I do believe that she will be home for the weekend.

Pray for peace and strength for us both.

Thanks, a mentally exhausted - Rick

One more day at LGH

I am not sure how many days Adele will need to be at the hospital, but it should not be too many. Our oncologist said he would see her on Monday, so we think she should be there at least that long. Someone there said she could have antibiotics intravenously and be at home, with home nurse assistance. They started her on antibiotics last night. Using the strongest dosage, two hours of IV and having it twice a day.

Today is a day of action. They will find out what type of staph it is, and use a more targeted dosage of antibiotics (the cultures take 24 hours). She will get platelets this morning, since her platelet count dropped this week again. It was 19K on Friday the 20th, then she got a bag and it climbed to 32K on the 24th. Then Friday this week the 27th the count was 20K. She needs to get that count to 50K or so.

Once the platelets are given, the doctor will come in and remove her hickman catheter at bedside. The doctor at John Hopkins removed her pheresis catheter in about 5 minutes, so this is no big deal.

Once all that is done she should have a day of just being checked on once in a while. Besides the antibiotic, she is not getting any other treatments until Wednesday. Rituxan is scheduled for then, and is to be her last treatment of that.

Bob, Bobbie and Debbie C all plan on seeing her this afternoon.

Until later - Thanks for all the prayers.

A side Note:
Somsavath in Laos is much better and he and his wife Thip, have moved to a hospital apartment, and out of the hospital. Besides some treatments yet to do and checkups, he is on his way home sometime this week. His brush with cancer is turning out OK. I know you all have helped there - Thank You again for all the Prayers.

Rick & Adele

Day 38 - Back to LGH for a few days

OK,

After Wed night's episode, we were at the Cancer center Thursday @ 11:15 with a doctor from the oncology group. She added some blood work to the Friday testing and checked out some other items. Friday's cultures (the extra work) were to take 24 hours, and this morning, Saturday, the doctor called and asked Adele to check in to LGH for an immediate round of antibiotics.

We got to the hospital around 10:30 and as of 3:30 she has yet to get any antibiotics, but she is being looked over by many competent nurses and doctors. The oncology doc says that the catheter is probably the cause of the infection. She also said that they still were looking into what type of (Staph) infection it is, and this will be determined Sunday after more cultures are grown. Then an Infectious Disease doctor will determine what antibiotic will be used. Until then they will give her a standard IV version.

She finally got some lunch and an IV nurse put an IV in her arm. We also found out that she will be moving back to 8 Lime instead of 4 Lime where she is right now. So she will move up 4 floors sometime tonight.

I will be visiting Tom, Shannon, Kaelyn & Mason tomorrow noon time, taking some broasted chicken with me for lunch. Then I will get back to Adele tomorrow later in the afternoon. I believe Bob, Bobbie and Debbie will visit her in the afternoon, and she will be happy to see them.

She is feeling good right now, no fever or aches or pains. A bit wiped out, but is that because of the stem cell transplant or the infection? The doctors do not seem worried about her condition and say this happens with catheters a lot.

Thanks again for all the prayers - Rick

Day 36 Post Transplant

What a night!

Our Wednesday evening started with Adele not feeling very good at supper, after sleeping since she got home from the rituxan treatment. The benadryl they give before the treatment wipes her out for the day. After I made and cleaned up supper (she was in no shape to do either) we watched "KungFu Panda" by Dreamworks. Good movie, light and very funny at times. I noticed she was more and more uncomfortable while watching and made no effort to enjoy the movie. Something was bothering her, and she could not let it go.

Finally she disappeared for 10 minutes and after coming back downstairs, announced that she had a fever of 99.4F. She also felt chilly all night, even though I keep the house at 73F for her, and she was covered in wool blankets. She decided to take her temp every 15 minutes or so, and watched as the temp went up and up. After calling the on-call oncology doctor, she was told to take her temp every 3 hours and if it stayed at or above 100.4 for any 3 hour period, get to the LGH emergency room. A fitful night, as she decided to take her temp every hour or less, and finally called the doctor again around midnight, with a temp of 100.3F. He again asked her to only take her temp every 3 hours, not as often as she was doing, and we finally got an hour or so of sleep. At least I did.

Around 5:30 she took her temp and it showed 101F, so she called the doctor again, and he said to wait until the office opened and come in to see the doctor. Since I was already up - and dressed to go to the emergency room, I stayed up - kinda - and laid out on the recliner in the den, while listening to news (you did not expect me to watch - did you). At 8:30 she called the doctor's office, and finally got a call back for her to come in at 11:15 this morning.

So she is back in bed, and of course I need to work. I do hope and pray that she stops the worry cycle that she is in, and enjoys what she has been given.

We need prayers again for strength and allowing us to keep our minds on Jesus through out this time.

Thanks - Rick

Day 33 - Monday morning

Weekend over and day is started. Adele is in the shower, so this is a good time to blog. Saturday she received a bag of platelets again, at LGH. Once again she had to stop the nurse from sticking her to get a sample of blood, and request a nurse that could take the sample from the hickman port. That took a 1/2 hour longer to get someone there to do that, but it is worth the wait. We were able to get home by about 1:30 Sat afternoon.

Adele just lays down when getting the platelets, but the stress factor wears her out. She knows she needs them, just hates having to get them because she is tired of waiting for her body to be making its own platelets. She took a 2 hour nap after we got home from Lancaster. Last night she said she was tired of the "prison" she was in. Not being able to visit grandchildren since last early fall, being so careful about what we did, etc.

We did video chat with Eric and Julie (and Ruby of course). That is, after I found out why we were unable to get any sound in either direction with the video. Long story - short = my wireless internet router has firmware from 5/2005 and when updated to the 10/2007 version, everything worked. Didn't think the router was that old, still works anyway.

After the video chat we watched "Fireproof" - a movie anyone who is married should watch. Our church has 2 or more copies, so we borrowed one for the weekend. Somehow I wish I had seen it about 35 years ago and not had to learn in such a hard way what Love really is. No matter, I do cherish all the memories Adele and I and our children share together.

OK, time to work sometime, today is PA Breast Cancer Coalition right after dropping the video back to the church. It is about time I enjoy working with all the wonderful girls at that office again. They have been more than supportive - and I plan on keeping up my promoting of their services to anyone I meet in PA that has breast cancer.

Thanks go out to all, and prayers are always welcomed.

Left to right - Somsavath in bed, Thip his wife, and Khun Tuk from the hospital
Somsavath, in Laos, is getting better and that is good - thanks for all the prayers there, he still needs them along with some financial support for hospital bills.

Rick

Day 31 - The weekend

Dr Balepur called this morning, just after we got out of bed at 8:30. Yes - we were bad to the bone and slept in. Now I am glad we did that, as we are on our way to LGH for more platelets. Breakfast at LGH today.

Thanks for prayers - Rick

Day 27 is Over at last

We went to Dr Balepur this AM and found that he indeed wants to transfuse platelets into Adele. From the Cancer Center to the LG Hospital, over the bridge to the new section and the lab test for platelets. Then back to the oncology out patient section for the platelets. It took almost 2 hours for the platelets to arrive and then another 1 1/2 hours to transfuse them. We left the house this morning at 9:30 and got back at 3:30 this afternoon.

Now Dr Balepur said we could not get Bathry back until platelet counts were 50K or above, and for Adele to refrain from needle work for the same period. What did they do to get the test for platelets done?, but stick a needle into her arm, the person with low platelets and has a problem clotting! Duh - I guess I really need to be by her side 100% of the time.

Adele also set up appointments for blood draws every Tues and Fri through March 6th. That way Dr Balepur can watch the platelet counts closely.

Adele also will have Rituxan every Wed morning. So every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday morning for the next (almost) 3 weeks, we will be going to Lancaster to either the Health Campus or the LG Hospital for platelets.

Drivers needed for Tues & Fri, only takes a small amount of time - please. With appointments, she can get there and back in 1 1/2 hours. Wednesdays are a need to drop her off sometimes, and pickup about 4 hours later, as she tends to read and sleep during this treatment.

Again - Thanks for all the help - Rick

Pray for Somsavath - It looks like he will have another 2 - 3 weeks in the hospital. He is doing much better, keep praying for him and Thip.

Day 27 - Doctor visits today

Monday afternoon the doctor (Lancaster oncologist) called to say Adele's platelet counts are very low. He mentioned that if she is bleeding, or even a bad bruise, we should either get to the on-call doctor at the Cancer Center or right to the emergency room. She would not be able to stop bleeding with that low platelet count. He did say she will need a transfusion of platelets soon. When we were in JH, either as in or out patient, that would be an easy thing to do - they would just get the transfusion into her without any problem. Now in Lancaster it means a trip to the hospital probably - and about 3 to 5 hours time taken.

At 10 AM today we have an appointment with the oncologist, so he said he would go over everything during that time. She also needs a rituxan treatment this week (2nd of 4 weekly treatments) and that is normally at the Cancer Center and takes about 4 hours. Just because we are home - does not mean that we are finished with all the work and treatments.

Meals are coming every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and we are thankful for them. I need to email the team and give them the "What not to do or bring" list. It is long - but as I have said before - it is a necessary part of Adele's getting better. In fact, where we normally can laugh off a brief contact with someone with a cold, she is very susceptible to bad infections from such germs.

That infection could be a very bad thing for her to get, as her body's defences are just starting to get better. Sometime in 2010, her immune system should be almost normal and she will start getting all the immunization shots (yes, the childhood shots) all over again. Until then, she has to stay away from anyone that has had a "Live Virus" shot within 1 month, and anyone that has been sick in the last week or so. We are living with Purell, Lysol and Clorox wipes, paper towels to dry hands (cloth towels hold the germs), masks when she goes outside, masks for visitors and many more ways to stop germs from getting to her. I am sanitizing the kitchen every night, bathroom counters also every night, toilet bowls every day, etc. And of course, keeping my business running.

Pray for Somsavath, who got out of ICU Monday at 5 PM or so - Of course that is 5 AM Monday for us here in the Eastern time zone. Bills are mounting - 400,000 baht so far, more to come.

Pray for a "shield against germs" for Adele

Thanks to all who read this - Rick

Day 25 at Home

Since last post we have been enjoying being home again and getting a bit organized again. With 3 places we stayed at in the past month - me at Debbie's, Adele in the hospital and us both at the JH apartments - there is duplication on many items. ie. (3) bundles of paper towels, (2) bundles of toilet paper, more plastic bags than you can shake a stick at, etc.

Although it has been great being home, Adele is still over cautious when thinking and worrying about germs getting to her. She took a drink from a plastic cup I was using on Friday, and then again on Saturday she drank from a bottle of water I might have opened for me. Of course she thinks she might get seriously ill from doing this, so the tears flowed during both times. I made mention that she should mark (with a sharpie) any bottle or cup she was using, and always make sure that she had the marked container. She thought it would be better to make sure she always leaves her drink at a special place? She is marking all her cups now.

Bathry (Bathory is my spelling) went to the vet for shots Friday, and we deferred from the partial live virus shot, so she might come home sooner. Dr Balepur (our oncologist) will make the decision if it is safe for her to come back home. Of course this all assumes that Bathry wants to come home. She has been pampered by Bob & Bobbie for the past 2 months and has gained a full pound of weight. Almost 10 years old and 9.4 pounds of fury!

Every day is a great day here and we are so happy to be back. A drive today in the Vette might settle aches to see other people and things for Adele. Her sister visited yesterday and we had a great time with her. Monday is blood work in Lancaster followed up by Tues and Wed appointments at the Lancaster Cancer Center for Doctor and treatment visits.

Pray for strength in Adele.

Our friend Somsavath is also making progress and getting better. He is still in ICU in Aek Udon Hospital. I heard he finally got on the phone to Jim and sounded much better. Pray for his continued recovery - he has a long road ahead of him. Pray also for Thip and Dido, his wife and son.

Thanks to all - Rick

Day 22 - Night has fallen

Adele gets so tired. She is a trooper and tries to stay awake and do things like wash and such. But she gets so tired and needs to rest, walk and recover first. She was in bed before 9PM and I had a chance to catch up on some CSI shows that were recorded in the last month.

Now time for me to hit the sack, and such a great feeling just to be home again.

Good Night to All - Rick

Pray that Mollie had a good trip to JH today.

All of the IPOP patients are in my thoughts every night - so much suffering and pain and such cheer when small mileposts are achieved. It was wonderful and uplifting to see so many positive patients in such a downer place. Smiles lit up the room many times on achieving that small gain - no more mouth or anal sores for instance. The nurses, Nurse Practitioners and doctors were all the best and always smiling and caring. They could not have been more positive and cheerful - bless them all.

Day 22 - Home again, home again, jiggety-jog

We arrived back in Ephrata by 11 AM today and stopped at Arby's for Adele's first pickup meal (took it home) - since ?? November ??. She enjoyed the entire ride back and got a bit teary as we hit Hahnstown Rd - so close to home. I unpacked the car, went to pick up mail and restart it again, then to WalMart for supplies.

Back home we did a bit of unpacking, while we opened the multitude of cards received since last week. Thank you all, every one was shared and commented on. Such great and wonderful friends we have!

Now off for a rest - I started the day at 6 AM and am getting a mite tired. Reading will surely turn to nap time.

Thank you all - God has been great

Rick & Adele

Day 21 - And Finished

Adele and I went to IPOP this morning for our 9:30 AM appointment. Adele just got back a few minutes ago - as she had to get her first Rituxan treatment today - and that adds about 4 hours to the time she needs to be there.

She is still weak, and the wind almost blew us away while crossing Orleans Ave. This afternoon is relax for her, I pickup her last prescription around 4:30 or so. Then back to Taco Night at the apartments and a time of talk with others here in the apartment. Later I will heat up some shepard's pie for Adele along with whatever else she wants.

We will pack and start home tomorrow morning.

See everyone then - Rick

Day 20

We are both ready to come home - and it is showing on our nerves. Last night we got to each other a bit too much and I read til midnight. She could go on and on (as I could) about everything that I am doing wrong - but it is just short timer syndrome...

Everything is taking forever (not really) and seems that it will never end. Just knowing we leave in 2 days is making it seem longer. Oh well - when we are at home, at least there will be 2 levels to get away from each other...

She is doing well this morning, and is ready for her last appt at IPOP tomorrow. We Praise God daily for His help in everything.

Thanks to all - Rick

I am downstairs in the library where it is much cooler than the room.

Day 19 - afternoon

We took a walk to the IPOP Clinic this morning and had a good visit. Blood numbers continue to be good, while our discharge on Wed seems set in stone. The Hickman port will stay, the nurses thought JH had put it in, and they will not take it out if they did not install it. That will be for our doctor in Lancaster to do.

Wed morning is the final appt, Rituxan treatment will be then. This will be the first of 4 treatments, done each week for the next 4, and that should be the final need for the hickman port. So by Mar 15th or so, that should be able to be pulled also.

Feb 17th is our appt with Dr Balepur and possibly the second treatment. This week we should be back on Thursday noon and back in our own house. Whoooo - Hoooo!!

Everyday in IPOP we meet mostly the same people day after day. Many of these people are doing much worse and need prayers. I know God is big enough to know who I am talking about, just pray for their health. I appreciate it. Pray for Molly as she comes to JH for an appt on Thursday - we would not go anywhere else for specialized cancer treatment after this.

Thank You Lord for all Your help and strength!
We love you all!
Rick & Adele

Day 18 - After Supper

We had a wonderful day today. Visited by Jim, Shirley, Mom & Dad. Everyone made the trip to see Adele and we had such a great time while they were here. We will be glad to be back in our own home and so close to friends.

Adele is getting more energy every day. We walked around the apartment circle (outside - it was about 67 degrees) 3 times - tomorrow she said we could try for 5 or 6 times. Of course tomorrow, we also have to get to the IPOP and back before we try any other walking.

Thanks to Debbie C for tonight's Hot Chicken Salad, adding some almonds and cheese would make it a Paula Deen recipe that I had cooked before. Very tasty and filling - Loved It!

I finished a small puzzle today - getting bored and working puzzles downstairs, since Adele really does not need 24 hour watching anymore. Although she does need to be reminded about some limits, she is doing great and not trying to do too much all at once.

Thanks for all - Rick - Goodnight

Sunday Day 18 - visitors coming

Debbie C visited yesterday and brought gifts of food. We really enjoyed her visit, and she noticed before I did how tired Adele was getting, so she excused herself and left. I guess I need to be more observant. When we are alone - Adele just slips into the bed and naps, but while visitors are here I need to watch for tiredness even more.

Mom, Dad, Jim & Shirley are stopping by around 1 today. They have wanted to visit Adele since we have been here, and now is a good time. The guys might stay downstairs while the girls talk in the apartment. The wide screen downstairs will keep us occupied.

Adele woke at 6 - went back to bed once I got up and slept for 2 more hours. She feels great right now. Soon breakfast for her and a shower for me. Then reading and waiting for the visitors.

More later - Rick

Day 17 - After IPOP

OK - BIG step here...

Adele rode the wheelchair to the Weinberg Building (we had to get it back somehow) and WALKED back after her IPOP appointment. We needed to slow down on the uphill slope, but she was OK the entire way back. Not out of breath, breathing hard or anything else - even talking with me as we walked! She did not talk while we did the uphill slope - but she made it the whole way!

Her blood work numbers continue to generally improve. One of the liver numbers was up slightly while the other 2 liver numbers were down 10%. The WBC is back to normal at 9860, the Packed Cell Volume (RBC?) is 32.4 (range of 36.0-46.0) and the platelet count is 50K (range of 150K-350K). Her platelet level has always been low, even when she was well without cancer. There are no BLACK marks on the blood work, just some gray (cautionary) numbers, and less of them as we continue on this journey.

Now that I see her notes about appointments, I see we have an IPOP appt on Wed AM, so we will not be driving home until Thursday morning. There is a Thurs AM appt, but again it is for the catheter removal, which has already been done. Back to Ephrata on Thursday morning, home probably by noon and Bathory should be back with us by the weekend.

Visits will need to be scheduled, as Adele energy level goes down quickly - we will not want more than one visit in any 2 day period for the first week or so. She is probably going to require everyone to wear a mask when they come into the house. She is very nervous about infection and rightly so. Hopefully that will abate somewhat in a month or so. Anyone planning a visit will need to call a few days ahead of time to see if there is an opening in the schedule for the visit.

PTL - We are almost Done!

Thank You all for helping in whatever way you have - Rick & Adele