Tuesday, Feb 11
Day +53 Chemo
Day +14 Home

As many of you saw, Jen had an appointment today at the clinic . And the news ….that she is in REMISSION! Because the chemos she has received thus far are so strong, reaching remission with MEC (the chemo she just received) was important. Her body can’t handle much more.
Now it is important to move quickly so that the cancer doesn’t have much time to come back. The registry was looked over and there is a quality 12/12 match . There was several 9/10 matches also but explained the components needed for this to work… there are only a couple options.

The first is the 12/12 on the registry. That is where they will start with health test and if the person is available asap. If they do not get past the health test or if not available very soon, they go to the next option which is a sibling.

Jess and Matt are Haplo matches…which means they only have 1/2 the same genetics. A sibling can be 1/4 to a full match. Fortunately they have the part Jen is needing the 9/10 matches don’t have. Matt is where they plan to look if the 12/12 match falls through. This is because young men have the strongest bone marrow.

The strange genetics that was messed up in her, was corrected with the chemo. …which was necessary to move forward. If her heart function is strong enough, she will get a strong chemo the week prior to transplant. If her heart function has deteriorated, then a less strong chemo will be given.

Jen also needs to have her wisdom teeth extracted as one has a crack in it (probably caused by chemo) so there is not a source of infection once the process is started. We are looking to have this done in the next 5-10 days …as it needs to heal also.

So we will make another trip to Columbus on Thursday to check her heart functions. And then in the next couple weeks, her work up for transplant.

Also, because she has such rare things happening with her AML (like the tumor on her voice box and still being donor cell) I have asked about a second opinion from MD ANDERSON in Houston. Her doctor at the James is looking to see if possible to teleconference with them…so that we don’t need to actually take Jen to Houston at this time. I believe unless necessary, the trip would be hard on her and expose her to a lot of extra germs and viruses. However, if they have options the James doesn’t have, then we would seek traveling to Houston. MD Anderson is the very best in fighting AML.

Also we want to thank you! Your prayers have been heard and my sweet girl is in remission!!!! Praise God! Thank you Jesus!

Day +48 Chemo
Day +9 Home

Jennifer had an appointment on Tuesday in Columbus at the clinic. Her numbers have done well in recovering since she left the hospital. As I posted earlier, she ended up having another biospy because her counts were too low to get quality data. But the results they did get were promising. We are hoping to have the results of Tuesday’s biopsy tomorrow.

Today, we established care with an oncologist/hematologist in Lima so after her transplant and we are home again (probably into May/June) we have someone to provide count checks and transfusions. Otherwise, we would need to have 2-4 trips to Columbus well into the summer. Also, if Jen has an ER visits for up to a year following her transplant, it is a doctor to relay back to her doctors in Columbus information to make decisions that are best for her. We have done this all before, so we are very familiar with the routine.

The last couple days Jen has made great leaps in getting stronger. She had been able to eat more and is getting stronger. She has been able to pull herself up to a standing position when seated without help and even went down a step going to the garage without needing someone to hold on to. She has been awake more and has done 100+ more steps than yesterday. (Nearing almost 500 today).

We have a very quiet few days coming up but two separate trips to Columbus next week. On Tuesday, she has a clinic appointment and on Thursday, a visit to a heart specialist. The chemo received is very hard on the body and it’s important to know her heart function before moving forward.

Yesterday, I went with Jen’s sister, Jessica to see Sesame Street Live in Fort Wayne. We had bought tickets to take Andrew in November and since Randy was home, I decided to go. It was the first time, in a long time, I allowed myself to think of something besides Jen and the leukemia. I enjoyed watching Andrew get excited about all the Sesame Street characters, especially Elmo.

As noted before, we are looking for businesses and individuals who would like to donate items for the quarter auction in April. If you would like to donate an item, please contact Jessica Crawford or Matt Honigford. We also have wrist bands available for purchase for $5 each. Details on a gun raffle to come in the next couple weeks.

Monday, Feb 3
Day +45 Chemo
Day +6 Home

We are six days into adjusting to home life. It is a bit of a challenge at times, but we are finding our limitations and our strengths. Jennifer continues to be very weak and her appetite not great. As we are monitoring her weight loss, each day we continue to see a sharp decline. I don’t recall how long it took before she started eating again after her induction chemo three years ago, but it seems like this has gone on forever. It is one thing, among many, that I plan to address tomorrow at her appointment.We will head out to Columbus around 7:30 tomorrow. I’m a bit nervous as she is so exhausted most of the time, it is going to definitely be a challenge to get her up and going that early. Hopefully, with some anxiety meds before we leave, she will be able to relax most of the drive. She will definitely be wanting a nap by the time the day is over.We will definitely need some prayers as tomorrow we learn the results of her biopsy. The goal is the chemo has completely taken care of the cancer, her liver numbers are improved, and as soon as she is strong enough, to move to transplant. Currently, I think she will need 2-3 weeks, at least, before she is ready (if she is cancer free). I would hate for her to go into the transplant in the current condition she is in. Jen’s sister Jessica and nephew Andrew came over for a visit. I went with Jessica to the park with Andrew. I think I had as much fun as he did. I kept thinking, how much Jennifer would enjoy watching him play…and all I hope for in the coming months, is she is able to do just that. He was so excited to go up and down the slide by himself. Jen would just love love love watching him.
We have set up a meal train (currently have only a few days marked as we aren’t sure what the plan is after tomorrow’s doctor appointment). Also we have bracelets available for purchase. Please contract Jessica Crawford for more information on them.

Saturday, Feb 1
Day +43 Chemo
Day +4 Home

I didn’t get an update yesterday as it was a long day to and from Columbus. And by the time we got back…Jen and I were ready to just relax with a movie. While spending a birthday in a car for four hours and having a bone marrow biopsy isn’t an ideal way to spend a birthday, it was better than having to stay at the hospital

They ended up pulling Jen’s PICC line yesterday as they determined it had shifted more. This meant she had to be poked for a blood draw and again for an IV line prior to her biopsy. For the most part, she handles the needles like a champion. She is just tired of being poked so much.

Jen’s counts have improved. Her white count was just under normal, her ANC was in normal ranges, her hemoglobin was up to 9.0 and platelets in the 60s. This meant she didn’t need a transfusion yesterday. The improved platelets have helped with all the mucus in her throat, thus vomiting has not been an issue and hemoglobin is helping her not feel as tired when she is up walking.

Jen’s liver numbers had a slight increase but nothing too drastic. I’m anxious about those numbers improving as her transplant depends on it being in normal ranges as well as being in remission.

We will get the results of her biopsy on Tuesday, so that is lingering in our minds. It already feels like such a long wait.

One thing Jen got for her birthday is this projector that you can stream from your phone to. We are going to get good use out of it in the hospital in the months ahead.

Thursday, January 30
Day +41 Chemo
Day +2 Home

Happy birthday Jennifer’s aunt Kathy Honigford

Thank you Kathleen Schimmoeller for helping with the hair cut for Dexter.

And Shane Hill for stopping by to drop off cards

Also Linda Kaverman for the gift last evening.
I will be making a long post of thank you(s) when I sit down for a sec in the coming days.

We had a little Christmas (addendum) party and celebrated Jennifer’s birthday this evening. Andrew walks in the door and the first thing he says was, “Aunt Denny!” and runs right to her.

We thought we had an emergency last night as Jennifer started popping up a fever
. But by the time I got the car packed up, it was declining. It’s like that white count knows what to do. We checked it every 1-2 hours overnight…which made for a long day today. But after she got a five hour nap this afternoon….she was ready to celebrate with her favorite little guy.

Jen has her (birthday) bone marrow biopsy tomorrow in Columbus. …so she will be beyond exhausted tomorrow. I am considering if she is too exhausted to come home, I will get a hotel stay for a night and come back Saturday.

Tuesday, January 28
Day +39 Chemo
Day +44 Hospital Stay

After 44 days in the hospital and 39 days since chemo started, she is home.

Yes, we still count the days!

Today, over eighteen months since she was diagnosed and 422 days since her bone marrow transplant, I am happy to report how well Jen is doing. Not only are Jen’s counts awesome, she has been feeling much stronger than she has in a very long time….maybe even years.

Today, Jen had a hematology appointment at the James. As we walked in, I felt I had to introduce Jen to them as they had never met the young lady she is today. Her smile is back and her old self has returned . She talks  (just like her mom) without taking time to breath it seems like. She drove herself into Columbus (first time since getting sick) as I road as a passenger. Driving in city traffic means, she is able to focus on multiple things again!

She doesn’t have to return to see hematology for three months! That is like a new leash on life. She will see a dermatologist, rheumatologist, and gynecologist in the coming days in weeks as she continues to struggle with skin, inflammation, and lack of cycles. These hopefully in time will sort themselves out.

We accredit the much improvement to a few things . First, regulation with medication of spinal fluid after months of instability. Secondly, physical therapy that is helping to build her strength again. Also a change of diet that has removed carbohydrates and refined sugars from her diet. And finally, a nephew that gives her reason to get stronger.

Our 2018 word of the year is defining us well. BLESSED.