HALLELUJAH.....WE HAVE ENGRAFTMENT!!!!!!!

We have ENGRAFTMENT TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don has a new birthday! We got his white blood cell count. Zero point ONE!!!! It may sound like a little one to you, but its a very BIG one to us. It will go up and up from here. Don celebrated this morning with his favorite Blue Bell ice cream. GOD IS SOOO GOOD! He rested well last night and is feeling better. His red blood cell count is down some, not to worry though. He will be getting two pints of blood today and maybe platlets. By tomorrow I expect him to be walking the halls around here again. It is a day to celebrate. Thanks so much everyone for your support and prayers. Believe me we have felt them all.
Much Love from BOTH of us,
Don and Kathi

Doc say's don't panic!

Don had a rough night last night, with fever most of it. We had an oriental nurse who was very determined to lower it. She packed him in ice for part of the night. Steriods were administerd and seem to lower it a bit. Today the doctor's came in and said that fever is pretty common for stem cell transplant patients and that Don is actually still on track. Our doctor for the next two weeks is Dr. Ueno from Japan. I asked him about Don not eating anything...and he said..FORGET ABOUT IT!! And he laughted. He said he is getting enough i.v. fluids and to not worry. For a minute I thought he was trying to imitate the Seprano's..hehe.
There are so many doctor's and nurses here from all over the world. We have had the priveledge to have a doctor from Italy, one from Sweden, and now one from Japan. We have had nurses from Vietnam, the Phillipines, India, Ireland, China, and now one from...guess where? HOUSTON!! He is a minority, just like we are here. I have met several people at our hotel from all over the world as well. India, Iraq, New Zealand, England, and Australia. Alot of them dress in the garments from their native land. It has been quit an experience. Most all the staff here at the hospital are super. You can tell they have all been hand picked as the best. I feel comfortable knowing Don is getting such good care.
For now....he is snoring away in his hospital bed...a welcome sound. Hope tonight will be a more comfortable night.
Thanks for all your prayers.
Blessings,
Kathi

Problems!!

Today is Don's day seven. He is not feeling well at all. He has now developed a fever...sign of infection somewhere. They are doing blood work, and now a chest x ray to determine the problem. PLEASE pray for the infection to go away very soon. He also has such bad sores in this throat he hasnt eaten all day. He cant swollow. I am spending the night with him tonight at the hospital and I will try and carry this laptop with me. More later.
Kathi

Day FIVE

Don is on day five today. Just as I thought he did bottom out today. His white blood cell count was 0.0 You can't get any less than that!! Red blood cell count was 2.51 His Hemoglobin was low also so he recieved another pint of blood. He took a really good nap today, which he needed big time. And then he managed to walk some tonight. Just a few laps around the nurses stations and very slowly. His mouth is sore, so food today was soft. He loved the pudding and the hot chocolate. He might not eat much, but whatever he can get down and however much he can. We expect his count will start going up in a couple days. I pray very soon. Engraftment is between seven and ten days from recieving his stem cells. We are praying for seven of course...that would be this Thursday. Right now...he says he just wants to start feeling better, he is kinda puney.
Good news about his Mom, we heard she was moved to rehab today. She required a second back surgery, but is feeling much better now and getting around slowly. We have been keeping in touch as much as possible via phone. It is hard not being there for her.
Thanks for all your e cards, phone calls, and most of all prayers. We can't seem to thank you all enough.
Mucho Blessings from us both.
Don and Kathi

Blood Counts are down!!

Just as we were warned Don's blood counts dropped today. His white blood cell count is 1.5. He should bottom out completely by tomorrow. I know that sounds really bad, and it is dangerous of course....but this is part of the process. It is the part I have been afraid of. He will be sick for about five days now they tell me. Like he has the flu. But since he has zero immune system during this phase, we must be very very careful. He is in isolation now. He is still in his same room, but no visitors at this time. They still let me in, they havent kicked me out yet..LOL. And they better not try either!!!!!! He has developed mouth sores. He hates those. You can't hardly eat anything. And he is very weak. Now is when we experiment with what he can eat. Nothing sounds good to him. Ice cream maybe, he loves ice cream. He will be sleeping more now. Rest is what he needs. A nurse today told me about Aug. 5th he should be feeling better. You all pray he has NO complications or problems now. And soon his counts will be coming back up. I will keep everyone posted.
Blessings,
kathi

Our Day TWO.

As I already told you all, after your stem cell day you start counting to 30. We are on our day two. I have been writing the day count on Don's dry erase board on the wall in his room. Along with picture's our grand daughters drew for him, and pictures of all our loved ones.
He is doing great. He does have spell's of nausea, but that is to be expected. They give him med's for it, and it hasnt gotten too out of control just yet. Today the nurses on our floor had a BINGO day for all the patients and caregivers. They have some kind of event every day around here. Mind you this is only on the eleventh floor that I know of, the nurses themselves got this together. They try really hard around here to help make your experience a little more pleasant. I enjoyed playing BINGO today, but Don won twice!! I didn't win once...! When I left him tonight to return to the hotel he was putting his jigsaw puzzle together he had won. It does help pass the time.
They told us today that when your blood counts start dropping, it is sometimes sudden. One day you feel pretty good, and then WAM!! So far Don's counts have not been dropping. They check them every morning. However he is starting to feel a little "yuk"!
I noticed tonight as I marked off another day on our calendar, that July is almost gone. Gosh...I feel like we missed the entire summer. School will soon be starting. But I am so glad alot of our time here has already passed. I know alot of people love Houston...but I think Don and I would rather see Tioga..LOL.
We have had alot of our friends calling us. It is wonderful to hear from you all. We feel so loved. Don says it is so humbling to know so many people are praying for him. He told me he feels unworthy. Thank you all so much.
Blessings and Love,
Don and Kathi

STEM CELL DAY!!!!!

Well...the day has come for Don to recieve his own stem cells back! DAY 0. Yesterday he had his last chemo and one he has never had before. It was a very short chemo..only 30 minutes. He had to suck on ice for two and a half hours during and after the chemo. They tell us it is the the most powerful of all chemo's he has ever had. I believe it. This morning he called me from the hospital to tell me to be prepared to stay all night. He has been sick. We knew it was coming. Thank GOD he was moved to the eleventh floor late last night, just in time for his nausea. I can now have a bed to stay with him up there...PRAISE GOD!!
Today Pastor Bart is going to call us at 8 a.m. and Pray over the Stem Cells! Our church will be praying as well. We are soooo blessed to have them all in our lives. Praise be to ALL MIGHTY GOD!!
Our thanks to all, you are wonderful,
Don and Kathi

*Edit by Brandon*
Dad getting his stem cells back!