Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Update # 154

5 Years

Happy St. Nicholas Day,

Our house is decorated and the gifts are sent off so Ken and I can slow down to focus on the real reason for the season -- Christ's birth.  But the last few days and the days leading to next Monday, Dec. 12th, are the best celebration -- Jeff's transplant 5th anniversary.

Jeff and Meridith left this afternoon for their Iowa home and just arrived at 9:50 PM.  Ken and I will spend some Christmas vacation days with them but did send their gifts back just in case the weather does not cooperate.

In the July update, Jeff still had stitches from his oral surgery.  Five days later, the stitches were removed and the doctor was pleased with the healing.  Several weeks later, Jeff noticed a couple of sharp places on the top left and right sides of his mouth.  He returned to the oral surgeon on Nov. 15th to have those 2 places filed down.  One side needed one stitch and the other side was very tiny and left to close on its own.  All is well now.

The end of August, Jeff's dentist took impressions to begin the restoration process.  The lab had some kind of mix up so impressions had to be redone in October.  I went up to Waterloo for the final dental consult on Nov. 1st.  Jeff approved the dentist's plan for crowns and bridges.  No, no implants.  There's too much danger in disturbing the bones plus risk of infection.  With his busy schedule, Jeff chose next Monday, the 12th, to have the actual dental work begin.  (Great way to spend his actual transplant anniversary -- sit 4 hours in a dental chair!)  If everything goes according to schedule, all work should be finished by the end of March and Jeff will have back his old smile.

Jeff's four-month Iowa City eye exam was on Sept. 6th.  Again, his eyes are staying the same so he returns in Jan. 2012 for another check up.

Near the middle of Oct., Jeff had a sore throat and stuffy head.  He decided to not try the convenient care place again and just called Dr. Masri.  It was a sinus infection and 10 days of antibiotics cleared it up.

Jeff and Meridith came down a day early this last Saturday the 3rd to be ahead of some snow.  It was wonderful to have Jeff with us in church on the 4th and remembering that five years ago on Dec. 4th he entered Barnes to begin the transplant process.  Jeff's Dr. DiPersio appointment in StL yesterday was super.  Dr. DiPersio and his physician's assistant, Stephanie, had huge smiles and congratulations for Jeff hitting this 5-year mark.  The last time Dr. DiPersio saw Jeff was when Jeff was still in the hospital in May.  He kidded Jeff about staying away from anything like that infection again!  The anti-fungal med was to be taken for six months but Dr. DiPersio changed his mind and wants Jeff to continue it through these winter months.  All other meds remain the same.  The blood counts were also very good -- a couple of them high but that seems now to be Jeff's normal.  And, oh yes, once a year StL appointments!  But... not yet.  Jeff requested could it be moved to warmer months since Dec. travel can be tricky.  Dr. DiPersio said definitely and a Cardinal game could also be enjoyed.  That means one more six-month appointment before the yearly check-up begins.  So, there had to be coordination between when Dr. DiPersio was in and when the Cards were in town and June 11th, 2012 ended up the chosen time.  

We do want to give praise to Dr. DiPersio and his entire transplant staff at Barnes.  This July, the 5,000th transplant was performed.  It happened to be a gentleman who lives in Morrisonville, a town not far from Hillsboro.  The knowledge, skill, determination, and concern of these dedicated medical people have changed the lives of so many people.

When we were finished at Barnes, we drove over to Cardinal Glennon and visited with our Costas family.  It had been a year since we stopped by and we were greeted by Micki's still wonderful smiling face.  We enjoyed being able to spend time catching up with Dr. Gauvain and Jeff's 2 very special nurses, Marsha and Abby.  The ladies were thrilled to see how well Jeff is doing 10 years out from Hodgkin's and 5 years out from Leukemia/transplant.  They have been beside us on this long journey and guided us on the right path.  We love you all.

But we remember most of all, Matt.  A generous man who donated himself to help save the life of a stranger.  Jeff has had these last 5 years of his life due to Matt's willingness to endure some rough days so his stem cells could give new life.  We thank you and your family for becoming part of our family and sharing your love.  May God bless you as much as you have blessed Jeff and us.

Ken and I tried to think of a gift for Jeff to celebrate these 10 and 5 year anniversaries but nothing seemed appropriate.  We decided (especially after May's scare) new memories needed to be made so in April 2012, we are taking Jeff and Meridith on a Hawaiian cruise.  We'll fly over for a one week cruise to 4 different islands.  My brother, sister-in-law, and 3 other close friends are also joining us in celebrating these milestones.

I do have a prayer request.  One of our members, Ben, was diagnosed with Leukemia.  He will be having his transplant also at Barnes.  His primary doctor is not Dr. DiPersio but one of the other members of the team.  They are still in the process of choosing a donor so a date is unknown.  Please keep Ben and his family (wife and 3 young children) in your prayers.

Words can't express our thanks to each of you on this update list that constantly keep Jeff in your thoughts and prayers.  Most of you have also been with us since July 2001 and have given help, support and love. We've all seen difficult journeys in our lives and rely on each other and God to keep taking these daily steps into the unknown future.  You have our unending gratitude and 

our never-ending love,

Marcia