Friday, June 15, 2012
Update #155
5.5 years
Good Morning,
Life is good when we’ve been too busy to write an update.
Jeff, Meridith and two of their friends arrived here about 7:00 PM Saturday. After church on Sunday, the four of them went down to StL to tour the brewery and meet up with other friends.
Early Monday morning was Jeff’s appointment. When he finished, we went down to Perryville to visit with Grandma. On our way home, we stopped in Chester to visit with some cousins. This was the rainy day which really didn’t interfere with any plans.
Tuesday was a full StL day again. We toured The Fox theatre and had the unexpected pleasure of hearing a small concert on the historic organ. Meridith even had the opportunity to play the organ for a minute. Lunch was at our favorite place on The Hill – Cunetto’s. We later drove around Forest Park and showed Chris & Amy the sights. Of course, Ted Drewes was a stop before The Arch. The day ended with an evening Cardinal’s game.
Before their return trip to Iowa on Wednesday, Jeff got to spend a little time with our member, Ben. It was good to see both of them doing well. Ben’s transplant was delayed several times but finally took place near the end of March. His 30 day bone marrow test showed 95% donor which is super. (Please continue prayers for him.) The four Iowans continued North and spent the afternoon touring the Lincoln sites in Springfield. They had a safe trip and arrived home about Midnight. So all of them had an enjoyable, fun-filled, jam-packed few days.
Since the last email was about the celebration cruise, I should fill you in on Jeff’s medical life since December. Jeff had a good winter. Work continued on his new teeth. He had his new top teeth before the Hawaii trip. The bottom teeth were finished in May. There was one trouble spot which needed a root canal but that was taken care of without any problem.
Jeff’s eye appointment in early June again went well. Dr. Wagoner feels Jeff can now go from 4 month to 6 month check-ups. But Jeff is going to do one more 4 month appointment in Oct. That way the 6 month appointments can be April and October – snow/ice free times.
“Counts are perfect. Things look good. See you next year” were Dr. DiPersio’s words. He does want Jeff to have his blood pressure regularly checked in Iowa since it was up this time. Something to easily watch. The anti-fungal med that he wanted Jeff to continue through the winter will not be stopped. Since Jeff does have some GVHD in his lungs, this will help to keep him a bit safer from infection. Jeff’s 2013 appointment is June 10th. This date may have to change when the Cardinal’s 2013 schedule comes out later this Fall. And we’ll have to be sure Dr. DiPersio’s next year’s summer schedule also fits into the plans.
I ask for your prayers for Jeff’s donor, Matt. He just completed a year of schooling here in the states and will now be deployed to Afghanistan in a week. We were all thrilled when Matt was promoted in rank in December.
The last time, June 2006, Jeff thought he was going to one year appointments, he did not know the counts until the next day when we got “that” phone call. The first words last Monday were “counts are perfect”, so we are very optimistic that Jeff will finally have a year before he returns to StL. What will he do this winter when he does not have to leave Waterloo for any medical appointments? Enjoy!
And what will we all do without these frequent updates? It has been wonderful to see the number of updates decline each year. I assume we’ll be extremely thankful that no “update” appears in your inboxes. Your prayers, support, and love have sustained us all these years and will continue to hold us up in the future. God has blessed Jeff with such fantastic family and friends. You’ll never know how much you have meant to us over the years and will continue to always bless our lives. May God bless each of you in the coming year. I will contact you if there are ever any changes but maybe we can start using that “same time next year” phrase. Have a wonderful rest of 2012 and beginning of 2013.
God’s love and ours,
Marcia