Monday, May 14, 2007

Update # 109

Day Plus 153

Good Evening,

YES, Jeff can return to Waterloo!!!  In fact, Dr. DiPersio said Jeff could return now if he wanted to but it will be easier to wait till after the Day 180 bone marrow biopsy (June 8) and another appointment with Dr. DiPersio (June 18).

Everything was backed up time wise this morning but it did give us a chance to visit with a gentleman who had his transplant 3 days after Jeff.  This man is also doing well.  It was interesting -- a friend of his from work is moving to Waterloo to work at John Deere.  Of course, we told him to have this friend watch KWWL.

The rest of Jeff's appointment went very well.  The red counts again came up a little on their own.  Dr. DiPersio wants to continue to wean Jeff off his anti-rejection med.  But he wants to wait one more week and then again halve the dosage.  So that means this lowest dose will then be taken every other day.  Jeff's feet are doing fairly well.  They still bother but not quite as much.  

Jeff asked if they would still have to check his Hodgkin's.  Dr. DiPersio said it would be a good idea to have a CT Scan and a PET Scan before he returns to Waterloo.  So they are going to set those up also for June 8th.

Ken and I have noticed Jeff seems to be more mobile.  There are days I come home from school and he's out somewhere in town doing something.  He even was able to get together with some high school friends on Saturday.  Oh, and last Monday night we went to StL and took in a Cardinal game.

So, today was a very productive and encouraging day.  We did a little shopping in the afternoon and even had Ted Drewes later in the day.

Jeff and I are heading to Waterloo this Friday (it was 7-18 when he left his apartment for the hospital) to meet with his apartment manager to look at apartments.  He wants to see this second complex that she is also managing but he might just return to his original complex.  We have to head back to Hillsboro on Saturday morning since we have a commitment that night.  Then Jeff will need to decide when to actually return to Waterloo and have the POD people bring his things out of storage.

Jeff's next appointment is May 30th with the nurse practitioner.  They will check that antibody level again but we figure it must be going down if his red count is slowly rising.  I'll email again that night.  It's wonderful to only send updates every other week!

How can we thank you all for your continued prayers?  You have helped us tremendously these last 10 months.  (It was July 14 when the guys at work told Jeff he looked so pale.)  Like the gentleman said this morning, you watch for any problems that can yet arise but go on now and be thankful for how well things have gone so far.  God has blessed us with terrific friends and we pray He continues to bless you as He keeps restoring Jeff's health and life.  

love,

Marcia