September 22, 2007

I’ve been at the rehab center for about 10 days now and am getting stronger every day. My appetite is back with a vengeance. I am still on a low bacteria, GvHD diet so my food is mostly protein, and some carbs. The cooking staff has been very accommodating to give me LOTS of what I need. I’ll eat breakfast, a morning snack, full lunch, an afternoon snack, dinner, evening snack and a snack in the middle of the night. Snacks are generally half a sandwich and bowl of soup.

With all of this I am not gaining weight. My gut lining is still healing so my absorption isn’t what it should be. All of the nutrition I’m getting seems to go into rebuilding and healing.

At first I was really disappointed in the slow progress of physical therapy. Now therapy is starting to show results. For example, I couldn’t stand up out of my wheel chair, but today I did it. My quads are starting to get stronger along with my other muscles.

I don’t have a clue on how long I’ll be here now. It could be another week or a month. Before I go home I have to be able to shower, go to the bathroom, climb our stairs, and do all other daily functions by my self. The therapy department will assess our home conditions and ensure I’m ready to be in my environment. There are 14 steps between our downstairs and upstairs and climbing 14 steps is the most difficult task for me to complete.

I’m certainly in a place where I’m getting better at a rapid rate. Is it God, God and the meds, temporary, long term? Barbara and I are certainly learning to live one day at a time and wait on the Lord to see what that day brings.

September 11, 2007

It is surreal to think that today is the 6th anniversary of the attack on our country. On one hand it seems like the event happened just a short time ago and yet so much has happened in six years the event seems like distant history. I can easily go back and see the second building being hit by the plane while glued to the TV that morning...

I’m being moved to a rehab facility by Vancouver Clinic tomorrow. The plan is to build my strength back up to be able to go home in 7-10 days with the strength needed to get up our stairs and just do life. The rehab staff will work with me for two 45-50 minute sessions a day. One session is direct muscle strengthening and the other will be more occupational therapy (whatever that is).

I’ve been taken off VPN (IV nutrition) now so I have to be eating a lot to regain my proteins and albumen without the help. Again I am on a diet that is low bacteria, fat, fiber and complex carbohydrates. No fresh fruit, fresh vegetables or dairy products.

The medical team here is again astounded by my speed of recovery. Either they are impressed or being supportive. I don’t know which.

What a wild ride!!!! I am so glad God is in control and that I’m not Him. Each day I have to remember 3 things to keep my proper focus on reality. I stole these from a great little book called “Encouragement for Life”, by Charles Swindoll. They are hard to really comprehend but daily I’m trying.

1. I am only Human. I am finite and fallible.


2. I don’t understand why I’m on this journey and I may never understand while on this earth.


3. I cannot change my situation. It is a time to trust that God is in control, that He makes no mistakes and that He is totally involved in the process and its outcome.

One thing I am sure of is that your prayers are affecting my life. Thank you so much for holding my hand through this journey. Where will we end up?

September 6, 2007

Today is a far better day than the last update. My white counts are up again. That always helps every aspect of my health.

Now that the counts are up it appears that the two masses in my lungs are reducing. With all of there big guns of antibiotics and fungal treatments, the masses were not moving or reducing.

All of the 4 skin biopsies displayed GvHD. The large spots are softening and look under control.

My central line had to be removed with incredible pain. There was definitely abyss in the channel. They left the channel open and stuffed the channel used a rope type packing to allow the channel to heal from the inside out. It will be good to have that channel heal.

We are waiting to see what is happening with the lungs and also my physical strength to return home. There are challenges for going home. All bathing and sleeping facilities are upstairs. We will either need to rent equipment to stay downstairs or get strong enough to get upstairs. We’re working hard on getting upstairs with physical therapy.

Even though my faith wavered, The Lord was always present.