Hi Everyone,
My doctor is out of town so I saw one of the other doctors, but he said that things are progressing well. He also cut the dosage on one of my meds, a good sign. Today I have something that has been on my heart that is extremely important to me.
An opportunity has come up that I would like to share with all of you. My family has been on several short term mission trips to Mexico and have been blessed by each one of them. They usually require a lot of work, preparation and dedication, but they have all been great! I don't think God is calling me to do long term mission work, but He has called someone I have known and loved for a very long time. I first met Robert when he was a little boy as his dad and I played softball against each other and then together on the same team. Our kids would come to the park and play together during our games since the mid 1980's. My family became Christians on Feb 19, 1991 and a few years later I was privileged to lead Tom and Kate (Robert's dad and mom) to the Lord, and they said they would like me to share the same message of salvation with their four children. I was so excited I could hardly stand it that God would use me to help them all understand His plan and they all received Jesus Christ that day! It is awesome to see God work in people's lives after they give their lives to Him, and that's just what this family did at church, on short term mission trips and wherever they went in their daily lives. Robert began feeling that God was calling him to something more, however, and in 2001 he gave in to God's calling to serve him long term in a foreign country. I was really excited, I mean really excited to hear this news!!! Robert has been in training for 5 years to do long term missions in Asia with a well known organization. While in training he met his wife Heather who also has an awesome love for the Lord. They now have 3 boys and are gearing up for their departure as I write this. To see their bio, you can contact me for more information. As I said, I don't think God has called me to serve him in a foreign land (not yet anyway!! LOL!!!) but I feel an exceptional gratitude to God for being able to be a part of His sending work by helping out Robert and Heather. Deb and I are able to pray for them and support them right now, and when they go it's as if we will be going with them. We will be a part of God's plan!! If you would like to be a part of this awesome family's team you can email me and I can pass on your interest to them so they can contact you personally. Some of you have been thinking about supporting God’s plan in this special way before and if so I encourage you to help Robert and Heather with whatever you can give (even $10 or $25 per month would be really helpful!). I know them personally to love God above all else and you can be a part of God's team as well.
Thank you very much for considering this!!! God bless you all.
IN HIS HANDS,
Ernie
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 22, 2007
June 22 Day 58
Hi Everyone,
Just got back from the doctor and he said everything looked good. He lowered some more of the doses on my meds which is a good sign. I do have a bladder infection (infections can be serious for me) but he didn't seem worried and gave me some antibiotics to take. I also have to drink plenty of water over the weekend. He said sometimes when this happens the patient might have to go back into the hospital and get massive infusions of IV to clear it up but I sure don't want to go back in. I am going to chug water all weekend long in hopes that it clears up!!! LOL!! This is a great prayer request so please pray! I have been reminded by Janice in Ohio that many, many people are praying for me from all over and I want you all to know that I am very, very thankful to all of you who are doing so. God sure set up a great plan to have his family on earth take care of eachother, didn't He? We know that He could just heal me in an instant, but He lets His people go thru an extremely important excercise, prayer, to get things done. I have received amazing benefits from all of your prayers, but if you think about it, so have you all!!! When we pray, we can come into the presence of Almighty God and speak to Him like He is our daddy, and He truly is! The term Abba is very close to our word for a loving, personal daddy. It just amazes me that someone so great and awesome would allow us to come before Him and talk to Him so personally. I hope you are as humbled as I am to be able to do this. Thank you Janice, and may God bless you all and keep seeking Him!!!
IN HIS HANDS,
Ernie
Just got back from the doctor and he said everything looked good. He lowered some more of the doses on my meds which is a good sign. I do have a bladder infection (infections can be serious for me) but he didn't seem worried and gave me some antibiotics to take. I also have to drink plenty of water over the weekend. He said sometimes when this happens the patient might have to go back into the hospital and get massive infusions of IV to clear it up but I sure don't want to go back in. I am going to chug water all weekend long in hopes that it clears up!!! LOL!! This is a great prayer request so please pray! I have been reminded by Janice in Ohio that many, many people are praying for me from all over and I want you all to know that I am very, very thankful to all of you who are doing so. God sure set up a great plan to have his family on earth take care of eachother, didn't He? We know that He could just heal me in an instant, but He lets His people go thru an extremely important excercise, prayer, to get things done. I have received amazing benefits from all of your prayers, but if you think about it, so have you all!!! When we pray, we can come into the presence of Almighty God and speak to Him like He is our daddy, and He truly is! The term Abba is very close to our word for a loving, personal daddy. It just amazes me that someone so great and awesome would allow us to come before Him and talk to Him so personally. I hope you are as humbled as I am to be able to do this. Thank you Janice, and may God bless you all and keep seeking Him!!!
IN HIS HANDS,
Ernie
Friday, June 15, 2007
June 15 Day 51
Hi Everyone!!!
We went to the doctor today and found out the results of my last bone marrow biopsy. There is no leukemia and my brother Dan's stem cells have taken over 100% of my body, which is very, very good. My doctor is still adjusting my meds, usually decreasing them, which also is a great sign. I feel pretty strong unless I try to do too much, like walking too far or doing somthing around the house which is too strenuous. I still must be careful about seeing people. I can't see anyone who is sick or has been around someone who is sick, and I can't be in crowds yet. We pretty much just go to the doctor and back and once in a while I go to the store with Deb but I have to wear a mask and people look at me weird, well weirder than usual!! LOL! The weather has been warmer up here and I sure would like to ride my motorcycle but I'm just not strong enough yet. Maybe another month or so. I asked if I could start doing pushups but my doc says that it might cause my hickman catheter to pull out and I don't want that so I'll just wait a while. We are really excited that our daughter Dana is in town for the Father's day weekend!!! Happy Father's Day to all you fathers out there!!! God bless you all.
IN HIS HANDS,
Ernie
We went to the doctor today and found out the results of my last bone marrow biopsy. There is no leukemia and my brother Dan's stem cells have taken over 100% of my body, which is very, very good. My doctor is still adjusting my meds, usually decreasing them, which also is a great sign. I feel pretty strong unless I try to do too much, like walking too far or doing somthing around the house which is too strenuous. I still must be careful about seeing people. I can't see anyone who is sick or has been around someone who is sick, and I can't be in crowds yet. We pretty much just go to the doctor and back and once in a while I go to the store with Deb but I have to wear a mask and people look at me weird, well weirder than usual!! LOL! The weather has been warmer up here and I sure would like to ride my motorcycle but I'm just not strong enough yet. Maybe another month or so. I asked if I could start doing pushups but my doc says that it might cause my hickman catheter to pull out and I don't want that so I'll just wait a while. We are really excited that our daughter Dana is in town for the Father's day weekend!!! Happy Father's Day to all you fathers out there!!! God bless you all.
IN HIS HANDS,
Ernie
Thursday, June 7, 2007
June 7 Day 43
Hi Everyone,
We went to see the doctor again today (we go twice a week to City of Hope) and he said everything is looking good! He is reducing the dosage on some of my meds but that is expected. I am feeling much stronger now and am going for walks and doing things around the house again. My sister Mary from Boston has been in town all week and it has been a great visit, we talk a lot and she has been very helpful cooking and cleaning and just being here! I still can't be around crowds so I don't have many visitors yet, that won't be until Aug 3rd or so, hopefully. It has been a very long road and still it goes on, but things are really looking better now. My doctor says that I might not be completely recovered for another year! It just takes a long time. Thanks again for praying for me! God bless you all.
IN HIS HANDS,
Ernie
We went to see the doctor again today (we go twice a week to City of Hope) and he said everything is looking good! He is reducing the dosage on some of my meds but that is expected. I am feeling much stronger now and am going for walks and doing things around the house again. My sister Mary from Boston has been in town all week and it has been a great visit, we talk a lot and she has been very helpful cooking and cleaning and just being here! I still can't be around crowds so I don't have many visitors yet, that won't be until Aug 3rd or so, hopefully. It has been a very long road and still it goes on, but things are really looking better now. My doctor says that I might not be completely recovered for another year! It just takes a long time. Thanks again for praying for me! God bless you all.
IN HIS HANDS,
Ernie
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
May 29 Day 34
Hi Everyone!
I had to go in to the doctor today because I had a rash appear on the palms of my hands. My doctor thinks it could be the Graft vs. Host disease and gave me meds for it so he's on top of it. This disease is not unusual for bone marrow transplants, it's my body rejecting Dan's stem cells and they just treat it as the symptoms appear. I go tomorrow for an all day blood draw, they will draw it every hour for 8 hours. It's a research study that I signed up for it, and someday they will have news meds that work even better because of these studies. On Friday I have a bone marrow biopsy but won't know the results for 2 to 3 days. They are looking as usual for any lukemia that might come back but are also testing to see what percent of my bone marrow is now Dan's (they are hoping for about 80%). I am feeling stronger now but still not ready to run any races! LOL
God Bless,
Ernie
I had to go in to the doctor today because I had a rash appear on the palms of my hands. My doctor thinks it could be the Graft vs. Host disease and gave me meds for it so he's on top of it. This disease is not unusual for bone marrow transplants, it's my body rejecting Dan's stem cells and they just treat it as the symptoms appear. I go tomorrow for an all day blood draw, they will draw it every hour for 8 hours. It's a research study that I signed up for it, and someday they will have news meds that work even better because of these studies. On Friday I have a bone marrow biopsy but won't know the results for 2 to 3 days. They are looking as usual for any lukemia that might come back but are also testing to see what percent of my bone marrow is now Dan's (they are hoping for about 80%). I am feeling stronger now but still not ready to run any races! LOL
God Bless,
Ernie
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
May 23 Day 28
Hi Everyone,
I saw the doctor on Monday and had a chest x-ray because I've felt a slight pain when I take a deep breath and I've still been having my temperature go up in the evening. The x-ray showed what the doctor thought was something so he had us go back today (Wed) for another chest x-ray. He didn't see anything on today's but the radiologist still has to read it. He put me on an antibiotic for 7 days to clear up my symptoms. I signed up for a research study and they gave me the pills for the first time today. They said 2/3 of the people on the study will get the real medication and 1/3 will get a placebo. I think I am taking the medicine because after taking it I sensed a metallic taste in my mouth. I have to be there all day next Tuesday for the study but that only happens once more and its a 12 week study. The study is a bit of a hassle but people went thru this and more for the meds I'm taking now so if I can help someone else down the road I figured I should.
My doctor said all my counts looked good and he cut dosage on some meds, which is a good sign. I still feel weak but hopefully the antibiotics will help. God bless you all!
IN HIS HANDS,
Ernie
I saw the doctor on Monday and had a chest x-ray because I've felt a slight pain when I take a deep breath and I've still been having my temperature go up in the evening. The x-ray showed what the doctor thought was something so he had us go back today (Wed) for another chest x-ray. He didn't see anything on today's but the radiologist still has to read it. He put me on an antibiotic for 7 days to clear up my symptoms. I signed up for a research study and they gave me the pills for the first time today. They said 2/3 of the people on the study will get the real medication and 1/3 will get a placebo. I think I am taking the medicine because after taking it I sensed a metallic taste in my mouth. I have to be there all day next Tuesday for the study but that only happens once more and its a 12 week study. The study is a bit of a hassle but people went thru this and more for the meds I'm taking now so if I can help someone else down the road I figured I should.
My doctor said all my counts looked good and he cut dosage on some meds, which is a good sign. I still feel weak but hopefully the antibiotics will help. God bless you all!
IN HIS HANDS,
Ernie
Friday, May 18, 2007
May 18 Day 23
Hi Everone,
It sure is good to be home! Unfortunately my temperature has risen every night since I came home and today the doctor said that it sounds like I might have an infection somewhere. He had the lab take a blood culture where they see if anything grows for a few days and if it does, they test it to see what it is, then treat it with antibiotics. The problem for me is that the antibiotics have to be given in the hospital so I would have to go back in for a while (I don't know how long). Please pray that I don't have an infection! My taste and appetite haven't returned fully yet, only a little but they say it doesn't take too long. My strength was pretty good until this morning, I walked up the stairs and it was like I climbed Mt. Everest I was so tired. The doctor didn't seem to be concerned about that so it probably happens. Everyone I've talked to said that I will face setbacks, maybe this was one. I'm feeling better tonight but I feel a little warm again. I hope all of you are well. God bless.
IN HIS HANDS,
Ernie
It sure is good to be home! Unfortunately my temperature has risen every night since I came home and today the doctor said that it sounds like I might have an infection somewhere. He had the lab take a blood culture where they see if anything grows for a few days and if it does, they test it to see what it is, then treat it with antibiotics. The problem for me is that the antibiotics have to be given in the hospital so I would have to go back in for a while (I don't know how long). Please pray that I don't have an infection! My taste and appetite haven't returned fully yet, only a little but they say it doesn't take too long. My strength was pretty good until this morning, I walked up the stairs and it was like I climbed Mt. Everest I was so tired. The doctor didn't seem to be concerned about that so it probably happens. Everyone I've talked to said that I will face setbacks, maybe this was one. I'm feeling better tonight but I feel a little warm again. I hope all of you are well. God bless.
IN HIS HANDS,
Ernie
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