Vern came home last night!!! He looks so good. He has lost some weight but not so much that he looks "sickly". Since he's part cherokee, that gorgeous skin coloring of his really helps him to look so good(why couldn't I have gotten the tanned skin???? :-(.
I can tell he's weak and sleepy and in pain but he just looks like my Vern! And that is a wonderful thing!!!
He still has a long road to travel. Needs to just rest and get his strength back but overall he has done an absolutely fab job!
Go Vern!! We are all so proud of you!
Andra
Friday, March 20, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Day 11!
Vern sounded better today. He is getting caught up on some sleep, I think the meds are making him more comfortable and allowing him to rest much easier. He has to have a platelet transfusion today but other than that, its just a waiting game.
Have a great St. Patty's Day
Andra
Have a great St. Patty's Day
Andra
Monday, March 16, 2009
Day 10!!!!
Sorry for the lag in posts. Our house was invaded by the green monster... the stomach flu!
Its been a loooong weekend!
Vern is doing well. Still in a lot of pain with the mouth sores but he is hanging in there. He is such a trooper. His counts are kind of hanging around at the same spot; not moving up much. Doc says everyone is different.
At this point, its just a rest and wait sort of period. Everyday brings its new challenges but he is taking each hurdle and climbing over each one. I am really proud of him.
Thanks for your prayers.
Andra
Its been a loooong weekend!
Vern is doing well. Still in a lot of pain with the mouth sores but he is hanging in there. He is such a trooper. His counts are kind of hanging around at the same spot; not moving up much. Doc says everyone is different.
At this point, its just a rest and wait sort of period. Everyday brings its new challenges but he is taking each hurdle and climbing over each one. I am really proud of him.
Thanks for your prayers.
Andra
Friday, March 13, 2009
Day 7!!!
Go to the bottom of the page for pix!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Vern is starting to get severe mouth/throat sores from the chemo. They are serious. They are giving him morphine for pain. His counts have finally bottomed out. That means as of today he has NO immune system at all. He can not have any visitors that have been sick or even around anyone who has been sick for a few days. If he gets a cold or worse at this point it could be deadly. Its serious enough they won't even let him shower in fear he would hurt his port or fall as he is susceptible to bleeding for a few days.
If things continue doing as well as they have then in a week or little longer he might get to come home!!!! I sure hope so. I think being in your own bed is great for the mind and body. I know my own bed: well, there's just nothing like it!!!!
Vern, we are praying you don't get exposed to any germs today, that you have a restful day, and that you come home soon. We all miss you and love you!
Vern is starting to get severe mouth/throat sores from the chemo. They are serious. They are giving him morphine for pain. His counts have finally bottomed out. That means as of today he has NO immune system at all. He can not have any visitors that have been sick or even around anyone who has been sick for a few days. If he gets a cold or worse at this point it could be deadly. Its serious enough they won't even let him shower in fear he would hurt his port or fall as he is susceptible to bleeding for a few days.
If things continue doing as well as they have then in a week or little longer he might get to come home!!!! I sure hope so. I think being in your own bed is great for the mind and body. I know my own bed: well, there's just nothing like it!!!!
Vern, we are praying you don't get exposed to any germs today, that you have a restful day, and that you come home soon. We all miss you and love you!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Day 6!
Another day of the same :-( Vern is still sick to his stomach and veryyy weak. He sounds sooo tired on the phone. No blood transfusion yet.
My entire family has the flu/stomach flu so this will be short.
Thanks for praying/calling/commenting/emailing him, he needs that right now!
God Bless
Andra
P.S. Hey Vern, like today's background? I am Fed/EX ing you a plane ticket...bust out of there and let's go to Hawaii! The scenery has to be better than where you are :-) I miss you!!!!
My entire family has the flu/stomach flu so this will be short.
Thanks for praying/calling/commenting/emailing him, he needs that right now!
God Bless
Andra
P.S. Hey Vern, like today's background? I am Fed/EX ing you a plane ticket...bust out of there and let's go to Hawaii! The scenery has to be better than where you are :-) I miss you!!!!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Day 5!
Good afternoon.
Well, Vern is doing as good as can be expected. I can't go back down yet because I woke up with a nasty cold/flu. I am so mad!!!! I would love to see him!
So, we talk on the phone about 6 times a day :-)
Well, they said today/tomorrow should be his peek days of getting really really sick etc. He is sicker today and weaker but he was still able to hold small amounts of his bfast and lunch down. They are going to start giving him protein shakes to help today. The doc said his blood work today showed his blood levels are still dropping but have not bottomed out yet so they wait. I am praying that he won't get any worse and defy all they *think* will happen!
He is so strong. He said mostly today he is super weak, and I can't even imagine!
Here is the address to send cards too. He can't have flowers or latex balloons, but he can have Mylar balloons and cards.
Geroge Hatcher
c/o IU Hospital
550 North University Blvd.
BMT Unit-Adult Oncology
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Thanks for praying!
Andra
Good afternoon.
Well, Vern is doing as good as can be expected. I can't go back down yet because I woke up with a nasty cold/flu. I am so mad!!!! I would love to see him!
So, we talk on the phone about 6 times a day :-)
Well, they said today/tomorrow should be his peek days of getting really really sick etc. He is sicker today and weaker but he was still able to hold small amounts of his bfast and lunch down. They are going to start giving him protein shakes to help today. The doc said his blood work today showed his blood levels are still dropping but have not bottomed out yet so they wait. I am praying that he won't get any worse and defy all they *think* will happen!
He is so strong. He said mostly today he is super weak, and I can't even imagine!
Here is the address to send cards too. He can't have flowers or latex balloons, but he can have Mylar balloons and cards.
Geroge Hatcher
c/o IU Hospital
550 North University Blvd.
BMT Unit-Adult Oncology
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Thanks for praying!
Andra
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Day 4!
Good morning.
Today is considered day four. Day one was the transplant. Now, Vern has no immune system, the chemo wiped that out. Now when he leaves his room he has to wear a mask, gloves, and sterile gown. But he has been trying to take a small walk, even a few steps, if he can. He is so strong and such a fighter. I really admire him.
Vern is starting to get pretty ill to his stomach. He isn't eating much and losing weight. He is in quite a bit of pain too as the stem cells try to find his bones again. All things they expected but no fun for him!
His red blood count is dropping. Again, something they expect. At some point he will probably need a transfusion for that. They monitor things at least once a day from a blood standpoint, more if they need too.
He sounds very weak on the phone. I have a cold so I can't go down right now but am hoping by Friday I can leave. If you have a card or anything you want to send you can email me at abarker41@ivytech.edu and I would be more than happy to take it with me. You can even send and email to him at gtown2night@yahoo.com or just leave a comment under the blog posting and he will get to see it.
I am sure at this point the TV is getting old already but he's not really up to doing much else so any emails would help his days and nights to go faster. He's not been sleeping well from all the medication.
Thank you for all your prayers.
Andra
Today is considered day four. Day one was the transplant. Now, Vern has no immune system, the chemo wiped that out. Now when he leaves his room he has to wear a mask, gloves, and sterile gown. But he has been trying to take a small walk, even a few steps, if he can. He is so strong and such a fighter. I really admire him.
Vern is starting to get pretty ill to his stomach. He isn't eating much and losing weight. He is in quite a bit of pain too as the stem cells try to find his bones again. All things they expected but no fun for him!
His red blood count is dropping. Again, something they expect. At some point he will probably need a transfusion for that. They monitor things at least once a day from a blood standpoint, more if they need too.
He sounds very weak on the phone. I have a cold so I can't go down right now but am hoping by Friday I can leave. If you have a card or anything you want to send you can email me at abarker41@ivytech.edu and I would be more than happy to take it with me. You can even send and email to him at gtown2night@yahoo.com or just leave a comment under the blog posting and he will get to see it.
I am sure at this point the TV is getting old already but he's not really up to doing much else so any emails would help his days and nights to go faster. He's not been sleeping well from all the medication.
Thank you for all your prayers.
Andra
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