New day and a new "do"

     Quick update...Thank the Lord Daddy hasn't had anymore passing out episodes.  He continues to be very weak and had to have a transfusion last night and was getting ready to get one tonight when I talked to them.  His fever is still up and the hives are still around. But, the nurse said that maybe tomorrow things would begin looking up.  We are believing this!  Joey, Deanne, and Rivers visited today and said Daddy looked pretty good.  I know he would've felt better if the nurse would've let him go see that sweet baby but he can't go out of the unit with a fever so Nonnie got to love on him instead.
     We had a special prayer for Daddy today in church and the peace that I have felt since then has been amazing.  Momma has been so positive every time I talked to her today and I know the Lord is giving that to her as well.  So, in between scratching those hives...Momma gave Daddy a new "do" :) 

     His hair began falling out this morning so they decided to go ahead and give him a Mr. Clean cut :)  Doesn't he look happy!  Thank the Lord that brighter days are ahead.  Days filled enjoying Daddy's healing and being back home again.  We sang a song today in church, "I Just Feel Like Something Good is About to Happen..."  That's how I feel tonight...something good is about to happen and I am ready!  Please continue to lift Daddy and Momma up.  Two weeks in a tiny room is not fun to say the least.  But, brighter days are ahead...thank God for them!
~Much love to you all

Thanksgiving Update-Day 7

     It seems like Daddy likes to be in the midst of a transplant on a holiday.  Last time it was Easter, this time Thanksgiving.  Just kidding!  We all know he would give anything not to be here.  But, we are thankful that this is an option and that healing is on its way!
     Kristen, Tanya, and I have a Black Friday shopping tradition.  So, we headed out a little early and brought dinner to Momma and Daddy.  Daddy looked pretty good and ate some sweet potatoes, ham, and banana pudding.  He said he's not sure what it tasted like but at least he ate it :)  
     Daddy had started running a fever Tuesday night.  They began him on very strong IV antibiotics yesterday as a precaution.  Yesterday afternoon, his fever got to 100.4 (it doesn't seem high to us but remember he has NO immune system so it is basically like an infant) so they ran blood work, did a urine culture, and a chest x-ray.  So far, nothing has shown up.  He has had a rough day today.  He passed out in the shower and the doctors aren't sure if it was simply passing out, a seizure, or what.  So, they did an EKG and have him on a heart monitor, and did more blood work.  I think he just wanted to see if Momma could handle it :)
     She did handle it, bless her heart.  She and Daddy claimed she was calm, although with Daddy passed out I'm not really sure how he knew :)  So, I asked the nurse to verify, and amazingly she said Momma was a lot calmer than her.  It had to be divine intervention.  I am not being factious.  Those of you who know Momma, know that this was peace that could only come from the Lord.  But, the poor man will never go to the bathroom alone again bless his heart :)
     Anyway, I am here with them now and Daddy is resting. He has the hives so they are trying to get that under control. I am so proud of Momma and how well she handled not only today, but everyday.  It is hard being the cheerleader, nurse, mean one who makes you do things you don't want to, and all kinds of other things.  But, she never complains.  
     Please lift both of them up tonight.  Pray that Daddy's counts will start rising and he will be fever free.  Please pray for no more of the episodes he had today.  God is so good and while this isn't where we would choose to spend Thanksgiving...it is all in God's plan and we praise Him for it.  
     We have so much to be thankful for.  We are together and that is blessing enough!  I was thinking today that we have had an eventful year in our family...2 new babies, 2 heart surgeries, and a transplant.  But, good or bad, God is always by our side.  He continues to give us peace that passes all understanding and we will continue to praise Him in this storm!   Thank you all for your prayers, calls, texts, and messages.  You will never know how much they mean.  Tomorrow will be a better day :)
~much love to you all!

Update

     I apologize for taking so long to update.  We have been so busy and this week is kind of a blur.  Daddy did well with the chemo Tuesday and Wednesday.  Joey and Deanne went to visit Wednesday and that thrilled Momma and Daddy.  And, Daniel and I took the children to see Nonnie and Poppie Wednesday night and you would have thought we hadn't seen them in a year.  My children are use to seeing them every day so this is very hard for all of us.  Daddy won't follow the rules though and hugs and kisses all over them.  He got very upset with me because I asked the nurse if he had to wear a mask and she made him.  He doesn't understand how dangerous any type of infection is for him right now.  Because his counts will bottom out this week and he has no immune system, we probably won't be taking them back.  Thursday was his day of rest but he had a bone marrow draw that he agreed to do to help with the clinical trial he is a part of.  It was optional but he wanted to do it to hopefully help with finding a cure for this awful disease.  He said it was just another day in paradise when I asked him how it went :)
    Thankfully, there are several familiar faces from last time still working in the unit.  Ashley, which Daddy affectionately dubbed "the mouth police," did his draw.  She comes by every morning at 6:30 and checks his mouth and he really likes her.  Friday was his "new birthday," as they refer to the transplant day.  It was uneventful which was a good thing. All Daddy talked about before he came was getting a room with a view.  He told the transplant coordinator to make sure he was on the other side of the hall so he could see the water because all he had to watch last time was construction.  Well, he ended up right back on the "bad" side of the hall.  But, on Friday, they unexpectedly moved him to the other side and he has a beautiful view of the harbor.  He was excited about this.  Today he was supposed to a drug that is new since the last transplant that will make his stem cells begin regenerating quicker.  Well, because he is inpatient, insurance denied payment.  So, it was up in the air as to whether he would get it because apparently it is VERY expensive.  But, God always makes a way.  Because he is a part of the clinical trial, they covered the shot. Praise the Lord.  This should help his immune system to come back sooner and prevent infection from occurring. 
    The children and I were in town last night because I had to take MC to the doctor.  It was heartbreaking to be that close and not be able to go see them.  At the time, we didn't know if what she has was contagious.  Thankfully, it isn't contagious, so I was able to go spend the day with them today.  They are very homesick and a little weary but we had a good day together.  Daddy can't taste anything but we did get him to eat a doughnut and five chicken nuggets. He said we could've fed him a napkin and told him it was a doughnut and he wouldn't have known the difference.  
     Bless his heart...he is such a good sport and so is Momma.  She doesn't complain about watching sports or westerns or whatever he wants to watch all day.  She hasn't left the hospital since Tuesday.  She is truly his rock and they are both  my heroes.  I am so thankful to have such Godly examples set before me and my children.  I know God has a plan in all of this and I choose to believe that His plan is to heal my Daddy.  That's what I am most thankful for in this Thanksgiving season.  Please continue to lift him up as this is typically the calm before the storm.  However, we have been praying and rebuking all of the things they have told us to expect.  Thanks for praying that with us.
~much love to you all!
PS...his room is now 5021 so the number would be 876-7521.

Admissions Day

     We just got back from MUSC.  Daddy got in his room about 5:00 this afternoon.  After his and Wilson's appointment this morning, we messed around Charleston waiting for them to call to say they had a room for him.  Well...finally Momma called them about 4:45.  Long story short, they had been calling their home number all day.  Great doctors...sometimes not so great communication.  Anyway, it worked out because really he would've just been sitting there not doing much all day anyway.  He is in room 5038 and his number is 876-7538 if you would like to give them a call or they have their cell phones as well.

     Tomorrow Daddy will begin chemo.  He will be taking the chemo he has been taking for the last few months.  This is the clinical trial phase of the transplant.  Normally, transplant patients are giving Melphalan alone.  He will be taking Carfilzomib along with the Melphalan to see if the two will be more effective together.  I know a lot of you don't care about all of this technical stuff but please remember that one day someone may be clamoring for information on Myeloma just like we were three short years ago, and I want to help them in any way possible.  Wednesday he will get the other chemo, Melphalan.  This is a massive dose and will kill his entire system pretty much.  

     With that in mind...some have asked can he have visitors?  Yes, he absolutely can and would love that I am sure.  BUT...he cannot have visitors who are sick or that have been around someone who is sick.  Even a common cold.  I am not trying to be rude but please keep in mind that Daddy, nor the other patients on the unit, will have an immune system.  Even a common cold can have a devastating effect on them.  But, if you are healthy, please feel free to go by and see them.  He also cannot have fresh flowers or fruit on the BMT unit.  

     He will have a day of rest Thursday and get the transplant on Friday.  This week will probably be okay and his numbers are expected to bottom out next Wednesday or Thursday.

     Daddy never complains and we were trying to tell his doctor that tonight.  They will ask how he is and he will say fine.  So, we were warning her.  He chimes in and says well I really didn't have pain last time I just felt like I was going to die but other than that I was fine.  Well....there you go!  That's Daddy!  He is so strong and handles things a lot better than we do.  Please lift him up and Momma too.  The caregiver has a lot of responsibility and she is understandably nervous and a little sad.  But, God is good and He provides all our needs so we are already praising Him for not just good, but GREAT results!

~much love to you all

PS Wilson had a great EKG and ECHO today and if his 24 hour monitor looks good we don't go back for 4 months...God is good!

Collection and Admissions Day

     Daddy's stem cell collection went well last Monday.  They collected 1.7 million so he didn't have to go back again or have any more shots!  What an answer to prayers!  The shot was so rough on him and he was in tremendous pain so we were very thankful he didn't have to have it again.  Before they did pheresis Monday, they put a tri-cath in his chest so they don't have to poke and prod on him for a while.  Home Health came this week to set Momma up to take care of it and they will be coming back several times a week once he is home from the hospital. 

     So, tomorrow is admissions day.  It has been a little sad around here today. Momma and Daddy are "homebodies" so the idea of being away from here for a month is hard on them. Wilson actually has a follow-up at MUSC with his cardiologist tomorrow so we will get to help them get settled in.  Daddy has some time between his appointment at Hollings and when he can be admitted so they told him he could go do some sight seeing.  Really?!?!  I don't think that is at the top of his list right now....but, lunch with a couple of the grands did make it a little better :) I mentioned tonight what days I was planning on coming and Daddy said what about the children?  I told him I hadn't planned on bringing them because it's not good for him to be around them and their germs.  That didn't go over too well with either of them.  Evidently, according to them, "they" (being the doctors) aren't as strict this time.  I tried to say that Daddy did so well last time so whether or not things seem as "strict," it is still good to follow those same guidelines.  Just please pray that the children stay well because I have a feeling I will have to take them at least once or I will be in big trouble :)

     The plan is to begin chemo the massive doses of chemo Tuesday and Wednesday, rest Thursday, and transplant his stem cells on Friday.  Hopefully, things will go as planned and be very uneventful.  The hardest days will be around Thanksgiving according to the calendar they gave us. We appreciate everyone's prayers so much.  Our church family prayed this morning and thanked God in advance for the miracle Daddy is about to receive.  Please keep thanking Him for it...we know it's coming!  I will update soon!

~much love to you all

When 5 million just isn't enough...

     There has been a little change of plans with Daddy's transplant.  It's kind of a complicated story but I'll do my best to explain.  In order for Daddy to be a part of the clinical trial, he has to agree to let them do a study on his stem cells.  So, he needs 2 million stem cells for the transplant and 2 million for the study.  He has 5 million frozen from the first collection back in 2010.  So, it seems he has plenty.  But...they are frozen in 3 separate containers with 1.6 million in each.  To have enough for the transplant, they would need to thaw 2 containers and that wouldn't leave enough for the study.  They have worked in the lab all week to see if refreezing was an option but they just lose too many cells.  So, Daddy  has to go through pheresis again this week to collect more cells and the transplant will begin on November 12th.  He went and got a shot yesterday to prompt the stem cell production and will have his port put in Monday.  After the port is in, he will go to the lab to collect the cells.  He lays there about 6-8 hours while his blood is taken out of his body, the stem cells are collected, and then the blood is put back in.  Hopefully they will collect enough Monday that he will be good to go.  But, if not, he will go back each day until they have enough collected.  So, the transplant is delayed a week but at least he still gets to be a part of the clinical trial.  

     And....the last and most exciting news...Rivers Thomas Wilson was born last Wednesday, October 31, and weighed 8lbs 8oz.  Deanne and Rivers are doing great.  Daddy got to be there :)  He is just perfect and such a blessing to our family!  See Daddy meeting Rivers below...

Thanks for your continuous prayers...God has a reason for everything and we are thanking Him every day for Daddy's healing!

~much love to you all