John was moved from the hospital over to the guest housing apartment. There had a been a slight delay as he had caught a "bug". But things seem to be going well.
Monday he has an appointment at the clinic. If all is well, he MIGHT come home to Ludington.
Keep fingers crossed, and hands clasped in prayer please.
Michelle
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Merry Christmas!!!
Merry Christmas everyone. Just wanted to take the opportunity to thank everyone for the prayers and thoughts. Those are my Christmas presents this year. It's nice to hear all the reports I get from Michelle, Kay and others that tell me who has asked about me and has said they are praying for me.
cheers!
John
cheers!
John
Thursday, December 24, 2009
making progress
Wednesday white blood count was up to 5.2. woo-hoo!!!! John actually has some defense now against all that bad stuff out there. Hemoglobin is still only creeping though. Thus, still very tired. Still has some of the other side-effects, just more manageable. Kay was able to go to Christmas Mass held there in the hospital and someone brought Communion up to John. The Holy Spirit helps with the healing process so I'm glad they were able to participate.
Supposed to be released today. BUT, he will be moving across the courtyard to guest housing where Kay has been staying. Detroit being 4 hours away from home, staying nearby is necessary in case he has a set-back. Will have a clinic check-up on Monday, then we'll see.
This is all the proposed plan. Will continue to update you.
Michelle
Supposed to be released today. BUT, he will be moving across the courtyard to guest housing where Kay has been staying. Detroit being 4 hours away from home, staying nearby is necessary in case he has a set-back. Will have a clinic check-up on Monday, then we'll see.
This is all the proposed plan. Will continue to update you.
Michelle
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
a new week
John's white (blood cell) count is up to 0.8!!!! When it's up to 5, then I'll really celebrate. Guess I should find out what the doc says the count has to be at in order to be released. At this point, chemo has been done, killed everything off, stem-cells have been replaced - so we just gotta get John's blood counts back up. i.e. his white count, red count and Hemoglobin.
Kay is over her infectious part of her cold/sinus infection. She went back to Detroit on Sunday. Now they get to just stare at each other all day for the next week. That is, until John falls back asleep (which he does a lot of) and then Kay catches up on her reading. She's quite the avid reader so it works out well. That right there my folks, is the exciting life and times of John & Kay Hemmer.
:)
Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers.
Michelle
Kay is over her infectious part of her cold/sinus infection. She went back to Detroit on Sunday. Now they get to just stare at each other all day for the next week. That is, until John falls back asleep (which he does a lot of) and then Kay catches up on her reading. She's quite the avid reader so it works out well. That right there my folks, is the exciting life and times of John & Kay Hemmer.
:)
Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers.
Michelle
Friday, December 18, 2009
visitors
John is just too tired to do much on the computer if anything at all. One side effect of the chemo is a body rash so they give him Benadryl. Works well. Of course, if any of you have ever taken Benadryl, you know it makes you very sleepy. That's an understatement for John. It actually makes him rest really good. But no concentration to focus on the computer. He apologizes. No worries though I remind him.
I drove down to Detroit on Thursday. Will head back to Ludington Saturday. Heidi and Tim visitied today (Friday) they left the twins with me in guest housing since they obviously weren't permitted in his room or even that entire part of the hospital. We (twins and I) did wave from the sidewalk though and had the cell phone speaker on. The twins sent along art projects and coloring pages to decorate the room and to let their Papa know how they love him.
Justin will be visiting Saturday morning. How convenient that he also will be picking up his girlfriend from the Detroit airport. Kay will be back here on Sunday. By then she will hopefully be well-rested and recooperated from her awful cold.
John's room is decorated for the holidays, which makes the nurses just love coming in his room. He has a great Christmas tree with lights made out of red and green shotgun shells, a cheery singing and dancing Christmas tree that bobs along to "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", and a glass snowman that glitters and changes colors. Plus, all the many wonderful get-well or Christmas cards that people have sent.
His appetite has increased very slowly. Maybe up to a third of his meals now. Walking laps around the unit are encouraged. 16 laps are supposed to equal one mile. But good ol' John counted the tiles and figured out since each tile is 12 inches, yadda, yadda, yadda, 1 mile is 15 laps plus some distance. Well, at least he's able to exercise his brain occasionally. He's not up to 16 laps by any means, but maybe by the time he gets discharged he can hit 10 laps.
I will try to post some pics on here.
thank you for the continued prayers,
Michelle
John
and the rest of the Hemmers
I drove down to Detroit on Thursday. Will head back to Ludington Saturday. Heidi and Tim visitied today (Friday) they left the twins with me in guest housing since they obviously weren't permitted in his room or even that entire part of the hospital. We (twins and I) did wave from the sidewalk though and had the cell phone speaker on. The twins sent along art projects and coloring pages to decorate the room and to let their Papa know how they love him.
Justin will be visiting Saturday morning. How convenient that he also will be picking up his girlfriend from the Detroit airport. Kay will be back here on Sunday. By then she will hopefully be well-rested and recooperated from her awful cold.
John's room is decorated for the holidays, which makes the nurses just love coming in his room. He has a great Christmas tree with lights made out of red and green shotgun shells, a cheery singing and dancing Christmas tree that bobs along to "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", and a glass snowman that glitters and changes colors. Plus, all the many wonderful get-well or Christmas cards that people have sent.
His appetite has increased very slowly. Maybe up to a third of his meals now. Walking laps around the unit are encouraged. 16 laps are supposed to equal one mile. But good ol' John counted the tiles and figured out since each tile is 12 inches, yadda, yadda, yadda, 1 mile is 15 laps plus some distance. Well, at least he's able to exercise his brain occasionally. He's not up to 16 laps by any means, but maybe by the time he gets discharged he can hit 10 laps.
I will try to post some pics on here.
thank you for the continued prayers,
Michelle
John
and the rest of the Hemmers
Thursday, December 17, 2009
quote
I found this quote and thought it was fitting.
"Stop telling God how big your storm is.
Instead, tell the storm how big your God is!"
Michelle
"Stop telling God how big your storm is.
Instead, tell the storm how big your God is!"
Michelle
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Day plus 5
So they told us the five days after John got his stem-cells back were gonna be pretty bad. I think that was an understatement.
Of course, there are still the lasting effects of the chemo - fatigue, sore mouth, lack of appetite, etc, etc, etc. The transplant caused the blood count to drop though. Yup, very tired, and wearing a mask all the time. John received a blood transfusion and a couple packs of platelets. Starting to feel a bit better. He actually ate today - well, drank an Ensure. I hear the Strawberry is pretty good.
I told him a long time ago, he should familiarize himself with that stuff. Just knew he'd end up having it given to him. :)
Dr. Ayash has promised he will start feeling better soon. Your prayers will help too!
later,
Michelle
Of course, there are still the lasting effects of the chemo - fatigue, sore mouth, lack of appetite, etc, etc, etc. The transplant caused the blood count to drop though. Yup, very tired, and wearing a mask all the time. John received a blood transfusion and a couple packs of platelets. Starting to feel a bit better. He actually ate today - well, drank an Ensure. I hear the Strawberry is pretty good.
I told him a long time ago, he should familiarize himself with that stuff. Just knew he'd end up having it given to him. :)
Dr. Ayash has promised he will start feeling better soon. Your prayers will help too!
later,
Michelle
Monday, December 14, 2009
Transplant done
Wednesday was last day of chemo. They let John rest on Thursday, except for an IV drip of course. Friday, John got his stem-cells back.
We were told the first five days after the transplant were gonna be rough. It cause the blood count to drop drastically. No white cells, so he is vulnerable to catch anything. Hence, he wears a mask pretty much all the time now, including anyone else who goes into the room. Red cells and Hemoglobin drop so that makes him even more tired and fatigued.
Not much of an appetite. Chemo caused his mouth to become raw. So swallowing/chewing/etc isn't much fun. Chemo caused his mouth to be very dry also so that makes it difficult to talk. And then there's the need to shuffle to the bathroom often. note I said "shuffle". Still has neuropathy in his feet/lower legs and hands. (numbness, loss of sensation).
But he's hanging in there. That German stubbornness is good for something.
Kay has an awful cold, so she came back to Ludington to get better. With this time being the worst for John to catch a virus or bug, it was best. So please keep her in your thoughts also.
signed,
Michelle
We were told the first five days after the transplant were gonna be rough. It cause the blood count to drop drastically. No white cells, so he is vulnerable to catch anything. Hence, he wears a mask pretty much all the time now, including anyone else who goes into the room. Red cells and Hemoglobin drop so that makes him even more tired and fatigued.
Not much of an appetite. Chemo caused his mouth to become raw. So swallowing/chewing/etc isn't much fun. Chemo caused his mouth to be very dry also so that makes it difficult to talk. And then there's the need to shuffle to the bathroom often. note I said "shuffle". Still has neuropathy in his feet/lower legs and hands. (numbness, loss of sensation).
But he's hanging in there. That German stubbornness is good for something.
Kay has an awful cold, so she came back to Ludington to get better. With this time being the worst for John to catch a virus or bug, it was best. So please keep her in your thoughts also.
signed,
Michelle
Saturday, December 5, 2009
chemo begins
Hey, this is Michelle. Dad's laptop/internet isn't working so well at the hospital. Hopefully they can fix they problem soon. Until then, I thought I would fill you in.
John checked into the hospital Thursday afternoon. Chemo started Friday with a BIG dose and some pretty nasty stuff. So I'm sure you can imagine how he feels. Though every complaint or ailment he may have, they seem to have a pill for. You could probably get a pill if you had a hangnail. ;) Today's chemo along with the next 4 days is a different chemo that he will actually receive 3 times a day. This is all through an IV of course.
He tells me he enjoys the staff and they are very friendly. He does NOT recommend the scrambled eggs though!
They three people who are a big part of his team are: Dr. Ayash, Steve the pharmacist and Kathleen who coordinates everything. I keep them in my prayers that they are are given good guidance while taking care of my dad.
chow!
Harper Hospital
Pt. John Hemmer
4100 John R. Street
8WN-Room #8208
Detroit, MI 48201
John checked into the hospital Thursday afternoon. Chemo started Friday with a BIG dose and some pretty nasty stuff. So I'm sure you can imagine how he feels. Though every complaint or ailment he may have, they seem to have a pill for. You could probably get a pill if you had a hangnail. ;) Today's chemo along with the next 4 days is a different chemo that he will actually receive 3 times a day. This is all through an IV of course.
He tells me he enjoys the staff and they are very friendly. He does NOT recommend the scrambled eggs though!
They three people who are a big part of his team are: Dr. Ayash, Steve the pharmacist and Kathleen who coordinates everything. I keep them in my prayers that they are are given good guidance while taking care of my dad.
chow!
Harper Hospital
Pt. John Hemmer
4100 John R. Street
8WN-Room #8208
Detroit, MI 48201
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
putting'em back
Howdy folks,
Arrived in motown about 1400 hrs. today, had a check-up and a schedule of what is going to be happening the next three weeks. Nothing to exciting so far.tomorrow is kind of a slow day but Friday the action starts hardcore. All the personal here are very nice, treat you with respect and go out of their way to please you and keep you comfortable.
Sort of slow at the present time but will keep you posted daily.
Hope you all are doing well.
JOHN
ps Kay is having a good time too. I think.
Arrived in motown about 1400 hrs. today, had a check-up and a schedule of what is going to be happening the next three weeks. Nothing to exciting so far.tomorrow is kind of a slow day but Friday the action starts hardcore. All the personal here are very nice, treat you with respect and go out of their way to please you and keep you comfortable.
Sort of slow at the present time but will keep you posted daily.
Hope you all are doing well.
JOHN
ps Kay is having a good time too. I think.
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