Well it has been a busy week since Eric went back to work. He is excited to be back and he has loved seeing all his law enforcement family/buddies. Eric was suppose to edge his way back but for those of you who know Eric well he doesn't know the meaning of that. His first day back he did 10 hours and the next days that followed 12 and 14 hour days just to get through all his case load and organized. He loves his job but I am not a fan of him putting in so many hours but what can I do. He came home his first few days and took 2-3 hour naps once he got home which is well deserved! I am proud of him for this next step he has taken to return to work and so early as most bone marrow transplant patients do not return until 2-3 years after their transplants. I am cautious but so proud of him and know that he wants to be back to a "normal" life again and that this is an important step for him towards that. He is a hard worker, wonderful man whom I am blessed to be married to.
We had some sad news the other day Eric's Aunt Carol passed away from her cancer unexpectedly she took a sudden turn for the worse. Her viewing and funeral is tomorrow and Saturday. We are so sad to have her pass but we know she must have loved the reunion with Eric's Dad (her brother) and her mom whom I am sure was there to bring her to the other side. I am not sure if it is just us lately but we feel so surrounded by this horrible "cancer" and we are feeling like we are losing more and more wonderful people to it. What a wonderful day it will be when there is a CURE for cancer!!
Eric is doing well he is still decreasing down on some of his post transplant anti rejection medications. We are still in the thick of paying for all his medications and moving fast towards our out of pocket maximum $8,000.00. I can't believe we will hit our out of pocket maximum for the year just in Eric's medications within the first 30 days of it! It is crazy, his medications are well over $10,000.00 a month alone, on last Friday I went to the pharmacy to pick up just 4 of his medications for 30 days worth and it was $4,453.00!!!! The pharmacist when she sees us just shakes her head and says" OK are you ready for the amount today- it's an arm and a leg!" Whew I can not wait to hit this out of pocket maximum and start having everything paid for 100%!!! It's hard to pay all your normal monthly obligations and on top of that come up with $8,000.00 all within a 30 day time period. There are not payment plans for required prescription medications that you NEED to LIVE!
That being said we are blessed Eric is doing well and accepting his donors marrow and 100% grafted with his donors cells! We recognized the blessings and miracles the Lord continues to provide to us and we are grateful. We have experienced on many occasions tender mercies from the Lord that without him I do not know where we would be. I am so grateful for Eric's donor and for his selfless unconditional love and act of kindness to save Eric's life! I pray for him and his family everyday and know that without him we would not have Eric here today with us! What an amazing feeling it must be to know you saved a person's life and for nothing in return just out of unconditional love! There are amazing people in this world and it restores my faith and hope.
Eric's counts are pretty good a few things went down a little but that is to be expected all in all pretty good.. Eric's white cells are at 4.4 a little down from last time, red blood cells 4.33 with his Hemoglobin at 14.8. His platelets went down a little from 110 last time down to 102 but still hanging in there. His creatinine is good and his kidney functions and liver is at the levels they expect right now. We just got done with Chelsea being in the Bountiful 24th July parade for her Woods Cross High School cheer team, the kids returned from Youth Conference/Quest and loved it! Just signed Austin up again to start football - there goes our Saturdays right! It is good though back again as a family making the memories we so have missed over the last year! All in all things are good at the Barker home and we are continuing on this journey hopefully coming down the hill now and piecing back together our lives. We know that with the Lord and our continued faith all things are possible!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Going Back to Work....
Well sorry for the delay the past few weeks not posting anything... We left off with Eric's friend passing away Patrick. Eric was not able to find a way to fly down for the funeral but he thought about him alot during the past few days and weeks. I know that Patrick is not suffering anymore and he is in a better place...it's just hard for us, the ones he leaves behind. We love you Patrick and the bond you and Eric share is eternal!
The past week our home has been really quiet. The kids both went on Youth Conference/ Quest with the Ward/Stake. We had to make them tribal wear for them to wear everyday up there, that was fun! A big thank you to my Mom who sewed them for us at the family BBQ!! We couldn't have made them without her, she gave Eric a class 101 on sewing it was fun to watch! The kids both got home last night and they said they loved it!! Chelsea and Austin both told us about how they re-enacted parts from the Book Of Mormon and at the end Pres. Terry was Christ in the second coming dressed in white, asking the leaders and them to " Come Follow Me" and how emotional/ spiritual that was, they said everyone was crying! They loved the "Faith Walk" -they had to be blind folded for it, the "Hold to the Iron Rod" trial where they were tested and tempted and how neat and fun that was! I am so glad they both went and had this amazing experience, it was a opportunity both Eric and I did not want them to miss! Chelsea had to adjust her work schedule, trade shifts, give shifts away- I told her she would be blessed for doing that in many ways. I missed them and I am so happy to have them HOME!!
Eric is going back to work Monday .....I have to admit I think it is to soon and I am extremely worried! He doesn't know the meaning of pace yourself, slowly go back or part time like the doctors have told him. He just goes...I know he wants so bad to get back to work though. He wants normalcy, he wants to be back at the job he loves, surrounded by all his law enforcements friends/buddies. He has missed it, I am thankful he loves his job so much and its a happy place for him not a burden I just wish he was not going back for a while longer so he could get stronger and more out from his transplant and recovery. I am a typical worrier so I am a bit over bearing but after you watch your husband go to deaths door and climb back and have a second chance at life you get a little protective! He went golfing this morning with some ward friends/ buddies Tori Hinkle and Paul Clements. I know he is enjoying himself and having a chance to start to piece back his life and normal things. I am so thankful to the Lord for all our blessings, for Eric being were he is right now and having another chance at life.
I am so thankful for Eric's donor and saving his life! When we went to the doctors the other day Eric's counts are pretty good. His white cells are 4.5, his red blood cells are 4.55 and hemoglobin 15.7 with this platelets at 110 ( they went down a little but still good). All in all things are doing ok and we are slowly moving along. We are blessed and thankful for all the Lord has given us and know with him all things are possible!
The past week our home has been really quiet. The kids both went on Youth Conference/ Quest with the Ward/Stake. We had to make them tribal wear for them to wear everyday up there, that was fun! A big thank you to my Mom who sewed them for us at the family BBQ!! We couldn't have made them without her, she gave Eric a class 101 on sewing it was fun to watch! The kids both got home last night and they said they loved it!! Chelsea and Austin both told us about how they re-enacted parts from the Book Of Mormon and at the end Pres. Terry was Christ in the second coming dressed in white, asking the leaders and them to " Come Follow Me" and how emotional/ spiritual that was, they said everyone was crying! They loved the "Faith Walk" -they had to be blind folded for it, the "Hold to the Iron Rod" trial where they were tested and tempted and how neat and fun that was! I am so glad they both went and had this amazing experience, it was a opportunity both Eric and I did not want them to miss! Chelsea had to adjust her work schedule, trade shifts, give shifts away- I told her she would be blessed for doing that in many ways. I missed them and I am so happy to have them HOME!!
Eric is going back to work Monday .....I have to admit I think it is to soon and I am extremely worried! He doesn't know the meaning of pace yourself, slowly go back or part time like the doctors have told him. He just goes...I know he wants so bad to get back to work though. He wants normalcy, he wants to be back at the job he loves, surrounded by all his law enforcements friends/buddies. He has missed it, I am thankful he loves his job so much and its a happy place for him not a burden I just wish he was not going back for a while longer so he could get stronger and more out from his transplant and recovery. I am a typical worrier so I am a bit over bearing but after you watch your husband go to deaths door and climb back and have a second chance at life you get a little protective! He went golfing this morning with some ward friends/ buddies Tori Hinkle and Paul Clements. I know he is enjoying himself and having a chance to start to piece back his life and normal things. I am so thankful to the Lord for all our blessings, for Eric being were he is right now and having another chance at life.
I am so thankful for Eric's donor and saving his life! When we went to the doctors the other day Eric's counts are pretty good. His white cells are 4.5, his red blood cells are 4.55 and hemoglobin 15.7 with this platelets at 110 ( they went down a little but still good). All in all things are doing ok and we are slowly moving along. We are blessed and thankful for all the Lord has given us and know with him all things are possible!
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