I thought since it has been a few weeks I would give an update. Things are going well Eric is doing really good. The doctors continue to be pleased with his progress and tell us he is a walking miracle!
Eric goes in now to the doctors every other Friday and we still fly back to Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to meet with his bone marrow transplant doctors every 3 months. Eric went in on Friday and his blood counts are good still way off from normal levels but he is doing good. His white cells are 3.1, red cells 4.28 and his platelets are 120. We are happy his platelets went a little up again we worry when they trend down but they jumped back up which is good!
Eric's energy gets better and better the more active he is and working. He does get pretty tired on the weekend due to every other Friday he has to go in and get a phlebotomy done about a pint of blood taken out. He had so many blood transfusion's to keep him alive at least over 150 that he has 4 times the toxic amount of Iron is his body. His doctors explained that they need to do this probably for the rest of his life so his organs don't get damaged. It makes his really tired the day of and day after he has that done, he is pretty sluggish and his memory is pretty bad but by Saturday afternoon he is feeling alot better.
I continue to be so amazed and where he is and how far he has came! Eric is a miracle and we have been blessed so much and I am so grateful to the Lord and his donor! We think about his donor daily so often and I always reflect on how grateful I am and amazed by his donor's unconditional love to save a complete strangers life! I am so grateful to the Lord for all my blessings, for Eric and his health right now, for friends, neighbors, family whom have supported us through out our "Journey of Hope" I can not begin to tell you what a better year already it has been.
I have been very busy with work and Eric is busy as well. The kids just finished up their 2nd term on school both getting high honor roll. I am so proud of them and thankful for the way they have been able to handle all of this stress and worries about their Dad and his health. They are good kids who I am so grateful for and know what an honor is it to be their mother and cherish that responsibility! We added to our family... Santa brought the kids 2 Yorkie Puppies for Christmas! We had to check with Eric's doctors and they said he is ok he just can't clean up after them or bathe them but other than that we are good. They are so cute and we just love them like they are a new brother and sister to the family. Austin of course due to his obsession with Peyton Manning and the Colts named his little guy Peyton and Chelsea named her little princess London!
They bring such laughter and joy around the house and love to run and greet each person at the door when we come home with excitement. Eric and I wanted to have more children but when he was diagnosed with cancer the first time at 28 years old we were told we could not. Some of you know as well we tried to adopt a little girl back in 2006 right before Eric's 2nd cancer diagnose through an open adoption but the mom changed her mind weeks before birth which emotionally was devastating to us so we decided to not open that hurtful chapter again to adoption. So needless to say these two little puppies are a very welcomed addition to our family and are spoiled alot!
We are so blessed and thankful to the Lord and continue our path of this journey with faith, love and gratitude. We recognize many hands in our lives and know the Lord is mindful and watching over us always! Thank you to all of you out there.... family, friends, co workers, neighbors we love and appreciate all of you!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Monday, December 20, 2010
Merry Christmas!
This week we are celebrating the Savior's birth and I have so many reflections and blessings that I am so thankful for. I am so grateful to Eric's donor whom I think of daily, how much love and gratitude we have in our hearts for the Miracle of saving Eric's life by becoming his donor.
We are so blessed to be here at this point of our " Journey of Hope" Eric responding and doing well the doctors tell us they are very pleased with his progress. He went to the doctor the other day and his white cell count is 3.6 , red cells counts 4.41 with his platelets at 109. He is doing well, energy is getting better and loving working and being back to normal life.
Last year it was such a different Christmas for us. We had just brought Eric home and he was not doing to well, the nurses were coming in daily to take care of him and he was pretty weak. What a difference a year can make. We are so grateful to the Lord for allowing Eric more time with us as a family, for blessing us with his donor, for allowing hid body strength to continue fighting despite what the doctors were telling us and the test results were saying. We know we have had many blessings to be so thankful for.
I hope all of you have a Merry Christmas and take the time as you are spending the Holidays with your family and loved ones to reflect on the Savior and his birth and all he has done for all of us. I posted this beautiful video about the Savior last Christmas on my blog and I love this so much I shared it with the Young Women in our Ward this past Sunday. I think it is an amazing reminder of the Savior's birth and us allowing him in our lives. I am posting it again and hope that you all enjoy it- it is one of our family's favorites! Merry Christmas and I hope we all have room for the Savior in our lives! I hope we all remember " Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus." - Neal A. Maxwell
We are so blessed to be here at this point of our " Journey of Hope" Eric responding and doing well the doctors tell us they are very pleased with his progress. He went to the doctor the other day and his white cell count is 3.6 , red cells counts 4.41 with his platelets at 109. He is doing well, energy is getting better and loving working and being back to normal life.
Last year it was such a different Christmas for us. We had just brought Eric home and he was not doing to well, the nurses were coming in daily to take care of him and he was pretty weak. What a difference a year can make. We are so grateful to the Lord for allowing Eric more time with us as a family, for blessing us with his donor, for allowing hid body strength to continue fighting despite what the doctors were telling us and the test results were saying. We know we have had many blessings to be so thankful for.
I hope all of you have a Merry Christmas and take the time as you are spending the Holidays with your family and loved ones to reflect on the Savior and his birth and all he has done for all of us. I posted this beautiful video about the Savior last Christmas on my blog and I love this so much I shared it with the Young Women in our Ward this past Sunday. I think it is an amazing reminder of the Savior's birth and us allowing him in our lives. I am posting it again and hope that you all enjoy it- it is one of our family's favorites! Merry Christmas and I hope we all have room for the Savior in our lives! I hope we all remember " Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus." - Neal A. Maxwell
Monday, December 6, 2010
A year ago.....
A year ago tomorrow was the exact the day Eric and I fly home from Texas from his bone marrow transplant. I will never forget that day, we boarded the plane and Eric looked at me and started to cry as we took off and said" We are going home, can you believe it?" " I didn't know when I flew down here if I would be able to make this flight home."
Our hearts were so full of joy and grateful that Eric was well enough to come home again, to be a family again and see his kids. I remember on that long flight I kept looking at Eric sleeping and saying so many prayers, thanking the Lord, thanking his donor and asking for continued strength for Eric and his body. I remember it was a short day of being home when we also got bad news that he was rejecting his bone marrow transplant however after a week of fasting and prayers we received another amazing blessing- a Christmas Miracle he was 99% grafted with his donors cells and no cell abnormalities despite the tests results the prior week.
Another amazing reminder of what the Lord has given us and the continued blessings we receive. I can not help but reflect on the dates, the mile stones and the past hardest year of our lives with such gratitude in my heart to the Lord. I remember when Eric was first diagnosed with his cancer back in June 19,2002 he was in the hospital undergoing high dose chemo therapy and Elder Neal A. Maxwell called us at his hospital room and told me that he and the Quorum of the Twelve wanted to take Eric name in the temple that week and perform a special fast on Eric's behalf. The blessings the gospel brings and continues to bring to our lives amazes me.
I am so grateful to be on this part of our " Journey of Hope" for Eric, to be home a year from then and Eric responding so well. He is as his doctors tell us all the time a MIRACLE! I could not have been blessed more to be given the amazing blessing to be his wife, eternal companion which I cherish daily. I am so grateful to his donor whom we will get to meet in about 9 months from now, what an amazing gift- the gift of life you have given us! Christ like unconditional love, there are no words to express enough our love and gratitude.
One of Eric's favorite songs and mine as well is " I Know That My Redeemer Lives" Eric had told me he wanted this song to be sung at his funeral, he told me that it gives him great peace. I am so grateful that I did not have to plan that at this time but I know this is a beautiful song that will someday be sung at his funeral. Many times while at Eric's hospital bed side I would be crying and pleading with the Lord and listen to this very song, Eric is right the peace it provides. I know the Lord provides these beautiful songs to bring us comfort and peace in time of need. I am attaching this amazing song and video that I hope you will watch and feel the peace and comfort we feel when we listen to this beautiful song. Please click on the video/ song link that I am posting to watch and listen to it.
We are so grateful for all our blessings and thank all of you whom have shown unconditional love and support. Thanks for continuing with us on our " Journey of Hope"
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Count Your Many Blessings....
Many times I would here the words from this amazing hymn in my heart and mind as I watched Eric struggle throughout his transplant, when I had my two children crying to me asking "Why?" or say " Mom but this is not fair, why Dad, why us?" Many times I would have to dig deep and sing these words from this hymn and it would always bring me peace and comfort and allow me to look at the blessing we do have, to focus on the blessings we had been given not so much on Eric dying and his cancer.
These very words helped me on days when I thought we would, could not possibly get through one more minute like this during Eric's transplant. I think of his donor and the ultimate sacrifice he made very unselfishly saving Eric's life. I have such love and gratitude for him even though we have not met I am so amazed by his unconditional love for a complete stranger. I have always told my two kids "Attitude of Gratitude" I remind them often and have a sign in the family room where we all can see and be reminded of this. All of us not just my family have so much to be grateful for, so many blessings not just at Thanksgiving time but all the time. We all can count our many blessings, name them one by one....These words we all can carry and sing in our hearts and minds to help us when times are bad and even more importantly when times are good.
So often we remember our blessings and reflect when things are good but I have learned through personal experience how important that is when things are not so good, when things actually quite bad. When we are going through trials and tribulations that is when our faith and strength is not only tested but grown. I know how grateful I am for all my many blessings, for Eric and his health, for his bone marrow donor, for my two beautiful kids, for my home, food on the table, the gospel and scriptures, my career, so many things the Lord has given us.
When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
Count your blessings
Name them one by one
Count your blessings
See what God hath done
Count your blessings
Name them one by one
Count your many blessings
See what God hath done
Are you ever burden with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly
And you will be singing as the days go by
When you look at others with their lands and gold
Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold
Count your many blessings, money can not buy
Your reward in heaven nor your home on high
So amid your conflict, whether great or small
Do not be discouraged, God is over all
Count your many blessings, angels will attend
Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.
I can not tell you how much these words have helped me and provide me peace and comfort allowing me to recognize all of my many blessings even during hard times. I am so grateful to the Lord and I keep thinking about where just last year we were at and what was going on and I am so grateful to the Clark family and our "Texas Ward" being there for us when we were so far away from home, alone for the Holidays.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you enjoy your holiday and most importantly remember to always count your many blessings!
These very words helped me on days when I thought we would, could not possibly get through one more minute like this during Eric's transplant. I think of his donor and the ultimate sacrifice he made very unselfishly saving Eric's life. I have such love and gratitude for him even though we have not met I am so amazed by his unconditional love for a complete stranger. I have always told my two kids "Attitude of Gratitude" I remind them often and have a sign in the family room where we all can see and be reminded of this. All of us not just my family have so much to be grateful for, so many blessings not just at Thanksgiving time but all the time. We all can count our many blessings, name them one by one....These words we all can carry and sing in our hearts and minds to help us when times are bad and even more importantly when times are good.
So often we remember our blessings and reflect when things are good but I have learned through personal experience how important that is when things are not so good, when things actually quite bad. When we are going through trials and tribulations that is when our faith and strength is not only tested but grown. I know how grateful I am for all my many blessings, for Eric and his health, for his bone marrow donor, for my two beautiful kids, for my home, food on the table, the gospel and scriptures, my career, so many things the Lord has given us.
When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
Count your blessings
Name them one by one
Count your blessings
See what God hath done
Count your blessings
Name them one by one
Count your many blessings
See what God hath done
Are you ever burden with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly
And you will be singing as the days go by
When you look at others with their lands and gold
Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold
Count your many blessings, money can not buy
Your reward in heaven nor your home on high
So amid your conflict, whether great or small
Do not be discouraged, God is over all
Count your many blessings, angels will attend
Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.
I can not tell you how much these words have helped me and provide me peace and comfort allowing me to recognize all of my many blessings even during hard times. I am so grateful to the Lord and I keep thinking about where just last year we were at and what was going on and I am so grateful to the Clark family and our "Texas Ward" being there for us when we were so far away from home, alone for the Holidays.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you enjoy your holiday and most importantly remember to always count your many blessings!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
18 Years- Happy Anniversary!
Today is our Wedding Anniversary, we have been married for 18 years! It has been the best 18 years of my life! I am so grateful for Eric's donor who saved his life and made it possible to be able to be celebrating another amazing year with my eternal companion. I look at Eric everyday and smile with such happiness that he brings me. I remember last year we were back in Texas Eric not feeling well for our Anniversary and Eric telling me that he would make it up to me next year.
Eric you have already made it up to me just by being here by my side and doing better. These past few months have been one of reflection, memories some good and some bad of reliving each day and moment of where we were this time last year but mostly of being able to be thankful and recognize all the blessings the Lord has given us. Eric is doing so well and I am so thankful for our miracles and tender mercies the Lord blessed us with.
I remember a few times when Eric thought he would not possibly make it he had told me that he loves me so much and that even if he is gone that he really will not be cause he will be mine and the kids guardian angel watching over us and protecting us. He wanted to make sure I knew that so many times he would make sure to remind me of that. Oh how thankful I am that the Lord blessed Eric with more time and that at least for now Eric has been blessed to be still here with us.
Eric still has not been able to read the blog he says it is to hard for him but I am sure maybe some day he will in time when he is ready. Eric I am so happy to be married to you and your eternal companion. I love you so much I don't think in words I could ever express how much you mean to me. What peace and comfort I feel knowing that we are the eternal companions and that we will always be together forever. I am so thankful to your donor who saved your life and gave me the amazing miracle and gift of more time with you. You are my world, I wake up everyday happy and knowing that I am so blessed to have you!
Eric you are an amazing Dad whom the kids love to be with. The smile on their faces and the laughter they have when you guys are together is a BIG GIFT to me as I love watching all of you spend time together and making these amazing memories that we will continue to cherish forever! I know you know this but both the kids are so thankful for you and happy to have you healthier and home again! You are so funny, your sense of humor is never gone and you keep me on my toes with all of your funny comments and little "pranks" you do. I had missed that so much during those hard 5- 10 months you were really battling your bone marrow transplant. What a MIRACLE you are Eric and I love you so much! Happy 18 Years Wedding Anniversary! I know we will have many more, thanks to your amazing donor.
Eric you have already made it up to me just by being here by my side and doing better. These past few months have been one of reflection, memories some good and some bad of reliving each day and moment of where we were this time last year but mostly of being able to be thankful and recognize all the blessings the Lord has given us. Eric is doing so well and I am so thankful for our miracles and tender mercies the Lord blessed us with.
I remember a few times when Eric thought he would not possibly make it he had told me that he loves me so much and that even if he is gone that he really will not be cause he will be mine and the kids guardian angel watching over us and protecting us. He wanted to make sure I knew that so many times he would make sure to remind me of that. Oh how thankful I am that the Lord blessed Eric with more time and that at least for now Eric has been blessed to be still here with us.
Eric still has not been able to read the blog he says it is to hard for him but I am sure maybe some day he will in time when he is ready. Eric I am so happy to be married to you and your eternal companion. I love you so much I don't think in words I could ever express how much you mean to me. What peace and comfort I feel knowing that we are the eternal companions and that we will always be together forever. I am so thankful to your donor who saved your life and gave me the amazing miracle and gift of more time with you. You are my world, I wake up everyday happy and knowing that I am so blessed to have you!
Eric you are an amazing Dad whom the kids love to be with. The smile on their faces and the laughter they have when you guys are together is a BIG GIFT to me as I love watching all of you spend time together and making these amazing memories that we will continue to cherish forever! I know you know this but both the kids are so thankful for you and happy to have you healthier and home again! You are so funny, your sense of humor is never gone and you keep me on my toes with all of your funny comments and little "pranks" you do. I had missed that so much during those hard 5- 10 months you were really battling your bone marrow transplant. What a MIRACLE you are Eric and I love you so much! Happy 18 Years Wedding Anniversary! I know we will have many more, thanks to your amazing donor.
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