Laura's had a cold for a while and has felt less than good.

She went to her regular Atlanta appointment on Friday and found out that she has pneumonia (!!). They gave her some (MORE) antibiotics which her stomach doesn't love, but hopefully it will make her feel way better, way fast!!!

She and Mary Celeste have plans to go to NYC to see Emily in her play next weekend. Please pray that she feels strong and energetic enough to go and have a GGGGREEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTT
time.

And, please continue to pray that she heals and that her donor marrow decides to make a home in her body and treat her right.

Thank you, people.
And, GFW!, sister of mine!
I love you.

Laura's been havin' a time with the silly ol' Graft vs. Host disease. 

Her eyes still hurt, her joints hurt and the steroid induced diabetes is a problem, too.

Please pray that the medicine that she rec'd a few weeks ago will really kick in and give her some relief.  Pray that the GVHD will leave her body and give her some peace.

She's planning to go to New York in October to see Emily's play. Please pray that she feels good enough to make the trip and that she can relax and really enjoy the trip, too.

I, personally, am tired of sickness. I'm praying that she is healed completely. 

Please pray with me.

Laura had a full summer. She worked in her yard. Her children came home for visits. She hosted the siblings at her house in July and she and Mary Celeste went to California to see Lisa perform at Shakespeare Santa Cruz. (I just saw some photos of Lisa on facebook and it looks like she just MIGHT'VE had fun! Wish I could've seen it.)

School started back for Laura about a week or two ago, but her mind was workin' on stuff way before then.

When I was there in July, she was having trouble with her GVHD (Graft vs. Host Disease). It's been causing joint swelling and pain. It also showed itself in her eyes. They haven't been producing tears. One of the days I was there, the eye doctor sent her to have some blood drawn and then we took that blood to a compound pharmacy and they made it into drops that were supposed to help her eyes. Isn't that fascinating?!  Unfortunately, they're not working, though.

This past Monday she had a doctor's appointment and they decided that she needs to be in a GVHD clinic -- which means that they'll focus on the GVHD. It also means she has to go to the doctor every week (a 3-hour drive there and back). That will start next week. They're going to change her medicine a little bit, too.

All of this isn't much fun for her, but she feels strongly that if there's something that can be done, then it's worth doing it.

Please pray that the doctors will figure this thing out, that her GVHD will go away and that her body and the bone marrow she rec'd a year and a half ago will begin to get along JUST fine. Perhaps even love each other.

Still GFWinnin'!!!!!!!!!!!! 

We love you.

An update on the latest with Laura:

A couple of weeks ago, she went to the doctor and it was determined that she has chronic Graft vs. Host disease (GVHD). She may have it forever, she may have it off and on or she may have it right now and then never again. (I'm hoping for the latter.)

The most uncomfortable part of this disease right now is that it's in her eyes. Her eyes are not producing tears and that causes a burning sensation and redness. She's waiting for a prescription (Restasis) to be approved, and hopefully, that will clear up that problem.

Another effect of the GVHD is that the tissues around her joints is thickening -- which she says is not very uncomfortable "just ugly." Her muscles hurt sometimes and she sometimes gets out of breath going upstairs. She's lost some weight, but is pretty sure that the 40 mgs. of steroids that she takes daily will help with that. She says she's "eating everything in sight."  She is already feeling stronger  and more energetic from two weeks of being on the steroids and that feels much better.

Because of the high dose of steroids and the eye medication, she is going to have to be monitored more closely. She'll begin going every two weeks to Emory.

Please continue to pray for her that the steroids work and that the GVHD will be taken care of once and for all.

Thanks for keeping up with her.

We love you.

Biopsy Results

So sorry I've been so late in updating.

Last Monday, Laura went to the doctor to find out the results of her bone marrow biopsy.What she found out was that, from all they can tell, she is CANCER FREE!! (That sounds sweet, doesn't it?!) They also took her off the steroid that she's been on. She'll remain off of that until and unless they find a reason to start again.

She's been taking an anti-fungal medicine (I'm not exactly sure why) that costs a million dollars (slight exaggeration) which she no longer has to take.

Other news:

• All of her numbers look good.
• She only has to go to the doctor once a month now.
• Her bone density test showed that she has NO SIGNS of osteoporosis (which is pretty doggone good!).
• She is still not allowed to dig or plant in the dirt.
• She is still on immune suppressants until they decide she no longer needs it.
• And, it looks like she now totally has A+ blood type. (Isn't that interesting? When she got the bone marrow transplant, her blood type changed.)

She's been staying very busy, which I think she enjoys -- riding bikes, starring in a community play (well, perhaps not the lead role, but I've heard she was excellent!), teaching, spinning, church activities, birthday celebrations, and much, much more.

She is definitely an inspiration!
And, I love her.
So thankful for the good news.
And, so thankful for all of you who love her, too.

♪ ♫ Happy Birthday to you! ♪ ♫

Today we're celebrating Laura's first birthday! She received her bone marrow transplant a year ago today.

Woooooooooooooohooooooooooooooooooo!!

Thank you, person-who-gave-her-a-brand-new-life!

We love you!

Just a quick update on Laura:

She went yesterday to have her one-year-from-transplant appointment.

She had lab work and a dexa scan to determine bone density. Won't know the results of those until next week.
They also did a bone marrow biopsy. She was given 5 immunizations. (When she had the transplant she lost all her previous vaccinations. Had to start over.)

The doctor says that her numbers are good except for one which sort of determines if there might be some Graft vs. Host. She has some mouth sores but, according to her, it hasn't prevented her from eating or gaining 20 lbs. ☺

Because of the possibility of Graft vs. Host, she'll have to stay on the steroids for at least 2 more weeks or until the numbers come up.

The boot camp she was doing has to be put on hold as long as she's on steroids.  She says: "I guess I don't mind not killing myself every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday." 

Her hip bone from the biopsy and her left arm are sore, but that's pretty much it.

Thank you for keeping up with her. I, personally, think she's done quite well with all that's happened in the past few years! She's pretty remarkable!

Love you, people!