"D"day
It has been some time since the last post, but we remained heartened by the continued support we have received from our FOD's. You are one dedicated bunch of FOD's to keep checking and posting your well wishes for Debbie long after we have given you anything to respond to. We thank you and love you all for your continued support.
I chose this title because we have explored a number of different potential options over the past few weeks, from experimental drug therapies in Texas to the haplo at Jeff. We have been turned down in Seattle and Johns Hopkins because of the extent of Debbie's disease. We know that we are risking everything for our dream of victory over this disease. Like those young men on the beaches 60 years ago, the odds are very long against us, but some do pull through and we hope that we are numbered among the lucky few. Your continued hope and prayers will support us through this ordeal.
We will go to Jeff tomorrow for a Mugascan to test the strength of Debbie's heart and a meeting with our new Dr. Carabasi. The only problem is that the first appointment is @ 7:30 and the next one is @ 3:00. Our next post may contain a description of the new Ben Franklin exhibition at the Constitution Center and the menu at the Belgian Bar on 3rd Street in addition to the new hospital information that we need to post for everyone (ha ha). We have reservations at the Four Seasons for Friday night and hope to make the best of this weekend.
Deb will be checking into Jeff on Monday morning to begin the chemotherapy in preparation for the haplo transplant. Pammie will be the donor and we will need everyones help and prayers over the next few weeks. The transplant will take place in about a month. It will take this period of time to hopefully eradicate the disease in Debbie and to harvest the cells from Pam. Deb is strong and in a good mind to handle her upcoming fight. By all conservative estimates, she will be in Jeff for up to 90 days. This will be an extreme ordeal for Deb and your continued support and prayers will help us through it.
We truly appreciate everyones' continued support cards, notes, prayers and help. Debbie is really overwhelmed by your continued kindness.
Deb sends her love to all.
posted by Joe @ 8:58 PM
20 Comments:
hEY DEB...WE'RE WITH YOU ALL THE WAY! Have a wonderful weekend..eat, drink and be merry! I'll be checking here all the time to see how things are going! Good luck with the next adventure! love and prayers.. mdf
Deb,
Have been checking in, despite my lack of messages. You haven't ever been far from my heart, and the prayers haven't stopped...and will continue for as long as it takes!! Loved the pictures of you and the family. There really isn't anything better than being snowed in over the weekend with your family...providing you have plenty of junk food! My mom actually got stuck with us (I felt sorry for her though, this gang can get a little rowdy). Joyce has been praying for you also and asks for you every time we talk.
So, the next chapter begins....you CAN do this, we all know it and will be here to lift you up and carry you through it. Whatever it takes. Thoughts and prayers continue for you and your family, and of course the FOD's as well.
Love you Deb, Kim
Keep plugging away Deb! You have a new grandbaby coming. I had such a good time at Outback, seeing everybody, especially you with Christian. You remind me of my Mom with my kids, enjoying EVERY minute of them. Remember when one door closes another one opens. Jenny
Dear Debbie,
Our prayers are with you that you also will be victorious in your battle. Stay strong, know that God is listening, and He is with you.
Loved seeing the pictures, you have a beautiful family. Jessie looks great!
You look amazing! Your strength and determination show.
As always I'll be praying all day for you and your family.
Love,
Pam K
Hey Deb and Joe,
Good to hear from you Mr. Teklits. I love the direction your taking. " D-Day " Balls to the wall boys, see you on the beach, don't forget to giv'em the whole nine yards, and all that good stuff. Deb, I am not surprised at your decision. If your gonna go down girl, go down in flames, go out with a bang. We are all with you until the last hurrah!, or the victory parade. Either way know we love you and are here for you. :) God's speed, and good luck. Stay strong, hang tough! Love Artie and Cathy
Thanks for the update. What a wonderful post, Joe.
You captured it perfectly, the fight is hard, the odds are long, but it is a fight we must undertake and undertake it we will. Forward march, FOD's!
I'll be thinking of you both today as you do your thing at Jeff. Hope your day runs smooth like a well oiled machine and that you get a chance to take in the Belgian Bar (will there be waffles served?) and the Ben Franklin exhibit.
I have been reading about the exhibit - can't wait to hear your report.
And then there's the Four Seasons! Yee-haw! What a great idea. Have a fabulous weekend, loveys.
As always you remain in our thoughts and prayers! We love you guys!
hugs and kisses - K
Deb/Joe:
Taking Aunt Angie for a 3 month check with the cardiologist. Will blog later. Just wanted you to know I am thinking of you. :) Leen
Mr. and Mrs. Teklits-
I am so glad you guys got to spend some quality time as a family! You guys look wonderful, and I really do wonder how Emma can grow much more!!! Spent some time with my parents this past weekend. Fortunately, we didn't have any trouble crossing back over the mountains in Cumberland, MD to come home. Me, Drew, Mom and Dad all went sledding at their house, was lots of fun and no injuries!
I visited with Jess, Christian and Walid yesterday. I can't believe how much energy Christian has...he is always in constant motion, I get tired just watching him! I brought my 1 1/2 yr old pup, Parker, to visit. Christian didn't really want to have much to do with her, I think her feelings were hurt. That, and she didn't know what to do around a little person that never stops moving. I think it's best to say they just tolerated each other. Baked ziti was wonderful, and we all toasted our glasses with Christian (that is too cute!!). Then after dinner, Christian sang to us and danced. Of course, as soon as Jess pulled out the camera, he stopped doing it!
Enjoy your time at home this weekend. I'll be thinking about you on Monday especially. I am always praying for you. Keep pusing forward, and never look back. If you've ever known any marines: hoo-rah!
God Bless!
Jenn Kelleher
Debby & Joe,
We read a very sobering post with concerned interest, & our hearts are heavy for you with the seemingly endless series of life threatening decisions having to be made constantly. We share your hopes & dreams of pulling through this terribly long ordeal against such perilous odds. We were reminded of a beautiful sunlit graduation day in South Bend many years ago when someone from the "purple" dias (4 Cardinals & too many Bishops to count)asked the parents of the graduates in the grandstands to stand, & extend their arms in blessing,which we all did, with "rain drops in our eyes" as a solemn invocation was intoned. Go in peace knowing that all of us bloggers, standing in the grandatands of our homes, extend our arms in blessing on you as you begin this journey frought with danger. Please know that our thoughts & prayers are with you daily, Love Mom & Dad
Dearest Debbie,
I think of you throughout the day and when I awake at night and fold my hands and pray for you and your beautiful family. You have always been ther for everyone else, Deb, and now all of that love for you is returning through caring thoughts and loving prayers. I pray for renewed strength to sustain you through this difficult journey. "May your days all be blessed with the presence of an angel watching over you." Take care, Deb, and God Bless You and your family.
"XOXOXO" Sue Leidy
Hi Deb and Joe!
Sitting here at work watching the clock and hoping the visit to Jeff and your appts. go well today. I hope you both have a great weekend get-away!
Boy oh boy, isn't Christian just absolutely gorgeous! I loved seeing the pictures! Thanks for posting Jess! You all look so good! It has been way too long since I have been able to see the families!
Jess, I'm glad you didn't have the baby in the car on the way home! Definately "Big". I looked like that too, when I was pregnant! You have to marvel at the human body! Any day now from the looks of it. Good Luck and Best wishes for a fast, easy, perfect, delivery!
Deb and Joe, We will be faithfully reading your blogs and praying for you as you start the next ordeal! You go girl!
Love,
Cindy
Wow! I am glad to hear that you will be having a wonderful, event-filled weekend together. Make the most of it ( I know you will). As always, I will be sending beacoup prayers up thru the clouds and you are always on my mind (as Willy says). Keep positive,focused and determined thru this next hurdle. This is what you need to do and everyone is here in our own little ways to help you and your family in any way that we can. Oh, and by the way, I have never seen you look so radiant and full of life as you did at Outback the other week.(except for that time when you swung on the vine at Lee's mountain house) The twinkle in your eyes and smile on your face were wonderful to see. You are ready to storm the beach and battle the enemy. We are so lucky to have you in our lives.
Love Jill
Hey Deb:
As you might expect all is well with Aunt Angie. He is just in awe of her time on the treadmill and the line dancing she does at the senior center. They will repeat the stress echo in 6 months but he was real happy with her.
Since last we spoke I have replayed all of this in my head and just can't comprehend the complexity of your version of luekemia. What the heck are the chances! You as Joe pointed out are thinking so positively and you did remind me that you could and will be in that % that beats this. Keep the faith my dear cousin.
We are gearing up this week to head to Cincy. Dave is being inducted into his high school hall of fame. Had I already told you that he was being honored. Mom is coming along as well. It will be good to see the his family and friends. So we will head to Cincy on Friday, Feb. 24th and return on Sunday. I will be on my cell 314-922-4324.
Colin mentioned you in his prayers in Theology class today. He is really reluctant to look at the blog. Can't say that I blame him. The kids think the world of you.
We have a houseful of kids here tonight. I had a weak moment. It must be the post auction guilt thing.
Hope today went well and you got in some tourist type activity. And the Four Seasons....well woop de do....enjoy the weekend ahead.
Lots of love...Eileen
Hi, Aunt Debbie and Uncle Joe. If this is a repeat, I apologize. I just tried to post and I think it got lost in cyberspace.
I'm sorry to hear that you'll have to return for another long hospital stay, but am happy to hear that you were able to regain your strength at home with friends and family. Now you're ready to fight again!!!! We are all hoping and praying that this is the miracle we've been waiting for. Our prayers will be kicked into high gear!!!
Love,
Lisa
Joe and Deb,
Our thoughts and prayers will be going strong for you as you start this next round. Just keep up the fight and know that we will all be here sending our strongest positive vibes your way constantly.
All our love,
Jeanne
Well today is the day that you start the next episode! Deb, the docs said that you handled everything thrown at you the first time.. and now they know how to prevent some of the side effects, so im hoping this time isn't as bad for you!!also.. thank you pam, for your generosity to deb.. takes alot of courage and we all appreciate it!
Will be keeping an eye on the blog, but don't blame you one bit Joe if you just don't feel like writing after the kind of days you'll be having,, so whenever is good enough for me! Take care Deb, stay strong, and know that you have a hell of alot of friends pulling for you! lots of love..mdf
Dear Deb and Joe,
Our hearts and love and prayers go with you as you embark on the next phase of your road to recovery, together! :)
May God Bless you and keep you, may God make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto to you, may he lift up his countenence upon you, and give you Peace, both now and for evermore. Amen! Love Artie and Cathy :)
Debbie,
Geez I was in Connecticut all weekend up till today visiting Noah, and apparently I missed your new blog! I hope that all of your appointments went splendidly and I just want to say goodluck with everything at Jeff! You are such a trooper and I know that you will pull through with all of this support. If anyone can do it, it is YOU. When all the tough times come again with the chemo, just remember that we are all here for you and your family. And the prayers are in overdrive...
Goodluck!!! Keep tough!!!
xoxoxoxo Meg Noon
Debbie,
2nd comment of the night... I just looked at all the pictures from last week b/c i only got to see the first one last week b/c my computer froze. I cannot believe how big Jessie is, oh my goodness! And Christian is sooooo cute. What a beautiful family you made... and I cant remember if I said it before or not, but you look GREAT too!!! Meg Noon
Hey Debbie:
Back from a short overnight trip to our state capital. This is now day 3 of your second stay. I am hoping that all is going well thus far. I bet you have won the hearts of the staff already and they realize what a gem they have for a patient.
Taking Bee to school yesterday...he asked some pretty tough questions. I thought I had been saying things to him all along but maybe he was being selective in his intake. He loves you Deb as do all of us here...but I think he would admit you are more of his reason for going to the shore than all the skim boarding in the world. And as you know that saying a lot.
Keep hoping your are comfortable and warm and that you feel all of us bloggers and those "wanna be bloggers" love and concern.
Talk to you soon...Love Leenie
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