It's Good to be Back
Hello Everyone,
I'm sorry you have not heard from me in awhile but my blog has been down and my good friend Mo just got me up to speed tonite. I guess they were changing the format of the Blog and for some reason we couldn't get on from our computer, even thought Mo and Jess could get on from thiers. Anyway.. THANK YOU for all the get well cards and wonderful Valentine wishes and blogs. I saw Dr. Porter last week and he did not do a bone marrowbecause my counts are still low and he said my marrow is "hypocellular" which means that my bone marrow still is not producing the normal amt. of cells. He wanted me to see a surgeon about my continued nausea (although it is much less these days) and intermittant pain. So i was able to get in rite away this week to see Dr. Morris ,a surgeon at Penn. He recommended that they remove my gall bladder because it was so inflammed when i had the transplant that it is only a matter of time before it "acts "up again. So i am having the surgery Feb 28th. Hopefully they can do it laproscopically (thru a small tube) and i would only need a one nite stay and should feel good in a week or two. If they would need to do it the old fashioned way (an open chole) it would mean a 6 or 7 day stay and at least a 6 week recovery. So lets all pray for the easy road this time around. AND the other news is that he would like me so go to Johns Hopkins (in Baltimore) to see if i would be a candidate for another transplant. YIKES !!!!!! I'm not at all sure that they will even see me and i'm really not sure i could do that again, but i need to have the gall bladder taken care of first. I liked the surgeon and he feels I'll be fine its just a little more complicated because my platelets and white count are still low. I've had a couple other tests to make sure everything else is in working order and all is well.
Now i need to tell you some really good news. As most of you know, our dear friend Bob Mazzola (my internist) developed leukemia shorly after me and has suffered thru alot of chemo and is getting ready for a bone marrow transplant at Penn hopefully by the end of march. Alot of people in the community and at the hospital where we both worked have asked what they could do to help us. Mo and I both felt that we would love to do a blood drive to thank the American Red Cross for all the blood and platelets we have received over the last 14 mos. Please understand that the blood donated will not be specfically for Bob and I but to replenish the ARC supply. But if not for all the good citizens who have donated, we would not be alive today. I have probobly had close to 70 u of blood and i can't begin to count how many platelets i have gotten. The gall bladder surgery would not be possibe if they didn't have platelets ready to give me if i bleed. So anyone who would be willing to give, (or your kids) please consider it. Our good friend Bonnie Handerhan has done all the work to set this up and somehow has talked the Red Cross into coming to her house for the blood drive. (we think this private residence is a first..they will park the big van in front of her house). The date is March 31st and we will have a sign up sheet with appts. for those that are interested. I will give more info the closer we get. Joe and the boys are first in line. Jess can't give due to medical limitations, but she hopse to come up for the event. I should be fully recovered from surgery and will be there too barring any medical emergencies. I am sssooooo excited for this and i hope if you are able you will sign up with us or at your local Red Cross as i know many of you live far away and Lansdale is too far to travel.
Other then that in many ways life seems somewhat normal at the moment other then lots of tests and drs. appts. whic is my normal now. but i've also gotten to have lots of good times with family and friends. Jess and the babies were up a few weeks ago and hopefully we will see each other this week. Its been hard cause the kids always have runny noses and my white count has drifted down really low, but if she can't get up this week i will go down and wear a mask. I need a Khouri family fix.
Thanks again for sticking with methru my internet failures. You are all wonderful. Iwish you all well. I wish we could all be in Ireland with visitorAlison or on a cruise with beach Betty. Although not approved by dr. Porter i would love to be laying in the sun with a nice cold drink in my hand. Ocean City will do very nicely, if it was only June !!!!! Lots of love to all of you and your families. I remember to thank God every day for your friendship.
Love Debbie
posted by Joe @ 7:55 PM
16 Comments:
Hey Deb,
I'm glad you got on. How did you finally do it? Also, I just have to say, you are so darn cute and sweet. Even though I see you regularly, I still like reading your blogs and can just hear you saying every word as though we were talking on the phone. I also have to tell everyone(and make them jealous) that I saw pics and video of the "Khouri Kids" and they are the most precious, beautiful and happy babies.
So Deb, you know we're praying for you every day, and now our prayers will be for a successful lap- choley.
Have a good Sunday.
Love, Mo
Hi Deb,
It was nice to read your post. It's a shame you have to go through another procedure. Half of my brothers and sisters have had their gallblader out so I'm sure it's just a matter of time for me. Hopefully you'll have the lap.and you'll recover quickly. Well, June is right around the corner. I can't wait to hit the beach myself. Good luck with the operation. I'll watch your post for info.
Take care,
Betty
Hey Debbie:
Just yesterday Aunt Angie asked if there was anything new on the blog and I told her no. She will be thrilled to read it.
I am writing from the Midwest Frozen Tundra. We are finally getting warmer temps today. That being above freezing. Our poor farm animals. We have had to revert to watering in a trough since our "heated" waterers didn't make it through the cold snap. Dave is anxiously awaiting another calf as the cow has been showing all the signs since Wednesday. He and Mere have a bet going as he is usually way off on due dates. I am thinking Mere may win. The two of them are out at a Washington Overseas Mission pre-departure meeting to Honduras. Just Mere and Dave are headed there this year as I decided I would stay behind this year. They leave March 21.
Mere has narrowed her choices for college to St. Louis University and Xavier University in Cincy. We have given her a March 1 deadline as we are getting tired of thinking about it all. She visited Xavier last week with Dave and loved it but she is still on the fence.
The boys are great. Colin got a '99 truck last week and Brendan got braces. Sounds like Bee got the short end there.
Aunt Angie is doing well. For all the FOD's...she had surgery last month to remove a malignant growth from her lung. Lucky for all it was contained. She will have no follow-up treatment except CT scans to make sure there is no reoccurance. She is doing well. She will see the surgeon this week for her follow up and we hope he will lift the restrictions that she follows to the letter. She hasn't gotten back to the computer yet but the new blog may force her back online.
Good news about Bob! And the Red Cross thing sounds fab. I will have to check locally on our ability to give. Having been in Honduras makes us at risk...I think!
I think today you are at the Easton cousins house if weather permits. Boy am I jealous! I would have loved to surprise you but couldn't get away right now!
Love to Joe, the boys and the Khouri's.
Keep warm! Love COD Eileen
Hi Deb, I so hope the gallbladder will be a laproscopic procedure and your recovery goes well. Kathy and I would love to see you the 10th. I'm anxious to hear more about your conversation with Dr. Porter and his recommendation to visit J-H. Interesting news.
I think of you, pray for you. Don't give up hope. Remember my story. A year ago, there was very hope for me. Today my CBC numbers are terrific! Much love, Linda M
Good morning Deb,
What a nice surprise to check the blog this morning and find a note from you. I also had a phone call from Bruni this morning and she caught me up on you and the family. She is something. I was so glad to hear that she was feeling better also. Thanks to Mo for getting you back up and running again.
Lots of prayers always are sent your way, but will put in specfics for a lap chole vs the other option. Life has been work and sleep lately. Hoping for some quiet times in the near future. A nice weekend at the shore would be enjoyable. Will have to see.
love, hugs, and prayers, jean
Dear Debbie, WOW!! So glad to see the BLOG. Had been wondering what you were up to....not hoping to see another procedure sceduled but you know we will be praying for the best option! And the blood drive is a great idea. Sign us up! Hope you are warm and cozy by the fire these days (with the grandkids running around you!!!) We went down to Sea Isle for the Polar Bear Plunge - but we were too cold to wait for it. Some real crazies running around in speedos! You might have enjoyed that!!Take care and be assured of prayers and love, Trudy
Great to hear from you. I will be praying for you next week. I will keep the date in mind about the blood drive. I will contact you. The Dunlap boys are doing good, we also have the runny noses and pink eye. Keep thinking postive girlfriend..... Jenny
Hi Debbie...so glad to see your post. Im praying you will do well with the gallbladder Ted had it done {lap. chole} and did well. The kids and I went to Rivera Maya Mexico for vacation. It was great to be with them and I so enjoy their spirit and zest for life. I'm still getting settled and trying to make it feel like a home. You're so lucky to have those grandbabies to enjoy! { I still only get to babysit dogs Maybe someday!!! I will keep you in my prayers as always and pray for a quick and speedy recovery. Love Suzanne
Hi Debbie, glad to hear things are holding steady for you.. like i said before, i had the gallbladder removed the "lap" way , hope you get it done that way.. won't be able to give to blood drive. but now know myself how important they are.. thought about you as i was getting my 2 units.. long, sort of boring process.. makes you wonder who the person was who donatated it, and thankful.. then you start thinking.. "is this episcopalian blood? a man with hairy arms blood? a compulsive persons blood?" and i think i may have gotten at least 2 of the 3 of them! My friend donates and my start doing it in your name though
Glad everything went well for aunt angie.. and eileen, i hear you sister, on this college stuff.. think patrick has decided on san diego state, although still holding out for the uc's before final decision.
Have to admit, the weather has been beautiful here lately.. have had all the doors and windows open to air in the 70's.. even got a little color watching my son's baseball game this weekend!
Hope all the fods are well,, and oh, by the way. mo sent me the pics of your grandchildren.. can';t believe how big they have gotten in such a short time,but i can believe how cute they are!
take care deb and teklits. love, mdf
hey mrs tek!!,
just wanted to say hi & send my love to you!!!!! so many prayers heading your way constantly!
love always,
alli
Dear Debbie, Joe and Family:
I'm back!
Just wanted to pop in and say "hello!"
Wow! Another chance at a transplant. We're with you all the way!
Will be thinking of you through the gall bladder procedure. Lots of prayers going your way.
I LOVE YOU, DEBBIE! And you too...JOE
BIG hugs...Your Aunt Angie
Dearest Debbie,
So wonderful to hear from you, it warms my heart to hear you. I just got back from Ireland yesterday (hence the 4am blog as I'm now wide awake it is 9am in Ireland!). I lit a candle for you in a little chapel in the heart of Dublin. It is a Carmilite chapel and hidden in an alleyway just off Grafton Street, a fantastic pedestrian street of shops, buskers (people who sing on the street for donations) and all the vibrance of the new Ireland... with it's imigrant population mostly from China and Poland who are adopting the Irish accent as they learn English (too cute to have a Brenda Fricker sounding Polish woman!). It was a very peaceful chapel and I lit many candles for many folks but told my Hubby on my last day.. still have stuff to do (revisit family to say goodbye, run to the grocery store to pick up my favorite things, the list went on, but on the list was, light a candle for Debbie as I promised her I would..).
Hopefully we will get to Ireland one day together, although your list of things to do, places to go is growing by the day.
I can imagine the thought of a transplant is too daunting for you... just explore all options as I know you do.. .and hopefully we will all finally see the real plan to your full recovery.
I haven't got my calender in front of me.. (it's at the end of my suitcase which means I have to empty out the dirty laundry to get to the flipping thing so I'm avoiding that right now!! lol). If I can make it on March 31st I will, if not, I hope to meet you this spring... when all the "bugs" are gone and I could hug you...
Best of luck with the gall bladder. Let's get group partyline prayers going again....It really seemed to help you when we were all calling heaven at the same time.. this little light of mine... It will be 5pm for the next week.. come on everyone we are asking for one little prayer, that the gall bladder will co-operate with the easiest surgery...."this little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine..." You go Debbie,
Lots and lots of love, Visitor Alison.
Oh my - gall bladder surgery - what next - i am praying that you can go through the easy way - less painful and less recuperation. I will be thinking of you on Wednesday - which is my Matt's birthday (26) - can't believe it. What a great idea about giving blood - I will pass the word on - I am not a candidate, becasue of medical reasons, but will certainly pass it on. Best of luck with the surgery on Weds and will check back after to see how you are feeling. You will make it through this one too - keep the faith girl. Love Shelly
Hey Chizzie-
Thinking of you today, honey. Tried to get a hold of you yesterday but we failed to connect. Then this morning I remembered - "hey, try the blog!"
Hope that things are going as scheduled with the GB today and that you are going to have a VERY, VERY successful and EASY surgery to recover from.
Love you - honey.
Today's word: Divine order.
Looking at the tapestry that is my life. I understand that divine order is always present and active. I see the desires of my heart creating my life as it evolves in greater purpose and meaning.
Who I am and what I am contributing for the good of all are woven into the tapestry of my life. I hold my thoughts and actions up to the light of my inner vision to evaluate them. God is good and good is my heart's desire.
I am aware that the universe responds to my conscious and unconscious requests. Therefore, I desire the insight to recognize that the good I have affirmed could appear wrapped in a package that looks different from what I expected. I understand that, as I express gratitude for my good, I open a doorway ever wider to even greater good.
"We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. - Romans 8:28
Deb, im praying that the surgery went as well for you as it did for me..i hit an amusement park 4 days post op with the boys...! hopefully yours will be that fast also( i didn't go on any rides though and i was about 5 years younger.. not to mention everything else you have on your plate).. when all is done and you are home again,, you need to test out this new gi action.. and get the spiciest mexican meal you can think of.. it's amazing.. no pain after you eat it!
i will continue my prayers for you..lots of love.. mdf
Hey FOD's
Got a msg from Debbie last night - (so ticked I missed her call) just so you know, it looks like her surgery is a go for today, Wednesday.
Keeping you in my prayers, Chizzie cat.
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