Evening All,
Well, it has been quite a journey these last two and a half years or so. I left work on a Friday in May of 2010 with a sobering prognosis and I returned to work today, a Friday, with a doctor's release and a bright future. It was great to see everyone. It was almost like I'd never left. Thank you family and friends new and old for all you have done for us through this journey. We were never created to be alone and you have reminded us of that so many times through your prayers, cards and kindnesses to us. We can truly sing to the Lord a new song for He has done great things.
Steve and Dawn
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Clinic Update...
Morning All,
We headed to Chicago for a clinic Monday but the we was Steph and Heath this trip. Dawn stayed and kept the home fires burning...literally. Our first stop was Lemont, Il. to visit my Aunt and Uncle. My Uncle is thinning out his woodshop so we all got to spend a couple hours sorting thru a lifetime of memories and pretty much filled Heath's truck up with the bounty. Dawn has already eyed a cabinet we brought back for her sewing room. We finished up around the kitchen table with my Aunt's pecan coffee cake ( draws me to Lemont every time) I also got to see my cousin Terry who was helping out at the house. Great to see you all and thanks again for a good time. We then headed to the university for my clinic. The doctor was pleased with what he saw. As far as the graft vs host in my skin; it pretty much doesn't exist and my blood counts were all good. I received three more immunizations and my next appointment is in April of which I think I will get the last of the battery of immunizations. We headed back home around 2:30 or so and after a stop at Cracker Barrel we arrived home around 6:30. Made for a long day but I had great company the whole way. Thanks kids and thanks again MJ&B&T.
We headed to Chicago for a clinic Monday but the we was Steph and Heath this trip. Dawn stayed and kept the home fires burning...literally. Our first stop was Lemont, Il. to visit my Aunt and Uncle. My Uncle is thinning out his woodshop so we all got to spend a couple hours sorting thru a lifetime of memories and pretty much filled Heath's truck up with the bounty. Dawn has already eyed a cabinet we brought back for her sewing room. We finished up around the kitchen table with my Aunt's pecan coffee cake ( draws me to Lemont every time) I also got to see my cousin Terry who was helping out at the house. Great to see you all and thanks again for a good time. We then headed to the university for my clinic. The doctor was pleased with what he saw. As far as the graft vs host in my skin; it pretty much doesn't exist and my blood counts were all good. I received three more immunizations and my next appointment is in April of which I think I will get the last of the battery of immunizations. We headed back home around 2:30 or so and after a stop at Cracker Barrel we arrived home around 6:30. Made for a long day but I had great company the whole way. Thanks kids and thanks again MJ&B&T.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
2013 - There's Always Hope
Happy NewYear to you All,
Dawn found just a beautiful rendition of Auld Lang Syne on you tube that as I listened to it the Lord reminded me of all the friends that have left this earth in 2012, most I know had the same hope in Christ that we have, others we just trust the Lord for. As Dawn and I look to the new year wondering what it will bring we'll stand with the writer of Hebrews 10:23 - Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
May 2013 be a year of hope for us all.
Dawn found just a beautiful rendition of Auld Lang Syne on you tube that as I listened to it the Lord reminded me of all the friends that have left this earth in 2012, most I know had the same hope in Christ that we have, others we just trust the Lord for. As Dawn and I look to the new year wondering what it will bring we'll stand with the writer of Hebrews 10:23 - Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
May 2013 be a year of hope for us all.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Day +734 and counting...
Afternoon Family and Friends,
I remember back two years ago November 23 that it was Day 0 and the courrier came into that University of Chicago hospital room with a fresh bag of stem cells and the process of new life began. Each day after was published on the chalk board in my room with a plus in front of it; day +1, day +2 and so on. I loved the plus days, even though some were rough, they were all good, for God is good. I have thanked you all for the prayers and kindnesses you've shown to me and my family and I thank you always but I especially want to thank my wife Dawn for being my caregiver on this journey. I knew it was going to be a good day when I woke and saw her sleeping on a cot next to me. Those lonely hospital rooms weren't so lonely anymore. In a lot of ways it was rougher for her. I was there by neccesity, she was there for love. Thank you Dawn. I could only hope to be as good a caregiver. I hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving as we did with our family around us and with His grace may we have many, many more plus days.
His forever,
Steve
I remember back two years ago November 23 that it was Day 0 and the courrier came into that University of Chicago hospital room with a fresh bag of stem cells and the process of new life began. Each day after was published on the chalk board in my room with a plus in front of it; day +1, day +2 and so on. I loved the plus days, even though some were rough, they were all good, for God is good. I have thanked you all for the prayers and kindnesses you've shown to me and my family and I thank you always but I especially want to thank my wife Dawn for being my caregiver on this journey. I knew it was going to be a good day when I woke and saw her sleeping on a cot next to me. Those lonely hospital rooms weren't so lonely anymore. In a lot of ways it was rougher for her. I was there by neccesity, she was there for love. Thank you Dawn. I could only hope to be as good a caregiver. I hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving as we did with our family around us and with His grace may we have many, many more plus days.
His forever,
Steve
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
The Incredibles
Evening All,
Thought I would share a group picture with you all.
Thought I would share a group picture with you all.
I don't know if you every saw that movie "The Incredibles", maybe with your kids or grandkids but Dawn and I got a chance to go to the 4th Annual Stem Cell Survivers Celebration on October 20th at the University of Chicago and I have to say we met the real life incredibles that day. All these folks have one thing in common; they have all had stem cell transplants for their various blood disorders and survived. We had a great time visiting with friends we made shortly after I was diagnosed; Al and Terri Kondraschow. Al is pictured right off my left shirt pocket. I am in the pink, I mean "salmon" colored shirt at top left center. We got to see some of the nurses that attended us and listened to survivors share their stories. We all owe a debt of gratitude for our donors also. We wouldn't be in the picture without them...thanks Tim. But I personally owe a continued thank you to all of you who helped us and prayed for us. The Lord has been and is still our strongtower. After the celebration we headed to my aunt and uncle's in Lemont for another wonderful time with them. Thanks MJ&B. Then Monday morning we had a clinic back at the university of which Dawn shared in the previous post so I will stop talking.
Pressing on,
Steve and Dawn
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
October's Checkup
Good Morning! Steve's checkup at Chicago went well....yeah! His blood counts are good and he will go back for another checkup in January. Thank you for all your prayers and concerns.
Blessings to all of you in Christ Jesus,
Dawn and Steve
Blessings to all of you in Christ Jesus,
Dawn and Steve
Monday, October 1, 2012
Thanks again...
Just a quick update to those who supported me in our walk for the LLS. So far the tally for the Kendallville walk is a little over $52,000. I do appreciate all those that gave and a special thanks to our Chicago help of MJ&B and Al and Terri. I did get a chance to talk to Alli and she looked and sounded good. She got to lead our walk. It would be great if one day we could think back on cancer the same way we remember tuberculosis or typhoid...pretty much a thing of the past.
Blessings to all,
Steve and the Lavender Lady
Blessings to all,
Steve and the Lavender Lady
Friday, September 21, 2012
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Months of Happenings
Evening All,
I wanted to share a few things with you that have happened here lately. Yesterday I received information on who my donor is; a gentleman from North Carolina. I gave him a call yesterday and left a message. Well, today he called me so I could personally thank him for his help. I probably sounded as giddy as a school kid. He's married with two children and is in his 21st year in the Air Force.Will be great to shake his hand one of these days. On a sadder note Dawn and I went to Neal Smith's viewing Monday as he went home to the Lord. We were privileged to know him. And lastly, I'm walking again this year for the LLS and I'll close with the following and as always thanks for your caring:
Dear Friends and Family,
I'm walking this year for this walk's honored little gal, Ally Burton, 8 years young who has AML and is in remission at this point. (I tried to get a picture of her in here but they've changed the blogger format and I'm not smart enough to figure it out and Dawn's in bed.) I'll be sending an email out also and I know that has her picture on it.
Allison is 8 years old and a student at Oak Farm Montessori School in Avilla, Indiana. She was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) on August 5th 2011. Alli just finished her last round of chemo and has been in remission since her first round of chemo!
Alli loves tennis, playing, and swimming. She just got a new puppy as her reward for finishing treatment.
Alli's favorite quote is "I don't need easy. I just need possible."
Please join me in helping LLS conquer blood cancers. You can make your donation online by simply clicking on this link: http://pages.lightthenight.org/in/NEInd12/SMcCreery. If you would prefer, you can also send me your tax-deductible contribution made out to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to the mailing address below. Any amount you can give will help! I thank you in advance for your support which will make a difference in the lives of thousands of patients battling blood cancers.
I wanted to share a few things with you that have happened here lately. Yesterday I received information on who my donor is; a gentleman from North Carolina. I gave him a call yesterday and left a message. Well, today he called me so I could personally thank him for his help. I probably sounded as giddy as a school kid. He's married with two children and is in his 21st year in the Air Force.Will be great to shake his hand one of these days. On a sadder note Dawn and I went to Neal Smith's viewing Monday as he went home to the Lord. We were privileged to know him. And lastly, I'm walking again this year for the LLS and I'll close with the following and as always thanks for your caring:
Dear Friends and Family,
I'm walking this year for this walk's honored little gal, Ally Burton, 8 years young who has AML and is in remission at this point. (I tried to get a picture of her in here but they've changed the blogger format and I'm not smart enough to figure it out and Dawn's in bed.) I'll be sending an email out also and I know that has her picture on it.
Allison is 8 years old and a student at Oak Farm Montessori School in Avilla, Indiana. She was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) on August 5th 2011. Alli just finished her last round of chemo and has been in remission since her first round of chemo!
Alli loves tennis, playing, and swimming. She just got a new puppy as her reward for finishing treatment.
Alli's favorite quote is "I don't need easy. I just need possible."
Please join me in helping LLS conquer blood cancers. You can make your donation online by simply clicking on this link: http://pages.lightthenight.org/in/NEInd12/SMcCreery. If you would prefer, you can also send me your tax-deductible contribution made out to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to the mailing address below. Any amount you can give will help! I thank you in advance for your support which will make a difference in the lives of thousands of patients battling blood cancers.
Your help is truly appreciated,
SteveMcCreery
2258 E Northport Rd
Rome City, IN 46784-9724
P.S. I wasn't asleep yet :)..Dawn
Monday, June 25, 2012
Finally, another clinic
Evening Family and Friends,
Dawn and I drove to Chicago for my clinic visit today. We saw Dr. Larson and had some pleasing results. This is the first time he actually thought my GvHD was milder in appearance! I am down to just 10mg of prednisone (the steroid that has been suppressing my immune system) and he gave me some leeway in cutting that back to maybe every other day as long as the itching doesn't get worse. That's good news! The higher the prednisone, the higher my glucose and vice versa. I have also discovered over the last few months that when my blood sugar is in control I itch a lot less (or less frequently) so there is definately a correlation there and Dr. Larson agreed. I received two more immunizations and we were out the door. We had planned to stop at the hospital and visit with Neal Smith so as we were making our next appointment we ran into George and Barb Verber. Always good to see them. George's AML came back after transplant so he's seeing more of the hospital than he'd like. Got to visit with Neal before he got whisked off to a CAT scan. Neal had a transplant and had some reoccurence but after a T cell booster from his brother he's going through GvHD in his GI tract. I know they both would appreciate your prayers as much as we have. Thank you again for your caring.
Eternally His,
Steve
Dawn and I drove to Chicago for my clinic visit today. We saw Dr. Larson and had some pleasing results. This is the first time he actually thought my GvHD was milder in appearance! I am down to just 10mg of prednisone (the steroid that has been suppressing my immune system) and he gave me some leeway in cutting that back to maybe every other day as long as the itching doesn't get worse. That's good news! The higher the prednisone, the higher my glucose and vice versa. I have also discovered over the last few months that when my blood sugar is in control I itch a lot less (or less frequently) so there is definately a correlation there and Dr. Larson agreed. I received two more immunizations and we were out the door. We had planned to stop at the hospital and visit with Neal Smith so as we were making our next appointment we ran into George and Barb Verber. Always good to see them. George's AML came back after transplant so he's seeing more of the hospital than he'd like. Got to visit with Neal before he got whisked off to a CAT scan. Neal had a transplant and had some reoccurence but after a T cell booster from his brother he's going through GvHD in his GI tract. I know they both would appreciate your prayers as much as we have. Thank you again for your caring.
Eternally His,
Steve
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