October 3,2010 update

I am doing great. I still have GVHD in my eyes and can't drive yet but I feel good. PTL. I was able to go out this week for a couple of hours and it was great to get out of the house. I just pick the times when its overcast a bit and my eyes do so much better. Of course I have a driver.

We will be going to the Light the Night walk in Atlanta on Oct. 9th. Nat has organized a team and they have raised a great deal of money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This organization is great and helps so many and does so much research. We'll let you know how much her totals are after Saturday night. A special thanks to everyone who donated. God bless you!!!!!!!!!

I have a 3 week break from clinic and infusions providing everything stays the same. Lets continue to pray that it does.

Thanks again for the visits, cards, calls, and the prayers.

Charmaine

Update September 6, 2010

Wow can you believe it has been a year since transplant? I looked back on my blog entries today and we've come along way. Only through your prayers and us trusting the future to the Lord have I made it this far.

I am really doing good just a few minor issues going on but nothing I can't handle. I believe the IVIG infusions are beginning to give me more strength as well as steriods. Lets just continue to pray that the infusions will quickly do their job so I can go out in public a little more. I did take a field trip to Sam's on Friday and saw a friend Diane West. It's nice to see people you haven't seen in a long time. We go to church with the West family. Of course I went in the middle of the day when no one was there.

I've become a little OCD since I have to stay in so much. I not only have canned every tomatoe that I could get out of the garden, and frozen every pod of okra, I get up at 3-4 oclock some mornings(steriods) and count them and give the kids and Alicia a state of the union address on the garden. My address is alot more interesting than the Presidents.

I hope everyone is looking forward to fall as I am. I love this nip in the air. I can actually go out in am and pm to look over the garden. Sam is so good to me he takes wonderful care, to make sure I have everything I need and want. He's very protective of me not to let the sun get on me. This sets off GVHD immediately.

I will post just once a month now unless something new is going on.

Hope you have a great labor day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Charmaine

August 20, 2010 Friday

A quick update on my progress. Since last post I've had many fevers, lowgrade thank God. So we know there is a little infection somewhere. My immune system isn't strong enough to fight them off, so once a week for the next 6 weeks I will have IVIG infusions at Emory Clinic. After these hopefully it will be back to just once a month.

These infusions don't hurt, it just takes all day to do them. And the headache that comes after is the problem for couple of days.

Deana took me today and Stefanie took me last time. It's so boring for them I know, but they never complain.

I can't really go anywhere much for fear of catching a bug, but I really enjoy being home and seeing kids and grandkids all the time. Wow how they bless me and make my day.

Sam and Anthony planted a wonderful garden this year and even though I couldn't get in it I have been able to freeze and can veggies. Reminds me of a child when we would go to the cannery at the Dallas High School with my mother and grandmother. That was so much fun, so I have reflected alot this summer.

I would like to request prayer for two ladies who are fighting this disease also. But are having a difficult time, Tami Payne and Stephanie Rakestraw. You can find them on the caring bridge website.

Thanks again for all your prayers, cards and kind deeds.

Charmaine

July 30th update

I haven't posted in a while so I just wanted to update you on a few things.

I am doing pretty good, really having to stay inside because of heat and GVHD of skin and eyes. I am still having issues related to radiation and chemo. Hopefully when I come off immune suppressants I will see a big turnaround. Can't wait for that.

My immune system is almost non existant so therefore I go to clinic once a month for next year for infusion called IVIG and respiratory therapy to keep me from getting fungus in my lungs and hopefully the IVIG will jump start my immune system.

Fatigue is a huge factor in this journey but I can handle that if just not in pain or sick.

God has been so good to me and my family. Thanks for your continued support my friends.

Charmaine

JULY 7, 2010..................... UPDATE

It has been a while since I have updated the blog. As I said before, if all is going well I will not update it everyday.

Charmaine is generally doing well 9 months post transplant now. She is still having lots of irritating issues healing from the radiation and chemo. The Dr. said her body won't heal until she can come off of the immune suppressant drugs. We hope to start reducing them on the next visit on the 23rd of July.

We just got back from a week in Florida with all of the kids and grandchildren. She was not able to go out in the sun any but did enjoy having all there. Spent a lot of time on the balcony looking at them at the pool with binoculars.

She is still taking a brigade of drugs and will be for a long while.

Some days she feels pretty normal. Some days she is still very tired but not as bad as earlier.

Thanks again to you all for your support during this very long journey.

By the way, somehow we are getting lots of unknown and unwelcome comments on the blog. Some in a foreign language are porn. DO NOT OPEN THEM. I fear some may be dangerous.


Sam

Charmaine Home at 7 pm May 18th

Charmaine is home now, resting well. Very tired and sleepy after the hospital stay.

Has bad sinus infection and common cold. Treating with tons of antibiotics.

Will go back to Emory Friday for check up.

Thanks for you thoughts and prayers.

Sam

May 18th.............Update

Still at Emory as of 4pm hoping to come home this evening. The lungs are free of pneumonia but she has has a bad sinus infection that can be treated with antibiotics.

She is very sleepy due to not having her normal rest time and loss of sleep last night.

Is feeling much better today.

Sam