A Few Humorous Stories

School started on a Tuesday this year.  Just to make things interesting, an infection began in my central line on Monday so at 2 am Tuesday morning, Loren took me to the hospital where I was admitted.  He made it home before any of our girls were awake but for the second year in a row, I was in the hospital when they started school.  There isn't much they need me for at their ages but just taking their picture and wishing them a good day at school is easier done at home than in the hospital.  Thankfully, they are not as sentimental as I am and truth be told, they were probably grateful that I wasn't there to be mushy.  The doctors did decide to remove my central line this time (this was my 3rd infection and 2nd line) so no more infections!  But while I was in the hospital for a few days....humor was found.

Now many of you will find this disgusting, but I do like to eat Cream of Wheat for breakfast.  I like it made with milk and raisins with cinnamon sugar sprinkled on top.  They do serve Cream of Wheat at the hospital but it is with brown sugar not cinnamon sugar and usually no raisins.  This time I decided to ask for my breakfast the way I would make it oat home.  Their catch phrase at food services is "we make everything fresh".  So, I called to order my breakfast and asked if they could put in some raisins before they cook it.  (I microwave mine and if you put in the raisins before you cook it, the raisins get plump and juicy...yum!)  I was told (my mom later informed me that I was naive to think otherwise) that they just make a big pot of it and serve it from there so they could not put raisins in.  I was disappointed but ordered it anyway.  As I was hanging up, the person on the other end said, "Since we make everything fresh it will be up in 45 minutes."  I almost laughed out loud - she just told me that there is a big pot sitting on the stove!

As many of you have experienced, when you are in the hospital, you do not get a full night's sleep.  In order to be ready with the correct treatment for the day, your blood is drawn between 3 and 5 am.  With a central line, this is not a big deal, the nurses just draw blood out of one of the lumens (I had 3) and you just roll over and go back to sleep.  Since the central line was removed, blood was drawn the old-fashioned way - with a needle.  So, I am asleep and about 3:30 am the light is turned on and I hear a woman's voice with a German accent tell me her name and that she is here to draw my blood.  If only you could read a German accent this would be better.  I was given commands in short sentences.

What is your name?  Birthdate?  Give me your left arm.  You will feel a poke. (Ouch!  That was a little more than a poke.) About a minute passes - there is a lot of blood to draw.  Then the needle is out, a bandaid is on and her parting words.  Have a nice day.  

The light goes out and I am left laying there thinking to myself - what just happened?  Was that the German Inquisition?  Whatever that was - it surreal and really funny.  Goodnight.

The Journey Continues

Thank you to everyone who joined us in August by doing something active to mark my one year anniversary of diagnosis.  We had a great time doing the 5K in South Weber.  Some of us ran and some of us walked, but we all finished and felt strong at the end.  A special thank you to the Carlson family who came out in full to support us.  You are a family of angels!

Later that day Loren and I went out to dinner for my birthday and I officially took off my Wendi's Fight Club bracelet.  I know my fight continues but having been in remission for a while and feeling pretty good, the time was right for me to take it off.  I really appreciate everyone who has a bracelet and wore it for me and my family. The fight was and continues to be one of the hardest of my life (right there with losing my brother) and I am so humbled to be a part of so many lives and to know of your love and support during this rough time.  

Our journey continues to be one filled with speed bumps on the way to full recovery.  We knew it would be and we


are weathering the bumps which have included 3 separate stays in the hospital for blood infections and one gall bladder surgery along with up days and down days.  Hopefully all that is behind us now (you only have one gall bladder! and my central line which we think was causing the blood infections is now gone).  The only down side is that instead of taking blood from the central line each week I get to be poked with a needle.  But, I would rather have that then go back to the hospital.  

Our three beautiful, talented, amazingly kind daughters.

Our non-cancer lives continue on as well with school starting, soccer games, homecoming dances and horse back riding lessons along with coaching a rec city volleyball team and redoing our kitchen, we are keeping busy and the mom taxi service is back in action!  I am ecstatic that I get to be a part of all the fun!

Join us in celebration!

This Saturday (the one year anniversary of my diagnosis), we as a family and a few friends will be participating in a 5K in South Weber.  I would like to invite you and your families to do something active and fun this weekend (we would suggest a 5K).  Enjoy the ability to do the activities you love.

I used to take it for granted that I could walk 3.1 miles with no problem.  I never have nor will I ever claim to be a runner but I could walk.  This week I walked 3 miles in preparation for our 5K and finished in tears because my body was finally able to do it.  I have been working up to 3 miles for several months and some days walking in and of itself is still difficult but I am grateful for the strength my body continues to gain.   

So, I will probably be the last one to finish the South Weber Country Fair Days 5K but I will finish.  Do something great this weekend and be happy!

Coming up on the 1 year mark

Not calling it an "anniversary" but we are coming up on the one year mark since Wendi was diagnosed with leukemia.  Last year at this time we were enjoying summer vacation and getting ready to celebrate Wendi's birthday.  Then the completely unexpected and difficult phone call from LDS Hospital that Wendi needed to drop everything and get checked in.  That was Saturday August 9 last year.  Wendi has done remarkably well since then.

As she posted in March she was declared in 100% remission and 100% of her blood is from her brother who generously acted as her blood marrow donor.  Since that time she has continued to get stronger and has stayed in good health.  We have had one or two small roadbumps along the way but very minor in the grand scheme of things.

As we are coming up on the one year mark of her fight we are going to celebrate how well she is doing by participating as a family in a 5K   #wendiwillwin

Thank you, thank you, thank you....miracles do happen

We met with a doctor today at LDS hospital and got the news we have been hoping and praying for.  I am in complete remission with no detectable evidence of disease!  The bone marrow biopsy showed no leukemia cells.  And one of the tests shows how much of my blood and marrow are my cells and how much are my donor's (by brother Scott's).  That test showed that 100% are Scott's!!!!  As was said in our meeting - the results don't get any better than this.  

Thank you so much for your prayers consistently said on my behalf.  Those prayers have been answered with the best results we could ask for.  Miracles have happened today through the power of prayer and through the power of priesthood blessings which have been given to me throughout this journey.  I am grateful to know that my Father in Heaven is aware of me and my family in the good times and the bad and that He is always there for me through prayer.

Thank you again for prayers and good wishes for me and my family.  I am extremely grateful to all of you.

#WendiWillWin

Slight Change in Plans

We had to switch my 100 day meeting  with the doctors to Wednesday afternoon so news will be posted on Thursday!

Thanks for all the prayers!

An Update

Everything has been going along swimmingly for us.  I go in once a week to the clinic at LDS hospital, which entails blood work (still taken from a central line so no poking involved), a visit with a PA with a quick check up, a visit with a doctor with another quick check up followed up with a chest x-ray since I am still on steroids.  At the end of the visit, the doctor usually just says, "Everthing looks good, see you next week."  Really the best words I can hear!

We have just been moving along with soccer practices, indoor games, planning an 80th birthday party for my in-laws (I am just helping - my fabulous brothers and sisters-in law are the driving force), etc.  I am absolutely enjoying being home.  Oh, I also got some eyelash extensions!  Never thought it would something I would do - had some great lashes before - but lost them along with the hair.  The lashes are actually attached to the lashes I had so they are still sparse and light (don't show up in a pic) but I love them!

Had a good time greeting my kids with my new wig last week as well.

Gotta love the dress up box!


The next big milestone for us will be the 100 day checkup.  I will go in on the 2nd to have a bunch of tests done including a bone marrow biopsy.  We will get the results on March 9th.  This will give a good indication about the leukemia and if it really is all gone and where we go from here.  This is one more time when I would appreciate any extra prayers you can say for me.  I know miracles have happened along the way because of your prayers.  Thank you.