Van has three possible bone marrow matches (which are giving stem cells instead of marrow) but many have asked how they could sign up to save a life. We know of at least one person on our Hospital floor that still can’t find a bone marrow match and is receiving ongoing Chemo until they do. This is how you can be a bone marrow donor. Please go to:
http://www.marrow.org
Click on “Join the Registry”
Click “Join now”
My friend went to the web-site and registered and this is what she said about it:
“I went to the website and registered. I will be sent a kit for a cheek swab and then send it back in for testing. It took about 30 minutes to do the online registration. Post on your blog to have people go there and register. The kit is normally $52.00 but the promotional code waived the fee.”
I put in Tooele’s Zip code and searched for 200 miles and it said, “Currently there are no donor registry drives publicly listed in your area so you will need to sign up on-line.”
These are the 5 things that are necessary before you can proceed:
Age: I am between the ages of 18 and 60.
Health: I am in overall good health and meet medical guidelines.
Commitment: I am willing to donate to any patient in need and I understand the donation process.
I live in the United States or Puerto Rico: If you live outside the United States or Puerto Rico, please contact a donor center in the country where you live.
I am not in the U.S. military: If you are in the U.S. military, please contact the C.W. Bill Young Marrow Donor Center in Kensington, Md., to join the Registry.
I have not already joined: Be The Match Registry is the new name for the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Registry. Whether you joined the NMDP Registry or Be The Match Registry, in person or online, you are part of the same registry. If you have already given a blood sample or cheek cell sample to be tested for the registry, you do not need to join again. If you're not sure whether you've already joined, you can call us at 1 (800) MARROW-2 (1-800-627-7692).
Update: Van was so miserable this morning it was hard to sit up and partake of the sacrament let alone keep his eyes open. I hummed lots of hymns, prayed together or I prayed for him and we read the scriptures together. I asked him which particular scripture he would like me to read and he said, 2 Nephi 4. I start reading the chapter heading, “Lehi counsels and blesses his posterity. He dies and is buried. “ I stopped right there and said, I’m not going to read this chapter! He said to continue so I did, “Nephi glories in the goodness of God to him. Nephi puts his trust in the Lord forever.” He wanted me to read about putting his trust in the Lord forever. At this point, I decided if the nausea medicines aren’t working and Roxycodone and Benadryl put him out last night then why couldn’t we just do that for him today? He went to sleep after that and only woke up once to ask me to email something to the Stake Presidency. At least he is finally resting peacefully. They are going to help him rest again tonight and take him off his Chemo. We are hoping by tomorrow afternoon he will be feeling better. He will also get a scan of his gallbladder and liver to make sure they aren’t the problem. Here is hoping for a happy and awake tomorrow.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Dito (same as yesterday)
Things haven’t changed. Everyone is trying to help figure out all the nausea Van is experiencing. One theory is he has a gallbladder problem and will get an ultra sound on Monday. Another theory is the Chemo drug could be causing it but if they have to change drugs they might have to use a higher dose of another drug and add major chemo to it which would weaken his state which could cause a more difficult time with the stem cell transplant. There are many other theories but these are the top two. He just tries to do everything they say like eating just a little bit but he’ll throw it up. Or not eat and take three different nauseas medicines at one time including “The drug that must not be named” and still throw up. It’s so sad because he just wants to get better and feel normal. One good thing is his spinal headache is finally gone.
I wanted to give you more info on being a bone marrow donor but I just received some more info in the mail and I feel like I need to verify it next week before I publish it. Thanks for being patient.
I wanted to give you more info on being a bone marrow donor but I just received some more info in the mail and I feel like I need to verify it next week before I publish it. Thanks for being patient.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Van is still in hospital; Wendy feeling better each day.
Written by Nancy (Wendy's sister)
This has been a up and down day. Wendy is feeling better each day. She will have energy and then need to lie down every few hours. And then she's back up with energy. She even showers before the afternoon! :)
Van has a different story. Van had a bad day. He is boggling the doctors with being so nauseated. Today he wasn't able to keep down medicine. The nurse said in his four years of being a leukemia nurse, he hasn't seen anyone as nauseated as Van. They suspect a blockage so they took a x-ray of his stomach and insides. The results haven't come back yet.
Wendy is spending the night with Van at the hospital. She didn't have a computer, so she will update more tomorrow.
This has been a up and down day. Wendy is feeling better each day. She will have energy and then need to lie down every few hours. And then she's back up with energy. She even showers before the afternoon! :)
Van has a different story. Van had a bad day. He is boggling the doctors with being so nauseated. Today he wasn't able to keep down medicine. The nurse said in his four years of being a leukemia nurse, he hasn't seen anyone as nauseated as Van. They suspect a blockage so they took a x-ray of his stomach and insides. The results haven't come back yet.
Wendy is spending the night with Van at the hospital. She didn't have a computer, so she will update more tomorrow.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Stem Cell Transplant
This morning I was lagging and not quite myself. I got the hospital to see Van and I was a little weak so I laid in his bed with him while we waited for our Doctor's Visit. Van was so embarrassed (I'm still not sure why) and our nurse took a picture to sent it to our daughter Nicole. I thought I would share it with you.
We were told that they haven’t seen a Chronic Leukemia patient that has gone straight to blast phase in over 13 years. Usually Chronic patients don’t even have to come to the hospital because they can be controlled by medicine for years. So they meet as a team of doctors and figure out what would be best for him. It changes daily. He is truly in the experimental phase and on the cutting edge. The doctor told us that years ago there was only a 30% chance of survival but after his many years he knows the percentages have gone up but there is no data concerning Van condition. So we will just pray and have faith.
Everyone keeps asking about the Leukemia in Van’s spinal fluid. Last weeks spinal tap came back negative but they are doing a spinal tap chemo radiation every week and they think it will sneak into his fluid at one point. But then they will just kill it so it doesn’t really matter.
He is still in the hospital trying to see if the chemo tablets will interact with his anti-fungal drug so they are giving him the anti-fungal drug by I.V. and the other one by mouth. We should know tomorrow if he is going to have a reaction. They gave him some headache medicine this morning and he threw it up, so we are hoping it was just because it was on an empty stomach.
Van will need an Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant procedure instead of a Bone Marrow Transplant. They are pretty much the same thing except the Bone Marrow is like a seed you plant in a garden and the Stem Cell is like a seedling plant you plant in the garden. So the Stem Cell would give him the best and quickest results. The Doctor just reminded us again that it could be 8-10 weeks before the transplant could be set up but the chemo drug might stop working in the mean time, which means he would have to have major Chemo for a longer period of time which isn’t good because he won’t be as strong. Two weeks before the transplant he will go into the hospital and have six days of radiation, 2 days of Chemo, one day of rest, etc. Then he will be in the hospital a minimum of 6 weeks, then move to a condo for a minimum of two months but knowing that any of this could change if he has any side-effects to any of the medicines or transplant which is highly likely. At this point they are able to predict if he will have a higher likelihood of being cured. They said if he lives five years then he should live 20 years. It looks like we have a roller coaster ride to go on for a while. Thanks for coming on that ride with us.
I'm feeling a lot better this afternoon than I did this morning. I'm happy and back to my cheerful self. I just have to sit or lay down every few hours. But who doesn’t after surgery. I’m preparing to tell everyone tonight how to become a bone marrow/stem cell donor. Thanks for hanging in there with us. We love you all.
We were told that they haven’t seen a Chronic Leukemia patient that has gone straight to blast phase in over 13 years. Usually Chronic patients don’t even have to come to the hospital because they can be controlled by medicine for years. So they meet as a team of doctors and figure out what would be best for him. It changes daily. He is truly in the experimental phase and on the cutting edge. The doctor told us that years ago there was only a 30% chance of survival but after his many years he knows the percentages have gone up but there is no data concerning Van condition. So we will just pray and have faith.
Everyone keeps asking about the Leukemia in Van’s spinal fluid. Last weeks spinal tap came back negative but they are doing a spinal tap chemo radiation every week and they think it will sneak into his fluid at one point. But then they will just kill it so it doesn’t really matter.
He is still in the hospital trying to see if the chemo tablets will interact with his anti-fungal drug so they are giving him the anti-fungal drug by I.V. and the other one by mouth. We should know tomorrow if he is going to have a reaction. They gave him some headache medicine this morning and he threw it up, so we are hoping it was just because it was on an empty stomach.
Van will need an Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant procedure instead of a Bone Marrow Transplant. They are pretty much the same thing except the Bone Marrow is like a seed you plant in a garden and the Stem Cell is like a seedling plant you plant in the garden. So the Stem Cell would give him the best and quickest results. The Doctor just reminded us again that it could be 8-10 weeks before the transplant could be set up but the chemo drug might stop working in the mean time, which means he would have to have major Chemo for a longer period of time which isn’t good because he won’t be as strong. Two weeks before the transplant he will go into the hospital and have six days of radiation, 2 days of Chemo, one day of rest, etc. Then he will be in the hospital a minimum of 6 weeks, then move to a condo for a minimum of two months but knowing that any of this could change if he has any side-effects to any of the medicines or transplant which is highly likely. At this point they are able to predict if he will have a higher likelihood of being cured. They said if he lives five years then he should live 20 years. It looks like we have a roller coaster ride to go on for a while. Thanks for coming on that ride with us.
I'm feeling a lot better this afternoon than I did this morning. I'm happy and back to my cheerful self. I just have to sit or lay down every few hours. But who doesn’t after surgery. I’m preparing to tell everyone tonight how to become a bone marrow/stem cell donor. Thanks for hanging in there with us. We love you all.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
I’m a new Woman!
I seriously am a new woman! My heart is fixed! The Ablation surgery lasted only two hours and it went absolutely perfect. My heart is calm now and I can walk and talk again. It truly is a miracle! At the beginning of a surgery they try to make the heart race so they can map out your heart. In my case, Dr. Day said it wasn’t difficult to map my heart because mine was already constantly going into the racing mode. He said, “I think you have been in small continuous racing mode for quite some time.” So now I know why I have felt so miserable for the last few weeks. I still can’t believe I went to the Cardiologist on Monday at 4:00 and by today, Wednesday at 2:00 I’m fixed and back home. My only restrictions are no driving for 24 hours, no lifting for 2 weeks, no exercise for a week, and walk every two hours. I like those kinds of restrictions. I think I got right in because I told them my husband has Leukemia and so they gave me anything I wanted.
I’m not a pretty sight, but I’m doing great. I say that because the antiseptic they used was blue, so I have blue dye all over my legs and neck with white bandages. When I told Van about it today he reminded me of the pens he got for his birthday that were in the shape of a syringe that said, “BYU Cougars bleed blue”. He said, “Now we both bleed blue, Honey.” Tomorrow, I can wash it off and take off the bandages just in time for our Bone Marrow Consultation. It’s funny because I have been trying to get to this appointment for three weeks now, but every time I went into the hospital for our consultation, I ended up in the ER and each time they cancelled Van’s appointment. Tomorrow my Mom will drive me to the hospital where we will meet my Dad, who is staying with Van. Dad will tape record the consultation while we will meet with the head doctor.
If you have been reading the blog then you know that two nights ago Van went back to the hospital and was very sick. The Doctors have a plan now. They think his anti-fungal and Chemo are conflicting and the Chemo is building up in his system. They took him off his Chemo for two days, giving him anti-nausea medicine every 8 hours by I.V. and giving him lots of fluids. They are going to teach me how to give I.V. fluids and medicine in his I.V. every 8 hours and I know there is more details, but I forgot. When he told me that, I knew I should have gone to school to be a nurse. With four kids with a rare disease, my problem, and now my husband’s, I should be paid for this, don’t you think? Anyway, I know he’ll be in the hospital for at least one more day, but probably more until they get things figured out. He is having a good day today because he feels like eating and he’s living it up (but it’s only hospital food).
My cousin wrote, “If prayers offered on earth could be seen from the heavens, I think there'd be a solid beam of light from here to there as visible evidence of the many people who love and care about both of you.” I truly feel like there has been a solid beam coming straight to our house. Thanks to everyone.
I’m not a pretty sight, but I’m doing great. I say that because the antiseptic they used was blue, so I have blue dye all over my legs and neck with white bandages. When I told Van about it today he reminded me of the pens he got for his birthday that were in the shape of a syringe that said, “BYU Cougars bleed blue”. He said, “Now we both bleed blue, Honey.” Tomorrow, I can wash it off and take off the bandages just in time for our Bone Marrow Consultation. It’s funny because I have been trying to get to this appointment for three weeks now, but every time I went into the hospital for our consultation, I ended up in the ER and each time they cancelled Van’s appointment. Tomorrow my Mom will drive me to the hospital where we will meet my Dad, who is staying with Van. Dad will tape record the consultation while we will meet with the head doctor.
If you have been reading the blog then you know that two nights ago Van went back to the hospital and was very sick. The Doctors have a plan now. They think his anti-fungal and Chemo are conflicting and the Chemo is building up in his system. They took him off his Chemo for two days, giving him anti-nausea medicine every 8 hours by I.V. and giving him lots of fluids. They are going to teach me how to give I.V. fluids and medicine in his I.V. every 8 hours and I know there is more details, but I forgot. When he told me that, I knew I should have gone to school to be a nurse. With four kids with a rare disease, my problem, and now my husband’s, I should be paid for this, don’t you think? Anyway, I know he’ll be in the hospital for at least one more day, but probably more until they get things figured out. He is having a good day today because he feels like eating and he’s living it up (but it’s only hospital food).
My cousin wrote, “If prayers offered on earth could be seen from the heavens, I think there'd be a solid beam of light from here to there as visible evidence of the many people who love and care about both of you.” I truly feel like there has been a solid beam coming straight to our house. Thanks to everyone.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Van in one hospital; Wendy going to another.
{Wendy mumbling with slurred speech lying flat on her back on the bed and Nancy (her sister) translating with an urim and thummim.}
Van is stable in the hospital. He was very dehydrated after throwing up from the chemo. They gave him powerful nausea medicine, a blood transfusion, more antibiotics and are meeting as a team of doctors to discuss his future. At this point, they think they may spread his chemo treatments 8-9 days apart instead of 7 days. They will teach me how to give him IV fluid so I can administer that at home. He is in better spirits and will be there at least through tomorrow. My parents are with Van at the hospital and Van’s parents are at home with me.
I have been taken off my medicine that keeps my heart from racing. I can’t get excited, so I lie flat to keep me calm and relaxed as possible. I only have three hours left until I can take my last sleeping pill which will keep me calm until my surgery. My mom will take me to surgery at 6:00 AM tomorrow morning. It is a one day heart surgery (ablation procedure). They say I will be sore and can’t lift anything for two weeks. I should be able to resume normal activities the next day.
I am counting down the hours to be with Van again.
Van is stable in the hospital. He was very dehydrated after throwing up from the chemo. They gave him powerful nausea medicine, a blood transfusion, more antibiotics and are meeting as a team of doctors to discuss his future. At this point, they think they may spread his chemo treatments 8-9 days apart instead of 7 days. They will teach me how to give him IV fluid so I can administer that at home. He is in better spirits and will be there at least through tomorrow. My parents are with Van at the hospital and Van’s parents are at home with me.
I have been taken off my medicine that keeps my heart from racing. I can’t get excited, so I lie flat to keep me calm and relaxed as possible. I only have three hours left until I can take my last sleeping pill which will keep me calm until my surgery. My mom will take me to surgery at 6:00 AM tomorrow morning. It is a one day heart surgery (ablation procedure). They say I will be sore and can’t lift anything for two weeks. I should be able to resume normal activities the next day.
I am counting down the hours to be with Van again.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Wendy's Good News and Van's Blues
Written by Nancy (Wendy's sister)
Today I stopped by to wish Van a happy birthday. He immediately lit up and showed me all the TRUE BLUE gifts from the day before. Then the next minute he was asleep on the couch. He was pale and weak. Van went to the emergency room tonight with chest pains and dizziness.
Wendy had her cardiologist appointment this afternoon. GOOD NEWS!! She is a candidate for the heart procedure. It is an out-patient routine procedure and has a 99% chance of being successful. AND...she is able to have the procedure done on Wednesday...only two more days!! She is not to take anymore medicine between now and Wednesday except sleeping pills which explains why I am typing for a sleeping Wendy. After the procedure, she isn't to lift anything for two weeks but her heart should be able to handle stress. Wendy was determined to go to the weekly Thursday chemo visit with Van this week and now she can.
Today I stopped by to wish Van a happy birthday. He immediately lit up and showed me all the TRUE BLUE gifts from the day before. Then the next minute he was asleep on the couch. He was pale and weak. Van went to the emergency room tonight with chest pains and dizziness.
Wendy had her cardiologist appointment this afternoon. GOOD NEWS!! She is a candidate for the heart procedure. It is an out-patient routine procedure and has a 99% chance of being successful. AND...she is able to have the procedure done on Wednesday...only two more days!! She is not to take anymore medicine between now and Wednesday except sleeping pills which explains why I am typing for a sleeping Wendy. After the procedure, she isn't to lift anything for two weeks but her heart should be able to handle stress. Wendy was determined to go to the weekly Thursday chemo visit with Van this week and now she can.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Dad's birthday
Dad’s siblings were over this evening for his birthday party. We thought he might not have enough energy, but after we got his hair buzzed off and then had him sitting in his chair, the siblings started showing up. It’s amazing how much energy and happiness family can bring into a situation. It really has been wonderful to have them here for the last couple hours. Dad and his brothers were able to sing a couple barbershop quartet songs and hymns as we video taped, took pictures, and recorded for CD purposes. It was very emotional and uplifting at the same time. His gifts consisted of tons of BYU stuff! He even got a BYU fake afro, dyed BYU blue, BYU pillow case, shirt, pens and more. Mom is still lying on the couch but hopefully the doctor’s appointment tomorrow will be helpful.
Love you all and thank you for all your prayers!
Love you all and thank you for all your prayers!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Our parents
Today has been a rough day. Dad went to the hospital this morning for a check-up and everything is okay for now. He got home and everything went down-hill. He got super nauseous and really tired and didn’t feel good at all. He’s been in bed the rest of the day and hasn’t had any strength, gone pale and laying around all day; just sick. Mom has been his clone on the other couch, in girl form. She’s been really sick too. Her heart problem is really bugging her. She needs help getting up and has been in bed all day. We’re hoping that we can get the heart surgery in place to fix her. Both Grandma’s and Grandpa’s have been here all day. They’ve been a big help with everything. We’ve been cleaning the house, trying to get ready for Dad’s birthday with Dad’s siblings, but we don’t know how that’s going to go because he can’t even sit up for more than 30 seconds…unless a BYU basketball game is on and then it’s one minute. His neutralphil count is only 500 and that means there is no immune system and so they’ve put him on two antibiotics just in case he might get sick. I know this sounds pitiful but this is our life.
Love their daughters, Megan and Nicole.
Love their daughters, Megan and Nicole.
Friday, January 22, 2010
1st Spinal Chemo Treatment
Today, I stayed in bed to keep my heart calm. The Doctor gave me medicine to help my heart not race but it lowers my blood pressure so I’m dizzy and my eyes are blurry. So I can’t drive at this time. Van’s sister came and picked him up today to take him to the hospital for his first spinal tap chemotherapy. He was a little nervous but found it was just very uncomfortable. He slept four hours and can’t move very fast and prefers to lay flat. He was able to escape the spinal headache this time. He will continue with this process every week until his transplant. We are hoping to find out if he had any leukemia in his spinal fluid by next week.
My Dad will drive Van in for testing tomorrow to see if he needs a blood transfusion. He is trying not to get a transfusion because when you get other people’s blood, it has iron in it that will collect in your system which won’t be good for you in the long run. It looks like testing and procedures will be at least 2 times a week from here on out. As of February 1st the 8th floor will be remodeled for an outpatient clinic right across from the in-patient clinic. That’s one thing to look forward to.
By the way, Megan turned 16 and got her driver’s license this week so she can now be our errand girl. It’s going to take a lot of pressure off of us. Happy Days!
My Dad will drive Van in for testing tomorrow to see if he needs a blood transfusion. He is trying not to get a transfusion because when you get other people’s blood, it has iron in it that will collect in your system which won’t be good for you in the long run. It looks like testing and procedures will be at least 2 times a week from here on out. As of February 1st the 8th floor will be remodeled for an outpatient clinic right across from the in-patient clinic. That’s one thing to look forward to.
By the way, Megan turned 16 and got her driver’s license this week so she can now be our errand girl. It’s going to take a lot of pressure off of us. Happy Days!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Deja Vu
Today, was a repeat of last Thursday (the day from you-know-where). We went to LDS Hospital for Van's labs, doctor's consult, and spinal tap chemo. But all was cancelled when my heart raced to 195 again today and wouldn't stop. They tried to stop my heart while I lay on the floor of the doctor's consultation room. But it didn't work this time. So they put me on a gurney and rushed me to the ER where they administered a double dose of the medicine to stop my heart and start it again. This time it worked. They put me on a medicine so it won't happen again until I see the Cardiologist on Monday. Until then, I have to rest and take it easy.
One by one each sibling called Van to apologize that they were not a match for the bone marrow transplant. The doctor ran a preliminary search in the World-Wide Bone Marrow Registry. They found 3 strong possibilities. The doctor said there should be a 90 - 95% chance they could be the same quality of match as a sibling. It will take 6-8 weeks to arrange a “non-related” donor transplant. Until then he will have weekly spinal chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
His red blood cell count is 24.6 and at 24 they recommend you get a blood transfusion. So Saturday he will have his red blood levels checked again.
Tomorrow Van will go in for his first spinal tap chemotherapy and radiation treatment.
When a doctor actually uses numbers like 90-95% when talking to a cancer patient, we have to be very encouraged and hopeful.
So overall, today has been a good day since we have such optimistic projections and now that I am on medication my problem won’t resurface.
Any mistakes in Today's blog can be blamed on Cheri Fivas my fabulous typist.
One by one each sibling called Van to apologize that they were not a match for the bone marrow transplant. The doctor ran a preliminary search in the World-Wide Bone Marrow Registry. They found 3 strong possibilities. The doctor said there should be a 90 - 95% chance they could be the same quality of match as a sibling. It will take 6-8 weeks to arrange a “non-related” donor transplant. Until then he will have weekly spinal chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
His red blood cell count is 24.6 and at 24 they recommend you get a blood transfusion. So Saturday he will have his red blood levels checked again.
Tomorrow Van will go in for his first spinal tap chemotherapy and radiation treatment.
When a doctor actually uses numbers like 90-95% when talking to a cancer patient, we have to be very encouraged and hopeful.
So overall, today has been a good day since we have such optimistic projections and now that I am on medication my problem won’t resurface.
Any mistakes in Today's blog can be blamed on Cheri Fivas my fabulous typist.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Stay Tuned
I’m doing much better today and feeling almost normal. Van is just tired and nauseas. Our next big news will be on Thursday when we should find out if he has a sibling match for his bone marrow transplant. Also, he will start Spinal Chemo and Radiation that day.
I will wait to write again until Thursday evening unless something big and exciting happens. Thanks for being patient.
I will wait to write again until Thursday evening unless something big and exciting happens. Thanks for being patient.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Facing the future
I know a lot of people look at this blog and I want to have something wonderful and uplifting to say today but I’ve been in bed all day and can’t force my body to move (because of my racing heart yesterday). I feel like I’m falling through the floor. I’m hoping by tomorrow my marathon legs will be able to function again. While I was in bed today I read a lot about Van’s bone marrow transplant but it got so depressing I just decided to wait until another day to continue. I learned he will lose his hair, eyelashes and eyebrows. He will have to take multiple medicines. For example: He has to take Busulfan four times a day. It will suppress the bone marrow and destroy cancer cells. It has been associated with seizures, so to prevent this risk, he will be given another drug called levetivacetam. The side effects are thinned or brittle hair, darkened and dry skin, loss of appetite or weight, diarrhea, mouth blistering and fatigue. I won’t even go into the long term side effects. But this was just one of 12 different medicines that he will be taking, and they each have their own severe side effects. I lost my appetite just reading about it. So today is a day of gaining my strength for what is to come.
Somebody told me today that I had problems with my heart because I said my motto was “Bring it on!” I have a Doctor’s appointment on the 25th to do a stress test and consult with the doctor about fixing the problem.
My family doctor called today and said the test came back positive on my lip, it really was a cold sore and he said if Van got the virus his brain would swell up and it could be fatal. So still no kissing or holding hands for at least another week or more. I decided today, I’m going to start wearing latex gloves so I can at least hold hands.
I’m really excited to read this blog in a year and see the words “We did it!” We passed the test! I do have faith and a strong testimony but I can’t wait to see the growth in both of us in just one year.
Somebody told me today that I had problems with my heart because I said my motto was “Bring it on!” I have a Doctor’s appointment on the 25th to do a stress test and consult with the doctor about fixing the problem.
My family doctor called today and said the test came back positive on my lip, it really was a cold sore and he said if Van got the virus his brain would swell up and it could be fatal. So still no kissing or holding hands for at least another week or more. I decided today, I’m going to start wearing latex gloves so I can at least hold hands.
I’m really excited to read this blog in a year and see the words “We did it!” We passed the test! I do have faith and a strong testimony but I can’t wait to see the growth in both of us in just one year.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Surprise, Surprise
I know everyone was anticipating our Doctor’s appointment today, as were we. Van had his blood levels checked and everything is looking great.
Before the doctor could come in to see Van he asked if the nurse could just check my heart because it had been racing for the past 2-3 hours. She did and my pulse was 220 and I didn’t have a blood pressure (they checked four times). The Doctor came in and said, get this girl to the ER immediately. I was wheeled to the ER and given an IV with fluids and they ran an EKG which indicated I have Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) which is a tachycardic rhythm originating above the ventricular tissue. I’ve been trying to catch this on an EKG for 9 years. Usually my heart starts beating fast but stops all of the sudden within 10-15 minutes. This time it didn’t stop so they gave me a drug in my IV that stops my heart and then restarts it again. I'm so exhausted. They said it was like I ran a marathon. They referred me to an Electrophysiology Doctor and I will probably need a heart procedure or take medicine for the rest of my life.
They cancelled Van’s Doctor’s appointment and ask him to go home to take care of me. WOW, what a humbling experience. While I was in the ER I asked if any sibling bone marrow match came back and they said it would be a few more days at least but they will probably tell us next Thursday at his next appointment.
At his next appointment they are going to do spinal tap chemotherapy which will take most of the day. This will be the first of six treatments. Leukemia is a blood disease but if by chance he has even one cell in his spinal fluid there is a zero percent chance of survival. They will give him two treatments before his bone marrow transplant and four afterwards. There is a lot to learn about a bone marrow transplant. They gave us a binder to read before coming back next time.
Van’s parents are here to take care of things while I rest, and I’ve already started to feel a little better. What an interesting and exciting day. Every day is a new adventure.
Before the doctor could come in to see Van he asked if the nurse could just check my heart because it had been racing for the past 2-3 hours. She did and my pulse was 220 and I didn’t have a blood pressure (they checked four times). The Doctor came in and said, get this girl to the ER immediately. I was wheeled to the ER and given an IV with fluids and they ran an EKG which indicated I have Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) which is a tachycardic rhythm originating above the ventricular tissue. I’ve been trying to catch this on an EKG for 9 years. Usually my heart starts beating fast but stops all of the sudden within 10-15 minutes. This time it didn’t stop so they gave me a drug in my IV that stops my heart and then restarts it again. I'm so exhausted. They said it was like I ran a marathon. They referred me to an Electrophysiology Doctor and I will probably need a heart procedure or take medicine for the rest of my life.
They cancelled Van’s Doctor’s appointment and ask him to go home to take care of me. WOW, what a humbling experience. While I was in the ER I asked if any sibling bone marrow match came back and they said it would be a few more days at least but they will probably tell us next Thursday at his next appointment.
At his next appointment they are going to do spinal tap chemotherapy which will take most of the day. This will be the first of six treatments. Leukemia is a blood disease but if by chance he has even one cell in his spinal fluid there is a zero percent chance of survival. They will give him two treatments before his bone marrow transplant and four afterwards. There is a lot to learn about a bone marrow transplant. They gave us a binder to read before coming back next time.
Van’s parents are here to take care of things while I rest, and I’ve already started to feel a little better. What an interesting and exciting day. Every day is a new adventure.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Chinese food is the answer to all the world's problems.
For Van’s early Birthday (on the 25th) Bishop Fivas went to Bountiful and bought the best Chinese food (from the China Platter) and brought it back to our house so we could have a double date with them. We ate until we put ourselves into a self induced caloric coma (to quote Bishop Fivas).
We are anticipating tomorrow. We go to the hospital for blood draws to see how he is doing. Hopefully we will hear if any of his siblings are a match for a bone marrow transplant. Also, tomorrow we will be consulting with the doctor and learning about bone marrow transplants. It should be a VERY informative day.
Today has been the best day for Van since he has been sick. You can’t even tell he is sick because he wears clothes and not PJs, smiles, walks around, and has taken very little if any nausea and headache medicine today. He really hasn’t lost weight because the medicine he is on helps him retain water. People think he should look a lot worse but that comes later.
My favorite part of Van having Leukemia is being with him 24/7 and seeing him teach by the spirit. Normally he goes to Seminary and teaches every day and goes to meetings in the evening because he is in the Stake Presidency. I know he is a great missionary but now I can see it firsthand. I have seen people come to our home or the hospital and leave a better person or leave with a stronger desire to live the gospel. Even when Van was at his lowest point for five days and was in and out of consciousness, somehow he was listening and then he would wake up and have me read a scripture to them or he would quote something from a Prophet to help bless their lives. He truly is a missionary through and through. I see him teach others every day and sometimes many times a day. So in a way, I’m thankful for Leukemia for helping me see the man I married who to me, truly is the most amazing man on the planet.
We are anticipating tomorrow. We go to the hospital for blood draws to see how he is doing. Hopefully we will hear if any of his siblings are a match for a bone marrow transplant. Also, tomorrow we will be consulting with the doctor and learning about bone marrow transplants. It should be a VERY informative day.
Today has been the best day for Van since he has been sick. You can’t even tell he is sick because he wears clothes and not PJs, smiles, walks around, and has taken very little if any nausea and headache medicine today. He really hasn’t lost weight because the medicine he is on helps him retain water. People think he should look a lot worse but that comes later.
My favorite part of Van having Leukemia is being with him 24/7 and seeing him teach by the spirit. Normally he goes to Seminary and teaches every day and goes to meetings in the evening because he is in the Stake Presidency. I know he is a great missionary but now I can see it firsthand. I have seen people come to our home or the hospital and leave a better person or leave with a stronger desire to live the gospel. Even when Van was at his lowest point for five days and was in and out of consciousness, somehow he was listening and then he would wake up and have me read a scripture to them or he would quote something from a Prophet to help bless their lives. He truly is a missionary through and through. I see him teach others every day and sometimes many times a day. So in a way, I’m thankful for Leukemia for helping me see the man I married who to me, truly is the most amazing man on the planet.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
We love you!
Hey gang. I want to apologize for the depressing tone of yesterday’s blog. We just want you to know that we are not depressed or feeling down in any way. The Lord is in charge and whatever he wants to do is good and right. We are excited for the opportunity to grow and become; to be tutored through adversity. You plan for the worst and then expect the best. We are confident that Van has many years left of service in the Kingdom. We know that our Father in Heaven is a God of Miracles and that is how he works among men. Our whole life is an example of his miraculous interventions and we fully expect that he will continue this pattern. We thank you and love you for your wonderful faith and prayers and for your attention to our needs , including your ability to fore see the things that we would need before we could even ask. We have been over whelmed by the love and affection and service rendered by all of you. Please accept our love and most profound appreciation. We are almost without words to describe how blessed we feel.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Looking Death in the Face
Van speaking: I can’t say this was a good day; in fact, it was probably the most morbid day of my life. My stomach was upset, my heart was beating fast and I was tired. And then to add insult to injury Wendy made me write my own obituary, plan my funeral, and took me out for two hours looking at grave plots, headstones, and caskets. I picked out a really cool Colorado Blue Casket. I kind of like our headstone too. Wendy has this idea that she needs to get all this stuff taken care of so she doesn’t have to worry about it anymore. I guess that’s ok.
Wendy speaking: The Doctor told me to do it. I know some people might have a hard time with this but this is the best thing for me. We are getting all of this done, we will put it in a binder, file it away, and then have great hope for the future that we won’t have to get it out again. If the Lord sees fit to take Van during this next year, we will be prepared and that is a good feeling. I would encourage any of you to take a moment and talk to your spouse about their funeral arrangements. I know I was surprised by a few things.
Wendy speaking: The Doctor told me to do it. I know some people might have a hard time with this but this is the best thing for me. We are getting all of this done, we will put it in a binder, file it away, and then have great hope for the future that we won’t have to get it out again. If the Lord sees fit to take Van during this next year, we will be prepared and that is a good feeling. I would encourage any of you to take a moment and talk to your spouse about their funeral arrangements. I know I was surprised by a few things.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
The Little Things
These past two weeks have taken a toll on my body. I started with some type of sore on my lip. The Doctors says the stress is manifesting itself this way. They had to culture it because it could be devastating if it is a viral infection and Van gets it. So I have orders not to kiss him or touch him, and wash my hands ALL the time until the test results come back on Wednesday. I have NEVER had to stay away from my husband and it is VERY hard. But I’ll do anything to keep him healthy.
When the Doctor sent Van home from the hospital, they gave me a list of things I have to watch for like little prickly red dots on his body (low platelets), sores in his mouth, fever, different colors besides pink inside his bottom lip, excessive nausea, headaches, fungus infections, etc. If any of these occur I call and they decide if he needs to come in immediately or give him something to help treat it here at home.
One thing they are worried about is a fungus they found inside him. They have cultured it for the second time and said if they get a positive result back he has to come right back into the hospital. We should know in a few days. They told us to have our bags packed just in case. The certain fungus grows when you have a lesion in the bowel, which could go into the blood stream and be very dangerous. At least we know how to live on the edge.
They also told us that if by chance Van has a single Leukemia cell in his spinal fluid that there is 0% chance of survival. They have a dilemma, because if they give him a spinal tap to find out if he has any Leukemia cells in his spinal fluid, they will contaminate the fluid because the needle will puncture the blood- brain barrier and go into the spinal fluid. So they told us they will do that at some time when we get closer to the bone marrow transplant. Then they will have to give him Spinal Fluid Chemo treatments before and after the transplant. We should find out the plan on Thursday.
It has been so good to be home with our children. Van is stronger today than any other day. He even fixed the disposal. The first night I came home from the hospital, my furnace wouldn’t turn off and I had to call the Bishop (which is our home teacher) at 10:30 at night to come help me. Then the next day as I was leaving for the hospital, I discovered I had a flat tire. I thought to myself, I really have had high expectations of my husband. He fixes anything that we need and now that he can’t, it really makes me respect these single mothers so much more. The night before we came home from the hospital a bunch of boys came down our street and broke into all the cars. The Police woke us up at 4:30 this morning to tell us to check our vehicles and to see if anything was missing. I didn’t realize how much I’ve relied on my husband for protection and peace of mind. (After all, he does have a weapon and a concealed carry permit). I’ve taken my husband for granted and I don’t think I have thanked him enough for just being a guy and doing all the things that guys do. So thank your husband’s tonight for just taking out the garbage. Van can’t do that anymore and we are trying to teach our only other boy in the house, Josh age 5, to take out the garbage which is very challenging for him. My garbage can is very tight and you have to tug and pull, plus the garbage can is almost as tall as he is. It’s really comical but I’m sure he’ll get the hang of it or I’ll have to buy another garbage can.
People are shocked to see Van looking as good as he does because they expect him to look like he has one foot in the grave. These last few days have been the best days so far and so to quote Jon Griffith quoting Brad Bullough, "It's better to be seen than viewed".
When the Doctor sent Van home from the hospital, they gave me a list of things I have to watch for like little prickly red dots on his body (low platelets), sores in his mouth, fever, different colors besides pink inside his bottom lip, excessive nausea, headaches, fungus infections, etc. If any of these occur I call and they decide if he needs to come in immediately or give him something to help treat it here at home.
One thing they are worried about is a fungus they found inside him. They have cultured it for the second time and said if they get a positive result back he has to come right back into the hospital. We should know in a few days. They told us to have our bags packed just in case. The certain fungus grows when you have a lesion in the bowel, which could go into the blood stream and be very dangerous. At least we know how to live on the edge.
They also told us that if by chance Van has a single Leukemia cell in his spinal fluid that there is 0% chance of survival. They have a dilemma, because if they give him a spinal tap to find out if he has any Leukemia cells in his spinal fluid, they will contaminate the fluid because the needle will puncture the blood- brain barrier and go into the spinal fluid. So they told us they will do that at some time when we get closer to the bone marrow transplant. Then they will have to give him Spinal Fluid Chemo treatments before and after the transplant. We should find out the plan on Thursday.
It has been so good to be home with our children. Van is stronger today than any other day. He even fixed the disposal. The first night I came home from the hospital, my furnace wouldn’t turn off and I had to call the Bishop (which is our home teacher) at 10:30 at night to come help me. Then the next day as I was leaving for the hospital, I discovered I had a flat tire. I thought to myself, I really have had high expectations of my husband. He fixes anything that we need and now that he can’t, it really makes me respect these single mothers so much more. The night before we came home from the hospital a bunch of boys came down our street and broke into all the cars. The Police woke us up at 4:30 this morning to tell us to check our vehicles and to see if anything was missing. I didn’t realize how much I’ve relied on my husband for protection and peace of mind. (After all, he does have a weapon and a concealed carry permit). I’ve taken my husband for granted and I don’t think I have thanked him enough for just being a guy and doing all the things that guys do. So thank your husband’s tonight for just taking out the garbage. Van can’t do that anymore and we are trying to teach our only other boy in the house, Josh age 5, to take out the garbage which is very challenging for him. My garbage can is very tight and you have to tug and pull, plus the garbage can is almost as tall as he is. It’s really comical but I’m sure he’ll get the hang of it or I’ll have to buy another garbage can.
People are shocked to see Van looking as good as he does because they expect him to look like he has one foot in the grave. These last few days have been the best days so far and so to quote Jon Griffith quoting Brad Bullough, "It's better to be seen than viewed".
Saturday, January 9, 2010
We are going home!
We are going home today! Everything is going so well that we are hoping not to come back until Thursday. There are a few pending tests and if they come back positive then we will have to come back sooner. If he has any symptoms like fever, rash, chills, etc. we will probably have to come back. Our $13,000 medicine just arrived at our home so we can officially go home (we only had to pay $85).
We will be home and can receive visitors (please don't come if you are sick). He can officially eat anything except grapes. If you make any food, please use sterile dishes.
All our kids came to visit last night (even the four college kids) and we laughed so hard. It was good to be together again. My parents took the four younger kids over to the condo to check it out and try out the hot tub. I’ve included a picture so you can see them. We are being so blessed. Thanks for your prayers.
We will be home and can receive visitors (please don't come if you are sick). He can officially eat anything except grapes. If you make any food, please use sterile dishes.
All our kids came to visit last night (even the four college kids) and we laughed so hard. It was good to be together again. My parents took the four younger kids over to the condo to check it out and try out the hot tub. I’ve included a picture so you can see them. We are being so blessed. Thanks for your prayers.
Friday, January 8, 2010
The Great Escape
I returned to the hospital this morning and found they were having a problem getting the Chemo medicine approved and delivered from the specialty pharmacy to our house by tomorrow. They told me that they couldn’t have us stay in the hospital if he didn’t meet the criteria of a “sick person”. The doctors were in a meeting discussing us and our situation. They told me if we didn’t receive the medicine at home and we had to be released from the hospital that I would have to buy a 2 weeks supply of this medicine for $1,300. When I asked why so much, they said you are very lucky because it costs $13,000 per month. So another miracle happed. As of this afternoon the specialty pharmacy called to tell me they were able to get it overnighted to our house and it will be there by tomorrow. What a major blessing for us.
They are filling 14 more prescriptions for us to pick up from the Pharmacy tomorrow so that we can be discharged from the hospital temporarily. We will be discharged but will return every other day for testing and treatments until the transplant. It will give Van some time to spend at home with his family. After the bone marrow transplant he will be staying in the hospital a minimum of two months and a minimum of two months in the condo.
His white blood cell count has gone up a little to 16,200. The platelet count is up and the kidneys are much better.
The kids are busy sterilizing the house to get it ready for Dad to arrive. There are some new rules we will have to implement in our home when he arrives. One, he can’t be around any cooking, cleaning, dirty laundry, or vacuuming. During these particular activities Van will have to remain in the inner sanctum where dust or air movement cannot reach him (our bedroom). Lucky guy! It just goes to show how far someone will go to get out of doing housework. I bet they told him he can’t take out the garbage either. Two he will pretty much have to stay away from large crowds.
Van was teaching the scriptures to his nurses and this is what he prophesied: Mosiah 24:15-20 “And the Lord did strengthen him (Van) that he could bear up his burdens with ease, and he did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord. And it came to pass that so great was his faith and patience that the voice of the Lord came unto him saying, be of good comfort because on the marrow I will deliver you out of bondage. And in the morning the Lord caused a deep sleep to come upon all the Lamanites (nurses and task masters). And Alma (Van and his family) departed into the wilderness.” So tomorrow is our day of redemption from the bondage of this burdensome facility (for a least a day).
We’ve been blessed with many wonderful visitors who have brought cheer and joy to a very difficult situation. Thank you so much for your love and your time.
They are filling 14 more prescriptions for us to pick up from the Pharmacy tomorrow so that we can be discharged from the hospital temporarily. We will be discharged but will return every other day for testing and treatments until the transplant. It will give Van some time to spend at home with his family. After the bone marrow transplant he will be staying in the hospital a minimum of two months and a minimum of two months in the condo.
His white blood cell count has gone up a little to 16,200. The platelet count is up and the kidneys are much better.
The kids are busy sterilizing the house to get it ready for Dad to arrive. There are some new rules we will have to implement in our home when he arrives. One, he can’t be around any cooking, cleaning, dirty laundry, or vacuuming. During these particular activities Van will have to remain in the inner sanctum where dust or air movement cannot reach him (our bedroom). Lucky guy! It just goes to show how far someone will go to get out of doing housework. I bet they told him he can’t take out the garbage either. Two he will pretty much have to stay away from large crowds.
Van was teaching the scriptures to his nurses and this is what he prophesied: Mosiah 24:15-20 “And the Lord did strengthen him (Van) that he could bear up his burdens with ease, and he did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord. And it came to pass that so great was his faith and patience that the voice of the Lord came unto him saying, be of good comfort because on the marrow I will deliver you out of bondage. And in the morning the Lord caused a deep sleep to come upon all the Lamanites (nurses and task masters). And Alma (Van and his family) departed into the wilderness.” So tomorrow is our day of redemption from the bondage of this burdensome facility (for a least a day).
We’ve been blessed with many wonderful visitors who have brought cheer and joy to a very difficult situation. Thank you so much for your love and your time.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
BRING IT ON!
Every time I’ve called today to check on Van, which was at least three times, because I miss him so much, he had the TV on watching some football games (they are re-runs but he missed them the first time so they are new to him) or he has another visitor. He is really having too much fun today.
I came home yesterday afternoon to go to parent/teacher conferences, help Megan with many things at school, go to the bank and you get the picture. I’m accomplishing a lot and will go back to be with him tomorrow morning.
The Doctor seems to think Van is ready to go home, but I don't. He has taken his I.V. out (but only if he drinks a ton of water), cut back on a lot of medications, and is waiting to see how he responds. We also must have the major drug he is on be delivered to our home. This drug specifically helps keep the white blood cells down. We are hoping it will come in the next few days. Once he goes home, then I will take him back to the hospital every other day for tests to make sure he is stable. Next Thursday we are hoping to know if one of his siblings will be his bone marrow donor. We will be attending many classes and being educated about the bone marrow procedure. The Doctor said that the length of stay at home before bone marrow transplant-must have his leukemia in remission and must find a bone marrow match.
Bad white blood cells: Yesterday 17,000 today 14,000 (This is good.)
Red blood cells: Yesterday 26,000 today 30,000 (They are up because he received two pints of blood yesterday which is good.)
Good white blood cells: Yesterday 65,000 today 33,000 must be above 1000 to prevent infection. (Good for now but going down.)
Blood platelets: Yesterday 23,000, today 39,000 (Up because he had a platelet transfusion yesterday, which is good.)
My Dad, the computer genius, has hooked up a web-cam with Skype in Van’s room so we can talk to him from home and my brothers and sister who have a web-cam can talk to him also.
I’ve decided my new motto is “BRING IT ON”! It gives me a positive power when I say it and I feel like I can handle anything.
Please read President Halladay’s post to the blog under “Bloody Nose” January 6th. His message was so uplifting. President Halladay reminds us of the power of Hymns “The hymns of the Church have served as powerful forms of encouragement. The third verse of How Firm A Foundation in particular. "Fear not I am with thee, O be not dismayed, for I am thy God and will still give thee aid, I'll strengthen thee, help thee and cause thee to stand, Up held by My righteous omnipotent hand."
I came home yesterday afternoon to go to parent/teacher conferences, help Megan with many things at school, go to the bank and you get the picture. I’m accomplishing a lot and will go back to be with him tomorrow morning.
The Doctor seems to think Van is ready to go home, but I don't. He has taken his I.V. out (but only if he drinks a ton of water), cut back on a lot of medications, and is waiting to see how he responds. We also must have the major drug he is on be delivered to our home. This drug specifically helps keep the white blood cells down. We are hoping it will come in the next few days. Once he goes home, then I will take him back to the hospital every other day for tests to make sure he is stable. Next Thursday we are hoping to know if one of his siblings will be his bone marrow donor. We will be attending many classes and being educated about the bone marrow procedure. The Doctor said that the length of stay at home before bone marrow transplant-must have his leukemia in remission and must find a bone marrow match.
Bad white blood cells: Yesterday 17,000 today 14,000 (This is good.)
Red blood cells: Yesterday 26,000 today 30,000 (They are up because he received two pints of blood yesterday which is good.)
Good white blood cells: Yesterday 65,000 today 33,000 must be above 1000 to prevent infection. (Good for now but going down.)
Blood platelets: Yesterday 23,000, today 39,000 (Up because he had a platelet transfusion yesterday, which is good.)
My Dad, the computer genius, has hooked up a web-cam with Skype in Van’s room so we can talk to him from home and my brothers and sister who have a web-cam can talk to him also.
I’ve decided my new motto is “BRING IT ON”! It gives me a positive power when I say it and I feel like I can handle anything.
Please read President Halladay’s post to the blog under “Bloody Nose” January 6th. His message was so uplifting. President Halladay reminds us of the power of Hymns “The hymns of the Church have served as powerful forms of encouragement. The third verse of How Firm A Foundation in particular. "Fear not I am with thee, O be not dismayed, for I am thy God and will still give thee aid, I'll strengthen thee, help thee and cause thee to stand, Up held by My righteous omnipotent hand."
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Bloody Nose
Van woke up with very low blood pressure again and he went to blow his nose and the tissue was bloody. I went to show the Doctor and they came back into the room and told him not to blow his nose again or the capillaries will burst and they wouldn’t be able to stop his nose from bleeding. They said he would then have blood going down his throat and be even sicker. His platelet’s dropped to 23 so yep you know what comes next. He received a platelets transfusion along with two more pints of blood.
Regarding the drug Van needs to go home with, they called our mail order prescription place and they will send it within 1 to 2 days. So now we are just waiting for his body to become stable so we can go home and wait for the bone marrow transplant .
I just found out why my face and lips are so dry. They have a special filtrating system in the room and it tends to dry you out. Van started with allergies so they are giving him some nasal sprays.
My Dad and Mom came today from Idaho to take over for Grandma and Grandpa Heder until Saturday. My Dad is staying with Van while I come home to take care of parent/teacher conferences, get Megan her Driver’s License, change classes for next semester for Megan, get a parking pass, meet with my boss at work, etc. We figured out that we can Skype with web-cams, so my Dad has set up one in the hospital room and I’ll set up one at the house so he can talk to the kids. President Lawrence is also working on getting Skype so Van can attend their Presidency Meetings. Van is so EXCITED! He misses doing the Lord’s work.
The doctor said the white blood cells that fight infection are at 6500, Neutrophils, need to stay above 1000. The 6500 cells are leukemic but still fight infection, which is a great sign for now but can change at any time. Please do not visit if you are sick or been around anyone who has been sick in the last 24 hours. It is VERY DANGEROUS for him!
My Dad said Van is feeling very good tonight and even sat in a chair to eat supper. He is now lying in bed watching the BYU basketball game. This is a good sign.
The Young Women and Young Men’s Theme this year is: Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” How did the Lord know that we needed this right now?
Regarding the drug Van needs to go home with, they called our mail order prescription place and they will send it within 1 to 2 days. So now we are just waiting for his body to become stable so we can go home and wait for the bone marrow transplant .
I just found out why my face and lips are so dry. They have a special filtrating system in the room and it tends to dry you out. Van started with allergies so they are giving him some nasal sprays.
My Dad and Mom came today from Idaho to take over for Grandma and Grandpa Heder until Saturday. My Dad is staying with Van while I come home to take care of parent/teacher conferences, get Megan her Driver’s License, change classes for next semester for Megan, get a parking pass, meet with my boss at work, etc. We figured out that we can Skype with web-cams, so my Dad has set up one in the hospital room and I’ll set up one at the house so he can talk to the kids. President Lawrence is also working on getting Skype so Van can attend their Presidency Meetings. Van is so EXCITED! He misses doing the Lord’s work.
The doctor said the white blood cells that fight infection are at 6500, Neutrophils, need to stay above 1000. The 6500 cells are leukemic but still fight infection, which is a great sign for now but can change at any time. Please do not visit if you are sick or been around anyone who has been sick in the last 24 hours. It is VERY DANGEROUS for him!
My Dad said Van is feeling very good tonight and even sat in a chair to eat supper. He is now lying in bed watching the BYU basketball game. This is a good sign.
The Young Women and Young Men’s Theme this year is: Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” How did the Lord know that we needed this right now?
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Wendy's Birthday
(I’m so tired at the end of the night that I apologize for my spelling, word smithing and anything that doesn’t make sense.)
This morning Van was hungry for the first time so I asked him what he would like and ordered everything he told me. I went to the cafeteria to get my breakfast (because it was my birthday and I LOVE breakfast food) and when I came back Van had eaten EVERYTHING, 1350 calories in one sitting. The most I have been able to get him to eat is 1200 calories in an entire day. As I walked into the room he was holding his stomach because he had a HUGE stomach ache which lasted for at least 4 hours. He said he won’t do that again. This drug (which must not be named) is causing the increased appetite so we are watching it really closely.
Van’s eyes have started to really go blurry so they sent us to the Optimologist (Eye Doctor) today. Van has to put on a yellow coat/covering, gloves, and a mask just to enter the hall. He has his I.V.’s hanging above him and sitting in a wheel chair. He was wheeled through the tunnels under the street and up to the Doctor’s Office in the Physicians Plaza. They found he is starting to bleed behind his eyes but not to a dangerous level yet. They found a pair of glasses that will work for the day so he can read. He is really missing reading his scriptures and his Clive Cussler book. The medicines he is taking will cause these problems so we aren’t sure how long these glasses will work.
His platelets are 27,000 and they should be 150,000. Normal people get a platelet transfusion at 30,000 but the teams of doctors have decided to wait until 20,000 because of the risks. So any kind of bleeding they really go ballistic. Today when his bone-marrow biopsy site was getting larger (with blood) and looking infected, we had two Doctors in our room in minutes and nurses were taking his blood to run to the lab to see if he needed the transfusion. But everything turned out ok for now.
His kidney levels for some reason keep going down so they did a Kidney Ultrasound because they thought there might be a blockage from all the white blood cells, stones, etc. It just came back and said he has damage his Reina Tibullus which will most likely be reversible.
Friends and family have been so good to us. His hospital room looks like a BYU Shrine. He has his favorite picture of Christ (in the red robe) hanging in his room with the quote “I can do all things through Christ, which strengthened me”. (Philippians 4:13) Another sign was made that said Van “Y” not beat it? He is surrounded with pictures of his family also.
A family member called and offered us the use of their three bedroom condo which is furnished and is only 2 minutes away. What a blessing to our family. I’ll be able to go sleep there once or twice a week (while someone comes to stay with him). Then after the bone marrow transplant they just told us that he will probably stay in the hospital a couple of months and then won’t be allowed to go home because he has to be within 30 minutes of the hospital and Tooele is too far. He will need to stay in the condo for a few weeks until he is really stable and they feel comfortable in sending him home. They say he will be coming back into the hospital many times after the transplant. The condo - what another tender mercy.
Today so many people wished me Happy Birthday and family members and friends brought gifts. Van has been asking what I wanted for my birthday from him and I just wanted to lie next to him and take a nap. I miss being next to him so much. It was a beautiful thing. I love my husband so dearly. Thank you for everyone’s e-mails, cards, visits and posts. I wish I could answer them all.
This morning Van was hungry for the first time so I asked him what he would like and ordered everything he told me. I went to the cafeteria to get my breakfast (because it was my birthday and I LOVE breakfast food) and when I came back Van had eaten EVERYTHING, 1350 calories in one sitting. The most I have been able to get him to eat is 1200 calories in an entire day. As I walked into the room he was holding his stomach because he had a HUGE stomach ache which lasted for at least 4 hours. He said he won’t do that again. This drug (which must not be named) is causing the increased appetite so we are watching it really closely.
Van’s eyes have started to really go blurry so they sent us to the Optimologist (Eye Doctor) today. Van has to put on a yellow coat/covering, gloves, and a mask just to enter the hall. He has his I.V.’s hanging above him and sitting in a wheel chair. He was wheeled through the tunnels under the street and up to the Doctor’s Office in the Physicians Plaza. They found he is starting to bleed behind his eyes but not to a dangerous level yet. They found a pair of glasses that will work for the day so he can read. He is really missing reading his scriptures and his Clive Cussler book. The medicines he is taking will cause these problems so we aren’t sure how long these glasses will work.
His platelets are 27,000 and they should be 150,000. Normal people get a platelet transfusion at 30,000 but the teams of doctors have decided to wait until 20,000 because of the risks. So any kind of bleeding they really go ballistic. Today when his bone-marrow biopsy site was getting larger (with blood) and looking infected, we had two Doctors in our room in minutes and nurses were taking his blood to run to the lab to see if he needed the transfusion. But everything turned out ok for now.
His kidney levels for some reason keep going down so they did a Kidney Ultrasound because they thought there might be a blockage from all the white blood cells, stones, etc. It just came back and said he has damage his Reina Tibullus which will most likely be reversible.
Friends and family have been so good to us. His hospital room looks like a BYU Shrine. He has his favorite picture of Christ (in the red robe) hanging in his room with the quote “I can do all things through Christ, which strengthened me”. (Philippians 4:13) Another sign was made that said Van “Y” not beat it? He is surrounded with pictures of his family also.
A family member called and offered us the use of their three bedroom condo which is furnished and is only 2 minutes away. What a blessing to our family. I’ll be able to go sleep there once or twice a week (while someone comes to stay with him). Then after the bone marrow transplant they just told us that he will probably stay in the hospital a couple of months and then won’t be allowed to go home because he has to be within 30 minutes of the hospital and Tooele is too far. He will need to stay in the condo for a few weeks until he is really stable and they feel comfortable in sending him home. They say he will be coming back into the hospital many times after the transplant. The condo - what another tender mercy.
Today so many people wished me Happy Birthday and family members and friends brought gifts. Van has been asking what I wanted for my birthday from him and I just wanted to lie next to him and take a nap. I miss being next to him so much. It was a beautiful thing. I love my husband so dearly. Thank you for everyone’s e-mails, cards, visits and posts. I wish I could answer them all.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Miracles Can Happen!
Van speaking: “I actually feel good today. This is the first time in about a week I haven’t been nauseated or down. I have had some really wonderful visitors. President Schofield came to see me and talked about fresh yogurt. President Lawrence came and spent a good about of time with me and took me for a walk. It was fun to talk to Pres. Lawrence about matters of the stake even though I’m not supposed to be worrying about those things. It was good to take care of some stake business. My entire Seminary faculty came up and brought me lots of fun things. All my siblings came this morning to donate blood and my brother Lane brought me this beautiful, plush, dark blue, BYU fleece blanket. Most all the nurses are Utes fans. I like to let them know that blue is the true color.”
Great news today! Van’s white blood count has gone done from 127,000 yesterday to 61,000 today. Everyone thinks it is a miracle but I know it is because of everyone’s fasting and prayers. So we know this new drug (Dasatinib) is working. He will stay on this new drug until his bone marrow transplant. It is a big possibility it will stop working before then. And if it does, he will have intravenous chemotherapy instead chemotherapy pills. Then we have to wait two months after the intravenous chemotherapy before he can get the bone marrow transplant. All of his brothers and sister came this morning to be tested to see if they are a match for donating marrow. They have a 25% chance of being a perfect match. Then our next option is going to the 12 million bone marrow registry. Then the next option would be to go to his children which are 1 in 1,000 match. If anyone goes off the street to be tested, their chance is 1 in 100,000 to be a match. We will find out in two weeks if his siblings are a match.
Once his white blood count becomes normal and he doesn’t have to be on any IVs. They will release him to come home while they prepare for the bone marrow match. That will be about one month. They want him to lead a normal life for that one month then he will return to the hospital for about 6 weeks recovering from his bone marrow transplant. After which he will have a one year recovery period.
Van started on a new medication “the medicine that must not be named.” It causes fabulous results. It’s controlling his nauseousness, increased his appetite, and helps him stay awake. The average he has been staying awake has been one minute at a time and now he has been awake for 7 hours straight. Wendy loves this drug!
Van’s theme scripture is Doctrine and Covenants 121:7-8
“My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.
Great news today! Van’s white blood count has gone done from 127,000 yesterday to 61,000 today. Everyone thinks it is a miracle but I know it is because of everyone’s fasting and prayers. So we know this new drug (Dasatinib) is working. He will stay on this new drug until his bone marrow transplant. It is a big possibility it will stop working before then. And if it does, he will have intravenous chemotherapy instead chemotherapy pills. Then we have to wait two months after the intravenous chemotherapy before he can get the bone marrow transplant. All of his brothers and sister came this morning to be tested to see if they are a match for donating marrow. They have a 25% chance of being a perfect match. Then our next option is going to the 12 million bone marrow registry. Then the next option would be to go to his children which are 1 in 1,000 match. If anyone goes off the street to be tested, their chance is 1 in 100,000 to be a match. We will find out in two weeks if his siblings are a match.
Once his white blood count becomes normal and he doesn’t have to be on any IVs. They will release him to come home while they prepare for the bone marrow match. That will be about one month. They want him to lead a normal life for that one month then he will return to the hospital for about 6 weeks recovering from his bone marrow transplant. After which he will have a one year recovery period.
Van started on a new medication “the medicine that must not be named.” It causes fabulous results. It’s controlling his nauseousness, increased his appetite, and helps him stay awake. The average he has been staying awake has been one minute at a time and now he has been awake for 7 hours straight. Wendy loves this drug!
Van’s theme scripture is Doctrine and Covenants 121:7-8
“My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Started New Medicine
They started a new medicine yesterday (Dasatinib) that fights the Leukemia but has the side effect of retaining fluid. He gained five pounds last night. They gave him Lasix to make him go to the bathroom every 20-30 minutes. But he was so dizzy and his blood pressure goes low and his heart races that they are trying a motion sickness patch that goes behind his ear. I hope it helps. He has been so nauseated all day that this night time nurse is trying some new options. We are hopeful.
Because of the extra fluid they did a chest X-ray to make sure no fluid are in the lungs. It came out clean! He is taking 14 different medicines to prevent ulcers, decrease uric acid, irritable bowel med, anti-biodics to prevent infections, anti-virals, a Leukemia medicine, and a type of Chemo, etc. Once he gets these then they just monitor everything else and adjust by giving pain medication and nausea meds, etc.
His white blood cell count is 127,000 today so it's going down. His platelets are low and so he is at a very high risk for bleeding. They are watching him very closely but think by tomorrow he will have a platelet transfusion.
We found out that if this new drug (Dasatinib) works (which is only temporary and works in 30-40% of people) then he can come home for about a month and be able to function normally. Then they will prepare for the bone marrow transplant and afterwards stay in the hospital around 6 weeks. Then it will take around 1 year to recover. They said he could go outside but not in any confined spaces with lots of people. His immune system is so low he WILL have problems if he doesn’t obey orders. Bishop Fivas came to see us today and to give me a blessing. After learning Van could go outside he said, Hey buddy, we will just have to take your son Josh, age 5, and go on scooter rides in the mountains all the time while you are getting better. He has such faith and hope that Van will get better, it is contagious!
If you have known Van, even as a little child, he had to have his hair just right. Each day he has asked me to fix his hair or get him a BYU baseball hat so he won't have bed head. Yesterday he came to and said he had a great idea. He asked our daughter Nicole (who is a cosmetologist) to come and buzz his head to 1/2 inch. She came last night and he is so happy with his hair because he doesn't have to worry about it anymore. He looks so handsome. I should have been doing this all along.
Van isn’t allowed off the 8th floor of the hospital because of infection, etc. They offer a 30 minute Sacrament Meeting downstairs to the rest of the patients but since we couldn’t go they were able to bring the Sacrament to our room. The minute the Priesthood holders stepped into the room the spirit was sooooo strong. Tears just streamed as they read the Sacrament Prayers which brought a whole new perspective. That was definitely a bonus for us today.
Bishop Fivas came today and taught us the gospel. He read Mosiah 24:14. “And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. This was such a comfort to Van tonight because today was a day of suffering. “
Thanks for all the e-mails, calls, blog posts, and everything you are doing to help my family. I couldn’t ask for better family or friends. We love you!
Because of the extra fluid they did a chest X-ray to make sure no fluid are in the lungs. It came out clean! He is taking 14 different medicines to prevent ulcers, decrease uric acid, irritable bowel med, anti-biodics to prevent infections, anti-virals, a Leukemia medicine, and a type of Chemo, etc. Once he gets these then they just monitor everything else and adjust by giving pain medication and nausea meds, etc.
His white blood cell count is 127,000 today so it's going down. His platelets are low and so he is at a very high risk for bleeding. They are watching him very closely but think by tomorrow he will have a platelet transfusion.
We found out that if this new drug (Dasatinib) works (which is only temporary and works in 30-40% of people) then he can come home for about a month and be able to function normally. Then they will prepare for the bone marrow transplant and afterwards stay in the hospital around 6 weeks. Then it will take around 1 year to recover. They said he could go outside but not in any confined spaces with lots of people. His immune system is so low he WILL have problems if he doesn’t obey orders. Bishop Fivas came to see us today and to give me a blessing. After learning Van could go outside he said, Hey buddy, we will just have to take your son Josh, age 5, and go on scooter rides in the mountains all the time while you are getting better. He has such faith and hope that Van will get better, it is contagious!
If you have known Van, even as a little child, he had to have his hair just right. Each day he has asked me to fix his hair or get him a BYU baseball hat so he won't have bed head. Yesterday he came to and said he had a great idea. He asked our daughter Nicole (who is a cosmetologist) to come and buzz his head to 1/2 inch. She came last night and he is so happy with his hair because he doesn't have to worry about it anymore. He looks so handsome. I should have been doing this all along.
Van isn’t allowed off the 8th floor of the hospital because of infection, etc. They offer a 30 minute Sacrament Meeting downstairs to the rest of the patients but since we couldn’t go they were able to bring the Sacrament to our room. The minute the Priesthood holders stepped into the room the spirit was sooooo strong. Tears just streamed as they read the Sacrament Prayers which brought a whole new perspective. That was definitely a bonus for us today.
Bishop Fivas came today and taught us the gospel. He read Mosiah 24:14. “And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. This was such a comfort to Van tonight because today was a day of suffering. “
Thanks for all the e-mails, calls, blog posts, and everything you are doing to help my family. I couldn’t ask for better family or friends. We love you!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Van has CML - Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
Doctor Peterson came in today who is the head of the Leukemia Department at LDS Hospital and has just focused on Leukemia for 30+ years. The bone marrow test came back to tell us he has CML (Chronic Myeloid Leukemia) in blast crisis. They are giving him a drug called Dasatinib or the trade name Sprycel which inhibits the growth of CML cell lines. It has a 30-40% chance of working. If it doesn’t work he will need Chemo (the big guns). He is already on the chemo tablet to help bring down the white blood cell count. This drug has a lot of adverse reactions like fluid in the lungs, diarrhea, fluid retention, heart palpitations, etc., a huge list. He may need spinal treatments in the future. As soon as we get the white blood cells under control and not climbing then he will get a bone marrow transplant. But it has a 50/50 chance of working. They said he might be able to come home for a few weeks before the transplant but then he will be out of commission for a year and in the hospital 5-6 weeks, minimum. They tell me to just take this one day at a time because there is a lot of information and a lot to take in and things change every day.
He had a MRI two days ago because they thought the Leukemia was in his brain. But that test came out clean. Yeh!
Van doesn’t feel like eating but after not eating yesterday they were very concerned and gave us both a pep talk about doing everything we can to have him eat because the alternative is awful. So I order things from room service that will be enticing and then do all I can to get him to take a few bites. He is on a low microbial diet. That means the he can’t eat any vegetables unless they are steamed, only fruits that are peeled, etc, and it has to be prepared in a sterile environment. So no Wendy’s Burger’s with cheese they told him. He was pretty sad about that news. After he eats, he has to brush his teeth with a very soft toothbrush so his gums won’t start bleeding. Then he has to swish with some special liquid, suck on a pill and then not eat or drink for 30 minutes. He does this four times a day. This is to protect his mouth the best they can from all the sores, which are 20 times more painful than a canker, which will be forming in his mouth and throat in the near future.
I have to tell you about the first few days of our hospital stay, when he could talk and be awake more than 30 seconds. He would talk to every nurse (which there are a lot we come in contact with) and find out about their background: where they live, how many kids they have, if they like the U or BYU, if they are LDS, etc. One nurse wasn’t LDS and so when the next nurse came in he started talking about this nurse that wasn’t a member and was asking and challenging this nurse to talk to her and see what she could do to help her. He is an amazing missionary!
He had a MRI two days ago because they thought the Leukemia was in his brain. But that test came out clean. Yeh!
Van doesn’t feel like eating but after not eating yesterday they were very concerned and gave us both a pep talk about doing everything we can to have him eat because the alternative is awful. So I order things from room service that will be enticing and then do all I can to get him to take a few bites. He is on a low microbial diet. That means the he can’t eat any vegetables unless they are steamed, only fruits that are peeled, etc, and it has to be prepared in a sterile environment. So no Wendy’s Burger’s with cheese they told him. He was pretty sad about that news. After he eats, he has to brush his teeth with a very soft toothbrush so his gums won’t start bleeding. Then he has to swish with some special liquid, suck on a pill and then not eat or drink for 30 minutes. He does this four times a day. This is to protect his mouth the best they can from all the sores, which are 20 times more painful than a canker, which will be forming in his mouth and throat in the near future.
I have to tell you about the first few days of our hospital stay, when he could talk and be awake more than 30 seconds. He would talk to every nurse (which there are a lot we come in contact with) and find out about their background: where they live, how many kids they have, if they like the U or BYU, if they are LDS, etc. One nurse wasn’t LDS and so when the next nurse came in he started talking about this nurse that wasn’t a member and was asking and challenging this nurse to talk to her and see what she could do to help her. He is an amazing missionary!
Friday, January 1, 2010
Van's Symptoms and Diagnosis
For the last two weeks, Van has had headaches, shortness of breath when he climbs stairs, and loss of appetite. We went to the doctor on Monday, December 28, 2009 and he did an EKG and ordered fasting blood tests to done the next day. Wednesday morning the doctor called Van to go and get Wendy and meet him at his office because he thinks he figured out what was wrong with him. When we got there, two doctors were waiting to tell us that his white blood cell count was 196,000 instead of 1,100. They had the pathologist look at his blood and confirmed it was leukemia. They called the best oncologist they knew and had a team of doctors waiting at LDS Hospital for us to arrive. LDS Hospital 8th floor is dedicated to leukemia patients. They say this is the best place to be, and we have felt the same.
Van has a form of myelogenous leukemia. We don’t know for sure if it is chronic or acute since it shows both attributes. The leukemia has entered a “blast” phase producing white blood cells out of control. If they would have caught the chronic leukemia in the beginning stages, he could have taken medicine each day and been fine. He has been receiving medicines to stop the over producing of white blood cells as well as clean up the cells that our destroyed. The doctor today said he feels like he has responded well to the treatment to date and the white blood cells have not gotten out of control. As of yet we don’t know which treatments he will receive. His current treatment so far is oral. Within a day or two, we will know genetically what leukemia he has, which will better determine what therapy he will be receiving. They are looking for a particular marker “Philadelphia chromosome”. That information will help them determine which genetic subtype they are dealing with. His siblings have been encouraged to be tested for compatibility in a possibility of a bone marrow transplant. We don’t know if a bone marrow transplant will be the treatment or intravenous chemotherapy or both.
You would never know that Van was sick until after his first chemotherapy treatment. He now has a constant headache, is nauseous, and goes to the bathroom every 30 minutes (because of all the fluids they are pumping into him). When the medicines for these problems are given, he is able to sleep peacefully. As these massive amounts of white blood cells die, they will cause complications on their own. The doctors are telling us they will do everything to keep it under control so he doesn’t have to go to intensive care. We are trying to stay positive and have hope.
In 1991, Elder Maxwell quoted this verse: “The Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith” (Mosiah 23:21), noting that this “diving purpose ought to keep us on spiritual alert as to life’s purposeful adversities, especially as we seek to become more saintly.”
Van has a form of myelogenous leukemia. We don’t know for sure if it is chronic or acute since it shows both attributes. The leukemia has entered a “blast” phase producing white blood cells out of control. If they would have caught the chronic leukemia in the beginning stages, he could have taken medicine each day and been fine. He has been receiving medicines to stop the over producing of white blood cells as well as clean up the cells that our destroyed. The doctor today said he feels like he has responded well to the treatment to date and the white blood cells have not gotten out of control. As of yet we don’t know which treatments he will receive. His current treatment so far is oral. Within a day or two, we will know genetically what leukemia he has, which will better determine what therapy he will be receiving. They are looking for a particular marker “Philadelphia chromosome”. That information will help them determine which genetic subtype they are dealing with. His siblings have been encouraged to be tested for compatibility in a possibility of a bone marrow transplant. We don’t know if a bone marrow transplant will be the treatment or intravenous chemotherapy or both.
You would never know that Van was sick until after his first chemotherapy treatment. He now has a constant headache, is nauseous, and goes to the bathroom every 30 minutes (because of all the fluids they are pumping into him). When the medicines for these problems are given, he is able to sleep peacefully. As these massive amounts of white blood cells die, they will cause complications on their own. The doctors are telling us they will do everything to keep it under control so he doesn’t have to go to intensive care. We are trying to stay positive and have hope.
In 1991, Elder Maxwell quoted this verse: “The Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith” (Mosiah 23:21), noting that this “diving purpose ought to keep us on spiritual alert as to life’s purposeful adversities, especially as we seek to become more saintly.”
My husband, Van Heder has been diagnosed with leukemia and is in the LDS Hospital.
Please contact us in this order:
Blog (online journal) on Van’s Condition www.wendyheder.blogspot.com
Email wendy.heder@gmail.com
LDS Hospital Room E810 (8th floor, east side) phone 801-408-3810
If we don’t answer, call Nurse’s station phone 801-408-3857 Code 2651
Wendy cell 435-228-8258
Blog (online journal) on Van’s Condition www.wendyheder.blogspot.com
Email wendy.heder@gmail.com
LDS Hospital Room E810 (8th floor, east side) phone 801-408-3810
If we don’t answer, call Nurse’s station phone 801-408-3857 Code 2651
Wendy cell 435-228-8258
Visitors are welcome under these circumstances: healthy and not exposed to someone sick in the last 24 hours, and over age of 14. Flowers, live plants, and food are prohibited. Please wash your hands at the sink near Van’s room before entering his room.
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