Hi Everyone!!

Today was a beautiful sunny day in Ann Arbor.  We think you in Kalamazoo had the same....doesn't it feel good!!  We took a ride around the city and had the truck washed today to pass some time.  If felt good to be out in the sunshine and get the truck clean and shiny again. 

We had to put Cindy on the plane back to Colorado.  We had so much fun having her here and as you would suspect it was sooo hard seeing her go.  By far seeing family and friends come and go is the most difficult thing we have to go through.  Lots of tears for sure. And always a time of adjusting to not having company around us.   

Rand is doing very well....the doctor said Friday that he is very lucky to be out of the hospital because 50 %  of the transplant patients are still in the hospital at this time after transplant.  We don't call that lucky we call it a tremendous blessing.  He is still very very fatigued but each day seems to be better.  He is working very hard at eating and exercising, too.  We have an appointment on Monday for blood work, clinic and a  white platelet infusion.  We are trying very hard to fill the days with reading, puzzles, walks, bike riding,etc. but, we are very very lonely. We miss home and family so much.  Our prayer is that God will help us through these times and we are believing that He will.  If Rand's counts come up we are hoping and praying that our kids can come up in the next couple of weeks.  We talk to them on the phone alot which is wonderful and tonight we were able to see Tami and the kids on the web cam....so much fun!! 

Have a wonderful Sunday tomorrow and praise God above for your many many blessings. 

We love you all,

Rand and Joanie

We Made It!

Hi Everyone,

It is about 5:30 our time and we are out of the hospital and also have Cindy here with us, too.  Her flight was perfect and picking her up couldn't have been more timely and easy. 

We are making dinner for us tonight!!  Food is going to be a real challenge because Rand can no longer eat off of salad bars and buffets.  That is a real bummer because we were so depending on the meals provided here at the Hotel. The  problem with buffets and salad bars is that there is so much potential for bacteria and Rand's autoimmune system is now like that of a baby's.  So we will be cooking fresh and trying to abide by as many of the guidelines that we can. He has lost about 30 pounds again so we are going to try real hard to "plump" him up again.  We will have lots of appts. this weekend checking blood counts and adjusting medications that need to be adjusted and just generally keeping close tabs on his progress.  This will be the program for the next month of so.  We are just praying that blood counts continue to get back to order, infections and temps. stay away and he continues to gain his weight and strength back.

I was able to go back to Kalamazoo Sunday to see all the grandkids and Heidi and Tami.  What a blessing to see them all again.  Saw Kobe's soccer game.  Went to Jungle Joes to play with the bunch.  Tami and Heidi made dinner for us all at Heidi's house and then we watched a movie together.  What a great time.  I was also able to share Jurien's cozy bed.  Sure slept like a baby.  Going back to Ann Arbor was very very hard....only cried through Battle Creek...guess that's not too bad, uh?  Ben and Kyle had a great time with Rand in Ann

Arbor...good guy time. 

Hugs and Blessings to you all and thanks for all the continued prayers, cards, calls, visits and just words of encouragement.  The next couple of months will be a true test of endurance, but we with God's divine help and strength we know that we can do this. 

Love,

Rand and Joanie

:) :)

Hi Dear Ones,

Just had to touch base to let you all know that Rand is doing amazingly well.  Doctor Yannik is so pleased with the way his white counts are slowly and steadily coming back.  He just almost giggles when he shares with the nurses how far Rand has come.  Rand is still struggling with sores in his throat which makes eating very challenging, but he does his best with soups, shakes and other things that he can easily get down.  They said as the white counts continue to come up the sore throat will go away.  He has lost alot of weight again which drives me crazy, but is always seems to come back. He is still doing the bike faithfully which is awesome.

I'm going to try and go home tomorrow morning to get my hair done. My sweetheart Kathy is coming in to help me out!!   Kyle is going to come up  to Ann Arbor to spend the day and possibly the night with Rand. Ben might be able to come if he doesn't have to plow.  It will be good "guy" time for them all.  They are planning on watching "Planet Earth" together in the hospital.   I'm planning on having dinner with the girls and kids and then spending the night. Can't wait to see my little peeps.  I will come back on Tuesday morning because Cindy (Rand's) sister will be coming in from Denver to the Detroit Airport around 3:00.  She will be staying her until Saturday. 

So we have so many things to be thankful for!!!   Good counts, continual improvement, being able to see our family, and just thankful for God's grace and healing power on Rand.  Just doesn't get any better than that!!  Your prayers, love, cards, e:mails, visits and phone calls are the glue to us getting through each day.   Praise and honor to our Great Physician!!!!

Hope you all have a wonderful day at church tomorrow....be thankful for all your many many blessings!!  And give God a shout of praise for all of those answered prayers that we continually see!!  Yea God!!!

Hugs and Love,
Joanie

What a great day!!!

Rand and and I were blessed with a visit from some dear friends in Kalamazoo today.  Ron Terpstra, Don and Joyce Tersptra, Jane and Amos Newhouse and Jerry Wielenga.  What a great time we had.  We went up to see Rand in his little "closet", but we all squeezed in just fine and had a wonderful time.  Lots of laughs, giggles and good stories.  After that they took me to Carson's for lunch...Yummy!!!...and then back to the hotel for a visit. Can't begin to tell you what a joy it is to see people from home...just fills our hearts with joy!!. It is always so hard seeing people leave, but it's worth it all having them here.  Sunday, Ben and Kyle will be coming up for the day while I go home to get my hair done and and maybe catch one of Kobe's soccer games.  I'll probably have dinner with the kids and girls and then head back up to U of M.in the evening.  Rumor has it that if all continues the way it is Rand might be coming home on Monday.  Hallelujah!!!  That's home to the hotel!!  What a great blessing that will be.  His sister is coming in on Wednesday (flying into Detroit) and will stay until Saturday.  Some of the kids might be coming up next weekend depending how Rand is doing.  We just pray that God will take away the "uncertainty" of having Rand away from all the wonderful care around the clock care he has had in the hospital and that he will continue to improve with no fevers, infections, etc.  We would love to keep him out of the hospital. God please hear our prayer!! 

I also have a very very special prayer request for Wendy Nakken (Ben's sister)

   She was brought to the emergency room just now with lots of pain in her hips.  Please pray for God's complete, divine healing power over her body!!  God is the Great Physician and we know that all things are possible through him. Also pray for divine wisdom for the doctors who are put in their path that they will be "hand picked" by God himself. We love you Wendy and we know that you have courage, an optimism that inspires everyone, and an incredible faith. Our love and prayers are surrounding you. 

In God's Amazing Love,

Rand and Joanie

6 Days after the transplant!

Hi all!

Hope you all had a wonderful Valentines with your loved ones.  We actually made each other Valentines and gave them to each other....that was fun!!  It was a "group activity the hospital provided so we thought we'd join in on the fun. 

All is going very well.  His counts are going lower and lower, but he maintains his appetite and trys real hard to get up and going even though that is get harder and harder to do.  Today he had two units of platelets and two units of blood. They have also started him on Nueprogin shots to help build up his white blood count.  We were able to use the shots left over from Cindy...and at $1000.00 dollar a shot I hope the insurance company will take notice.  They probably don't even see that side of things, but I sure didn't want it not to be used if we could. 

Today, he had an ultrasound of his blood clots and nothing has changed...things have actually improved.  His chest xray came back clear and perfect, too.  Yippee!!  Tomorrow, he has an echo cardiogram of his heart to check things out there.  His liver count is back to normal and his kidney count is better than it has ever been.  PRAISE GOD FOR SURE!!!   The rest of the week his counts will continue to fall and we are praying and believing that he will not get the infections, fevers, sores etc. God has surely shown favor on Rand regarding all of that! So that is it in a nutshell and we couldn't be more thankful on how he is progressing. 

We think we are getting a few visitors on Wednesday if the weather holds out.  We are suppose to get 6-12 inches here...I find that hard to believe.  But, we'll enjoy the sunshine today for sure. And hopefully the travel will not be bad for those coming up. 

Rand is busy doing the bike right now and I'll be heading back to the hotel pretty quick...have wonderful evenings and I'll keep you updated!!

Hugs and Love,

Rand and Joanie

Two Days after the Transplant!!

We are now two days after transplant and I'll have to say God has been good! In spite of Rand's counts crashing to the bottom he is doing great!!  He is eating really well as long as they keep him on a ritual of nausea medicine.  Today, he walked five laps and as I'm writing this note to you he is riding a "New Step" Recumbent Cross Trainer!!  He is planning on putting in 20 minutes.  What a guy!!!  Each day will get more and more challenging as his counts go even lower, but the staff here are amazing and watch every count and every change and are always two steps ahead of things happening so they can make it easier for him to tolerate.  What a blessing they are to have around! We almost got a chance at a bigger room, but a very critical patient was coming in who needed lots of room for equipment ...so we certainly wouldn't want to stand in the way of that.  Our little room is cozy with pictures of all the kids and your cards are all over the walls!!!  We like our little closet.  Rand has been sleeping well at night, too which is such a blessing.  Thanks to all of you that have sent cards, called him and especially keep him in your hearts and prayers.  We are eternally grateful to all of you!!  We continually feel God's amazing presence in each and everyday and we know that He is in our little closet right there with us.  We have had many chances to share with our nurses regarding God's love and goodness and we pray that those opportunities will always be there for us. Continue to pray for Cindy's stem cells to make a home in Rand's body and clear out all that is bad and that they will build his immune system to the potential God intends it to be!! We are believing those little "pac women" are hard at work and by God's amazing power are transforming Rand's body into a body whole and healed in Jesus Name. 

We miss you all so very much and you are continually in our thoughts, prayers and hearts daily.  Tears often come to our eyes as we reflect on all the love, generosity, caring and devotion that has been shown to us!!  Our hearts are overflowing with humbleness.  A special thanks to our amazing family who we could not take a step without them!!!  We love you all more than you will ever know!!

Blessings and Hugs,

Rand and Joanie

Happy "New Birthday" to Rand Feb. 10!

Oh what a beautiful day God has given us!! This will be "new" birthday that Rand and our whole family will never forget. Heidi, Tami, Kynzie and myself were all in the room when they began the procedure and all of us were praying for Cindy's "bright pretty pink" stem cells as well as the compatibility of Rand's body to receiving the stem cells. It was a very peaceful and emotional time for us all!! The procedure only took about 1 hour and was uneventful as far as any allergic reactions were concerned....all went well. We decorated Rand's room with Valentines from all the grand kids and had balloons saying "Happy New Birthday!" We even had carrot cake to celebrate with after the procedure was complete. We did alot of crying, laughing and just taking deep breaths of joy after the procedure was complete. Gods presence and peace were truly felt by us all. Rand took a nice long nap after the procedure and the girl's and I took a break. Rand's room now smells like tomato soup!! They said that would be that way for a few days. Isn't that just the funniest thing....at least it wasn't cabbage!!

Rand's blood counts are dropping really fast as expected but he is still eating well and keeping the nausea at bay...which is such a blessing. He will not be able to have visitors from this day forward for a pretty long period of time...unless God has different plans. He loves your cards and phone calls sooo much!! We are praying and believing for no infections, no fevers, compatibility of stem cells, and the complete manifestation of God's healing upon Rand. Psalm 107:20 has been a mainstay for us both during this time..."God's Word is healing. He sent His word and Healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." It is so important for us to know the Word and use it for our health and healing. We need to know the word, know God's works, know that He never lies and He keeps His promises....what an assurance that is for us all. The most difficult part of the day was again seeing our family go home..so heart wrenching. We love them so much and treasure each moment we have with them!! And seeing them drive away once again just rips a hole in our hearts. But, then God just surrounds us and assures us that His love will be sufficient for us and He will fill those voids for now!! I know that many of you are praying for us and we so covet and treasure those prayers. The next few weeks are very critical, but we have such amazing peace that God has this all completely in His care and we are believing that all will divinely fall into place according to His word and prommises.

Hugs and love to you all,

Rand and Joanie