The Best of Times... The Worst of Times
OK, well maybe that's a bit exaggerated, but this weekend has seen some extremes in Room G1151. The good news first -- Gabrielle's white cell count rose to a whopping 0.2 on this morning's lab report!!! This is what she and all of us have been waiting and praying for. If her counts rise again tomorrow, we can safely assume that her cells have engrafted and her body is beginning to produce brand-new bone marrow, hopefully MS-free. Hurray!!
Unfortunately this good news arrived just after Gabrielle threw up, or tried to -- there was nothing in her stomach since she had thrown up everything she ate yesterday already last night. (Sorry to be so graphic -- I hope none of you just finished eating lunch!) Just when we hoped the worst was over... She was not feeling a bit well yesterday -- shakey and weak and "weird." We had a quiet day of reading the Ensign, a make-shift Sunday School class (quite excellent, if I do say so myself!), and watching a movie (so far we have seen "Ghandi," "Out of Africa," "The Man Without a Face," and "Our Mutual Friend" -- all excellent). She didn't attempt to walk yesterday, but I am hoping she will feel strong enough to walk today because I think that will help her feel better. But we are definitely taking it one hour at a time today. Just yesterday I was worried about how to keep her from getting too bored, now that she was feeling so much better... I won' have to worry about that today.
But the GOOD NEWS is very good indeed and all this discomfort will be worth it!
So... hold off on the phone calls today, but send a card or email if you get a chance -- I will print out the email so she can read them.
Until later... Christie
Her address:
Gabrielle Turner
Room G1151
U.T. M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Blvd.
Houston, Texas 77030
The Turners
Gabrielle and Ben
Joseph
Brigham
Mosey
About Me
- Gabrielle
- I am a Christian, a wife, mother, homeschool teacher, perfectionist, night-owl, reader, conservative, photographer, and a lot more. I have 3 boys-- 11 year old twins named Joseph and Brigham, and a 9-year-old named Moses. I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005. I went from a 30-mile-a-week runner to being mostly wheelchair-bound in 2 years. In 2008 I was accepted into the HALT-MS study-- a clinical trial in which I underwent an autologous stem cell transplant (bone marrow transplant) in an attempt to put the disease into remission. So far, I have remained stable for more than four years! I am grateful every day for the new lease on life that God (and modern medicine and awesome doctors, but mostly God :-)) has granted to me, and the chance I have to teach and raise my boys, love my husband, and experience the joy, frustration, happiness, and heartache that life brings.
3 comments:
Dearest Gabrielle,
Here is my favorite scripture from my studies this morning. I have promised myself I will committ it to memory. It is:
Deuteronomy 31:6
" Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."
Blessings to you all. Suzie
Dear Gabrielle,
Greetings from the Kaysville Johnsons. We are thinking about you daily and praying for you.
Love, Aunt Kathy
We are glad to hear from you. This blog has kept us up to date, and we are watching and hoping for you.
Sincerely, Noah J.
Gabrielle, your strength amazes me. I'm so proud to be related to someone who is so faithful and such a good example to everyone. You're an inspiration. Love, Jerusha.
I am amazed by your strength and will power. Way to go. Keep on going. Angee
Post a Comment