Disability

The inevitable happen and Brad was placed on disability.  He is not getting around as easily as he used to.  His skin is so tight and dry that he can hardly bend his legs, which makes it real hard to run a construction project.  Lots of discoloration, circulation and inflammation problems.  So, as hard as it was to hear, we believe it may be a blessing in disguise so Brad can rest and heal.  His plans are to maybe join up with Sean Bookout, his old colleague, and work for him eventually.  We have decided to return to Nanny's chiropractor, Braddock, where Brad will get acupuncture every other week.  Perhaps Eastern medicine will help him feel better, is our hope.  Prayers, prayers, prayers!!

Summer and fall of 2016

The days roll into months as Brad still battles the GVHD.  He feels terrible 95% of the time.  Last check up with Tara Gregory she said that the drugs he is on have a lot to do with the way he feels.  She said "they make you feel like shit".  They have been weening him of certain drugs for sometime now and it has been a challenge.  His body is just not strong enough to fight back yet and take over where Aaron's cells are dominating. It's not been fun.  Last night he told me that he's lost hope with Heavenly father, Jesus Christ, & Papa. He's looking for any help from the other side and not feeling it it. It's effecting everything, both family, work, church, everything.  We are at the point of seeking help through Eastern medicine, specifically acupuncture. And I am seeking some help mentally dealing with an ailing husband.  I am hoping to hook up with a support group soon.  Prayers prayers prayers.

Kids make Brad happy-they are like medicine!  

This was a LLS event, black tie event I should add, that Brad and I were underdressed for.  Brad wanted to surprise me so he didn't give me details and he didn't know that "cocktail attire" meant to dress up!! I was literally in rags.  I gave him such a hard time this night.  I regret being such a brat about it.  But we had a good time, nonetheless.

 Edema and GVHD

 Tired guy at one of his CBCI checkups.  He sometime doesn't sleep well. 

 Terrible scabbing, peeling rash from GVHD

Yikes

Looking back I thought that Brad's GVHD was "under control somewhat" but boy was I wrong.  He actually looked good in those photos.  Now, his GVHD has flared up so bad that he is limited to what he can do.  Simple things like putting on his socks require my help.  They have him on 90 MG of Steroids with the plan to taper down to 10 MG each week.  Because the pain is so bad, they also prescribed Morphine so he is drugged up more than ever.  This was his GVHD about month ago...

It has since increased in redness and spread

We finally put in a request for a handicap tag since Brad is having so much trouble walking.  

October-December 2015

From October to December Brad did OK.  He certainly sleeps ore than usual, I think because his body is working so hard at trying to acclimate to Aaron's new cells.  GVHD is under control somewhat.

Check up and I got to go this time so I took our traditional waiting room selfie. 

 Aaron took this one.  Brad spiked another fever and so off to the ER he went in a snow storm.  Grateful for family that are here to help.  Turns out they sent him home.  Precautionary as with anything pertaining to Brad's health!!

Another trip to the ER and Light the Night 2015

We will start with Brad's trip to the ER because he had a fever for a few days.  We called CBCI and they told him to go to his PCP.  Well, you can imagine what happened next.  They said because of his past history of pneumonia, that he needs to go to ER. 

The good news is that he broke his fever while he was there!   Which means his body if fighting off viruses!  Yippee!!! We made it home by 11:30 pm.  

Light the Night walk 2015.  A wonderful turnout...

 The donor (and family) made it this year too!! :)

Photopherises? Try spelling that, let alone figure out what it is!

Brad is suffering from GVHD (Graph vs. Host Disease).  We were warned of this side effect of a transplant since the beginning and, of course, we were hoping he would avoid it.  Regardless, he has suffered for awhile and he has once again stepped up and endured through it.  He has had an immense   challenge with his skin which seems to be the organ that is being hit the hardest.  His skin itches all day every day.  And it becomes very tight and uncomfortable when it is not hydrated with lotion.  So, he continually saturates it with lotions (and we tried many before we found one that worked best!) He has mouth sores too and eating spicy foods is painful!!  This is Brad we are talking about!  Sometimes salt even aggravates it.  Doctor subscribed a mouthwash that he uses.  Doesn't do much but he keeps using it.  That is basically the only thing we can do on our end to help.  His doctors have ordered a 5-6 month photopherises treatment.  This treatment entails weekly visit's to PSL where he has to sit for several hours and have his blood pulled out (he had to get another chest port put in).  Once his blood is pulled out, it is spun and divided.  Then parts of it are exposed to UV rays along with a medicine that goes along with the process.  It is painless but it is time consuming.  So far, we have not seen a ton of improvement. And unfortunately his diabetes got worse which was a challenge in itself.  We think he has leveled out that problem with good eating habits.  Good job, Bradley.  So, that is it in a nut shell.  He is still dealing with all kinds of garbage.  Yet, we still have to have faith that he will come out stronger and better!!   And he will!!

Test Results!!

I just arrived at the hospital and here is some good news.  They found something from the bronchoscopy results. A pnemonia bug called pneumocystis pnemonia which is uncommon to those of us who are not immune compromised, but for someone like Brad whose immune system is so weak it is.  So, they have a drug that he has been on before called Bactrim that he will take 3 times a day and hopefully that will do the trick. His breathing is restricted because of this so he gets winded just getting up to use the bathroom.  He's feeling pretty crummy and had a rough nights sleep. He's doing a lot of reflecting on family and the love he has for you (and friends) 💝 He's hoping he will be ok to attend Emily's graduation on Thursday but I'm thinking not. 😒