Since having a blood clot in my right arm, which was discovered in January, I have been receiving two shots a day (blood thinner) in my stomach.  Today, I had an ultrasound on that arm and will hopefully be told tomorrow at my clinic visit that I do not have to continue the blood thinner shots.  I am praying that I will learn that the blood vessels are clear and no more shots.  This will also help my platelets count to go up and hopefully I will be able to stop receiving a platelets transfusion two or three times a week. 

In case you are wondering about my eating and weight…I have gained 14 pounds since leaving the hospital.    This is wonderful news because that was one of the concerns when I was taken off the liquid nutrition I was receiving during December and January.  I really am enjoying dessert these days.    I hope to put on another 12 pounds and then maintain that weight.  I will be at the weight I was when I met Keli back in 1989.  My strength is also coming back.  When I first left the hospital I could hardly make it up steps, but now I am doing much better, although I still have some muscle toning that needs to occur…especially in my legs. 

When I am not at the clinic, which is still on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I am spending much more time at home.  I am having fun getting some things organized around the house.  You know, things you would like to do but never seem to find the time to do them.  It is also wonderful to be with my girls more.  I am driving again, so now I am able to take Bella to school a few days a week and occasionally pick her up.  It is fun to be home for this season of life as I recover more fully.

I trust all is well with you and your families.  May the Lord bless you during the season of Lent.

Blessings,

Sam

It has been so nice to be back home as I am discovering new routines throughout the day.  I am still coming to the clinic 3 days a week and many of those appointments take 5-6 hours; however, we get to go home after the clinic visits and that is such a blessing.  I think the girls are enjoying me being home more since I have gone on long-term disability.  I am still adjusting to the change of life of not going to work five days a week, but it is so good to be able to give into recovering during this chapter of life.

I don’t think I have shared this with you, but it may be something you need to hear today.  The week I knew I would be applying for disability was very difficult for me.  As a husband and father I expect that I will take care of my family and that means working hard to provide for my girls.  I had several restless nights as my mind raced with all sorts of thoughts about how life would change for the Green family.  I prayed that I would not doubt or have fear of the future and totally trusted that the Lord would direct our future as he had been directing our lives throughout our journey.

After a few nights of restless sleep and racing thoughts, I began to sleep better although I was still having questions in my mind about the future.  The Lord woke me up one of those nights and gave me his assurance by putting one word in my mind…temporary.  At that time I was not able to eat…He assured me that was only temporary.  I was losing weight almost daily…He assured me that was temporary.  My muscles were being weakened by the high-dose steroids and I was having difficulty walking…He assured me that was temporary.  I was going to be on inactive status in my full-time position and there would be a significant reduction of income…He assured me that was temporary.

Temporary…so many times in my life I have looked at present situations and felt that is how it would always be.  The Father showed me that night that I truly am on a journey and that many of the situations of life are only temporary.  Since that time I have had doubt flair up in my mind, but I immediately think back to that night and the communion I had with the Lord and realize once again that it is only temporary.

God is so faithful.  He speaks to us in an infinite number of ways.  I will never forget the night He woke me up and wrapped me in His arms and whispered “temporary.”  To God be the glory.

Blessings,

Sam

It took the usual 45 min to get labs back and our team of specialist gathered in the room to visit with us (as they do once a week, nothing unusual).  Dr Berdeja was all smiles today.  He said he had great news, though not complete.  Sam’s biopsy came back that he remains in remission!!  We are still waiting to see the percentage of ingraftment.  Pray that there are good results in this area.  We are expecting that there will be ( Sam and I are).  God is a God of amazing works!  He continues to astound us!!

This morning…a Psalm of David.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable!  One nation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts!  I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. Psalm 145 :3-5

In hope and great joy!!

Keli and Sam

This week Sam underwent a bone marrow biopsy to evaluate his 1 year / 100 day post DLI bone marrow…situation.  We are eagerly awaiting results and earnestly asking you to pray for Gods healing touch as you have in the past. Sam feels good and is eating everything that isn’t tied down.  This is a huge answer to prayer, but any time they look into the bone marrow…it is scary!  We should be getting some results by next Wednesday.  We will be sure to keep all of you informed of what we know.

I found this amazing scripture, which has been so true for us this year.  It is found in 1 Peter 1:7 in the Message…Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine.  When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.

These past months have taught me to take envintory of what is important….I believe that God is using this to refine Sam and me.  I pray He will continue to use it for His glory!

Because of the TPN, my blood sugar has been checked four times a day and I have been receiving insulin shots when my levels have been too high.  It is my understanding that I will not have to be checked anymore since they are taking me off the TPN.  The shots are that bad, but it is nice to think I will not have to keep getting insulin.  I have a new appreciation for people with diabetes.

Prayer request…over the last few weeks we have been in the process of applying for long-term disability.  I never would have thought that I would be on disability at age 45, but it is a reality that we are now confronting.  I need to have full recovery and not press myself to go back to working a 40-hour week for the time being.  Please pray that all goes smoothly in the process and that it is a quick approval.  We are also applying for social security benefits.  It is my understanding that approval can take months, so pray that it goes quickly, too.  It is my hope  to go back to Trevecca in a position that may be available at that time.

On a positive side to disability, I look forward to being a stay-at-home dad for a while.  It will be nice to be home everyday when the girls come home from school.  I think they are excited about Daddy being home.  :)

I want to testify to you that the Lord has and is answering prayer.  I have experienced a peace throughout these last several weeks about my health, about the life-change of going on disability, and about the future.  Through these weeks I have learned more about patience, trust, hope, and faith.  He has ministered to me during the and during the night.  One night, while awake, He assured me that all of this is temporary.  Not only are my health issues temporary, but being gone from Trevecca and having a full-time job is temporary.  I have always been driven and these coming months will pose a challenge to me on how I remain engaged in something.  I do not want to sit around the house and just wait for the day to go back to work, so I look forward to seeing what I may find as a new focus and challenge while being home.  Pray that the Lord will direct me into what He would have me focus on while I am on disability.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support you give me and my family.  I don’t know how I could have made it without the prayers of the people.  The body of Christ is an amazing phenomenon in the sense that as we lift up each other, He is lifted up.

I love you,

Sam

Yesterday was a great day with continued signs of improvement.  I was able to eat food for the first time in over one month.  I was a little nervous at first, but everything settled great and nothing upset my stomach.  Dr. Berdejas as just in doing his rounds and if all continues to go well, I should advance to a stage 4 diet over the weekend.  I know it seems trivial, but yesterday I was able to eat a potato, english muffin, apple sauce, angel food cake, and graham crackers.  It felt so good to chew something besides jello.

It is amazing what we take for granted in life, but this last month has helped me realize some things are day-by-day and patience is very important in things (stomachs or whatever) that need to be restored.  I am so quick to want to just “fix” the problems of life, but not all situations can receive a quick fix.  Isn’t it cool how the Lord can do transforming work even through a month long liquid diet?  The first couple weeks of being on no liquids or limited liquids was very frustrating, but the last few weeks of the liquid diet didn’t bother me and I realized I could not rush the healing of the intestines.  I praise the Lord that I am now able to eat and that I am responding so well.

Blessings,

Sam

Yesterday was fun.  For the last three years I have been an adviser for four doctoral students at Trevecca.  Throughout my illness I have still been able to advise them and I have been blessed to get to know each of them.  Two of the students defended their dissertations yesterday.  The students came to the hospital and presented their defense in the conference room located on my floor.  They will have a story to tell down the road…”I defended my dissertation in a hospital.”  I can just hear them share about their experience.  For me, it was awesome to have the afternoon to not only fulfill their requirement of a defense, it also allowed me to have a great mental focus.  Next Monday the other two students will present their defense.  One of the students encouraged her peers to bring items for the initiative Anna-Laura started…Simple Acts Touching Lives.  Both students brought items to be added to the collection.  Their act of kindness meant so much to me.

In case you are not aware, Anna-Laura saw the need for cancer patients to have a soft blanket, slippers, head coverings (the head can get really cold), and soft tissues (the ones in the hospital are like sandpaper).  It has been wonderful how people have responded.  There is a closet where these items are stored and the nurses are able just to get what the patient might need and give it to them as a gift.  Anna-Laura also has a scripture on each item.  I am so proud of her and the desire she has to help others in need.

It would be great to have more of these items.  The desire is not that it be a short-term expression of kindness, but an ongoing ministry to those who are hospitalized in the cancer center.  You could bring any items to Anna-Laura if you would like to contribute.  This is a great time of the year to find clearance items that could be added.

Okay, I have been a little wordy today.  Keli is working, so I guess this is my way to have some communication with someone.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

Blessings,

Sam

The good news is that I am showing signs of improvement in the stomach, so they have decreased the level of steroids I am on and have decreased the level of another drug.  The doctor said this morning that he may even change my diet to stage 2 tomorrow.  That would include adding rice milk to my diet…yippee!!

Overall, it has been a good week of continued progress.  It is definitely a slow process of healing and I would ask that you continue to pray for my stomach to heal and that I will not get any infections.  My blood work is very good and I am so thankful for that.  As a matter of fact, some of my level are totally in the normal range.

If you are reading this…thank you.  I appreciate how you are staying connected with my journey.  I know the Lord is at work.

Blessings,

Sam

Last night was sleepover night.  Anna-Laura, Sophie, and Bella all had sleepovers.  What was fun for Keli and me is that Bella slept here at the hospital.  Keli is working today and I get to have Bella with me almost all day.  It will be awesome!  Right now she is playing a video game.  Recently, Keli brought a video system to the hospital so we can have some play time.  I don’t know why we hadn’t thought of that before, but it is fun to have some distractions for the day.  Bella has been my caregiver this morning similar to what Keli usually does.  She is so precious and is growing into being such a wonderful young lady.  She even had a breakfast tray from the hospital with eggs and bacon and other foods.  I think it will be a fun day for her.  I hope.

You will never know how much your prayers and support mean to me.  I was very discouraged last week and I know the prayers of God’s people were lifting me up and giving me the encouragement and strength I needed to make it through each day.  This has been a week of challenges, but God has given me a great peace that it impossible to explain, except it is His grace and His grace alone.

Be encouraged today.  Whatever adversities you are facing, whatever doubts are going through your heart and mind, know that our Savior is with you.  As you lean upon Him, He is faithful and will minister to your spirit.  He wants good for us, not harm.  Trust in Him and know that He is God.

Blessings,

Sam

On the flip side, he said if he did not see a big improvement by tomorrow, he would add a treatment tomorrow that would further immunosupress Sam.  This would make him more susceptible to infections. I know that God can work either way.  He can protect him throughout a new treatment.  Or he will show his powerful touch in improved function of his intestines today!

I am praising for God’s touch on Sam last night, for a great night of rest, for a Dr that listened. I am also praising for a family and a church and friends who believe in the power of prayer.  I believe that it is not in the words that we say…(if that were true we would have figured out the words…like some kind of incantation…like magic)…but truly in the holy God that we serve, who is all knowing, all powerful, healer, deliverer.

I would ask you to pray that Sam would not worry, that Sam’s stomach and intestines would heal. That the colitis that he has from the GVHD would truly disappear…that we would see the evidence of this.  That we would see absorption of the food he takes in today increase drastically!  That Sam will not have any infections.  That Sam will remain strong.  That our girls will be encouraged.

Thank you for your continued prayers…God is able…He will do it!

Keli