A SPECIAL GIFT FROM LINDA

Larry's first impression of his Pink Wig from Linda.

He doesn't look too excited, does he. Don't let that look fool you, he had the biggest grin on his face when he opened the gift bag.

He's all dressed up to greet the nurse......or scare her!!!!!!

Just wait til he comes to Tyler, I'm sure the Oncology office will have a field day with this one.

Seriously, you gotta love his sense of humor and not many men would feel secure enough to wear P-I-N-K!!!!!

MAY 26, 2009-LARRY GOT A WEEKEND PASS :-)

Larry is doing GREAT. They took a bone marrow test on Wednesday May 20, 2009 and gave him the results on Friday May 22, 2009. The doctor came in the room dancing and waving Larry's test results around and said "your test results show no diagnostic evidence of myelodysplastic syndrome." It is truely a miracle. Without our faith in God and the power of prayer this would not have been possible.


Larry asked the doctor if it would be possible to go home for the memorial weekend and he said since he's doing so well he thought it would be OK. They decided to give Larry a platelet transfusion just to make sure he would be ok over the holiday. The assistant at the hospital couldn't believe they were letting him go home for the weekend. She said it was just unheard of and that they don't even consider letting a stem cell patient go home for the weekend until their 70th day from the transplant and this is only his 32nd day. Larry told her that he was special and the doctor pretty much let him do what he wanted. She looked at him kinda funny and left the room. She came back about an hour later and said she paged the doctor to see if he really told Larry that he could go home for the holiday and he said yes because he's doing so good and he has been doing everything they have asked him to do. He finally got out of the hospital and left Houston at 4:30 pm. He got home at 8:15pm Friday night and let me tell you he was a sight for sore eyes. I was so glad to see him and he was so glad to be back home.

Larry has been getting magnesium transfusions every day since his transplant and about a week ago they started him on magnesium pills as well. They are trying to get him off the transfusions and only taking the pills but they said it would take awhile. Last Monday they also set him up to take part of his transfusions at the camper. They sent someone from Home Health Care to the camper to bring the portable machine and bags of magnesium and show Larry how to transfuse himself so he wouldn't have to go to the hospital as often. Wednesday he received enough bags of magnesium for the long weekend and he kinda felt like that was an indication that the doctor would let him go home til Monday.

May 23, 2009 <>OUR 18TH ANNIVERSARY<>
Larry and I received the most wonderful and loving early anniversary present from our Heavenly Father when the doctor read the bone marrow report to Larry on Friday. There is nothing to compare with his gift and it is a treasure only found through Jesus Christ.


Larry got up early and started his transfusion. He made some coffee and noticed that suddenly we didn't have any water??? I came in the kitchen and he wanted me to call the neighbor to see if they had water because if they did that ment we had a water leak. Just as he got that sentence out of his mouth he looked in the living room and guess what..............it was flooded!!! Yep, we had sprung quite a leak. Larry jumped up out of the dining chair, ran outside and turned off the water at the meter. I got on the phone and called Yvonne and Jason to see if they could help us and bless their hearts as usual they came a running, well Jason was at work and said he'd be there as soon as he got off and Yvonne and Joseph came right over to help me mop up the water and move furniture. Larry Jr. came over and crawled under the house to find the problem so he could call his dad and tell him what parts to pick up at Lowe's. Larry Jr. had to leave shortly after that to take Schyanne to her softball game. After the game he and his family came back over to help fix the leak. As soon as the leak was fixed Jason mowed and weed eated the yard for us. As soon as things cooled down we went to the pasture for Larry to see his baby (Sadie, his horse). He put his mask and gloves on so he could feed and pet her. Yes folks, for once Larry didn't get to see his BABY first, he had to settle for my ugly mug and suffer for 8 hours before he was able to lay eyes on his Sweet Sadie. We went to a Mexican restaurant with Jason, Yvonne and Joseph that evening and Larry really enjoyed the food....and the company.


Sunday May 24, 2009

Larry and I went to church and everyone there were shocked and excited to see him. Of course he wore his mask so at first they didn't know who he was but upon second glance they saw the sparkle in his eye and knew it was Larry. I think he missed our church family as much as they missed him.


After church we went to his Mom's for lunch.....yyuuuuummmmm was the food gggoooooodddd!!!! She is such a good cook. We stuffed ourselves as usual and enjoyed our visit with her and Linda. Getting Larry together with his mom and sister is always fun. The sense of humor Larry has runs in the family. His sister made him a present while he was still in the hospital that you will just have to see to believe. I will post the pictures but I'm not sure anyone will understand them except those who know about his first chemo treatment at the Texas Oncology Clinic. The staff have a wonderful sense of humor and we love them all:-)

May 4, 2009--Larry's counts are rising, Praise God!

Do You Remember Larry Roberts?

Yes, it's his little spokesperson.....ME! Sorry I haven't kept everyone informed about Larry but he's been driving me CRAZY and I can't imagine why since he's had it so easy just laying there in the hospital with nurses waiting on him hand and foot 24 hours a day. What more could a man ask for, right? Seriously he's had his ups and downs and last Wednesday (4.29.09) the effects of the chemo finally HIT HIM HARD. He was hit from head to toe and it caused depression which concerned me a great deal. By Saturday he started to show signes of improvement. He was told in the beginning that when his white blood count rose to a 2.0 and he was able to take his medication on his own he would be able to leave the hospital. Sunday his white blood count was a 1.8 which was awsome and today his white blood count was 3.3 and the doctor said that he could get out of the hospital tomorrow if he continues to improve and doesn't get a fever.

Larry had been such a trooper about this whole hospital thing and staying in Houston for 100 days and I'm so proud of the way he has done everything they have asked him to do. There have been times while he walked the floor (during his daily walks around the pods) that he has been so tempted as he walks by the elevators he has actually pushed the button....but when the doors open he realizes that it's really not a good idea to get on.

I'm sure Larry is having a hard time sleeping tonight just thinking about getting out tomorrow. I pray he doesn't work himself into a fever tonight. If he doesn't get to leave the hospital tomorrow you will probably hear a loud scream heard all over Texas. I'm sure he's just counting the hours til the doctor comes in the morning to tell him he can go to camp. When I left the hospital tonight Larry had one of his suite cases and several bags for me to bring back with me. He said he didn't want "a bunch of stuff" in his room that would keep him from getting out as soon as possible.

Larry's dad will be coming to Houston on Wednesday to stay with him for a couple of weeks. I wish it were possible for me to stay with Larry the whole time but I know his dad will help him and take good care of him until I return. Please pray that Larry doesn't drive his dad up the walls during that time. I am grateful for all the support from his family and feel very fortunate for all their help.

I've got to get some sleep and get to the hospital early so I can peel Larry off the walls while he waits for the doctor. I will try to keep you all updated with he progress.

Later,

Jean

4-20-09 (-: Bone Marrow Transplant Today:-)

The nurse came in this morning at 8:00 am and said they had scheduled Larry's stem cell transplant (transfusion) for 11:30 am and he would be getting 3 bags. Two nurses came in the room at 11:00 and gave him a bag of benadryl through his IV to keep him from having an allergic reaction to the transfusion. They started the stem cell transplant (transfusion) at 11:45 am. Another nurse that was assigned to him yesterday came and sang Happy Birthday to him and Larry said "It's not my birthday" and she said "yes is is, it's the first day of your new life"!!! We were both very moved at her thoughtfulness. Each bag took about 30 minutes to complete and they were through at 1:00 pm. Larry was very groggy and would periodically fall asleep only to be suddenly awakened by his LOUD SNORING. The nurses stayed in his room the whole time monitoring his vital signs to make sure his body was accepting the transfusion. When the transfusion was over they left the room but would return every 30 minutes to make sure he was still doing OK.

At 2:15 pm Larry ordered his lunch and received it at 3:00 and ate everything on his plate. He laid back in bed and with the remote in hand would flip through a couple of channels then fall asleep and wake himself up with his LOUD SNORING which went on til 5:30 when he looked over at me and I was snoozing too. He woke me up and said he felt like walking and wanted me to go back to camp so I gathered up all of my "stuff" and he walked me to the elevator. He called me at 8:00 pm and said he had been snoozing off and on all evening but all in all he was feeling OK. He said he was going to turn early tonight and would see me in the morning.

We have felt the presence of the Lord all day today.......and I can't imagine anyone going through this without him.

Larry has been enjoying all of your replies to our emails and we thank you all for your love, prayers and support.

4/18/09 - Two days till transplant!!!

Well, it's almost here and we are praying for the best. Larry's still got his sense of humor. The nurse came in a couple of times yesterday only to find Larry gone, when he finally came back to his room the nurse asked where he had been and he told her he had a hankering for hot chicken wings so he went down the street and picked some up......they tasted so good that he had them all eaten up before he got back to the hospital! The nurse said "you mean you went down to the cafeteria" and he said "no I went down the street to the corner of Main and Fannin, they have the best hot wings in Houston". The nurses eyes got real big and she said "Mr. Roberts, you're not suppose to leave the 11th floor much less the hospital"? Larry looked at her and just laughed and said "I'm just kidding, I've been walking around in the halls and went to the break room and got some coffee". I told the nurse that she needed to watch out for Larry because he likes to kid people alot and to be on the safe side if she saw his lips moving then he's probably telling a story. After she got a little color back in her face she looked at Larry and laughed and said "Mr. Roberts, I'm going to have to keep an eye on you, aren't I"?

Larry had chemo on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and they started the anti-rejection medication today. He's had platelets every day and had to have blood twice this week. He said he's ready to take a leave of absence so he can go home for a day or two so he can see all his furry animals, especially his "baby" but I don't think the doctors are going to go for that......do you????? He hasn't been sleeping well since he's been in the hospital and he just now figured out why-----he's been drinkin coffee in the evenings......duh!!!!!!!!

The doctors come in every day and check him out and they told him he was responding well to the treatments and they were pleased with his reports, Larry looked at them and said "I haven't written any reports"! They looked at him kinda funny and ........once again I had to step in and tell them that he was just messin' with them. I'm sure in a day or week or so they will realize that he's just a kidder.....or not:-)

Your continued thoughs and prayers are so much appreciated.
We love you all!!!

April 15, 2009 <><><> Preparing for Transplant

We arrived in Houston Sunday, April 12, 2009 at 5:oo PM. We unpacked the truck and ate supper. Larry is tired from the busy week end. He went fishing with Linda on Saturday morning and visited his mom again. We finally got our riding mower fixed an Larry came back from his moms and mowed the yard. I was at a friends house helping with some crafts for the Cowboy gathering that will be held this Saturday at our church. It will be an all day affair with all kinds of events going on, there will also be vendor booths and cook offs and.............so much more and I wish Larry and I could be there but may be we can make it to the one next year.

Monday morning Larry had a blood test and saw the transplant nurse. She told us to go to the admitting office and they would call us when a room was ready for him. They called at 7:00 pm and said for us to come to the hospital because a room was available. We got to the room at 8:30 pm and they started taking blood tests and told him they would start chemo at 4:30 am Tuesday morning. I came back to the camper because I knew they would be very busy with Larry most all night and sure enough they were. He got a platelet transfusion and also received 2 bags of blood. They started his first round of chemo as scheduled Tuesday morning. Larry says they come in every morning and give him a cup full of pills at 4:00 am and get a blood test, then at 4:30 am is another round of chemo. By the time that is finished they have the results of the blood test and they start pumping him full of platelets and blood. He's had two days of chemo and I think he will get two more by Friday then he will get a rest until Monday or Tuesday and they will give him he transplant.

As of right now Larry doesn't feel any effects of the chemo but he says they keep him so busy that he doesn't even get much rest during the night and he can't even take naps during the day because of all the visits they make in his room. He's also upset because he can't find anything good to watch on TV (oh brother, here we go again). I feel an attitude adjustment coming on......I just hope I'm prepared!!!!!! I brought the EMERGENCY KIT but it's here at camp, I just hope I remember to take it with me tomorrow when I go to the hospital. Larry and I have to take some kind of class tomorrow at 2:00 pm and I've got this funny feeling that he's not going to set quietly during the class. Please pray that he will remain cool, calm and collected during that time.

You're prayers are much needed during his stay here in the hospital.

More updates later......................

April 10, 2009--Transplant Schedule???? Maybe:-)

Larry had an appointment yesterday (4/9/09) and his doctor said he wanted him to come back Monday morning and they would put him in the hospital that afternoon. Larry asked if he could come home for the week end and the doctor said it would be fine but he wanted Larry to have a platelet transfusion before he left Houston.

I got home at 5:45 pm and Larry wasn't home so I called him to make sure he was coming home. He said he was about 30 minutes away from the house and he would meet me at the pasture so he could see his "baby" first thing. For those of you who don't know who that is, it's his paint horse "Sadie". We met at the pasture and he just loved on his "baby" and then an hour later....as we were leaving he remembered that he'd forgotten "what's her name" and decided to lean over and give me a hug and pat on the head (he luuuves me!)

(4/10/09) Larry got up this morning and had breakfast with his mom. He said he really enjoyed visiting with her. After leaving her house he went to the Tyler Oncology office and visited with the staff, he has become very fond of the people there and can't wait to see them. He get's the biggest kick out of messing with them and they love to pick at him as well. He had several errands to run and also went to his work to check on everyone there and catch up on the latest scoop. By the time he finished running around Tyler he was a little tired so he headed home and took a nap. When I got home from work he just had to tell me about his day and how much fun he had visiting with everyone and how good it felt to be back home. We went to the pasture and fed and messed with the horses and he brushed and talked to his "baby". He said he has been so blessed and thanks God every day for all he has done for him.

Still waiting on a SCHEDULE!!!!!

April 1, 2009
It's me again,
Larry made it back to Houston on Sunday just fine. He was hoping that they would start his chemo before now but when he got back to the hospital on Monday they said his insurance wanted another test run before they would ok his transplant. I'm sure you know what happened next..........yes he lost his cool and called the insurance supervisor and gave her a piece of his mind free of charge (he is so generous) and told them they should have gotten all the tests that they needed a month ago. Later that day he had the opportunity to do the same with the hospital business office because they forgot to send the test results to the insurance company. I know it's hard for Larry to understand that everything the hospital does has to go through certain procedures especially when he has to hurry to this appointment and wait then hurry to that appointment then wait. I'm real proud of the way he has such a positive attitude and he hasn't lost his sense of humor.

For those of you that are new to my updates on Larry I will try to bring you up to speed on his sister Linda Huff. Shortly after Larry was diagnosed with MDS in 2006 the doctors told him that a bone marrow transplant was the only way of having a chance to be cured. They said if he had a sibling with a match it would be better than trying to find someone on the donor list. Linda was tested and was matched 100% which was such a blessing.

On Monday,March 23rd Linda went to Houston to have preliminary tests run and they started giving her neupogen shots, two shots in the stomach a day which were on the 27th, 28th and 29th . She got one last shot before they started extracting the stem cells ( bone marrow) on the 30th. The goal was to extract 4 million stem cells which usually takes two days which is 4 hour sessions a day but they collected 4.5 million in just one session and everyone was just amazed.

Linda called me yesterday afternoon and said she just got home and she was so glad that her part was over with. She had been stuck so many times since the 23rd that she felt like a pin cushion and she couldn't even imagine what Larry has had to go through all this time. Larry and I are so very thankful for her love and selfless generosity. This past week has been very chaotic and unconfortable for her to put it mildly but she has stayed strong and her determination to help her brother is undescribeable. I just want to say "Linda, thank you so much for your gift and we love you dearly".

I just talked to Larry and he said he just got through getting a platelet transfusion and leaving the hospital to get something to eat. He is scheduled to have an echocardiogram at 1:00pm. His next appointment is on Friday which consists of an EKG and complete pulmonary function test and he will probably need a blood transfusion as well. The hospital will wait for the test results before they schedule the transplant so as of now he is still waiting. I am waiting too because as soon as he finds out when he goes in the hospital I will be heading to Houston to be with him. I've got my bags pack and my emergency first aid kit almost packed, you know like...........uh, where is my list-_-_-_-_-_I'VE LOST MY LIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OK, I'll just make a new one:
1. DUCT TAPE
2. SUPER GLUE
3. BUNGEE STRAPS
4. BALING WIRE
5. MAGIC MARKER
6. WD-40
7. METAL BED PAN- scratch that cuz the hospital provides those (did you know that they make great helmets??)

8. _________________
9. _________________
10. _________________
Please I need your help, I know there are 10 very important things I always carry with me when we go to Houston (to keep Larry in line) but I forgot what they are. If any of you can think of what they are or have any suggestions please fill in and return this to me. Someone has to keep their witts about them and fortunately thats me:-)

I will try to keep everyone informed as soon I hear more from Larry. Your prayers and support for Larry mean so much to us.
Thank you and we love you:-)

BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT - GETTING STARTED

March 27, 2009 12:46 PM---------------Where is Larry?????

Just wanted to update everyone on Larry's adventure in Houston. His sister (Linda) had several tests this week to make sure she is fit enough to harvest her bone marrow and everything turned out great, praise the Lord!!!! Linda started taking Neupogene shots to stimulate her bone marrow. Yesterday was her first shot and she will take one today, tomorrow and Sunday then they will try to harvest enough bone marrow from her on Monday to transplant in Larry whenever they get ready to which we're not sure when exactly that will be. Don't you just love it when the doctors keep you in the dark all the time??? It's like if someone put you in a closet and locked the door then every day they would come and drill one tiny pin hole in the door and you could see just one itsy bitsy ray of light. The next day they would drill one more tiny pin hole in the door and you could see just an itsy bitsy bit more light until six months go by and suddenly...................the hole is big enough that they can pass you the key and...................you can put your arm through the hole and unlock the door and ........................you are free. Hurray!!!!!!!!!! Ok, now where was I going with that_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_oh I remember, the transplant scheduler said they will "probably" put his port in Monday or Tuesday and "probably" start chemo Thursday or Friday. Larry had blood and platelet transfusions on Wednesday and yesterday he had a CT scan but he didn't have anything else scheduled until next week so guess what.............HE'S SNEAKING HOME TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll be so glad to see him and I know he'll be so glad to be back home if only for a couple of days.

Thank you all for your love and prayers.

Until next time............Jean



March 23, 2009 8:47 AM---------Larry’s traveling to Houston!!
I just wanted to let you all know that Larry is on his way back to Houston and his dad and sister are on their way as well. I am staying here until they have a definite schedule of what will be taking place. Please pray that they will have a safe trip. He and his sister (Linda) are scheduled for an EKG in the morning and to see the transplant doctor. Wednesday Larry has a blood test and to see his leukemia doctor then maybe we will know a little more about what their schedule will be. As of right now that's all we know. I will try to keep everyone informed as soon as we know more.

Thank you all for your love and support and please keep Larry in your daily prayers.

Love, Jean

February 5, 2009 - Larry stayed overnite in Houston

It's me again, I called Larry last night at 7:00 and asked if he was on the road or still in Houston and he said he finally calmed down and thought it would be better if he spent the night there and get up early this morning and come home. He just called me and said he left Houston at 5:45 am and is 30 miles from Rusk and will probably be home by 9:45. I'm sure the first thing he will do is stop and see his horse Sadie. He has missed her so much............Can you believe it, he's almost as bad as I am about our furry friends ( I LOVE GOD'S CREATURES!!!!!!!). He said it was so good to see trees, and pastures..........and wide open spaces.

I can't wait to see him, I wonder what he looks like? Do you think he will remember me??? I may have to get my neighbor to re-introduce us.............nah. I hope he likes the welcome home present I made him. It's a special, one of a kind, just for him......HONEY DO LIST:-) I wrapped it last night very carefully in a empty 40 lb.dog food bag (it barely fit) with the cutiest flowers that I made out of coffee filters (Yes, they were clean). I'm sure he will take a nap after he unloads the Jeep. He will have to go to Tyler Oncology tomorrow for a blood test and to schedule a blood and possibly a platelet transfusion so he will be in the Tyler hospital probably most all day.

We are so blessed to have so many family and friends that are as caring and supportive and who have prayed for Larry and I. Without your prayers and the grace of God we would not have sanely made it through these last 5 weeks.

May God bless you all and we love you bunches,