First post:
May 24, 2021 Latest post:
Feb 15, 2022
Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.
In March of 2021 dad went to the doctor because he was not feeling well. He was found to be anemic and was later diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with early transformation into acute myeloid leukemia.
Dad has been an inpatient at Gundersen hospital since April 28th while receiving 3 doses of a very strong chemotherapy. It is called induction chemo and it basically wipes out all of the cells in the bone marrow. The next step, once his counts recover, is to undergo a bone marrow transplant. He will be meeting with the bone marrow transplant team at Mayo Clinic in Rochester in June to plan for the transplant.
Dad has been doing pretty well through all of this. He is handling it like a champ. His room is decorated with John Deere tractors and Iowa Hawkeye gear! He does a lot of reading, listening to music and podcasts, watching sports when he can. He is learning how to use technology! He is allowed to walk in the halls and go outside to the outdoor patio which is a blessing. The staff all love him of course! Visiting is limited because of his vulnerable immune system, but someone from our family is there daily. Mom is there the most, she is still working, so her days are pretty busy.
Dad has already had many people reach out to him with kind and thoughtful words and generous gifts which is appreciated so very much!
Please continue to keep my dad in your prayers, they are appreciated!
