Taste of Heaven Snack, Chat & Create Classes

09/23/2017

Fridays visit was good and bad. Most of my numbers were good but I had to get an infusion of magnesium and potassium. Here's the bad my skin had even more of the rash break out and my liver numbers jumped up, so they say the graft vs host is going to have to be treated with chemo. The good thing is I've had this type of chemo before and I won't lose the hair that has grown back, and I didn't have any bad reactions other that a day or two of exhaustion. The bad part is it's going to be 4 weeks straight and then once every 3 months for a year - and of course it's going to take my immune system down to nothing all over again. It's got to knock out what's left of my body's cells that are fighting the donors - it shows how sstrong my immune system was before. They start the new treatment on Friday. Please say a little prayer for me that this works.

09/22/2017

Everybody say a little prayer for me tomorrow that my platelets and magnesium are back up and everything else is good. I'm feeling a lot better, and am finally eating without a problem again - 2 days running! Pray that keeps up too! Thanks for all your prayers!

09/19/2017

Just letting everyone know how I'm doing. I'm feeling okay, but my magnesium and platelets are low. I've broken out in the skin rash again - I feel like it's never going away. I'm so sick of it. Say a little prayer that my numbers go up and my rash goes away again. Thanks for all the prayers.

05/24/2017

Just got my test results back on my 100 day bone marrow and my blood, t cells and bone marrow are all 100% donor! Yay!!!!!!!!!! Now all they have to do is help me get rid of the annoying hives - that won't go away even with prednisone - and get my platelets up and I'll be sooooo happy! Either way I'm feeling great, starting to build up energy every day, and home. It's going to be a while before they allow me to start teaching again. I've got to get all of my childhood immunization shots again and they can't start those until at least August, and then they will discuss working again. On top of that they have to make sure my immunities are high enough to be around people - right now I wear a mask around everyone. Either way, I'm starting to get together new paintings to teach, and I'm going to start working on some video painting classes. Miss all of my students. Love you guys and thank you for all of your support during this ordeal. I wouldn't have made it through it without all of your love, support and prayer.

05/24/2017

Just got my test results back on my 100 day bone marrow and my blood, t cells and bone marrow are all 100% donor! Yay!!!!!!!!!! Now all they have to do is help me get rid of the annoying hives - that won't go away even with prednisone - and get my platelets up and I'll be sooooo happy! Either way I'm feeling great, starting to build up energy every day, and home. It's going to be a while before they allow me to start teaching again. I've got to get all of my childhood immunization shots again and they can't start those until at least August, and then they will discuss working again. On top of that they have to make sure my immunities are high enough to be around people - right now I wear a mask around everyone. Either way, I'm starting to get together new paintings to teach, and I'm going to start working on some video painting classes. Miss all of my students. Love you guys and thank you for all of your support during this ordeal. I wouldn't have made it through it without all of your love, support and prayer.

03/15/2017

Just letting everyone know I'm doing well. The transplant has taken 100% but we are waiting to see if there are any graph vs host issues. Should know something today or tomorrow. The doctor did a biopsy to check. Nausea seems to have finally totally eased, and I'm able to eat better. Thankful for all the prayers and well wishers. Love you all!

02/10/2017

Sorry it took so long for me to post. I've had the transplant, everything is going as expected. I got out of the hospital on Saturday, and ended up back in on Wed. because I couldn't keep the pills down. Right now I'm on IV meds, but they are going to try pills tomorrow.There was a lot of Nausea and upset stomachs but it
s improving now. Still don't have a big apetite, but feeling a lot better.

01/31/2017

Day 3 of chemo -getting reay for the transplant-and doing great. No problems and feeling good. I am so ready for this to be over and done.

01/14/2017

They've changed the date for the transplant to work with the donor's schedule. We go to the hospital for the transplant on January 27th now. Today was a rough day for me at MUSC. I had a bad reaction to two new things that they gave me. The first one was the gamuglobulins (antibodies) - I started freezing and shaking uncontrollably. Then the doctor had them give me morphine to stop the shakiing, and undoubtedly I'm allergic because the next thing you know I was dizzy and throwing up. Not one of my most fun days. Once I threw up, I immediately started feeling better - dizziness and naseau went away immediately. Feel fine now.

12/28/2016

Good morning! My numbers all jumped way up yesterday My platelets went from 28 to 515 - even the nurse couldn't believe it.All because of one week without chemo. My sugar is going back down too! Yay! They are giving my body a week or two to recover before we start the transplant process. I can't wait until it's all done.

Hi, my name is Brian  Stepp , and my wife Suzi has leukemia. I’ve known Suzi pretty much my whole life. I moved to South Carolina from Ohio when I was about 5. We grew up together, went to church together, dated forever and then got married. We have been married for over 21 years.  She was an art...

12/28/2016

Good morning! My numbers all jumped way up yesterday My platelets went from 28 to 515 - even the nurse couldn't believe it.All because of one week without chemo. My sugar is going back down too! Yay! They are giving my body a week or two to recover before we start the transplant process. I can't wait until it's all done.

12/13/2016

Hi, my name is Brian  Stepp , and my wife Suzi has leukemia. I’ve known Suzi pretty much my whole life. I moved to South Carolina from Ohio when I was about 5. We grew up together, went to church together, dated forever and then got married. We have been married for over 21 years.  She was an art...