Thursday, January 17, 2008

"Guten tag"

Joy's recovering slowly. She has ulcers in her mouth and esophagus, a delayed effect of radiation, that make eating and talking painful--not so fun. However, Ken's having fun getting to say whatever he thinks she's thinking!

Although they won't know the success of the transplant for a few weeks, Joy and Ken did get a hint that the donor might be from Germany. Joy's paternal Grandmother emigrated from Germany as a child. Kinda cool! So, "auf wiedersehen" for now!

8 comments:

Ginger said...

Dear Joy,

When Leah was three years old, she had ulcerated open sores throughout her mouth and down her throat. I remember her holding a strawberry up to her mouth and then breaking out in tears because she knew how painful it would be to try and eat her most favorite food on the face of the earth. She tossed that strawberry right down on the floor and simply wailed.

I totally feel for you, Joy. What a frustrating experience to be suffering great pain when you try to eat or speak! And I don't believe any husband can possibly think your thoughts and form words in your behalf. Not even Kenny! But I suppose it's a good thing he's trying. I'll give him some brownie point for that.

Joy, I am sending my most heartfelt prayers and wishes that your sores will clear up so you can eat and speak again without restriction.

Love, Aunt Ginger

Leah said...

Dear Joy,
We continue to think of you throughout each day. We love you and pray for you to have continued strenght and a quick as possible recovery. We love you Joy!

tricia said...

Dearest Joy!

LIGHT LOVE and HEALING are being sent your way from the Hoffman-Storey clan. Can you feel those vibrations? I hope so, because we can feel your courage and love emanating out from your little hospital room.

Ken, have you brought Joy any snowballs yet? I am sure that if you stick one under your shirt you will be able to get it past security...Joy, the flakes are great big floating, dancing crystal webs right now. I am visualizing you standing out in them, catching one with your tongue with a mouth and body all healed.

I pray for such a scene in your future.

Much Love TODAY, Tricia

Eric Welling said...

Dear Joy and Ken,

We hope that you remember how many people are praying for you. Our family remembers you daily.

Eric and Kathy Welling

Anonymous said...

Joy and Ken,

We are looking at your blog again tonight and thinking of you. We wish we could be more helpful in some way. We pray for you as a family and even Kenneth is folding his arms :). We love you!

-Arian and Jill (& Kenneth)

Anonymous said...

Joy,

I was straightening our bookshelf today and my guestbook fell out and out came your pages..I sat John down and regaled him with stories of you, Turtle and Bogart. I got him laughing pretty hard, especially all the sledding stories. What great pictures, you flying off the slide on the sled you commandered from that little kid, riding the alligator in the grocery store. Rachel, Huff, you and I making snow angels in our dresses and jumping off of snowdrifts. And most memorably sledding down the ski jump landing hill on Christmas Eve in Falun..he asked if that's where my silly adventures streak comes from and I just think it might be the source.

I wish all of us who love you could take one of the sores each until you didn't have any left and spread the pain around a bit so you could just concentrate on gaining strength..since that isn't possible, I'll send some prayers that your mouth and throat heal quickly and that they hurt less.

Lots of love,

Steph

Dan and Jen Sampson said...

Hi beautiful Joy!!

We think of you always and hope that you will be able to do much more fun things soon, away from the hospital:). You are amazing to me. Take care and know we are praying for you.

Jen

Tyler Christiansen said...

Dear Joy,

We are all thinking and praying that the transplant is accepted by your body. We are grateful for the individual that donated the bone marrow for your proceedure. I know Lisa and the kids want to say HI and I especially want to give you a big hug even though I am a little guy.

Love,

Ty and the Family