Copy of email from Wes
Mood:  d'oh
Now Playing: Verizon cell phone stocks up to record high!
Topic: Update
Some GOOD news & some BAD? It's Monday morning & I'm here at my lake home, having arrived Friday afternoon, accompanied by Ed Karels, my "master gardener" friend & former teaching colleague. We spent Saturday buying "bedding plants" & Ed's been busy ever since planting, transplanting & enriching the soil with assorted things. He's outside trying to finish before the afternoon rain that's forecast. Gwen Baldry & Kim Kollar, friends from my church & Lake Country Garden Club, have been here 3 times cleaning up many garden areas of weeds, etc., which has been appreciated so much. Today the garden club is scheduled to visit a nursery near Otter Tail Lake, but we decided not to attend since I shouldn't be around all that vegetation & fertilizer. Ed & I will return to the twin cities sometime tomorrow, Tuesday, since my BMT clinic appointment is at 8:00 am Wednesday.

Kathy Hodgins, my nurse coordinator from the U of M BMT Center, had called here & left a message that the preliminary results of last week's bone-marrow biopsy showed good "readings" & more will be shared by my doctor this Wednesday, following lab work.

That's the GOOD news!

Since I was discharged from the U of M hospital March 30, my primary phone source has been my cell-phone. Many of you know that number (612/240-3934) & have used it to call me at my apartment on the U of M campus. I have also used it to make calls, but my Verizon "bill" was over $400 for the month I've relied on it for communication to my family members, neighbors & friends. I guess I didn't realize I pay for calls received, as well as for calls made, so I will NOT be using it very much these next weeks/months.

Since I have BMT clinic Wednesday mornings, my "plan" is to drive to the twin cities each Tuesday & return to my Lake Lida home each Thursday. Son John & his 3 daughters plan to spend part of Memorial Day weekend here with me, so perhaps the dock will get raised & the pontoon lift moved closer to the shore? In spite of the help I've received with gardening, I'm not capable of tasks requiring much strength, as I do tire easily. I've been told that my recovery will be close to a year... before I feel normal again.

So... the BAD news is I will NOT be using my cell-phone very often, which means calls to me should be made to my lake home telephone (218/863-8119), which I'll retrieve when back here each week. THANKS for understanding this request...& for the continued support, prayers, & help given these past months. I'm fortunate & blessed, for which I am very grateful!

Love & hugs from Wes