Straight from the horse's mouth...
Mood:  sharp
Now Playing: Copy of email from Wes
Topic: Update
It's late morning on Saturday, March 28, & I'm (back) home for the weekend, enjoying familiar surroundings & a nice sunny day here at my lake home. My doctor gave permission to spend the time here, so my sister, Verna, drove me up to Pelican Rapids yesterday, arriving here about 2:30 p.m., with a couple of stops enroute (groceries, gas, cash, etc.). Yes, I spent the overnight alone, & managed quite well, sleeping until nearly 9:00 a.m. this morning. Brother Al, sister-in-law Becky & lake neighbor Bonnie joined me here for a PAPA MURPHY'S PIZZA Friday night, after which we played a card game called "Golf"; I was the BIG winner! Son John still has the two cats in Chaska, but may return them here when he, son Joel & friend Shawn arrive next weekend? They plan to hunt wild turkeys in the area, & also put my dock & lifts in the lake, so I'll stay away for that weekend. I'll spend it back at the U of M apartment with Gail, who is arriving May 2 from Austin, Texas, until she departs May 7. Hopefully, someone will get my van to us, before she arrives, so we'll have means of transportation beyond the U of M campus area? With permission, I will return alternating weekends to the lake home, given a "driver"..until my discharge from the BMT Clinic?

Son John has continued his website "blog" with his unique sense of humor, poetic "talent", etc. to provide updates on my life "in recovery", but suspect some of you haven't been able to access that website, so this will let you know what has happened through this e-mail? Yes...I do check e-mails from my laptop in the apt., but rarely send messages, because it means typing in each address, & a laptop is more difficult for me to write or type messages, without mistakes! I've had several visitors recently, which has helped the days pass more quickly..thank you! Verna & I drove to Faribault Thursday afternoon to see son Joel, daughter-in-law Dori, Amy & to meet Jeff, Amy's boyfriend, which was about an hour's drive south on I-35. The highlight was seeing their new home, which they'd purchased recently, & moved into April 19. The location is still about the same from their employment at Malt-O-Meal in Northfield, but a 3-year old home with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, triple car garage, etc. I'm happy for them! Son John lives in Chaska, a suburb SW from Mpls., about 30-45 minutes from me, depending on traffic, & niece Kelly lives in Richfield, a nearby suburb, with her husband, Rick, son Jake & daughter Jessie. They have recently completed a great addition to their home, with much of the construction work done by Rick these past 3 years. All three "check in" on me regularly, with my care-givers taking walks with me, & accompanying me to BMT Clinic mornings..down to twice a week from 3-4 times a week earlier-in-the-game. Friend Ed Karels, a former teaching colleague, lives in south Mpls., & has helped "fill in" the gap between family care-givers, & allowing us to "catch up" on life since retirement, too. All 3 granddaughters accompany their dad, my son John, on alternating weekends, to see me at my apt., & have found the complex (even) offers "stuff" for young people to do there.

The questions I'm asked most frequently are HOW DO YOU FEEL?...or HOW LONG WILL YOU HAVE TO STAY NEAR THE U of M hospital/clinic? I feel pretty normal again, but tire easily, especially after the daily walks around campus..or after a more "active" day..including the clinic checkups, which can last up to 3-4 hours, with lots of waiting, it seems? I'm quite restricted about activity, which inludes NO yard work, NO swimming or use of the hot-tub, NO large crowds of people, & wearing my face mask when "out" in public with the masses. I'm expected to wear sun-block when exposed to the sun, must eat well-done meats (ish) if/when dining "out", & washing my hands frequently, to prevent the spread of germs. I must guard against infections, be it bacterial, virial or fungal, & GRAFT vs HOST DISEASE, which can occur anytime in the first 6 to 12 months, after transplant (3/16)? Those symptoms, should it happen, would be a skin rash & diarrhea, both of which can be "fixed" with a lotion-cream, and/or steroids, I'm told. Prayers are always welcomed! :-)

My mailing address & cell-phone # while in the twin cities: ARYGLE HOUSE # 1028, 920 DELAWARE ST. SE, MPLS. MN 55414...( 612 / 240-3934) or my home address at the lake, which is 26468 COUNTY HIGHWAY #4, PELICAN RAPIDS, MN 56572 (218 / 863-8119) The cards, calls, visits & care-giving has all contributed to my successful AND (relatively) quick recuperation, in addition to the Lord's will, the miracles of medicine & medical staff, & my own determination to get through this phase of leukemia. Taking good care of my financial affairs, the house plants & forwarding correspondence from here are brother Al & sister-in-law Becky, another god-send to ease my stress levels. I'm very grateful to family members, especially.. for their concern, help & encouragment these past 6 months, & will hopefully) continue to regain a sense of independence? Perhaps the greatest "gift" has been the stem cells donated by my twin brother, Warren, for which I've been given another chance at a healthy life! May you be equally blessed!

Hugs, Wes

WEEKEND PASS
Mood:  energetic
Now Playing: Katie bar the door...
Topic: Update
Dad got news yesterday that he can head to the lake for the weekend! So, he and Verna are leaving this morning for Lake Lida. They do not have to be back until Monday's 1:30 clinic appointment.

Gail arrives on May 2nd and is staying with Dad until she leaves on the 7th. Al is coming to Minneapolis on the 2nd also, bringing Dad's minivan down and riding back north with Verna. May 7th through 11th is open for the Caregiver position...

They heard from Ed McDunn yesterday too. He's flying in on May 11th and going back on the 17th.

Next bone marrow biopsy scheduled for May 16th.

Keep on keepin' on...
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Ode to Verna Mae
Topic: Update
Prognosis is fine - the best it can be. Life in apartment rolls on endlessly.

Visits to clinic now only twice weekly. Walks around campus means joints are less creaky.

The pills are cut back, but there's still the port flushes. No side-effect yet mean no late night ER rushes.

The caregiver's roll now less like a nurse. Not really that bad because things could be worse.

Some cooking and cleaning and many books read. The cupboards well-stocked, the guest are well-fed.

There's only so much laundry that needs to be washed. And only so much TV a person can watch.

He's not like the others they pass in the hall. Who must use a wheelchair to get 'round at all.

It's not like post-Fargo when therapy was needed. He cares for himself, the doctor's advice heeded.

We know that the Caregiver's roll is essential. There's always "in case" and still bad potential.

To put life on hold for the care of another. A mother-in-law, or in this case a brother.

If it's true what they say 'bout angels getting wings. Verna will need earplugs when the bells start to ring!

Schierman traditions...
Mood:  hungry
Now Playing: Family mores and rituals
Topic: Update
Potato Pancake Recipe:

Peal 10# of potatoes, preferably red. Um, russets work better. No, reds do. OK, just use any type of potato that's on sale.

Soak potatoes in luke-warm water until enough people arrive to witness the event.

Using a food processor (with a #7 blade), puree potatoes from edge of the counter into large bowl resting in the bottom of the sink. Do not attempt to use a blender as you will have to add too much water and the batter will be too liquidy.

Let mushed-potatoes sit while discussing egg versus flour ratios.

Add eggs (1-4), flour (1-4 cups), salt (to taste), and baking soda. No, baking powder. No, soda. Powder is better. No, soda is.

Discuss quirks of other non-German nationality recipes who bastardize the process with additional ingredients like sour cream, minced onions, cheese, lingonberries, bacon bits, whipping cream, carrots, goulash, thyme, zucchini, leeks, applesauce... Stick with tradition and add nothing.

Mix batter until consistency resembles something between oatmeal and diarrhea. Describe your "regularity" to those within earshot.

Pour some of the batter into greased cookie sheets. Lay raw bacon over top. Cook for an hour (or two?) in a pre-heated 350 degree oven. Rotate the pans and/or bacon depending on whether back or front of oven heats evenly. This oven-baked version of potato pancakes is known to our family as Kuchebacke (pronounced KUSH-a-bak-a). Our verbiage in literal German translation is "cake-bake," and I'm guessing somewhere in the past it was truly known as a Kartoffelpuffer Reibekuchenbacken (oven-baked grated-potato pancake). We obviously cleaned it up a bit over the years...

Next, pre-heat a skillet with tall edges. Melt a stick of butter and a stick of margarine into a glass measuring cup. Ladle three heaping tablespoons of the 50/50 oleo mix into heated skillet. Pour enough batter on skillet to make a pancake-like shape. Spread the batter until, as Grandma Clara would say, it's "not too tick, not too tin." Poke hole in middle of pancake. Cook until ready to flip. Flip. Cook some more. Remove pancake once done. Repeat until remaining batter is gone.

While waiting, debate pros and cons of thick versus thin Kuchebacke.

Debate purpose of the bacon on top of Kuchebacke.

Debate crispy versus rubbery bacon.

Debate the merits of cholesterol-lowering prescription drugs and why our ancestors never needed them.

Once cooked, slather potato pancakes and Kuchebacke in butter, then sprinkle enough white sugar on top so as to keep the butter from oozing off the top. Serve with ice-cold, white milk as a drink (preferably skim, since it's less fattening than 2%).

Repeat buttering, sugaring, and eating process until top button on pants must be unloosened. Another sign that you've had enough is when your elevated blood sugar level cannot compete with desire to take a nap. (Sidenote: this post-meal lazy feeling has been studied extensively by medical researchers and they have dubbed it "Anytime-Joel-Eats Syndrome.")

Kelly (and Jesse), Joel, and myself joined Warren and Dad for dinner last night. Anybody wanna guess what we had?

News from the front...
Mood:  suave
Now Playing: C'est la vie
Topic: Update

Brother Al took over as primary caregiver earlier this week, and brother Warren arrives this weekend for a few days before Verna returns early next week.

Mary's daughter Gail is coming from Austin Texas, on May 2nd for a week and former Pelican Rapids neighbor Ed McDunn is slated for sometime in May also. So far, we haven't had to rely much on many of you who kindly offered to help out with the 24/7 caregiver responsibilities. We've got the list of names posted at the apartment should the need arise though.

The BMT nurse-coordinator, Kathy Hodges, told Dad that Warren's stem cells are now 100% into Dad's marrow. Yippee! But she also warned him that he is still at risk for developing Graft-Versus-Host Disease, so we're not out of the proverbial woods yet.

I can't help but remember back to just a few weeks ago when I visited Dad on the BMT floor. I'd never seen anybody come or go from the neighboring hospital room just to the right of Dad's, but the nurses said the floor was fully occupied (and that there was a waiting list of new BMT patients). I thought it was strange that the room's vertical blinds were always closed whereas Dad preferred his open (except when he was napping). As I was washing up and putting on my rubber gloves-n-gown, their door abruptly opened. Out came what I assumed to be a motherly figure, followed closely by a slow-moving aluminum walker that the elderly use for stability. Guiding the walker was the skinniest, most wane spectacle of a young women I had ever seen. Her mask, pulled tight against her pale cheeks, barely hid the bags under her eyes. Covering her bald head was a bright do-rag that did little to offset her hollow, sunken eyes that were the deepest blue I can remember. Somewhere inside that shell of a woman I could barely guess at the stunning beauty she once was, before Leukemia. Every subtle movement she made seemed forced and labored. I could tell she didn't want to leave the safe confines of her room. Following her was her Dad. We made eye contact. I nodded, he reciprocated, and then dropped his eyes to the floor. Nothing else was said, but in that brief moment I caught a rare glimpse of the "there but for the grace of God go I" (or Dad) adage.

According to my calendar, tomorrow is exactly six weeks since Dad checked into the U of M hospital for his Bone Marrow Transplant. By all accounts, he's ahead of schedule, doing wonderfully, and on track for a completion of yet another miracle.

What a weekend...
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Lookin' good
Topic: Update
The girls and I joined Dad and Verna for supper (dinner?) Sunday afternoon: a crock-potted roast (thanks Joel) with potatoes (pa-taa-toes?) and carrots, capped off with pie and root beer floats. Nummy!

I don't know exactly how to explain it, but he's now got a (newly-found?) sense of humor that is both refreshing and entertaining. It's not like he didn't laugh or joke or kid around before all this started, but I've noticed something different in Dad's demeanor that I truly enjoy. Maybe we can attribute it to... perspective?

I do know this: I'm going to miss having him this close (geographically) once he heads back to the lake for good. Who knows, maybe that's one of the 'silver linings' in this whole episode...

I got nothin'...
Mood:  rushed
Now Playing: No gnus is good gnus
Topic: Update
Results from the biopsy were excellent: 0% blasts = no Leukemia cells, and 95% of the stem cells in Dad's bone marrow are Warren's!

Not much else for news: people call, people visit, people email, Verna brings Dad to clinic visits, they eat, sleep, and relax around the apartment day after day after day... They've gone out shopping too.

Easter review
Mood:  happy
Now Playing: Hallelujah!
Topic: Update
Wes and I spent a very nice Easter Sunday afternoon with the Magnusons. Kelly put a great spread: Honeybaked ham, asparagus with Hollandaise sauce, caramelized carrots, cheesey potatoes, strawberry jello with homemade whipped cream, and Dad's favorite rhubarb dessert. We pilfered Jake and Jessie's candy stash, saw Rick's progress on their addition, and polished off a couple bottles of wine.

Things are going well from a BMT standpoint. He had a biopsy last Friday to determine white cell counts in the bone marrow and check for progress of the transfusion taking hold. Results of the tests will take a while, but we'll update y'all once we hear. They have cut back on a couple of his medications due to elevated readings in the liver and kidneys, but nothing to be alarmed about according to his doctors. Clinic appointments are no longer a daily ritual but rather "as deemed necessary" so he skipped the weekend, had one Monday, skipped Tuesday, has one Wednesday and Thursday... I think.

I'm thinking, even though I have no empirical data or medical evidence to support it, that he'll be sent home sooner rather than later. They'll probably give him a "weekend pass" within the next couple of weeks, followed by even less frequent clinic appointment, and eventually a permanent move back to Lake Lida.

I've got an idea! Let's start a betting pool! there has been a annual "pool" to guess the Ice-Out date on Lake Lida. So, why not do the same with Dad's ultimate release date? How about $1 per guess, winner take all? Enter your guess under the 'Post a comment' section here.

Hmmmmmm.... I'm taking May 4th.

The more things change, the more things stay the same
Mood:  happy
Now Playing: By John
Topic: Update
Ed Karels had been taking over as Caregiver since Verna left on Thursday. I took over this morning and will be here until Ed returns Sunday night. Looks like Joel will be here Monday, Kelly Tuesday, and Verna returns Wednesday to take another seven days.

Today we ventured out of the apartment for Dad's first non-clinic-related trip. He went into Target with me (masked up), stayed in the car while I shopped at Rainbow Foods for him, and got to listen to the beggar outside the liquor store.

Not much else new. No clinic appointment until Monday. I didn't kill him when flushing his port with Heparin. It's relaxing around here, almost quietly boring for an on-campus college apartment.

Warren, Argyle House, and etceteras
Mood:  mischievious
Now Playing: More pictures without captions

Hair today, gone tomorrow...
Mood:  sad
Now Playing: No explanation necessary
Topic: Update

VOLUNTEER CAREGIVER ALERT
Mood:  special
Now Playing: 24/7 In-house Helper
Topic: Update
As most of you know, even though Wes is now in his on-campus apartment, he still needs help and convalescing time before he gets better and permanently cured. The doctors have told him that "the true measure of whether the BMT actually took hold and worked won't be know for at least a year..." Between now and then, he cannot dig in the dirt for gardening, he must wear a respiratory mask in public, he should not clean litter boxes, he cannot have real flowers or balloons in his apartment, he must use an electric razor, he cannot... the list goes on and on.

For the immediate future, he is staying close to the BMT clinic near the U of M so he can get to his appointments AND be close to the hospital should he need immediate medical care.

Verna has taken the lead on being his primary caregiver while he's at his apartment. This required her (along with Al, Becky, John & Cortnie) to attend a 90-minute training session on Dad's aftercare, including how to sterilize a Hickman catheter-port without giving him an embolism, what to do in case of emergency, preventative measures to limit infections, diet guidelines, etc. However, she cannot obviously be there for the next 30-60 days straight...

Thus the plea: Dad must have 24-hour-a-day, 7-days-a-week adult supervision while at his apartment. And this Caregiver Position isn't just being there to share meals, clean up, or accompany him to clinic appointments. It requires helping him protect his Hickman prior to showering. The caregiver must also help in putting anti-coagulant into the port through a sterile syringe. There is a multi-page training booklet that the caregiver must read and understand. It's not like babysitting, it's more like an in-house home health aide.

No, I'm not trying to scare volunteers off. I'm just trying to be honest with our expectations. You can't just show up a half-hour before the last caregiver leaves - there are procedures that you need to be trained how to do correctly. You must stay overnight - and be able to check for signs of infection. You need to be free of disease and infections yourself - cleanliness is next to Godliness, right?

Dad's not over the proverbial "hump" yet (even though he THINKS he is - LOL). There are still too many opportunities for things to go wrong, but the guidance and training from the U of M staff is wonderful, so you shouldn't feel like you'll be going it alone.

Joel and Verna will be coordinating the April caregiver schedule today. For those of you who have already said "I'll help!" look for an email from Joel soon. Or just click on "post your comment" below if you want to throw your hat into the ring.

Be prepared though, Dad's been a "model" patient while he was in the hospital, but now that he's broken out of solitary confinement... the inmate is running the asylum!

By Samantha Schierman
Mood:  party time!
Now Playing: Written By 10 Year Old Grandaughter
Topic: Update
Grandpa was on the comfiest chair in the house when I came. My Dad put in a printer (for the laptop). Grandpa sat in the chair until we ate(he went for 3 walks before). We ate in the meeting room. The kids set up party stuff. Grandpa sat in that room a little but it was cold and you couldn't change the temperature. The kids and Kelly went to the workout room. He went back to his room once we finished eating. then he open some presents. He got a new car...........kidding April Fools!HA HA HA HA! After that we had Cake,Ice Cream,and,Brownies.

Update by Cortnie Schierman
Mood:  spacey
Now Playing: Today's blog written by Grand Daughter, Age 12
Topic: Update
Yesterday 3-30-07 my dad, my sisters and I went to visit grandpa Wes. We had been in town after the Shrine Circus so we decided to go visit him. When we got there I got myself a Cafe Mocca, like my dad and we went to check on him. His lights where off and he was asleep so we went out to call Verna, Becky and Al. My dad had called grandpa's room on accident instead of Al's cell phone, so that woke him up. We put on the masks, gloves and the yellow robes. My sisters and I went in to the room well our dad waited outside. We chatted until Verna, Al, and Becky came. Then grandpa had to go to the meeting on how to clean his Hickman port. I went too, but my sisters stayed and kept the nurses busy. I heard that they raided the family/ pantry and that they watched Disney Channel. I went to the meeting and I learned how to clean grandpas Hickman port. We sat there while the doctor talked about the dos and don'ts. Verna got to practice on a dummy. We all got packets that told us how to do everything step by step. I did not think that the meeting was boring. I learned a lot. My dad and I left early to go get food after that I do not know what they did. We got pizza for grandpa and Verna. Then we dropped off all the stuff we had for grandpa's apartment. When grandpa got there he wanted to try out his recliner. He said it was OK. I unpacked his bathroom bags while my sisters set up his room. When my grandpa got out of the hospital I think he was happy to finally get out of the environmentally controlled room. I was happy for him.

BLOG POSTING FROM WES
Mood:  smelly
Now Playing: Confessions of a retired drama king...
Topic: Update
Effective Saturday, March 31st my address will be:

Wes Schierman
920 Delaware Street SE
#1028
Minneapolis, MN 55414

For those looking to visit, the building is known as The Argyle House. There is very limited on-street parking, but there is a BIG parking ramp straight west of the apartment building. If you do plan on stopping by, please give me a call first - mostly to make sure I'm there, but also to see if I'm "up" for visitors that day.

Wes' Cell Phone: (612) 240-3934

I will be there, according to my doctor, for the next "month or two." I might even be able to get to the lake for a weekend or two between now and then. They have weened my off IVs, so I'm totally on pills (40 per day). I'll report to the BMT clinic Saturday for the first time - my daily clinic schedule after that will be pretty much up to me. After a while, the daily visits will go to every-other day, barring any setbacks. Blood draw each day, transfusions as needed, vital checks and such will be the daily ritual at the clinic. They told me that I probably won't lose any more hair - they said it usually falls out within two weeks after the irradiation, and I haven't noticed it yet (fingers crossed!)

Verna, Al & Becky, John and the girls will be here Friday to attend meetings and help me get moved to the apartment. Joel and Dori said they'll try to stop by sometime this weekend. Warren decided not to come down this weekend.

We'll probably do an informal Birthday Celebration on Sunday early afternoon int the apartment complex meeting room, even though my 67th isn't until Monday. Feel free to stop by, but be forewarned that I may not be up to a long party and may head back to my apartment for a rest. I'm sure the rest of my family would appreciate seeing and visiting with you too!

Verna will be my 24/7 caregiver until Wednesday, April 4th, so I'll need to rely on others when she cannot be here (or needs a break).

I want to thank each and every one of you for your cards, calls, letters, visits, blog comments, prayers, and kind thoughts.

Still on track...
Mood:  chatty
Now Playing: They're gonna spring him Friday
Topic: Update
White blood cell count is up to 2.6 as of this morning. Combine that with the neutrophyle count of 1.9 and things are looking peachy! They told him that the neutrophyle count is more of an indicator that the transfusion is taking hold and it is the factor they hold more important than white blood cell count. As long as they both continue to rise in conjunction with each other, things are good.

I will provide a blog update later this week with an address for the apartment (mail, cards, visitor instructions, etc.). He will be using his cell phone once they release him and does not plan to get a land-line in the apartment.

Look for an email from my brother, Joel, sometime over the upcoming weekend if you volunteered to be a caregiver.

GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS...
Mood:  celebratory
Now Playing: Hospital Release Set For Friday!
Topic: Update
Dad called this morning...

The good news is that they are releasing him from the hospital this Friday!

The bad news is that they are releasing him from the hospital this Friday... and, as a family, we not totally prepared and ready for that. But we will be by then, I hope.

So, if you want to visit him this week, I suggest you do it soon. Simply check in at the Nurses Station on 4B prior to entering his room and they will give you instructions, show you where to wash and how to garb-up.

If you had "volunteered" to be one of the 24/7 care-givers, be prepared for a call from Verna Johnson (his sister) to coordinate times available, care instructions/classes, and apartment logistics.

Look for a blog posting later this week with apartment address and info about his stay there.

Weekend update
Mood:  suave
Now Playing: Same old, same old...
Topic: Update
White blood cell count rose to 0.7 as of yesterday.

Getting appetite back.

Sense of humor is alive and well.

Staff is referring to him as "the model patient."

He says he's got a daily 'routine' that's keeping him occupied and focused.

Do you realize it's been 18 days since he first checked into the hospital and 10 days since the transplant?

His room phone now has an answering machine hooked up to it, so feel free to call him sometime. If you do get the machine, it's because he's in the bathroom or on the treadmill. (612) 273-0214

News and Notes
Mood:  lyrical
Now Playing: Last few days...
Al and Verna came to visit on Thursday. John and Joel both stopped in on Friday at different times. Ed Karels is coming to visit today - he's bringing grapefruit in hopes that it gets Dad's "system" back on track.

White blood cell count jumped from 0.1 to 0.4 in the last couple of days, which is a good sign. Got another platelet transfusion today. They started him on a Calorie Count yesterday in hopes that they can determine whether he's getting enough nutrition. Everything else looks good and on track.

He says he's not as energetic as he'd like to be.

"How's your Dad?"
Mood:  bright
Now Playing: Doing good so far...
Topic: Update
He's checking his emails.

He's getting some visitors and talking to people who call.

He's optimistic, positive, and upbeat.

His day consists of being poked and prodded by nurses (every four hours), reading the papers to stay up on current events (StarTrib, Pelican Rapids Press, etc.), checking the weather (on virtually every channel), picking apart his meals (literally and figuratively), and trying to maintain a sense of humor and independence.

Shaving and showering have become an every-other-day occurrence. Pajama pants and T-shirts are the most comfortable garb.

His is fighting a slight head cold - sinus headache, drippy nose, congestion - but they're not worried about it, unless he gets a fever.

He's at his absolute most vulnerable stage right now: white cell count non-existent (normal is 8.0, he's at 0.1), red cell and platelet transfusions are necessary as needed, doses of antibiotics dripping from bags into him, and the transfusion is trying to take hold. But his metabolic workup is good: potassium, chlorine, glucose, and other factors show that his body is performing normally.

He's not going stir-crazy... yet.