Keith continues to gain and we are so thankful for this progress. Coming into Spring and Summer, he is getting the itch to get out of the house and start working again!
About 2 weeks ago, after having normal blood counts for a month, Keith was able to drop a few of his medications and discontinue his weekly blood work. He can also start working on some farm machinery getting his hands greasy, but still no dust with the bead board, hay or straw. He has done some bead board, mowed the lawn, and moved some bales, but he makes sure it's well ventilated and that he wears a mask. He has had no trouble doing these things except for the fact that it really tires him out. He is hoping to take over the bead board, soon. Again, we are so thankful for the work Dave DeZwaan has done, coming faithfully each week to fulfill the bead board orders. In a few days, hay is going to be cut and so it begins....the boys are ready!
Keith continues to go to Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy each week. Physical Therapy is working on gaining strength and balance. Occupational Therapy is working on his vision, helping his eye muscles to work together and get stronger to eliminate the double vision. He is currently wearing glasses that he wore in 2013! His glasses from 2014 and 2015 are stronger lenses which he no longer needs. :) So some of his vision is coming back. PTL! In the last week Keith feels like he is getting much stronger almost like he has turned the corner from -healing from the chemo- to now just gaining strength each day. Again, we are just so thankful that we are on the up-swing of this disease, thankful to God for his healing work, and thankful to a wonderful community of believers that have been lifting us up in prayer.
This week Lucas will graduate from Zeeland West High School and Jaden graduates from Creekside Middle School 8th grade. Life has become more normal around here with end of the school year busyness and it feels good not to be consumed with doctors, meds, appointments, health, healing, etc.
We have also scheduled Keith's 6 month post transplant appointment in Chicago for August 8-10. Keith will have another MRI to see if the lesions on his brain and spine have stopped growing. This will be the true test to see if the Stem Cell Transplant has stopped the progression of his MS.
We recently experienced another huge blessing in our family. Keith's sister Karin and her husband Steve adopted a son from the Congo. They waited patiently for over 3 years to bring him home. They never lost hope and never gave up on him, always trusting in the Lord. On May 12, (my dad's Birthday!) Christian Abraham Steven Meeuwsen came home to join his forever family!!! We thank God for this precious miracle.
Steve, Karin, Kate and Christian Meeuwsen
We also experienced a great loss to our Church family and community. The very next morning, May 13, a large part of our Church burned down. The cross on the front of the Church lit up at night and there was a bad transformer in the inside wall behind the brick that caused the fire. The Church is fully insured so we hope to start clean up and rebuilding soon. As for now, South Olive CRC has allowed us to worship at their Church after their services. Thank you SOCRC!!!
Faith United Reformed Church
Every day we wake up and thank God for our health, even though we don't always feel 100% healthy, we both know what it feels like to be so much worse. We are blessed to be living in such a great area of committed, caring doctors and beautiful, clean hospitals, loving friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, etc. It's been a long journey but we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and it is only by God's grace and mercy that we have come this far. Blessed be the name of the Lord!
May God bless you as you continue to be a blessing to others.
God is so good!
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