Mike Kagerer

Dear Friends & Family,

This is Joe, Ann is on her way back to Fowler with her family, it’s been a very long weekend for us. I thought that I’d blog, and give her a break.

Today we had a beautiful Funeral Mass and Celebration of Mike’s life. I would like to thank all the people that came from across the country to share this time with our family, it was truely a special time and a great tribute to Mike and a testimonial to the impact he’s made on our lives.

Many of you have expressed your desire to be here, but couldn’t make it. I know that all of you were with us in spirit and thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers.

I have posted the photos of Mike that we had on display. I hope you enjoy these and remember the good times we had with Mike.
Mike’s Photo Gallery

Thank you all for reading and following Mike’s story.
Love,
The Kagerer Family

Note for our out-of-town guests:
There is Major Road Construction around Flint. For precise directions see our Maps & Directions page. Maps & Directions

Visitation
Mike will be at Dodds-Dumanois Funeral Home in Flint Michigan
901 Garland St.
Flint, Michigan 48503
(810) 232-0187
https://www.doddsdumanois.com/

Saturday, September 22nd.
The family will be present at the visitations from 2-4pm and 6-8pm.
(John and Barbara and their boys will not be at this visitation as they will arrive in Michigan that night.)

Sunday, September 23rd at Dodds-Dumanois.
The entire family will be there between 1-4pm and 5-6:30pm

Rosary
A Rosary will be recited Sunday, September 23rd at Dodds-Dumanois at 5:30pm.

Funeral Mass
Mike's funeral Mass will be on Monday, September 24th at 11am
St. John Vianney Catholic Church
2415 Bagley St
Flint, Michigan, 48504
(810) 235-1812
https://stjohnvianneyflint.catholicweb.com/

Funeral Lunch
A funeral lunch will be held immediately following the Mass at the Church. All are welcome to stay for the lunch.

Hi Everyone,

It is with extreme sorrow in my heart that I am telling you that Mike died on Tuesday, September 18th at 1:25 in the afternoon.

My husband, Bruce and our cousin, Sara (from Ohio) and I arrived at UofM Hospital around 9am Tuesday. Mike was in the ICU. He had been put on life support the night before after he suffered a cardiac arrest during a proceedure to change the tubes to his kidneys. Deacon Tom came to be with us and called the Hospital Priest to come and pray with us and say the Last Rites and annoint Mike. After the Priest left the doctors came in and very gently and with great compassion removed all of the life support from Mike. Mike lived for about two hours after that and Sara, Bruce and I stayed with him throughout that time holding him and talking to him and telling him how much he was loved by so many. Mike was very peaceful when he died.

Mike will be at Dodds-Dumanois Funeral Home in Flint Michigan on Saturday, September 22nd. The family will be present at the visitations from 2-4pm and 6-8pm. (John and Barbara and their boys will not be at that visitation as they will arrive in Michigan that night.)

Visitation will also be Sunday, September 23rd at Dodds-Dumanois. The entire family will be there between 1-4pm and 5-6:30pm with a Rosary being recited at 5:30pm.

Mike’s funeral Mass will be on Monday, September 24th at 11am at St. John Vianney Catholic Church with a lunch immediately following. All are welcome to stay for the lunch.

Mike will be buried later that week since he chose to be creamated, which will take place after the funeral Mass.

I want to express, once again, my gratitude for all of the support and prayers that have been shown over the past four months. I have read every comment that has been written – they were wonderful!

Mike was such a kind and gentle man and he was so humbled by everyone’s care and concern. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him, especially his family.

With much love, Tanny, Rick, Sally, Ann, Bruce, John, Barbara, Joe and all of Mike’s nephews.

Hi Everyone,

I got a call today from Mike’s nurse. They put the feeding tube back in today and he was having a rough time not pulling it out! She told me they did put some soft restraints on his wrists. I told her that I understand. He needs the tube in to get his nutrition and his meds. He isn’t able to realize what he is doing at this time. He is confused and not able to verablize to much at all.

She also said that he does have GVHD of the skin. They are still waiting for his tests results to come back and are hoping that he doesn’t have GVHD in his liver. That wouldn’t be good. Actually any infection at this time wouldn’t be good.

So, hopefully when I get down there in a couple days the results will be in and we may have a better idea for his care.

Please keep praying. We appreciate all of the support so far. It has really gotten us through!

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

No big changes today for Mike. Our cousins, Ron and Sara and our brother Rick visited him today. I’ll see him mid-week.

Mom is doing great. She is wearing her pj’s all day in rebellion since they used to get her up and dressed at 5am!!!! It’s great that she is home.

I’ll keep you posted – keep praying!

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

MOM IS HOME!! Yea! I sprung her this afternoon. She said last night that she wanted to go home so she did! She is relaxing this evening with a game of Freecell and Scrabble and watching her own TV. I am going to stay overnight tonight. I need to go get her new meds this evening. Her friend Joyce went to the store and brought her some food. She seems to be her self again and that is such a blessing.

Mike, on the other hand, had a traumatic day today. His liver counts are still on the rise and so they wanted to try a feeding tube – not the usual NG tube but a smaller one. They are hoping that with the nutrition going into his gut his liver will get a break. The IV feeding is harder on the liver. They got it in and it was there for about a half hour and Mike pulled it out. He is just not aware of what is happening right now and I’m sure it felt bad so out it came! The nurse felt really bad and she said they may try again tomorrow but tonight they were going to let him be. He has been through so much lately.

Tomorrow I think Ron and Sara (cousins from Ohio) are going to try and see Mike after the UofM game. (I hope they win this one!) Hopefully their visit will go well.

I wish I had more positive things to report but I don’t right now. I am hoping to hear about the test results maybe early next week. I will probably go on Tuesday or Wednesday to see Mike. I really wish I could be there all the time, but such goes life!

Thanks again for your support and prayers. Mom is much stronger and doing very well and it is just great to have her home again.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I talked to Mike's nurse this afternoon and there are really no changes to report today. They haven't scheduled his MRI as of yet. I'm sure they'll be calling me for consent when they do.

We are kind of in a ‘wait and see' mode right now. Hopefully we'll begin to see some more improvements. The nurse on Wednesday told me that his rash seemed to be improving so that is good news!

Mom on the other hand is ready to go home. I talked to her this evening and they took out her catheter and want her to try self-cathing. She doesn't see how it will work there and would just like to go home. I told her to check with the nurse and see what we have to do to spring her!!! She said she'd talk to her and if need be to her doctor in the morning. I'll go pick her up and take her home if she is ready to go! The therapists have been urging her for the last week or so and I think she is finally ready. So, hopefully I'll talk to her in the morning and then head out to Flushing to move her home.

Mom just called me and said that she needs to talk to the Social Worker tomorrow morning and that I should be ready to take her home!!! How about that.

Keep praying for both Mom and Mike. Mom is still very concerned about Mike and I know that is hard on her. Thanks for all of the continued support.

Love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Well Mike was a little better today in that he recognized me more than the other day. However, his conversation mostly consisted of “Come on Ann, let’s get out of here!!!”.

He had a big day too because this morning he was scheduled for an MRI and an ultrasound. The ultrasound was a go and they thought they might see a blood clot in his liver? but they need the MRI to confirm it. But they couldn’t do the MRI because they couldn’t sedate him enough so they have to do a general on him and hopefully that will be tomorrow.

Then this afternoon they were going to do a bone marrow biopsy and a spinal tap under conscious sedation but they couldn’t do that type of sedation twice in one day. So, the doc did both of them after giving Mike some Morphine. I was present for those two proceedures and he did very well. Mike had had his previous bone marrow biopsies without anything but a local!!! More than I could do I’ll tell you. He also had a skin biopsy and now they are thinking that his rash is a different thing than GVHD which would be great! Hopefully the skin biopsy will confirm that.

It was a long day. Mike did very well for all he went through and has been going through. I think Sally and Rick are going to visit him over the next two days. I have a lot going on until mid next week when I’ll have a chance to see him again. I could be there everyday if my life permitted it believe me.

Mom is doing great and is excited about heading home soon. I am so relieved! I told her it was good to have her back.

Please keep praying – I really feel Mike still has a chance to make it through all this and get his life back. Hopefully that will be confirmed within the next week when all of the test results are in.

Thanks and love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I spoke with the nurse this afternoon. Mike had a skin biopsy today to check for GVHD. Tomorrow morning he will have an MRI of the head and an ultrasound of the abdomen and liver. They still want to do a bone marrow biopsy but that will probably be sometime on Thursday.

She thought I might want to wait to visit on Thursday because originally all the tests were going to be done tomorrow. But, since they are both in the morning I will run errands for the family and then go to Ann Arbor and spend the afternoon with Mike. Rick and Sal are going to go down on Thursday and Friday to be with him.

He is a little better today and that is a blessing. When I go I will talk to the BMT doc. Hopefully he’ll continue to recover. The PA told me that his liver levels were still rising but they will keep an eye on them and maybe the ultrasound will help them determine the cause. He has been off one of his meds that could cause that for a couple days now.

Mom is doing very well and hopefully will be going home within a week. Can’t wait to get her back to her own space!!

Keep up the prayers – they are working. Thanks so much.
love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I spoke with Mike’s nurse this afternoon. No big changes. He was still waiting for the MRI to happen. She told me she’d have the doc call me. He did call, not much later, and we talked about Mike’s wishes that he had expressed to John and they had written down in February. The doc told me at this point there is still hope so they would do anything for Mike to revive him if something were to happen. He is still hopeful that there isn’t something else going on and that the meds are what are causing Mike to be confused and disoriented. They would like to ween him off the pain meds but he needs them right now. His liver levels aren’t right so they took him off V-Fend and hopefully they’ll level out.

He also talked about a rash that has come back and he is hoping that it isn’t GVHD ( Graft vs Host Disease) which Mike had early on. If his liver levels don’t get to normal or he has GVHD again then he will be in trouble – but so far so good.

I told him I’d be in on Wednesday for the day and would bring copies of the papers that John faxed me from Alaska. I feel much calmer today and at peace that we are doing what we can at this time.

Mom sounds good. I told her I liked having my “bad teenage daughter” back again (that’s my pet name for her because she is usually full of life). Hopefully she’ll be moving home soon.

Thanks for the prayers and all of the support! I know I say that every day but I can never really express to you all what it feels like to know that we are so blessed with wonderful friends.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Well, not much changed today with Mike. He still isn’t himself. He has moments where he is very aware of things but then drifts off and is confused. An MRI was ordered today to see if they are missing something. It will probably be done tomorrow. The CT of his head didn’t show any bleeds – which is a blessing. At this time the doc says that he can pull through but it will take a long time.

I am going to visit him on Wednesday and until then I will call the nurses and talk to them. They know that if Mike asks to talk to me they can help him call me anytime of the day or night. But to call him directly is fruitless since he isn’t able to communicate real well right now.

He is eating a little but isn’t able to manage a fork or spoon. His fingers and hands don’t have strength in them right now.

Please pray for him and our family. Many phone calls were made this weekend. John faxed me a copy of some papers from their lawyer that gives me some specifics on Mike’s wishes if it comes to that. I figured that sometime or another John and Mike had talked about such things. Lots of tears but I feel better that I know what he would like. And hopefully I’ll never have to initiate it because he’ll pull through all this and it will be only a memory for him! I do believe in miracles – I’ve seen too many to not believe!

Mom is doing really great. When I talked to her last night I really felt like she is back!!!! I am glad. She was really struggling for awhile there and she wasn’t her old self – wild and energetic!! Last night and today she seemed like she had gotten back her zest for life. Thank you God! She should be in her own home in just a week or so.

Thanks for everything. All the support is so very much appreciated!
love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I am still putting the plus sign in front of the Day number because even though Mike is in a very seriously vulnerable state right now there is still hope. I had a good talk with his doc today. I laid things on the line. I just cannot see pushing Mike to survive if it is for naught. But, his doc told me that there is still HOPE. The bladder virus can get better, however if Mike were to get an infection at this time it would be very bad. We talked about decisions that need to be discussed so that we are prepared to do the best thing for Mike at all times.

It was a very tough day today for me. Mike did recognize me a couple of times. Once was really funny because he wanted me to get out of there with him! He was quite infatic and then the next minute he was not with me totally. The hospital has a “sitter” with Mike when a family member isn’t there. It is for Mike’s saftely because he tries to get up and really cannot right now. Tonight a man named Duane was with him. I told him how much I appreciated the fact that he would take his time to be with my brother. He is a computer guy and does this on the side.

I talked to Joe and Mom today and will talk to John and Barb this weekend. Bruce talked to Rick and Sally. I just want to know that we are all on the same page. Bruce and I are Mike’s medical advocates and we will be the ones called upon to make decisions IF the need arises. I will just feel better knowing that we all are in agreement about Mike’s care.

Right now Mike is still on the long road to recovery and we’ll just keep praying that he stays on that path! Thanks for all of your support and prayers.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I spoke to Mike’s nurse earlier today and she said that Mike thought I was going to see him today. I told her I was planning on seeing him on Satruday. She also told me that he wanted to call me and so she was going to try and help him do that this afternoon.

When I hadn’t heard from him by 4pm I decided to call the nurses station and have his nurse at his room to receive my call. Mike talked but I couldn’t really understand him. He is very disoriented right now. He was telling me that they were going to move him. So, I talked to his nurse and she said that he was just very tired and was confused. She said that he did have moments when he was focused. She also told me that someone would be staying right in his room all night with him. They are concerned that Mike might take a tube out or something because he isn’t totally with it.

I am planning of leaving early in the morning so I can spend the bulk of the day with him. He is in really tough shape and it is going to take a lot for him to come back at this point. Please pray for him. I feel bad that he has had such a rough road. I’ll blog tomorrow night and let you know about our day together.

Mom is fine. She is really working on her therapy and is getting in shape to go home soon. I know all this with Mike is very hard for her but she is concentrating on her own recovery right now and that she should!!!!

Thanks for all your prayers and support for Mike and for our family! We are so grateful!

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

First I want to tell you that Mom is doing good. She may be going home in a couple weeks. Hopefully, it will be a welcome change for her!!

Now for Mike. Yesterday I went to visit him after stopping to see mom in Flushing. When I got to his room he was having a terrible day. His nurse informed me that he was on the schedule for surgery on his bladder and that he was in a lot of pain because of the BK Virus. So, my friend Karen and I held Mike’s hands and tried to help him breath through his bad times with pain and waited for the OR to come get him. The nurse had even taught Mike how to breath like women do when they are in labor. Karen and I told her she should have given him an epidoral too so the pain would be less noticable!!!! Sisters can be soooo helpful.

Anyway, we finally headed to the holding room about 5:30p.m. and he was taken to surgery a little after 6. The doc told us that it may be as long as an hour but could be less depending on what they found going on in his bladder. So Karen and I waited and waited. I asked about him at 8:15 and was told that the surgery started at 6:34. At 8:30 I ask to have a call put in to the OR to find out what was happening. They waid that there was a hugh, very solid blood blot in his bladder that they were trying to remove. At 9 the head Urologist came out and told me that it could be another two hours. I told him that I needed to leave to go home but wanted him to call me no matter how late it got. He called my home at about 10:50 and told Bruce that they couldn’t do any more on the blood clot that night because Mike was loosing too much blood and so it was too risky.

This morning I came home from teaching at 10:30am to find a message from the hospital requesting my permission to do another proceedure on Mike. I called and they explained that they wanted to insert a tube into each of his kidneys so drain them so that his bladder could have a rest. I told them fine and at 4:30 this afternoon they did that proceedure. I talked to a nurse tonight and Mike was back to his room and resting.

When I talked to his nurse earlier she told me that Mike was very, very sick right now. I told her that we were aware of how serious all this is especially because of the high risk for infection. However, we don’t really have a choice. He couldn’t go on like he was with his bladder problems. I also talked to a BMT doc who answered other questions I had. He did say it will take a couple days to see if the tubes and kidneys are working fine. His kidney levels were really high and that wasn’t good either but they couldn’t give him meds right now because he couldn’t handle them this soon. They are keeping on top of everything though.

I am going to head to Ann Arbor on Saturday morning just to hang out with him. His nurse said that these tubes are ridgid and can be very uncomfortable. Just one more thing for old Mike to deal with!!

Keep praying. He is not out from under any of this at this point!! I was so hopefully that he would be better soon but I was told this will take a long time. So, hang in there with all of us, but expecially with Mike. He needs all the prayers and support he can get right now!!

Sorry, I didn’t blog last night but I was too tired and wasn’t sure that I could tell you much. Today, after talking to the different staff people I had a better understanding.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Well, Bruce (my husband) talked to Mike tonight and he hadn’t had a good day. I called earlier and he was busy with his docs and they were working on his bladder issues again. So, I couldn’t talk to him and I had a meeting tonight so Bruce called him. Mike didn’t have much to say because he was tired from everything that had gone on during the day. Bruce reminded him that I would see him tomorrow. So, I’ll blog tomorrow night and hopefully will have something positive to say about Mike’s situation.

My mom, on the other hand, went to her home today for a home visit with her therapist. It went very well. She even was on IM with our brother Joe in California!! Pretty cool huh? Our friend Sue took her to her home and then took mom out to her own home to see her new kitchen before taking her back to Fostrian. When I talked to mom tonight she sounded good about the visit home. She is apprehensive but I’m sure that she’ll be fine. I think she was glad to see her place again.

Well, thanks for all the prayers. I’ll see both Mom and Mike tomorrow so I’ll keep you posted!

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I just talked to Mike on the phone. He sounded good. He said that he talked to his Doc today about PT and OT and they are still getting his bladder virus under control so they aren’t having him do anything at this time. However, Mike is doing some exercises while he is in bed – which is great.:) We talked tonight about how he needs to keep moving however he can so that he doesn’t lose the strength that he has already gained back. He’s trying and I am proud of him.

Mom is going tomorrow to her home for a home visit with her therapists. I think they would like to have her go home soon but she just doesn’t seem like she is ready. Not sure why but hopefully once she is home tomorrow she’ll want to stay. I think she has alot of mixed feelings about all that has happened these past few months. She did what she could for Mike and he will be fine. I hope that she can go home and start enjoying life again!!!

I am going to see both of them on Wednesday. I’ll keep you posted.

Thanks for the support and prayers. They are so important to all of us at this time.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I talked to Mike this evening and he sounded better than last night. I think he was just having a really bad day yesterday. Pain and all was getting to him.

Anyway, He told me that he asked about getting out of bed to exercise but the team is still trying to get his bladder issues under control – so Mike did his own exercises in his bed. He used his weights and tried to work his arms. I told him how proud I was of him to get moving even though it seems like he’s tied to the bed!!! Also, he said he was watching television. Sara and Ron had suggested that he watch some TV to help the time pass. He just sits there for hours and that seems to make you just think about yourself.

So, it seems that he is giving it his best shot. I told him I was bringing some other weights with me on Wednesday for him to use. I told him that he and I would do some exercising together! He sounded like he was glad about that.

We chatted for a while and he seemed to be less stressed than yesterday. I keep praying that we’ll turn the corner and start healing quicker so I’m taking this as a positive sign. I know he can do it and beat this!

I also talked to Mom tonight. She had a number of visitors today. I may go to see her first on Wednesday. It is easier to see both of them at the same time with school on and all. She doesn’t seem in a hurry to go home, but maybe after her home visit on Tuesday she’ll feel different. She is doing very well.

Thanks for the prayers. I’ll keep you all posted.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

My cousin Sara called tonight and she and her husband, Ron, stopped to see Mike today. They were up from Ohio. Anyway, Mike wasn’t having a good day! More bladder issues. They are doing this flushing treatment but the bad thing is he is in pain and his cath is attached to a large bag that is laying on the floor. So, he is stuck in his bed! Not good, considering he was finally getting a little stronger and now he’s been in bed the last three days. They did give him some pain meds and by the time I called him later he was doing better. Sounding like I woke him up but I didn’t. He said that PT was in to wrap his legs (to keep the fluid down).

We talked for quite a while and I tried to gently stress the importance of doing some exercises in his bed. I know that Sara and Ron tried to talk to him about this too. This was exactly what I was worried about when he left the Rehab floor – he wouldn’t be able to focus enough to keep himself motivated.

I can’t go until Wednesday to see him but I am going to call the nursing station tomorrow and try to talk to his nurse. I really need them to talk to his docs and get him up and moving. I am just really concerned that he will go downhill (in the strength area) without exercising daily. So, hopefully I can get my point heard.

Mom sounded good today. She seems to be getting stronger and her therapist are still trying to ween her off using her wheelchair. She can walk but she says she thinks it’s comfortable to sit in! She still needs to learn to self-cath again and then I hope she’ll be going home.

Thanks for your prayers. Please keep them up. We all need them right now. It really feels like we’ve been running uphill since May and it would be nice to get on a level stretch or turn the corner and head home!

love, Ann

Hi everyone,

Well, Mike moved to 8-A yesterday. He was still having serious bladder problems stemming from the BK Virus.

I called him today and he sounded better than he has sounded in weeks! :) He said they did a proceedure today on his bladder and got rid of all of the blood clots and such and he was feeling much better. They wouldn’t let him get up and walk today because his white count is quite low. He told me that PT will be coming in tomorrow and then he should be able to get up and do some walking, etc. I am glad because when I go to see him next Wednesday I want him to walk the hall with me.

I was very relieved at how good he sounded. Hopefully we have turned a big corner and he’ll be on the mend.

My family and I stopped to surprise Mom last night. She was thrilled. The guys played cards with her and we just visited. It was good to be able to go see her one more time before school starts. She is doing very well.

Keep praying – we sure need it! We still have some financial decisions to make and that is tough – but we can do this!!!

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Well, Mike made it to Day +100!!!! I went to see him today and spend the day with him at therapy. The following is a list of all the things Mike did on his own today. He still needs some assistance or at least someone standing by – but he is really improving.
-he walked with his walker
-he went up and down 4 stairs
-he stand down and got up from a regular chair (18″)
-he stood and did his work for OT with weights on his wrists
-he got into his bed and in and out of his wheelchair
-he got on and off a commode
-he got into and out of a symulation car

Not bad huh!!!! Mike seems stronger than just last week when I saw him. He is moving to 8-A tomorrow to try and get his bladder virus and other infection type stuff under control. The hard thing about being off the rehab floor is that he’ll have to do his exercises and walk and remember to do them. His memory is still very affected by all he’s been through.

I asked the therapists if they could make a big chart with morning and afternoon activities on it to remind him and his aids/nurses about his therapy. They were going to try and put something together. If they don’t by next week when I visit again I will put something together and hang it up! Such a nice sister I am.

Mom called while I was visiting Mike and talked to both of us. She had another nosebleed during the night but was fine and able to go to her therapy today. She is doing quite well.

Please continue to pray for all of us. Many decisions need to be made soon and we want to make the right ones for Mike. He’ll be on 8-A for a while – not sure what that means. I’m looking into all of the financial end of things too.

Take care and I’ll be calling Mike everyday and try to blog to keep you all updated. I may not be able to call him tomorrow as he’ll have a new phone number.

love, Ann

Hi everyone,

Please hold all mail and telephone calls to Mike since he will most likely be moving back to 8-A on Thursday. Tomorrow is his last day on the Rehab and he is still fighting the BK Virus (bladder issues) and really needs nursing care – so he is being bounced back to the BMT floor (8-A). Also the nutritionist said that he isn’t eating enough yet. He needs alot more protein for energy to exercise and for healing his skin sores. Never thought I’d ever hear anyone say that a Kagerer wasn’t eating enough! ;) At least he knows the staff on 8-A and it may be an easier transition. He will begin private pay as of Friday though unless by some miracle his insurance company made a mistake and he has more coverage!!! That would be awesome!

But, he needs to be there and so that’s where he’ll be. I will be talking to staff tomorrow when i go to see him and see what the future holds. They may have some ideas but it will probably be more the one day at a time thing! Oh well. That’s life at this moment.

Mom is doing fine. Her therapist told her she didn’t need her wheelchair anymore but Mom doesn’t want to give it up because it is comfortable for her to use as a regular chair. We’ll see if they let her just use it to sit in. She is up and about more and that is just great. I told her when she gets home we’ll have a party! She loved that idea.

Well, take care and watch the contact page in the next few days for Mike’s new address and telephone number. I’ll blog tomorrow after I get home from my visit with him.

Hi Everyone,

I talked to Mike tonight. He was very tired. He is still have some serious issues with his bladder. He sounded like he might have a proceedure done tomorrow to address the issues. He also said that three docs from the BMT team came in to check on his rash on his back. They decided not to do anything at this time.

He did get to go to therapy today. He was glad because yesterday he was having so many bladder problems that he wasn’t sure they’d let him go. But he did and he said it went pretty good.

I am going on Wednesday and one of the Social Workers is trying to set up a meeting for me with some of his team so we can discuss the next step. I have heard both from Mike and one of the Social Workers that he may need to go back to the BMT floor. he hasn’t been moved yet but if he does go I will let everyone know through the blog. His contact info would change again.

Mom is doing well. She went to her therapy today and did alot of walking. I hope it won’t be long and she’ll be back in her own home.

Thanks for all the prayers and support. You are all so wonderful!

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I didn’t talk to Mike last night so I waited until today to blog. I talked to him this afternoon and he has had to have that bladder proceedure again and now they have him cathed for a while. He also said that the rash on his back may be the GVHD (Graft vs Host Disease) again. Fun, fun. He said that yesterday was pretty rough but he made it through. He is hoping that he can continue his therapy tomorrow but isn’t sure. A couple staff members told him he was going back to the 8th floor but I haven’t heard that yet and I am thinking they’ll let me know.

I am going Wednesday to see him and hopefully speak in person to some of the Social Workers. I know that they were thinking he was going to come to the farm this Friday but I sent an email to them to let all of Mike’s staff know that he cannot leave the hospital and come to any of our homes with the bladder issues that he has now. He needs nursing care for those types of things.

My boys and I went to see Mom today and they played cards with her and she loved that. She thought she was having therapy today but she didn’t so she’ll wait till tomorrow. She is getting much stronger and is able to stand without any assistance! You go girl!

Thanks for your support and prayers. Check out the new page on the website that Joe created – the “Timeline” page. Joe went through the blog and put the important milestones on this page.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Well, once again Mike is having troubles. He now has a rash on his back and he is still having to be cathed to empty his bladder completely. Also, the Social Worker on the Rehab floor called today and his time on rehab ends earlier than we thought. His insurance allows him 30 days and that will end on Sept. 1. He would need to make arrangements by the 31st.

Lots of things up in the air. Waiting to see if he can come here to the farm but don’t think that is the best choice for him. He might be able to go to a Rehab place in Ann Arbor but it is like a nursing home and the BMT team wouldn’t like that choice either. Too many chances for an infection and we know he seems to get them all.

If he stays on the Rehab floor or goes back to the BMT floor he will be private pay – probably around $3000. – $4000. a day. Yep you read that right. Mike does have some money but it won’t last long but then we’d have to apply for Medcaid (I believe that’s the one).

So, as you can see there will be many decisions in the next week. As far as Mike is concerned and his therapy, he is doing better. Still quite weak but is able to get around better than even last week. He would still need help with some things. The urinary problems are a big issue and hopefully something will happen and straighten out in the next couple days. Also the rash on his back being new needs to be tested. Plus his Day +100 tests are coming due next week.

Please, pray that everything can be sorted out soon. I will make all decisions with Mike’s best interest at heart. Money isn’t everything!!! His recovery is the top matter and will be as far as I am concerned and I know my family feels the same way.

Thanks for all your support. Really we do feel it and it really gets us through all these little ups and downs.

Mom is doing better. Her nosebleed is taken care to and she went to her therapy today. The boys and I are heading to see her on Sunday. I probably won’t get to see Mike until Wednesday the way the week looks now.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I talked to Mike and Mom between storms tonight.

Mike said he did pretty good in his therapy sessions today. When he got back this afternoon the Urologist came and cleaned out his bladder. Doesn’t sound fun and it really wasn’t! Mike has been fighting the BK Virus for some time. It got better (but didn’t really go away completely) and than it flared up again. Lately he tries to pee and then they scan his bladder and it still is very full. Then he has to be cathed because there are large bloodclots that are obstructing the path out! So, the Urologist decided today that enough was enough and went in and cleaned Mike’s bladder out. Mike is still sore but will hopefully be able to empty his bladder completely now and also get rid of this virus.

I haven’t heard anything from any of the Social Workers yet as to plans for Mike after his hospital rehab is finished so I’m just waiting. I may try and call someone next Monday to see what is going on.

Mom called me around noon today and said that she missed her therapy because she got a nosebleed at 8am and they were still working on it. They packed her nose as her doc advised. When I called her tonight it was still packed. She sounded pretty good but did miss all of her therapy today and she didn’t like that. I told her missing one day would be fine – she’d bounce right back tomorrow!

She is not one to sit around too much so to just be sitting around all day was hard for her. Hopefully in the morning her nose will cooperate and she’ll be back to rehabing!!

Thanks for your support and prayers. I do believe that Mike and Mom are doing as well as they are because of all of you!!!!! They feel very much loved.

Talk to you tomorrow. love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I am blogging quick tonight because there is a big storm rolling in and I want to shut down the computer.

I went to see Mike today and left a big list of questions for his Social Worker so that I can start preparing for his departure from the hospital in a couple weeks. Depending on where he is going to go it may take that long to get things in order.

The therapists are talking about him possible coming to stay with me and my family. She asked me a bunch of questions today and I told her things that she needed to find out also. A lot depends on the BMT team and whether or not it would be ‘safe’ for Mike here due to the fact that we having a working farm with animals. Also it depends on whether or not he needs to be going to continuous therapy. If he needs regular therapy then he will go to another facility in Ann Arbor for a time.

He worked on the stairs today in therapy but said that he fell up them and onto his therapist (who is this cute, petite girl). He said she wasn’t injured and neither was he. I quess he will be working a little more on strengthening the old thigh muscles!! Other than that his therapy went fine today.

I haven’t talked to mom yet today and so I’ll let you know how she is doing tomorrow.

Thanks for the prayers and support. Please send a few up for me and my family as we try to get ready for the possiblity of Uncle Mike staying with us. I think the boys will be fine. They are at the ages that they can be of help. Bruce will handle it fine – he is very layed back. Anyway, I’m the hyper one so I’m sure it will be a little more stressful for me.

Thanks again. Talk to you tomorrow. love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Mom called me this noon and was having a good day. She is progressing quite well and the therapist are very encouraged by her progress.

I talked to Mike this evening and he had just finished dinner. He said he had a good visit with Sara and Ron last night. They stayed about an hour before heading home to Ohio.

Mike said that he is back dealing with the BK Virus and some other infections. It will be hard for him until next May when he can begin his immunizations. His amunity level is pretty much non existant so he’ll have to be extra careful about infections and such. He said he went to therapy and that he had some good sessions. He worked on his had exercises in OT and I teased him about making me a rug or something!!

I am going to head to Ann Arbor in the morning and spend most of the day with him. Hopefully I’ll get to one of his morning therapy sessions, but if not maybe I’ll stay for an afternoon one.

Thanks for the continued support! I know Mike is very aprreciative.

love, Ann

Hi everyone,

I only spoke very briefly to Mom and Mike this evening. They both seemed to be doing well. Mike had a big day at therapy and is having problems again with the old BK virus. Not fun. It has to do with your urinary tract. So, hopefully they’ll be able to get that under control.

Our cousins, Ron and Sara, were out from Ohio with their dogs! They visited Mom in Flushing, then headed to our farm for an afternoon lunch and visit, and then headed to see Mike at U of M. It was good to see them and I will be glad to hear their thoughts on Mike once they visit with him.

Talk to you tomorrow. Thanks for the prayers and support. Almost to Day +100.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Wow, ten more days until Day +100! That is so cool.

Mike had a quiet weekend. No therapy and he didn’t mention any visitors. He said the time went fairly quickly so that is good. He sounded good and visited for a few minutes on the phone. He will be back to his regular schedule tomorrow – therapy, therapy, therapy!

Mom had a bunch of visitors today so I only spoke to her for a few minutes this evening. Didn’t want to interrupt her visits! She sounded good and I think she was all rested up from our outing on Friday.

Keep up the great job with the prayers and support! They are still very necessary and needed!

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Well, I started my day of with a mighty Migrain headache. I’ve had massive headaches before but this took the cake and a call to my doc for some serious meds. Glad that’s overwith and I could talk to mom and Mike tonight.

Mom sounded good she was waiting to take a shower so we didn’t talk long. She also has a new phone number – please check the ‘Contact Mike’ page for that information.

Mike sounds great! He didn’t have any therapy and said he wasn’t tomorrow either. It is nice for him to have a break. He may just get to read the magazines his friend left him! I asked if there were any activities on the floor that he could go to but he wasn’t aware of any. Up on the BMT floor they would offer different activities for the patients.

I told him I’d get out to see him mid-week. We just chatted about different things. It was just fun to talk to him and have him sound up and like he was feeling better. He said he thinks being off more of the meds is helping.

Hopefully the next couple weeks will show some continued progress and he’ll be well on his way to getting out of the hospital.

Thanks for the prayers – keep them up please!!

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I spoke with Mike on the phone and he sounded good. He said that therapy went pretty good today. I know that one of the Social Workers sent me some reports that I haven’t read yet regarding his therapy. I received them earlier and will let you know if anything new is said.

Anyway, he also told me what doctors were on his care team and that they took him off more of the steriods. That is a big relief since they are what cause many of the side effects that Mike has been suffering through. Rick went to visit him yesterday and even exercised with him at therapy! Did better than me – I just keep count for Mike!

Mom went to her spine appointment today. the doc gave her some suggestions for exercise and said that she should keep walking. Also wants her to do the spirometer to keep her lungs in shape. The type of treatment we thought might help mom isn’t used for her problem it is for spine fractures that are new. He was very nice and I think we all felt like he gave some good advice to keep mom healthy!

Thanks for all of your continued prayers and support over the last few months. I know that we have a ways to go but am feeling very confident these last two days that all will be fine.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I tried to call Mike this morning but he didn’t answer and then I tried again about 1:15 and he was just heading back to PT. I told him that all of us totally understand if we call him and he cannot talk for one reason or another. Noone is offended and thinks anymore of it. Mike gets worried and then feels bad if he doesn’t have time to talk or is just too tired to talk. I told him to let it go and not to worry. Everyone knows this is a stressful time both physically and mentally!

But, he called me this evening and sounded so much better. He talked to the BMT doc this morning for a long time and they talked about everything. He got many questions answered and was reassured that everyone is working to help him not trying to make him feel bad about anything. Anyway, he also explained how all the meds Mike is on can really make things harder for him. i know Mike was feeling much better and he did great this afternoon in PT and OT.

It was good to hear him talking about how he is doing and also asking about others. It is so hard to turn the focus off ourselves when going through something difficult so I was very pleased to talk with Mike about other people in his life. Hopefully he will continue to get stronger and feel much better too.

Thanks for all your prayers. I feel much better tonight than I did last night.

Sally and I take Mom to the spine doc tomorrow. I’ll let you know what he says!

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Well, I am totally exhausted tonight. I’ve spent much time on the phone today trying to see what options are going to be available to Mike once he finishes his time on the rehab floor at the hospital. He will most likely still need some rehab since he has about 3 weeks left and so I am looking into other facilities or the possiblity of him coming to stay with me and my family. However, we live on an active farm and we are 2 hours from Ann Arbor. The Social Worker is talking the BMT team to see if that is even a possiblity at this time.

If Mike goes to another facility or back to the BMT floor it looks like he will be private pay since (from what I understand in a recent email) he has used his max for his insurance. So, I will be talking with our sister-in-law Barb and we will be figuring the finances. I wasn’t really expecting this. I did know that we’d be private pay at another facility but not at the hospital too. I’ll be doing more calling tomorrow.

I also finally got ahold of Mike tonight after trying since last night. His phone doesn’t seem to be within reach and so it rings and rings and he can’t get to it. So, by the time I talked to him I wasn’t happy and then he wasn’t having a very good day emotionally either. So, we were quite the pair! Anyway, I do suggest that you just call him once and if he doesn’t answer try again another day. He also gets upset if someone calls and then he is busy and has to tell them he can’t talk. He takes it personally and then he worries that the person may be upset too. I told him not to worry if he can’t talk – people totally understand. I think everything is getting to him and he does just with this was all over with! We all do. But it isn’t so we’ll just keep plugging alone.

Keep the cards coming to him. I know that they lift his spirits. Also, keep up the prayers they are helping us all.

I will see Mom on Friday. She’s doing pretty good. Needs to get a little bit stronger but she’s doing it!

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Wow, what a day. I left around 9am and sat in construction, moving 1 mile in 1/2 hour. Luckily about a half hour later I was out of the construction zone. I got to Mike’s room and he was still in therapy. So, I did his laundry – which I found out I won’t have to do again because they’ll let him do it during his therapy time!! Cool – I think I’ll take some of our laundry for him to do too!

I ended up having lunch with him and then going to his afternoon PT and OT. I counted while he exercised. He does have a hard time staying awake when he is doing his leg exercises while lying down after lunch. Plus the amount of meds don’t help with feeling awake! He did a good job however. It was good to see him standing up again. He isn’t walking at every session very far and they vary his exercises each time. But he is getting a workout. Hopefully he can continue to keep up the pace.

I got to get a list of his meds also. And I talked to the ENT when he stopped in to check on Mike. He said that his infection in his neck area should feel better real soon. Also, Mike said that he is sitting easier too because they are getting his bottom wound under control. He does have some problems on his hipss from sitting and moving but they will heal soon too.

I told him how proud I am of him and to keep up the good work! I also told him that Barb offered to send him a flute to work on in OT. His OT thought that would be really cool – I’m not sure Mike did!

Mom is doing pretty good. She talked to her doc today and they are attending to her issues. I’ll see her on Friday.

Thanks for the extra prayers.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Well, I am heading to Ann Arbor tomorrow to see Mike. A little earlier in the week than I planned but I think he needs me to come down. Mom called me today saying that Mike needed to talk to me and couldn’t find my number. I called him and he had had a cat scan of his neck. He has a virus that makes him look like he has the mumps on one side of his neck and it is very painful. A BMT Doc saw him again today and sent him for the scan. Of course he was very upset, he even asked again if it was the CLL returning. While I was on the phone with him an ENT came in and said that it looked like he has an inner or middle ear infection. They are treating it. Mike was relieved to say the least. He was also thinking that I might be visiting him today and was totally upset thinking that I might not find him when they took him for the scan. I think he is still on many meds and they do have an effect on his thinking. So, I told him I’d come tomorrow and do his laundry and visit with him in between therapy if he has some sessions. I told him that if I came to his room and he wasn’t there – believe me – I’d find him. He was much calmer after we talked.

He is getting close to the 100 day mark and I think that he is nervous. They will be doing a bone marrow biopsy and other tests at that time and they are the ones that really show that all the CLL is gone. We already know that it is gone since his 35 day test was clean. But I am sure that when you are in the midst of this you want to know again and again that all is fine.

Mom was doing good. She didn’t have therapy or see a doc again today. Sally (Rick’s wife) is supposed to call her doc tomorrow and check out when someone from his office will see mom. Sally and I are also taking mom to a spine specialist on Friday to see if anything can be done about her severe Kyphosis (hunch back). I’ll keep you posted on that!

Thanks for the prayers – be prayer warriors right now for Mike because he is definitely still in a very fragile state.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Well, 6 steps forward, 1 step backwards – Mike has another virus. Not sure what it is but his left jaw is swollen like he has the Mumps. He saw the docs from the BMT team and they put him on another antibiotic. They said it is just a virus. He said he hopes it isn’t his CLL back but they said no – just a virus. Anyway, he was at therapy today and feel asleep while he was doing his therapy – maybe the cause is the drugs he’s on. Anyway, they sent him back to his room to rest up. He was very disappointed when I talked to him at 3:30pm. He is trying hard and he’ll get back at it. He just has these little bumps in the road he has to get over.

So, keep praying for him. He needs an extra boost right now.

Mom is doing pretty good. Hasn’t seen a doc in a week and isn’t happy about that. I’ll probably call the office on Monday and see what the deal is. But she is progressing.

Thanks for the extra prayers. We all need them right now!

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I talked to Mike this evening. He had another big day in therapy. He was able to get in and out of the simulated car without as many problems today. He wasn’t able to do the stairs however, which made him a little frustrated since he did better on those the other day. He also had a tough time trying to get in and out of the bathtub. These are all things that the therapists have him working on as well as machines to build strength, riding the exercise bike and walking.

He is still using a special mattress on his bed (air type) be cause of his sores on his bottom. It helps to relieve any extra pressure. The problem with that is is that he can’t get in and out of bed without a lift and helpers. I reassured him that with time he heal and then he’ll be able to do more by himself. The doc thinks he is doing good.

He sounded pretty good. Asked about Mom and I told him she is doing great – which is the total truth!!

I am really proud of both of them and their progress so far. They are both working hard to get back their strength so they can get out of rehab.

Thanks for all your prayers and support.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I can’t believe that I am already typing Day +81. Wow, only a 19 more days until the Day+100. That is when patients are usually off many of the heavy duty drugs and such. Not sure in Mike’s case since I haven’t talked to a doc of his in quite a while. Hard to see them when you don’t visit until after 4pm. Most round in the mornings.

I talked to Mike late last night because I wasn’t at home. Sorry no blog yesterday. Anyway, he said that he had a tough day in rehab and had to go back to his room during the middle of the day and he slept for 2 hours. I asked if he went back to rehab after his nap and he said yes. I was glad that he did and didn’t just bag it for the day. It’s hard to do rehab and it is a very tough schedule.

Mike is walking a little and using the exercise bike. He also does other machines and exercises. He still is a 2 person assist when he wants to get up and the staff needs to do that – not family members. Hopefully he’ll keep working because I know to him it seems like the progress is slow but it is working!

Like I said the other night in the blog, Mike looks good. He still has his round “steroid” face but his legs and arms are slimmed down. Just keep the prayers, cards and support up because that will help him to stay motivated!!

Oh, mom had a big day at therapy yesterday but did well. She doesn’t go every day.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I went to see both mom and Mike today. What great visits! I played Scrabble with Mom, and of course, she beat me but only by a few points!! She is doing well and walking more. Hopefully whe’ll be able to go back to her home soon.

Mike is doing really well. And, he has skinny feet and legs again! In case you haven’t read the blog in a while, Mike was having a terrible time with water retention and now he looks much better. His hands also look normal again – no peeling skin. He is still on the mag sulfate IV because he is still on some steroids. But, his sugar was at a normal level tonight so he didn’t have to have any of his Novolog insulin.

We read cards together and I hung a couple of them up that he liked. I also took his picture board back to him. He didn’t really care if he had it there or not, but the aid said the staff loves to look at the pics of family and friends of their patients!! So, there Mike, Amy and I win – the picture board stays.

I took him some clean clothes and need to go through Bruce’s and my t-shirts so that he has more on hand. I need to do his laundry when I visit so he needs to have enough clothes to take him about a week at a time. I was really excited when his nurse showed me the washer/dryer right in the lounge on his floor that is free for me to use. That will make things much easier. I was going to try and find a coin laundry in town so I could just do it while I was there – hey look how great things are working out! Clean laundry for free and I can visit with Mike while he clothes wash and dry. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect senario!

Well, keep praying because boy are they working. Mike was smiling so much tonight – maybe it’s the drugs, but I prefer to think that he is doing well and was glad to see me!! :) I told him I’d be back next week for another visit and to test out the laundry machines.

Thanks again for all your support and prayers.
love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I called Mike tonight and he did pretty good today. He said that his doc from the cancer clinic was kindof riding him about his progress, but his nurse said that he was doing pretty good and to just keep working. I met the doc he’s talking about and he has a very dry personality. I told Mike that he needs to do what he can and what the therapists expect of him. Mike knows how important it is not to blow the chance of staying on the Rehab floor so he is trying.

I am going to see both him and Mom tomorrow. I need to pick up clothes for Mike since he has to dress everyday to go to his therapy sessions. I kind of forgot that we didn’t take much with us and that no one does his laundry. So, tomorrow he’ll have some new things to wear!!!

I know that he’ll be in for some time yet because it is going to be a long haul for him to get his strength back but if he can stay with the program it will happen. I know that he is receiving cards and encouragements from all of you. He had a friend visit last night and he said they had a great talk. This is what he needs – knowing all the support he has out there praying for him daily.

Thanks so much and I’ll report tomorrow night after I see him in person. Oh, Mom is doing really well. She was walking back to her room this afternoon and that is great.

love, Ann

Hi everyone,

I talked to Mike around 6pm tonight. He went to therapy in the morning and afternoon but said he had to quit around 2pm because he was just worn out. Also his bottom sores were really hurting (number 11 on the old pain scale). The therapist told him he needed to take pain meds before coming to therapy because it would help him get through the exercises. They had him riding an exercise bike today. He also didn’t know that therapy has three sessions Mon – Fri and two on Sat and Sun. It’s a lot and he said they are tough. I said they have to be because many people would not do what they needed to do to get better if they had a choice to take it slower.

He is doing it and pushing himself. Hopefully they can get his pain under control and that will help.

Mom is doing much better. This morning she wheeled herself part way back to her room and this afternoon she walked part way back after therapy. She is doing great.

I am going to try and go see both of them on Wednesday. I figure if I drive an hour to see mom and then an hour to see Mike and two hours home it is better than going back and forth to both Flint and Ann Arbor which would equal 6 hours on the road if done in separate trips.

Thanks for the prayers, cards and visits to both Mike and Mom. They are truly appreciated.

love, Ann

Hi everyone,

I talked to Mike this noon. He had just gotten back from therapy and was going to eat so he could go back to therapy for the afternoon. They are doing therapy twice a day 7 days a week. It is grueling for him but he is doing it. I am very proud of him and told him so. He isn’t walking at this time but doing different exercises to strengthen his upper and lower body muscles. He is using some machines and such. Right now they are using a sling to transfer him from his bed to his chair. I think it must be easier on his bottom sores so that they have more of a chance of healing.

Mike sounded good. He didn’t complain or anything. He is tired but didn’t even say that. I am glad that he is giving it his all. I will try to go see him Wednesday evening.

Mom is doing great too. I went to Flushing yesterday and visited her. I took her all around the grounds and the building in a wheel chair so she could see where everything is and what activities are available for her. She looked good and is much calmer. I don’t think it will be long before she is up and running again. The docs are very hopeful!

I may not blog daily because I can’t always get ahold of Mike. He has past the 3/4 days mark to Day +100. At that point he may be off many of his medications and that will be a grand day.

Talk to you all later.
love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I have put Mike’s and Mom’s new addresses on the “Contact Mike” page. Please make note that if you are calling them there are times listed and if you are planning to visit Mike (especially) after 4pm may be the best time, although he will be wiped out from therapy.

Mike moved today to the Rehab floor. He didn’t go yesterday because he had a bad nose bleed and they had to cauterize it. He told me he has been to hell and back today since coming to the Rehab floor. I said that I knew it was going to be very tough but I know he can do it and I am very proud of him for making the effort. And I told him that you all are proud of him too.

Mike’s Social Worker called today and talked to my husband, Bruce, to give him the new contact information. She said that it was going to take Mike at least a good month to get some strength back. All of you who are praying keep it up please. He is turning the corner and he needs to have a lot of support right now. I will try and go see him this coming week. His Social Worker is going to call and talk to me on Monday so I’ll find out more about when is the best time for a visit. I know that he will be extremely tired but I told him it will be a ‘good’ tired – like when you’ve worked really hard and it feels good to know that you’ve done your best.

Mom also moved this morning to her new place. She will be in therapy too during the day so I’ll have to let you all know when best to visit her also. She said she finally ate normal food tonight and felt fine. She isn’t clenching her teeth any more either. I think her nerves were really on the frayed edge and hopefully she can begin to relax and get built back up again and get home. She did say tonight that she really messed things up as far as Mike was concerned and I assured her that she hadn’t. We all probably did more than we should have for him and he will get back on his feet again. I will be in close touch with the discharge planners this time. We aren’t sure and it all depends on how he is doing where he’ll go after his stint on the Rehab floor. Maybe even to the farm to stay with me and my family if they will let him. But all this isn’t to be worried about now since he needs to spend all his energy on getting healthy again.

Thanks for all of your prayers. Remember to check the “Contact Mike” page to get the latest mailing info.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I talked to Mike briefly this morning and they were to ship him off to the Rehab floor this afternoon. I will need to get a phone number and room number for him. Hopefully tomorrow will be a good day for him. He seemed ready to do it and that is what matters.

Also, Mom is being sent to Rehab at Fostrian in Flushing MI tomorrow morning. She is also looking forward to getting stronger and getting home again. I did talk to her doctor today because she has been really stressed with everything going on and we were concerned that she might be headed for a nervous breakdown. The doc will check her out and keep a close eye on her. Today she sounded really good and upbeat so hopefully the move tomorrow will be a good one.

Talk to you later. Thanks for all the prayers – we sure need them right now.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I just talked to Mike tonight and he walked 3 times today!!!!! I am so proud of him. He is pretty sure that he is being transfered to the Rehab floor tomorrow. As I said in an earlier blog, please check with the Rehab floor about visiting hours. They are sometimes quite strict because the patients need to do all their therapy and not be interrupted.

I will let you know as soon as I do a new room number and phone number for Mike. I know that Mike is apprehensive but I do think that he is ready now to really put forth the effort, and I told him that! I told him it seemed like for a while that he thought that by resting he’d recover and now he knows that it is going to take some hard work and that he is ready to do just that!

I also just called Mom and she may be transfered to a Rehab place on Friday this week. Pretty soon she and Mike will be out walking 3 miles a day with me!

Please keep praying for our family. Next week I should be able to visit both Mom and Mike and see how they are progressing first hand.

love, Ann

Hi everyone,

I just talked to Mike at 9pm. He was still waiting for someone to help him walk a lap. I don’t know if he just doesn’t have time earlier or if he prefers walking at night. Anyway, hopefully he’ll get to walk. He did do a lap last night so that was good.

He said he is glad about going to the Rehab floor. That is a relief because I was hoping he wouldn’t feel depressed about going there. Anyway, he is trying again and we are glad. He does talk to his Social Worker often and I am glad about that because she is real good and very positive.

Well, take care. Thanks again for everything. Your support is great.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I called Mike tonight to see how he was doing. He said that his butt was bleeding but that he was up and going to walk one lap with the nurse. I told him that I was very proud of him and that I wouldn’t keep him from walking. I also reminded him that the less he is on his butt, the quicker it will heal!! You go boy!!

Mom Update: Mom is still in the hospital in Flint. The boys and I am going to go see her tomorrow since we have a light activity day at the fair.

Thanks for all of your prayers for Mike and our family. It just lifts us up to know all of the support out there for us all.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Well, Mike did get up and walk 1 lap last night but today he hasn’t been up to walk. They want his wounds to heal more. I thought that they originally said that they would heal best if he was up and walking but he said that when he tries to get up it pulls on them and makes them worse. Oh well, I quess they need to do it in the order that works best. So, I won’t know if he goes to the Rehab floor tomorrow until I call tomorrow night. Please note, that when he does go to the Rehab floor they have different rules for visitors than his regular floor. You’ll need to check with them about when is the best time to visit if you are planning to drop in to see Mike.

He said today that a buddy from Flint and his daughter came to see him. Denis has been a friend of our brother Joe for a long time. I know that it made Mike feel better to see them today.

Thanks for the prayers and support. I’ll continue to keep you all posted. I’ll also make sure that you get his new room number when he moves to Rehab.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Well, I talked to Mike tonight and he actually sounded better than he has sounded in a few weeks. PT doesn’t come in on the weekends but he was going to try and do at least one lap with his nurse tonight. We talked for a while about everything and I tried to really encourage him to stick with it even though it is going to be tough. He sounds like he is ready to try and get back on his feet. This is welcome news to all of us. He called our Mom today who is still in the hospital in Flint. She is resting and they are running some tests. She is still getting fluids because her sodium is very low.

Thanks for your added prayers these past few days. I feel like things are looking up. Even though it is a long road ahead I know Mike can do it and tonight I felt as though he knows that too.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Well, life just keeps getting interesting around here. Mom went to her doc yesterday and today he called her because she had low sodium so she is now over night in McLaren Hospital in Flint getting her fluids in her body straightened around. She should come home tomorrow.

I talked to Mike tonight. I let him know about Mom and checked to see if he was able to be up and walking today. He said the PT came in and did some exercises with him but didn’t get him up walking. At this point he is so weak that it is going to take some tough work to get his muscles back and working. I hope that they can workwith him over the weekend but am not sure about PT schedules on weekends. He was supposed to go to the Rehab floor Monday if he didn’t go today. I’ll be surprised if he’s ready by then. I hope he will be ablet o be on that floor and get moving again.

I did talk to his Social Worker today. I needed to vent some because I am not sure if Mike is pushing himself as much as he needs to be. he isn’t a real active person, even though he doesn’t agree with me on that. I just want PT and the staff to know that he could sit and wait to get better if they let him and I am hoping that they have some great motivational tools to get him going. I don’t want to get into it with him because he probably doesn’t need a screaming sister right now.

We’ll all keep praying and hope that Mom gets back on her feet soon and that Mike gets moving and really goes hog wild on the Rehab floor and gets back on the path to good health!!

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Well, my friend Brenda (aka pajama girl) and I headed to Ann Arbor today to see Mike. It was 4.5 hours of driving (lots of construction, burning car, etc) and about a 2 hour visit with Mike (filled with talks with the aid, nurse, PA, PT, Social Worker and a trip to the pharmacy). it was a short very busy visit to say the least.

Mike doesn’t have any blood clots in his legs – they thought he did but the ultrasound was negative. He doesn’t have anything wrong with his heart – they did an echo on him yesterday because his heart was slightly irregular but it was due to his blood pressure med and they did an adjustment. He is supposed to be transfered to the Rehab floor tomorrow or Monday but I think it may be more like Monday since he didn’t even get up to walk today. The PT was coming back later to walk with him and evaluate him. When I called him tonight they were trying to get him into bed, he hadn’t walked, and didn’t have time to talk.

I think Mike is going to have to get into his mind that he has to dig his heals in at this point and work very hard to get back to the life he had before. He isn’t moving much at all. He isn’t able to be up alone at all. It is going to take a lot of work for him and him alone to get better. If he doesn’t cut the mustard on the Rehab floor (which the nurse told him was a total privilege to get to that floor) I’m not sure what will happen. We’ll just have to wait and see. Our mom is really struggling with her own health issues right now so I am really hopeful that Mike will get on the Rehab floor and work hard and be able to stay there to recover more.

So, I am calling all my prayer warriors at this time to really pour it on for Mike that he can get up the mental energy to do this. I will try to keep you posted as best I can this next week. I will be gone to the Fair many days but will check in with Mom nightly to see what is happening. Hopefully it will be positive news.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I talked to Mike briefly tonight. He was up in a chair and his bottom was hurting because he has some sores that they are trying to get healed up. He was going to ask for some pain meds which he doesn’t do too often. I was glad. You just need relief from pain at times to get well!

Anyway, he had some heart tests today. An ultrasound which he didn’t know why. Probably just trying to make sure everything is working right through all this.

I would like to go tomorrow to visit him but am just going to have to wait and see. If I don’t go tomorrow I won’t be able to visit until after next week – 4-H Fair week is a crazy busy time. I hate to not see him for that long time. I’ll see.

Thanks for the prayers once again. You are probably sick of hearing that from me but I wish I could say it a million times to each of you in person because your prayers are what are helping us all get through this life-changing event!!

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I just talked to Mike before he goes to sleep tonight. He had a surprise visit from some Alaskan friends today. He said that it was great. Their kids came too but they just waited in the hall while mom and dad visited Mike. I think it really lifted his spirits since none of us have been able to get to UofM yet this week.

He said the PT and OT were in today. The PT walked him 1 lap. He isn’t able to be up very much right now. He figures the blood clots are doing okay because no one has said differently. Of course, he doesn’t ask either!!! He said they are giving him some new meds but he wasn’t sure what they were for.

I would still like to get down there this week but I am quickly running out of days. I’ll keep you posted as best I can without being there. (I’m the question asker you know!!)

Take care and thanks for the prayers. You don’t realize how much your continued support means to us all.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I didn’t get to talk to Mike personally today but Mom talked to him tonight and said that he had gotten out of bed today and walked a couple laps. I am so glad to hear that news! I’m not sure about the small blood clots and Mom said that Mike didn’t say anything about them. So, we think the nurses must be taking care of that stuff.

Thanks for all of your prayers and support. I’ll talk to Mike tomorrow and get more of the scoop!

love, Ann

HI Everyone,

Well, it looks like Mike will be down for a few more days. Today they were running tests on him and did an ultrasound of his legs and he has some small bloodclots that need to be dealt with. Fun, fun. Just when we were all hopeful that he was getting up and about again, now he is laying low and doing what they tell him too. Which is what he should do!!

Keep praying and know that we really appreciate all of your support.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Well, I called Mike this evening and woke him up. I hate when I do that but he does nap quite often because he doesn’t sleep through the night with all the nurses running in and out every 4 hours. Anyway he was tired. He did get up and do some walking today but had to take a sponge bath because he was too tired to head to the shower. I hope that he regains his strength so that he can come back home sooner than later. Once he can be up and about and take care of his ‘daily living’ activities then he’ll be able to be out of the hospital again. Also, when the virus is totally under control – which they are working on.

Mike seems to be doing pretty good through these set-backs. The staff said that these happen to BMT patients and that they just have to take their time and work their way back up again.

It is hard to know who will get what side effects so the docs can’t really warn you about them all. Mike has had his share and that doesn’t help in the recovery process. But, with all the prayers still flying I know that he can do this.

I told him that know that he is clean from cancer he can’t give up!!! He has his whole life ahead of him and that this is just a short time in the scheme. It seems like forever when you are going through it but later it won’t seem like it took that long.

Keep praying and you can send cards to the address posted on the site.

love, Ann

Hi everyone,

I just talked to Mike on the phone. He sounded tired but did say that the PT was in this morning and had him up and walking – she said 2 laps but he said they walked through this one hallway which makes a nice shortcut! At least he was up and walking with her.

He is still having some urinary/bowel issues but they seem to be improving. He is very tired and is hopeful that in a few days he will feel better and be up and about more.

We are hoping that he will be able to go to the Rehab floor in the hospital but we aren’t sure yet. It is pretty intense there and you need to qualify. But, the BMT people are doing what they can and he is getting physical and occupational therapy so that should help him.

The social worker was in this morning and Mike said they had a good talk. I hope that she will be able to build his confidence in himself so that he knows he can do this. It is almost more of a mental challenge than a physical one! It takes a lot to know that you have a long recovery ahead of you and yet push forward with all you have in you!

Thanks for all your prayers and I will keep you posted. Bruce, the boys and I are going to try and visit Mike next week. I know that he needs people to visit so that he doesn’t feel alone in this ordeal.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Well, Aaron and I finally got through all the traffic and up to visit Mike around 1:30 today. He seemed to be doing pretty good. The nurses had just been in and had him take a shower and that wore him out a bit. They have him on a special mattress now because he is getting some pressure sores (nothing real bad) and they don’t want them to get worse. He cannot get up right now on his own and is in bed much of the time. The mattress will help so that his body isn’t laying in one position all day and night.

His color was better today but I know that his spirits are still low. Mike just was hoping that he wouldn’t have to go back to the floor. But that happens to most patients and the nurses and aids are really good about helping them talk about their frustrations and fears.

It is going to seem like a long road to Mike at this time but if he will just take one day at a time and do the best he can he will get better!

Please keep up being such great prayer warriors! You have gotten us all through so far and I know that the future will be great once we get through all of this.

If you want to contact Mike please check that page in this website for his new address. I know he’d love to hear from you.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Well, things were much calmer her at Mom’s house today. We did some cleaning this morning and taking care of things and then Aaron and I headed to see Uncle Mike. Mom was to stay home and rest this afternoon and I do believe that she did just that!!

Mike seems to be settling in on the BMT floor. He is restricted right now to be up and about since they really do not need him to fall and get hurt since he is so weak. The nurses and the Doc said that his weakness is due to several factors that they need to address first. He has a virus that is affecting his urinary function. The blood in his pee is going away. He did have to have platelets today which didn’t surprise me since we’ve been seeing blood since last Thursday. They are adjusting his meds too hoping to get some of the steriods lower which will improve his general health.

The PT came in to work with Mike. The nurse said that he put in a good effort, more than she had seen from him earlier in the morning. I told her that she probably didn’t push hard enough! But, that if she pushed him to far he’d call her “Ann”!!

When we got to his room he was out to an ultrasound of his bladder and lower abdomin. They are checking everything out because the BMT can affect many things all at once and they don’t want to miss anything.

Aaron and I will go back to see him again tomorrow and then head to our home on the farm. Mom should be fine. She just needs to get some rest and get out and visit with some of her friends and she’ll be better. She hasn’t really been out since Mike came home and that can be very stressful in and of itself.

I do think that Mike, in his heart of hearts, knows that this is the best thing for him at this time. He may need to go somewhere after his hospital stay, such as a rehab center, so that he can gain back some strength. His muscles just are wasting away and it will take some reall work to get them back again.

Please pray that we are all doing the right thing for Mike and that he can really make his best efforts to recover. He has gotten great reports back on the cancer and it would be a shame to not get back to the Mike we all know and love. I hung a picture of him in his room “his Buddy Holly” picture and said that this is the Mike we want back – smiling and healthy again!! He needs encouragement and prayers and I know that he is already receiving both! Thanks for everything.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

If you have been reading the blog for the last couple days then you know that Mike has been going through a very rough time. He has been battling a urinary virus as well as some bowel issues and has been loosing strength to the point where he has difficulty standing and even walking. So, today, he and I left for clinic after a hard morning session at home trying to get ready. Once, we got there I talked frankly about the difficult time we were having with Mike over the past few days and how I was gravely concerned about our Mom’s health and Mike’s ability to deal with his health on his own at this time. After much talk with the PA and the Doc and some tears Mike did decide to stay at UofM and get some help so that he can regain his strength and come home again. It will be a while I think before he will be able to come to Mom’s since she really needs him to be able to take care of his own self and be able to be up and about without assistance. Mom doesn’t mind cooking and doing some wash but she cannot care for him any more than that without compromising her own health, and none of us (including Mike) want anything to happen to Mom.

His Doc hopes that he can get strong enough to qualify for the rehab floor at the hospital. I will be honest with Mike and tell him that if he thinks I am tough – he hasn’t seen tough yet — rehab is tougher! But, I know that Mike can do it if he puts his mind to it. So, they’ll give him some time to heal from his other issues going on and they’ll start PT & OT on the BMT floor and see how it all goes. I’ll be going back to see him tomorrow and take some of his personal things with me. I think Aaron (my youngest) will go with me. Uncle Mike will like that!! He needs a smiling face!

Please pray extra hard that Mike heals quickly and can get to work on strengthening his muscles! Thanks for all your support and I’ll keep you all posted.

Good night and love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Well, it wasn’t a real easy weekend for Mike. I did call the clinic today and talk to a PA. They just had gotten the results back on a culture they ran last Thursday for the BK Virus, so that has something to do with his urinary problems this past weekend. He was up and going many times during the night which just makes him wiped out during the day. Hence, everyone gets frustrated because he’s tired and not wanting to do too much and we’re tired and wanting him to do more!! So, the PA told me today that they will run an infusion (2 hours) on him tomorrow after his clinic for the virus and that should help – hope it works quick!!

Also, we tried to get his shower in this afternoon – big mistake. He was way too tired and couldn’t stand up to finish his shower and get out of the tub. So, he had to sit for about 15 minutes until Rick came to help him stand up. Once he was up I helped him finish up and get out of the tub. Lesson learned – shower in the morning when Mike has the most stamina!!

As you can see it is really day to day here right now. The PA told me that everything actually sounds normal to her since he isn’t that far out from his BMT yet. That is why they tell the patients that they will most likely not go back to work for a year. I’m beginning to believe it. It is going to be a long, slow process. I did talk to our brother Rick today and said that during the week when I need to be home for an evening that he will need to be here to get Mike off to bed. That way Mom isn’t on her own trying to do her own night things and help Mike with his too.

Please keep praying. We are all getting a littled frayed at this point but are really trying to hang in there and get Mike back on his feet. We know that there is a light at the end of all this it’s just a little hazey at the moment. Thanks for all of your support it is greatly appreciated!

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I talked to Mike today on the phone. He sounds tired but had done his exercises once already and done some laps. I told him to try and do them one more time today. He is struggling (we think) with a urinary tract infection. I suggested cranberry juice. We talked to someone at the clinic on Friday and he is on an antibiotic. We’ll talk to the PA again on Tuesday. He says that he is up using the bathroom during the night and then he is too tired during the day. Unfortunately, Mike needs to be able to take care of himself during the day especially when he is on his own with Mom. I am trying to be encouraging him to do whatever he can do for himself so that he doesn’t wear Mom out. He doesn’t do any showers when Sue or I are not there. But he can help get his lunch and such and take his meds and do his blood sugar. He does get a little out of sorts and I think it is because of the amount of meds he is on. We need to keep him on track so he doesn’t miss his meds. All the days turn into one if you know what I mean!

I’ll be heading there tomorrow and I think Aaron will be going with me. Keep up the prayers.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I talked to Mike on the phone tonight and he said that he was doing okay. He didn’t sleep well again last night – he’s up for the bathroom many times during the night and we’ll talk to his Doc about that on Tuesday at clinic.

He did do his exercises this afternoon so I told him to try and do them again tonight. Hopefully he will. The more he moves the quicker he’ll feel better. It is hard for him to muster and get moving when he is feeling weak and tired. Keep praying that he can stay the course. It takes a lot to go the distance when you are in a long term recovery event but he can do it. I know he can.

Thanks for all of your support. I can’t say that enough. Your prayers and cards get us all through during this time.

love, Ann

HI Everyone,

Well, it may be Friday the 13th but it wasn’t a bad day here in Flint!!!! Mike was a little tired this morning because he didn’t get a lot of sleep last night. So, he did his shower and kind of laid around until Mom went into his room and told him that he had to get up and get moving whether he wanted to or not. You go Mom!!!

Anyway, he got up and Sue was over and I got this brilliant idea to duct tape his IV pole to his walker so that he could go where he needed to go when he wanted to!! Hey, and it worked too. In the past one of us would follow him around during the day while his infusion was going on which last at least 6 hours. Now he is free of us! It will help him be a little more independent and that is a good thing.

I left around 3pm and he did his exercises and laps after I left. Mom said that he had a good afternoon and was heading to bed around 9:30. He does need to get his rest. The docs had taken him off a med that he’s been on for years for his prostate and that was causing some pain and bleeding. It is subsiding and should be better tomorrow!

Thanks for all of your prayers. Mike is working hard and he is really having to ‘dig in his heels’ and push himself and that isn’t easy. He told me that he thought he did better during his first week home. I said that he was like all others – glad to be home and very enthusiastic and ready to go. A few weeks later and you realize that it is going to take some hard work and a lot of time to get back to life and you get discouraged!! From the sounds of his afternoon and evening he is digging in his heals and pushing forward!! Keep praying, you have no idea how much it is helping us all.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Well, we were off this morning about 6:40 to clinic and got stopped by a train, which was very cool for Mike since he likes trains and hadn’t seen too many lately. It didn’t make us late for labs at 8 and we were off to the clinic by 8:15.

No big changes in the meds except adding one and taking off another that the docs changed this weekend while he was in the hospital for his quick tune-up (that’s what the nurses call it when you come in for a short stay)!

He is now exercising with Mom since she pushes him but probably doesn’t get as frustrated as I do!! Good job for Mom and better for Mike.

He is tired today. It is always a big trip when we go to the clinic. Everything looked good though and Jennifer his PA was very glad to see his legs down to a more normal size. We are still wrapping them to keep the fluid from pooling in his ankles and feet. Mike actually wore his shoes today and they were tied!:) This will all be taken care of as soon as he is up and about more. His Doc and PA both talked to him about getting up and moving as much as he can. His backside is sore and that will definitely improve when he isn’t sitting as much.

Pray for energy for Mike so that he can get through his day and do all his exercises and walking. He gets really tired yet and that is holding up some of the progress. I can only push so hard.

We are going to watch a movie tonight and then get some good rest!! Thanks for all your prayers and kind support throughout this whole adventure! Mike is looking better every day. Hopefully I’ll have a new pic to post soon.

love, Ann

Pics of Mike taken today 7-12-2007 smiling and listening to his tunes.

Hi Everyone,

Just checking back in to let you know that the day went well. Mike showered first thing this morning and then was up until after noon. After his Nurse Visit he did have and hour and a half nap. Then he was up until now which may have been pushing it for his first real day home again. He did tumble over in the living room but he is fine. Lost his balance but did not black out or faint, just mis-stepped. It took him a few to collect himself and get up. Falling always puts fear into a person for some reason.

Anyway, he’s up and off to do his night things and then to bed. We will be on the road by 6:30 in the morning for his labs and clinic. Hopefully it won’t be a long day.

So glad to closer to Day +100 than Day +1 finally!!! Thanks for the prayers and the continued support.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I was so excited about Mike getting to Day +50 yesterday and then I didn’t get on the computer and blog because everything got a little later than i thought it would last night.

As you know if you have been following Mike’s story on this site that he was in the hospital for the last couple days. He was to be released at 5:30 last night and I thought he’d be home around 7:30. Well, Rick and Sally went to pick him up and it was I think after 9 when they arrived. (It worked out weather wise since we had a storm roll through an hour earlier and it would have made things difficult for Mike to get into the house.)

So, by the time they got here and Mike got settled and all the meds were counted, taken and put into containers for today it was late and I went to bed never thinking about blogging.

Mike is home, a lot thinner since the fluids are off him, but he is extemely tired. Hopsitals are not the place to rest believe me! Especially on the BMT floor where they really need to monitor the patients closely.

Hopefully, today, we can get a shower in and have a relaxing day to rest. Because tomorrow morning at 6:30am we need to be on our way to Ann Arbor for labs and clinic.

I’ll try and blog later today to let you all know how Mike’s day went today.

Keep the prayers rolling in and thanks for all of your support!
love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Hope you are all doing well tonight. Mike is still in the hospital but doing much better. He walked 3 laps today which is a great improvement. Hopefully he'll come home to Flint tomorrow.

I'm going to head to Flint tomorrow and then will go to Ann Arbor later in the day or when they release him from the hospital. Keep praying. I can't believe that tomorrow we are half way to Day +100!

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I am now home with my husband and boys. Mike is in UofM Hospital for posible a couple days. You need to read the previous post from 3:00 am this morning to get all the details.

His de-hydration was already turning around and his kidney functions were beginning to get back to the normal stage already this morning around 10am. I stayed with Mike until 11am and then headed to Mom’s house in Flint. I needed to drop off her car and then head back to Fowler. I spent about an hour and a half with Mom and she is tired and hopefully will take this time to relax and catch up on some sleep.

I will be at my home until Mike goes back to Mom’s place and then I’ll head over there and spend a few days. We are scheduled to be in Ann Arbor at the clinic Wednesday morning at 7:00. We’ll see if that schedule holds true. I’m sure after this time in the hospital there will be med changes too.

Take care. I am very tired so I’m signing off. I haven’t been in college in 30 years and I just can’t pull those ‘all nighter’s’ anymore.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Yes, I do have the time right. Mike and I are at UofM Hospital tonight after he had two blackouts at home. They were brief, he didn’t fall, he just blacked out and sat back down in the chair. Mom called me at 6:20pm Saturday at my house (I had just gotten home at 2pm Sat. afternoon) and said that Mike had blacked out twice and that the on call BMT Doc said that he needed to be seen at UofM. So I grabbed my stuff and headed back to Flint. Chris, Sue and Ray were at the house and were going to take him but Mike wanted to wait until I got there. When I arrived Ray and Sue loaded Mike up into mom’s car and he and I were off arriving at the hospital emergency around 9pm. Chris stayed with Mom until I called so that she wouldn’t be alone! They took blood and determined that he was dehydrated from his rapid water weight loss the last few days. His kidneys were calling out for help so Mike was admitted at 12:30am Sunday morning.

At 2:30am his room was ready (this time with a view of the river ) and so we headed up to his room. The nurse is asking some questions now so I headed to the lounge to post since I hadn’t posted last night and now it is Sunday.

I am staying the rest of the night with Mike in his room and then later I’ll head back to Flint to see Mom. I may go home and spend tonight with my family.

Hopefully, Mike will be home to Flint again on Monday. I’ll let you all know. Keep praying. This is just a very minor setback for the long journey!! His great news this week of no cancer in his bone marrow or lymph nodes is too wonderful to allow this to shadow it!!!

love and goodnight, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Well, all the good news yesterday and the long day at the clinic took its toll on Mike today – he slept a good part of the day. Yesterday they did an infusion of Lasix at the clinic to help him get rid of some of the excess fluid – well believe me it worked! He lost over 10 pounds overnight and peed out more than a gallon of fluid. He looks 100% better. The nurse had measured his calves at her last visit two days ago and the one was down 5cm. His hands are beginning to look normal again. He still was going most of the day today and so I’m sure he’ll be down some more lbs tomorrow. We take his blood pressure often because with fluid loss at that rate it can be dangerous. His BP has been fine so far.

I am heading home tomorrow for a couple nights but will be in close touch with Mike and Mom. I even made mom take a nap today which was much needed. This has been very hard on her, but she is taking care of herself too and hanging in there. Just lots of commotion but she’s handling it!

I’ll write again tomorrow. Hopefully Mike will be up and about again and feeling perkier. Keep up the good work on the prayers – they are working and very much felt by us!

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

MORE GREAT NEWS TODAY! Mike’s Pet Scan came back clean. NO CLL, NO Neo Plasm!! See what all your support and prayers are doing!! See what great blood Rick has!!

The Doc and PA were very pleased with Mike’s progress so far. He needs to be up and moving a little more but after running to the hospital and spending 5.5 hours going to the lab, clinic, more labs and infusion, and then coming home and having to do his home infusion and all, he is TIRED! He had to have an infusion of Lasix because the two meds he is taking at home weren’t helping him shed the water retention as quick as the Doc would like. So between 2:15pm and 8:15pm tonight he almost peed out a whole gallon!! Bet you all wanted to know that detail!

I told him for the next few days we can just hang out at home and do the home PT, some laps and maybe even something fun! There are always puzzles to build, games to play, etc.

He doesn’t go back to UofM until next Wednesday morning. Mike will have a nice few days to just do his home thing. However, when Wednesday comes we need to be there at 7am so it will mean hitting the road at 5:30am. But, we can do this.

Talk to you all tomorrow.
love, Ann

Hi Everyone and Happy Fourth of July!!

I headed out of Flint this morning and went to the DeWitt Pharmacy which Bruce’s cousin Pat owns and operates with his brother George. Pat helped us out greatly with Mike’s meds. Again, I will say how wonderful it is to have so many pharmacists in our families who are willing to do whatever they can to help out! God bless you all! (Also, if you are ever in DeWitt Michigan, stop at the DeWitt Pharmacy in the downtown area – it has a great selection of candy bars, just ask my son Nick, greeting cards and all the other things you find at an old fashioned family business!!! Let Pat and his family know how much you appreciate their help with Mike’s meds!!)

Mike got hopping today and was up and about more than he has been. He even got on the computer and began answering the many emails that he has received over the past couple months. He lost about 5 lbs since yesterday with the new meds for his water retention. We are monitoring his blood pressure closely while he is on these meds. We see his doc tomorrow so hopefully he will be pleased. I’m sure there will be a slight change in his meds since they really don’t want him dropping more than a couple pounds a day.

I’ll let you know tomorrow night how his clinic goes on Thursday. Maybe the Pet-scan results will be in and there will be more good news!! Thanks for all the prayers. Hope you had a fun holiday!

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I am posting early today because we were on the road at 5:30am so it feels like bedtime to us!! Great news today. The +30 Day Bone Marrow Biopsy came back with good results – no CLL was found and no neoplasm (whatever that is)!! It was good news and that’s all we care about at this time. Don’t necessarily need to know all the technical stuff. They will still have to look at the results of the Pet-scan from today to know if we are totally in the clear. The doctors did say that Day +100 results are the official ones so we will still be doing our count up to Day 100!

Mike did well today getting up at 4:30am and heading out. We got home around 2:00. He is doing well and trying to do his exercises but his legs and feet are still very water-logged! We now need to wrap his legs with ace bandages and he is on another med to help reduce the fluids. On Thursday we will head back to Ann Arbor for labs, clinic and an infusion there that should also help to bring the fluids down.

I’ll keep you posted! But thanks for all the support and prayers. We definitely see many great answers through the good results on his tests.

love, Ann

Hi everyone,

Well, Mike had a good day today. He walked 4 times back and forth through the house, he did his PT with Julie who comes to the house, and he took a shower. He is tired out tonight but that means getting to bed a little earlier – 9:30pm. We have to leave the house by 5:30am to go to his appointments tomorrow in Ann Arbor. Way to early for me to be up, but oh well, them’s the breaks!!

Mike’s legs and feet are still so full of fluid it is painful for me to watch him stand. But, he is giving it his best shot by getting up throughout the day and trying to do some of his exercises. I have to hand it to him because he is trying.

I’ll let you all know how tomorrow’s appointments and tests go. Hopefully they can give us some hints about how to get the fluid moving a tad faster.

Talk to you tomorrow. Thanks for the continuous prayers and support – it is what drives us these days.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Well, I think today was better for Mike and Mom. No runs to the hospital and such. Mom said that Mike got up this morning and did all his morning routine before breakfast without a hitch. Sue came into town and helped Mom with the Infusion.

Mike is having a very bad time with having way too much fluid buildup in his legs feet and hands. He is on Lasix but they have doubled his daily dose and he is still not getting rid of the fluid. He is actually leaking fluid through his skin and through his wound from his bone marrow transplant. I think on Tuesday we’ll be addressing this issue with Dr. Yanik and his crew.

I am heading to Flint in the morning with my oldest son, Nick. he will help Grandma Tanny out while I attend to Mike and take him to Ann Arbor on Tuesday. I did suggest to Mom that she should get out tomorrow afternoon and evening with friends to get a little break! She has been home with Mike nonstop.

I’ll blog tomorrow night after I have hung around with Mike for the day and see first hand how he is doing.

Keep praying!!

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Well, I cannot believe that we are at day 40 already. I am sure that Mike doesn’t think it is going fast but it is going faster than I would have thought it would. Ten more days and we are half way home!

Mom and Mike did have a surprise call last night at 11pm. It was UofM Hospital calling and asking Mom to bring Mike in so they could redo a blood draw. It seems one that was taken at 8am Thursday morning was contaminated. Anyway, not the time of night for mom to be running around and she and Mike were the only ones home since I had left that morning for home.

This morning at 8am Rick took Mike to McLaren Hospital in Flint and they did the blood draw. Mike needed to stay there several hours and they ran an IV Antibiotic too. I am curious to see if the contamination was in one of his lines or was at the hospital. We use one of his lines daily to run his Infusion and we try to be very careful, so hopefully it wasn’t from something we did.

The rest of the day was uneventful and Mike did nap this afternoon after his unexpected morning run with Rick. I am very grateful that Rick was able to take Mike today. It helped us out alot. Mom even went to church this afternoon because Chris, our friend and mom’s neighbor, came down (as she did last Saturday afternoon) and stayed with Mike.

I got a call today from Bruce’s (my husband) cousin who is a pharmacist. He was offering his help. Boy, we are both so blessed to have professionals in both our families who are trying to help us during this time. My cousins, Ron and Sara, have been working with us and to add another is just great. I’ll be talking to Pat on Monday to see what he can do for Mike.

Thanks to everyone who has been so helpful. You don’t realize how even the littlest thing can make a hugh difference! Please keep up the prayers because they are the most helpful to all of us!
Love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I came home early today because my youngest was having belly pains – trip to the doctor and he’ll be fine – a little acid reflux!!

I wasn’t really planning on leaving this morning because I wanted to make sure Mike got a shower and his infusion done while I was there to help. Our friend, Sue, came to the rescue when she got out of work this afternoon. I started the infusion in the morning and she came and unhooked the IV and then helped Mike with his shower. She has been really helpful. Mom just can’t do all this alone and there are times that I just can’t be in Flint so we are very grateful to our friends who have been able to help out at the house.

Mike seems to be improving. He still needs to get up and walk around more but it just isn’t in his nature to be real active -so – I told him that he needs to walk from the front door to the kitchen back door 6 times a day right now! That doesn’t include meal times either! At the hospital he had goals of walking laps and so my neighbor suggested that we set some goals for him at home! Good suggestion – not sure Mike would agree. Every step at home is a step closer to going to his home in Alaska.

Mom said she was going to try and get him to play some Scrabble tonight. Hopefully he’ll play!

I’ll head back to Flint on Monday to spend a few days and do his trip to Ann Arbor on Tuesday. I’ll be talking ot both Mom and Mike daily so you’ll still hear from me. Keep praying it is helping loads!

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I am blogging early today since I have been at the computer updating Mike’s Med chart and his daily schedule. We headed to Ann Arbor this morning at 6:30am and went to the lab, had his Clinic with his Doc and PA and then waited a while to get the bone marrow biopsy done. Picked up refills and headed home about 1pm. Mike did great. Dr. Yanik, his oncologist, is so pleased. He said that Mom and I (and friends) are doing a great job and that that is what is keeping Mike out of the hospital! That’s our goal!

There were some changes in his meds which indicate his improvement. He is taking less Lantus (insulin) and less Medral (GVHD drug). He actually had two blood sugar levels today that didn’t require any insulin. These little steps are giant ones on his way back to his life!!!

Keep praying. We do appreciate everyones cards, support and prayers.

love, Ann

PS I am looking for an uneventful evening with an early bedtime for all!!

HI everyone,

I am back from Houghton Lake and all went well there – we usually have a good time! My son Andy and I arrived back in Flint about 7:30 this evening. Mike and Mom seemed to be doing good. I came in and checked all Mike’s meds for our trip to Ann Arbor bright and early tomorrow morning. It takes some time to keep up on what meds need to be refilled when, but I think I have everything written down.

We need to be at UofM by 8am tomorrow which means we need to leave Mom’s house by 6:30am. That isn’t a time fit for man, woman or beast in my book!!! Then he has labs at 8:15, clinic at 9:15 and a bone marrow biopsy at 10am. That was originially scheduled for 4pm so we are very glad that it got moved up to 10. Then we head back to Flint.

Hopefully all will go smooth tomorrow. Mike and I did fine last week and he is a week further out from being in the hospital so a I am confident that it will go great. Hopefully, he’ll be relieved of some of his meds too.

Thanks for all the prayers. Thanks to Joe for his long distance blogs so his sister could have a break!!! It ia greatly appreciated Joe!

love, Ann

blog by Joe:
Just spoke to mom, it’s 10:15 her time she’s heading to bed after a long busy day.

1. 9:00am Home care nurse came and changed all Mike’s tubes.
2. 2:00pm Physical Therapist came.
3. 2:30pm Sue came by helped Mike with a shower. (I didn’t get too many details there)
4. 6:30pm Joyce came over and brought Turkey Casserole for dinner, sounds like Mike’s getting his appetite back…

Ann should be back to Flint tomorrow to take over all her responsibilities. You’ll get filled in on all the details that I’ve left out over the past 48 hours. Mom says Mike’s watching some TV, which believe it or not is a GOOD thing. He had lost interest in that in the hospital.

Thanks again for reading!
Joe

blog by Joe
Ann asked me to blog today because she’s hangin’ at Houghton Lake with her boyz. Houghton Lake is approximately 124 miles north of Flint, 2,309 miles east of Garden Grove. (maps & directions) I can’t write too much because I’m not in Flint experiencing every second of the day but I talked to Mom tonight, she and Mike are hangin’ in there, doing well and getting everything taken care of.

A nurse came this morning at 9:30, and Mike was ready for her by 9:00. He’d gotten up, checked his temperature, blood pressure, pulse, blood sugar, gave himself the prescribed amount of insulin, ate breakfast and took his dozen morning pills before she arrived. …hmm, those nurses seem to get the boy moving… It sounds to me like he’s doing pretty good to me. Mike’s current prescription count is 29. Ann has everything charted out so everyone can figure out what’s supposed to happen when. Mike needs to check his blood sugar and give himself insulin four times a day. He’s been keeping up with that on his own.

I want to thank all of you for reading, praying & supporting Mike and our family during this time. It means so much to all of us.

Thanks for reading!
Joe

Hi Everyone,

Well, I headed home from Flint around 6pm tonight. I am very tired. It was a trying time both physically and mentally because there is just so much to learn and get organized the first few days. Definitely went better today because we are getting used to the routine. I am also hoping that it goes smoothly for Mom and Mike for the next few days. The Home Nurse is going to make visits the next two days and help mom with the IV Infusion and changing Mike’s dressing for his Hickman. Mom can do it and she does very well, but she is like me and it just makes you nervous to be in charge of some of these medical things. But, we both did it and Mike helps when he can and that makes a big difference!! Also, our friends Joyce and Sue will be in and out along with others to help them out.

Mike is getting really good at taking his blood sugar levels and giving himself his insulin shots. Somethng that I pray I never have to do since I HATE needles.

I had to push him today to get up and move several times. It is bad when he said he’d sit on the toilet until I come back on Wednesday! Needless to say that isn’t happening since I told him to get his butt up and get moving!!!! Nice sister as I am.

Anyway, he did better after that. It is really hard to move beyond mental blocks that we can make for ourselves. When you aren’t feeling well and you are depressed because of just everything it is hard to force yourself to get up and start the day and continue through the rest of the day. I keep telling Mike that he is on the way up now. His tastebuds are coming back a little and that helps so much when you can taste your food. Although you should have seen his face when he tried my home canned applesauce – oh I forgot, I don’t put any sugar in it and it can taste a little tart!

Well, keep praying. I am going to ask our brother Joe to blog the next two days since the boys and I are going to the lake with the neighborhood moms and kids. Remember Joe?, he’s the one who uses bullets in his blogs!! Just teasing you Joe!

I’ll be back in Flint on Wednesday night to go with Mike on Thursday to his clinic appoint. and tests. And, I’ll be back to blogging then too!

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

We are about a third of the way to Day +100 – great news! Each day is getting a little easier. Today was nice because Mike could just be here at home. My son, Aaron is here with us and helping out his ‘Uncle Moike’. It was a long day because we are trying hard to get into a routine. Mike is very worried that he will forget something or that one of us will. I have a “Daily Schedule” posted for anyone who is here helping Mom and Mike, or just for Mom and Mike to remember things. I have a “Shower” page posted for Rick, me or anyone who may help him when he takes a shower – of course he cannot do this when he is alone with Mom as his caregiver because it is tooooo much for Mom. I also have a chart for his “daily numbers” – you know, weight, BP, temp, blood sugar checks and BM’s! Bet you didn’t need to know that last one did you?!

Mike did shower for the first time today here at home. I went out and purchased a shower chair because he is still very, very weak and we want him to conserve his energy for other activities. It went very well for being his first time with the new chair and in a bathroom where he isn’t used to showering. It only took about a half hour from getting everything ready to being squeaky clean!

The IV Infusion went smoother today. Mom was doing it with my help. Tomorrow she will ‘solo’ with me watching the proceedure. I have done it a few times now and am feeling much more comfortable. Also, the nurse should be coming back too and she can help.

I am hoping to go home tomorrow and head to the lake with my boys and the neighborhood mom’s and their kids. It is an annual event. Mom has the phone number and I won’t be too far to come if she needs me. Mike has expressed several times today that he is worried about me leaving. I keep assuring him that I will return.

I will be going to Clinic with him on Thursday and for his Bone Marrow Test that will be in Ann Arbor. Rick may go with us too.

I am really proud of Mike. He is doing very well considering everything he has been through. Please pray for him to let go of the worries and concerns and use his energy to get better.

Thanks for everything. Your support is so important and I know that Mike really appreciates it. And so do all of us, his family.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I apologize for not posting last night but it was a rather long, learning day here at Mom’s. The Home Health Nurse came after 2pm with miles of paper work and by the time she taught us how to start the IV Infusion it was a little after 6pm. The infusion takes at least 6 hours. We’ll I went to bed at 10:30pm until 11:30 pm thinking that the bag of stuff would be empty by around midnight. Ha!! Not so, by 1am I had had enough and the bag wasn’t totally empty but I shut it down, flushed his three lines and sent him back off to sleep and I went to sleep until the loud alarm woke me up at 6am to head to Ann Arbor.

Mike and I headed to the clinic at 6:30am and everything went great. The Doc’s and PA are happy and he looked good. Went over all meds and concerns, checked his blood sugar, did his drugs, ate a little and headed for home. Arrived here around noon and when Mike got out of the car he was pretty weak. His legs started shaking so I just sat him down gently on the grass and lay his head back for a few. Soon, he got up and went in the house and is now waiting for me to start his IV. He’s also very hungry and he’s going to eat. Notice that we are starting the IV much earlier because mom and I are way tooooo old to be up late doing stuff like this. Actually, he can do this IV during the day all the time and the proceedure is explained very well, in writing so it will be much easier the more we do it.

Oh, he needs the infusion because he is on heavy duty steriods and he needs to have his magnesium replaced. This will go on for about a month to 6 weeks or until he is off the steriods. They already lowered the dose of one today!

Keep praying! Mike is doing much better emotionally and mentally being home. Cousin Sara is coming out this weekend to help out. Mike’s next clinic and tests aren’t until next Thursday the 28th and I’ll be taking him to those appointments.

Thanks for all of your prayers and support! It is veyr much appreciated.

love, Ann

Hi again,

Well, Mike got home about 7pm tonight. He will be living with our mom in Flint, MI. It was a little hairy tonight staring at 34 bottles of pills and trying to figure out what he needed to take tonight. It took some time but they figured it out with help from our friend Joyce. I am heading to Flint tomorrow to help out and will be bringing some pill sorting boxes with me. I figure the kind I use to sort embroidery floss should work great.

I have to have Mike in Ann Arbor by 8am on Friday for blood work and a doctors visit. He is going to have some drugs infused at home and so mom and I will learn how to do that tomorrow from the home care nurse.

Thanks for the prayers. He is home and that is so great. He even said his taste buds must be coming back a little because the egg and toast mom made were good!!!!

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

MIKE IS COMING HOME TODAY!!!! We got a call Tuesday morning that he was going ot be coming home today. I went to Flint and got Mom and she and I headed for Ann Arbor to learn everything about taking care of Mike once he is home. Then off to two pharmacies to get his 24 drugs that he needs at home. Wow, glad we were prepared ahead of time for the costs because it was a very high bill. Thanks to all who have donated, believe me, it helped!!

Mom and her friend Joyce will go to get Mike today and then I will head to Flint tomorrow to help for the next couple days. I know that it will be easier once he is at mom’s home. His spirits seemed much better yesterday just knowing he is getting out of the hospital. He even walked 5 laps with me before we headed home last night.

Thanks for all the prayers and donations. Keep up the prayers for this transition.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Bruce and I had a good visit with Mike today. He got to eat roast beef for lunch and should be having that again for dinner. He is on the GVHD #2 diet now which means he has some variety once again. His tastebuds aren’t functioning yet but they should come back pretty soon. Bruce asked him what his favorite meal is and he replied pot roast, potatoes and carrots – a Kagerer favorite all the way around. So mom, now you know what you’ll be cooking when Mike gets home!

Mike also walked with me 4 laps and peddled his exerciser for 10 minutes. I jogged in place with him the last 3 minutes. Glad that the nurses didn’t come in during that little exercise class!

Mike also was unhooked from two IV lines today and actually had one of the ‘boxes’ on his pole removed. He has three boxes left where they hook up his drugs but his nurse said one of the other ones may go tomorrow. He is taking more of his drugs in pill form. All this points towards him getting out. Eating, walking, taking pills instead of being on IV’s, etc. will get him home!!!!

Mike smiled today several times while we were there and it was great to see that. Not his big smile where his eyes close to little slits, but I bet that smile will be back when he gets to go home.

Bruce and I met a Greek Orthodox Priest today whose son-in-law was just diagnosed with a type of lukemia and he asked about Mike and said he would pray for him too. That was so moving. I know that Bruce and I will keep his son-in-law in our prayers too.

Thanks once again for all the prayers.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Well, Mom, Rick and Sally visited Mike today. He is beginning to get new foods for his meals instead of the old white plain bland noodles. He had some turkey, beans and some canned fruits today and I’m sure he enjoyed it even if it is hospital food.

He also walked 4 laps and peddled on his exerciser for 10 minutes. I am planning to go tomorrow and take my son Andy, who is Mike’s Godson. Hopefully it will give Mike a boost. I am also making him some new leather slippers and I know that he will like them. His are very worn!!

He has gotten approved for several of his drugs so that we can get them at a lesser cost which will really help. Everything seems to be coming together and hopefully it won’t be too much longer and we can bring him home!

Thanks for all the prayers and support. Mike will still have some tough days ahead but he has proven to me and the rest of the family that he can do it!

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I talked to Mike this evening. He was going to try and get some sleep. He did 3 laps today and 10 minutes on his peddle exerciser.

We talked for a short time about how hard this has been for him. He said if he’d have known he wouldn’t have done it. i told him that is why we don’t know everything because then we have the guts to do it and get through it. I told him that we are on the uphill swing now and that the more he walks and peddles he’ll be closer to walking out of the hospital and going to mom’s. I told him how proud we all are of him and that he needs to hang tough for a little longer because we all want him to be here with us for many more years and this is his chance at that life. He sounded good after our talk so hopefully he can keep doing what he has to to get well.

Rick, Sally and mom are supposed to go visit him tomorrow. I am going to try and go to see him on Monday or Tuesday. He likes to have visitors because it helps to pass the time. Plus he has someone to walk with for his laps which makes them easier to do.

I’ll continue to keep you posted. Thanks for all of the prayers not only for Mike but for all of our family.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I talked to Mike tonight. He did 3 laps today and was using his peddle exerciser also. He sits in a chair and then puts his feet on some peddles that are on a base on the floor and peddles. I told him he'd be on his bike again in no time if he keeps that up!!

He talked to Mom and Matt, a friend of his from his years in Flint. He sounded a little better tonight although he sounds tired. He did say that he had to have a decongestant today – may have been due to our outing yesterday. But he did say that it was good to be outside. I told him that at my next visit I would see if we could go out again for a short time.

Thanks once again for all of your prayers. I am seeing some improvements every day and that is so great.

Love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

What a great day today!! Barb (John's wife from Alaska) and I went to see Mike this morning. He was tired but they were changing his diet to the Graft vs. Host Disease (GVHD) Diet 1 – which means he can start adding solid foods one at a time to see what he can tolerate. His tests on Monday showed that his GVHD is under control which is so good to hear.

So, anyway, we wanted Mike to walk after lunch and he was tired. I went into the hallway and talked to his nurse and said I just think he wants out of here and she said his counts are going up, let me call his doctor and see if you can take him outside for a while. I went back in with Mike and didn't say anything and then his nurse came in and told him she had a surprise and that he was going outside. You could tell that he was a little confused and I said that he could go outside into the court yard and get some fresh air with Barb and me using a wheelchair. We got him all ready and went out. It is very hot these days in Michigan but it wasn't too humid. We were only gone for about a half hour because his machines started beeping. What a difference that little brief time outside did for Mike. We came back to his room and he was tired. We told him he could rest for now and walk later this evening. But, he said no and got his shoes on and made 4 laps with Barb and me in tow!!!! He said it is so much easier walking with someone.

When we left he was going to lie down but I did feel that his spirits were lifted. Barb was even able to take a picture of Mike and me.

Keep the prayers coming because we are headed in the right direction now!!!!!

Love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I am posting early today since I already talked to Mike. He is now back on a liquid diet and hopefully eating solid food again soon. His tastebuds aren’t working right now so that doesn’t help the old appetite – but, being a Kagerer he’ll get his appetite back, believe me!!

Barb and I are planning to go to Ann Arbor tomorrow so I’ll let you know more than. Hopefully he’ll have his test results back by then.

Please be sure and read the Donations & Gifts page again if you are planning a donation to Mike. There are some changes on that page. Thanks!!! Keep up the prayers!

love, Ann

Hi All,

My brother Joe called Mike tonight for an update. Mike got through the two tests today. He is very wiped out right now. He said that a couple friends from Flint stopped by for a quick visit.

Thanks for all the extra prayers. Talk to you tomorrow.

love,
Ann

Hi Everyone,

Mike is doing better but was on a restriction from liquids for a couple days. Now he is back on them. The Doctor ordered a Sigmoidoscopy (sp) and Upper GI for tomorrow morning to check on his Graft vs. Host Disease. He sounded really tired but I think it is because he already drank his stuff for the prep for his tests. So, I told him “Good night� and I'd talk to him tomorrow night.

Thanks for all of your prayers. Say an extra one tomorrow morning if you have a chance so that his tests go well.

Love, Ann

Hi All,

This is not a post about Mike. This is about an important change on the Donations & Gifts page. We need to have checks made out to the people listed on that page instead of Mike Kagerer’s Cancer Fund. Apparently, we have to apply for some special thing through the IRS to have a ‘fund’. So, for those of you who have already donated you have probably heard from one of us if your check was issued to the fund.

Thanks so much for all of the donations thus far – wow what a show of support beyond all of the prayers that we have received from all over. It is over whelming to know how far reaching this is.

Thanks again and sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Ann and the Kagerer family

Hi Everyone,

Notice that I put a “+â€? sign in front of the number 20 today. Mike's fever that was 103 yesterday is down to 97 today, his rash is going away and his throat is feeling much better. He is still receiving his nutrition through IV’s at this time. When I told our nephew Stephen he said “Alleluiaâ€?! And that is right so I added the plus sign to signify another step forward in this long healing process.

Mom and Sally (Rick's wife) went to see Mike today. I bet they found him in better shape since he is turning the corner on some of the side effects!! Also, Mike said that he walked 4 laps during their visit and that mom walked 3.5 with him! You go boy!

I was so glad to hear him sounding better. I am going to try and go see him later this week and hopefully he'll continue improving. See how your thoughts and prayers are working!! Thanks once again for all of your continued support!

Love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I know, I know – I had May 8th on the site last night. Thanks Joe for changing it for me. I really do not want to turn the clock back because then we’d be waiting for all of this to start again and believe me Mike doesn’t want to do this again!!!!

He does have Graft vs Host. He broke out in a rash. He is very tired and slept most of the day. He did walk 3 laps last night and I told him that we are very proud of all the efforts he makes!!

I only talked to him for a few minutes because you could hear how tired he is. Mom is going to see him tomorrow. Keep up the prayers!!! They just lift us all up.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Well, Barb and I and the boys headed to see Uncle Mike today. We saw him off and on in the afternoon in between, x-rays, showers, etc. I think he was really glad to see the boys. He is still in a low spot. His counts are still on the rise but he is developing a rash and it may be Graft versus Host which can have a bunch of different side effects. They are doing Cat Scans to keep an eye on the rash and his mouth and throat sores. He also has a fever and today it was 102. which is something that they have to watch carefully. They are doing chest x-rays for that.

So, it was a rough day for Mike, the boys handled everthing just fine even though are visits were in short spurts.

Thanks for all of your support – it is just holding us all up during this time.

love, Ann

Hi All,

I talked to Mike this morning and he was off to a bad start again. Threw up blood this morning, can't eat, and had to get platelets again (2 bags). Just not a great day! L

I was very pleased to hear the he did walk 4 laps last night. “You go boy!� He was really fighting mom and the nurses about walking yesterday so I am glad that he finally got himself together and did it. He needs to move a little and get out of his room. It is hard though being stuck in the same room on the same unit and all.

I talked to Mike again this evening. Still not a great day. I don't think he walked because he was getting platelets and wasn't aloud out of bed. Tomorrow, Barb and I and our boys will head to see him and that should pick him up a bit. He hasn't seen his Alaska relatives since April.

Keep up the prayers.

Love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I know I posted this morning after I talked to Mike. Well, I just talked to mom who went to visit him today. It was a very negative day. Mike is just having a hard time and doesn’t want to be cooped up in his room in the unit!!! Anyway, lots of people tried to talk to him but he just wasn’t able to connect today. I am hopeful that he will take some meds to help even out his emotions for a while. I (and his Social Worker and others) think that it would help. He has always been one to not want to take meds! But hey, sometimes you need to to get through the rough spots!

So, Prayer Warriors, please throw in a few extra prayers for Mike. He just needs a little boost. I am going to try and go down again on Friday with Aunt Barbara (John’s wife) Stephen, Andrew (John’s kids) and Aaron (my kid) to see old Uncle Mike who is now very bald!!

Thanks again for the extra prayers – as if you aren’t already getting sore knees!

love, Ann

9:49a.m.

Hi Everyone,

Yes you probably noticed that I didn't post on Day 15^th. No, nothing bad happened to Mike. I just happened to be really tied up yesterday with family things.

So, I talked to Mike this morning. The first thing he told me is that his hair is almost all gone. But, his mustach is still there! They sent a Doctor in yesterday to talk to him about the mental/emotional stuff and he left quite quickly when he learned that Mike doesn't have drug insurance. Then another one came in and talked to him some. So, hopefully someone will be able to talk to him and help him sort through his feelings during this rough period.

He did walk 5 laps yesterday in the unit which was the challenge that Nick and I left for him on Monday when we visited. So that was great.

Mike is still having a really hard time eating and drinking – his throat is still messed up. They did another Cat Scan and are keeping a close eye on him. It seems to be all part of what happens after a BMT. Fun, fun!!

Mom is going today for a visit and then I'll talk to her tonight and see if he had some improvements.

Love, Ann

10:29p.m.

Hi Everyone,

Well, my son Nick and I went to see Uncle Mike today. He was pretty down but I think that having Nick there really helped boost his spirits. We got to Ann Arbor about 12:30pm and I thought we'd leave by 3pm but we never left until 5:30. It was a long day and we drove through two terrible rain storms on the way home but we got home safe!!

We did get Mike to go out and walk the unit. He walked two times around with both of us and then he and Nick walked two more times. When we returned to his room there was a canvas bag on his bed that had wonderful art supplies in it. Mike and I talked about why he quit being an artist years ago and why it would be great if he could once again use his wonderful talents!! Just for a creative outlet. Please pray that he will use the supplies – he seemed interested.

His hair is coming out now and so I combed it for a long time today to help get all the loose hair out. I wish I would have brought my clippers but I didn't so if he still has some hair next visit I'll take them along.

Mike, Nick and I had a good day today. We read his cards and laughed and talked. I was so glad that he seemed to feel better as the day went on. The nurses thanked Nick and me for coming and for what we did for Mike. We just did that family thing!!! That's what's most important.

Well, I am very tired and am going to bed. Nick has to be up again tomorrow morning to go milk cows at 5:30am. He's going to be tired.

Take care and keep up the prayers. Thank you all soooooo much!

Love, Ann

8:15p.m.

Hi Everyone,

We are back from our weekend away and I talked to Mike for a good half hour. His day started out rough this morning. He is dealing with some depression but is talking to his nurse and Doctor about it. He even went to a painting session across the hall from his room. He said that another nurse came and told him that they were painting ‘worry boxes' and that she thought he might like to join them. He wasn't real sure that he wanted too but then she said that his nurse had told her he was having a rough day. So, he went and painted a box. He said it was pretty cool. Of course his box has the color green on it! That is Mike's favorite color you know!

Anyway, he sounded better tonight although his Doctor is coming in in the morning to talk with him some more. I told him that even though we are all supporting him throughout this whole ordeal he is still the one who has to go through it and that is the tough part. We can't do it for him. I think that he has done amazingly well considering how bad it has been. Mom did say that now his hair is starting to come out, which they told us would happen. That in itself can be a depressing experience.

Well, I am hoping to go to Ann Arbor tomorrow after I teach my morning class. Bruce may go with me if he isn't trucking. Or, if his trucking job is ready early I may ride with him and then we'll just take the truck to the hospital. Mom found out that there is a place to park a big truck (2 ton, 16 ft. box) near the hospital. So, we'll see in the morning.

I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow night. Thanks again for all of your love and support. You are all wonderful. You are holding Mike and all of us up and it is greatly appreciated! Oh and yes, my brother Joe and I do have different posting styles!!

Love, Ann

Additional Note: I forgot to tell you all that Friday night when I talked to Mike I read to him all of the notes and comments from the website that people have sent him and our family. I think he was overwhelmed but in a very positive way!!! He really appreciated all of them. I’ll continue to read them to him as they come in and I am also saving them to print out for him at a future date.

Posted by Joe:
I just spoke to Mike & Mom. Mike sounded very good to me. You may notice Ann & I have a slightly different style of posting, here’s the lowdown (in no particular order):

1. Mom & our friend Sue Peake are visiting today.
2. They took him off the Morphine drip, now he’s using the pill form as they ween him off the drug. He wouldn’t save me any…
3. They are trying to get the Mucositis (sores in his mouth and throat) cleared up. According to Wikipedia, Mucositis occurs in 40% of chemo patients. Mucositis Info on Wikipedia
4. His new rounds doctor came in today, Dr Oleg.
5. The results from Friday’s CAT scan of his mouth and throat were good.
6. He’s had LOTS of tests today, he’s participating in two cancer studies.
7. His nurses are still real fine… …oh I mean treating him very well.
8. Still not able to eat much. (see Item #2) He had a Vanilla flavored Boost® Energy Drink and orange style gelatin substance for lunch today.

As I said, Mike sounded good. He is very appreciative of all the notes, cards, prayers, etc from everyone. Thank You all for following and supporting Mike.

Hi Everyone,

With a new month beginning Mike’s blood counts are beginning to go up which means that engraftment has begun. Hopefully this means that he will start to feel better soon.

I just talked to him for quite a while and he had just come back from a Cat Scan. He has an IV in and they need to leave it in his arm until tomorrow. It is bugging him but with everything else going on he’s being a trooper about it. He still has a lot of sores in his throat and mouth and they really hurt. He can’t swallow very well yet and still isn’t eating or drinking. The nurses are keeping him hydrated and nurished so no need to worry.

It was just so good to actually talk for a while. I told him that I am going to visit him on Monday. There is a BMT Support Group in the afternoon and I am hopeful that Mike will go with me to that meeting. We’ll see. Mom is going to go see him on Sunday. After that, it is hard to tell when I’ll go again because they may actually spring him from the hospital and send him to mom’s house in Flint sometime next week.

Our sister-in-law Barb,who is John’s wife, and their boys Stephen and Andrew are coming to Michigan around June 6th for about 10 days. They are from Alaska and it is John’s shop where Mike works. Anyway, I’m sure we’ll be going to see ‘Uncle Mike’ while they are here.

I, and my family, will be gone tomorrow to an Ordination of a friend of ours to the Priesthood. I will post again on Sunday when I get home. Hopefully, Joe, our California brother and the creator of this blog, will post on Saturday to keep you all up-to-date.

Keep up being Prayer Warriors!!! It is working.
love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Well my day started out with Mom calling to say that Mike was having his worse morning yet. She called him this morning and he was in terrible shape. Then she called him this afternoon and asked how he was doing and he said “Better”. That was a great relief.

I just had a one minute chat with him. Mike said his Doctor was in twice today and changed his meds. I said, “Wow, you must be important!” Mike said, “This is serious business you know!” I replied, “It sure is especially when it is about one of my brothers!” Anyway, he was getting some rest and feeling better. I am very glad. I told him that it was very special to me to spend the day with him yesterday even though we couldn’t talk. It was good just to be with him.

Keep praying and know that we thank God everyday for all of you who have been supporting us through your thoughts and prayers.

Talk to you tomorrow.
love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Well, I went to see Mike today and I think that Mom and her friends wore him out yesterday!!

Just kidding. He was in bed all day and sleeping for most of it. It wasn’t because of yacking with Mom though it is because his counts are low and his throat is very sore. He is on Morphine for the pain which accounts for some of the sleepiness. He can’t eat and he can barely drink any water. Believe me, they are keeping him hydrated though! It is all just part of what happens when you have a BMT. I talked to Becky his nurse and she said that hopefully in 4-5 days his counts will start going up. That will mean engraftment has happened (in terms that I can understand it means that Rick’s cells are getting to work in Mike’s bod). He will probably have a few more bad days.

I just sat in his room and smiled and waved at him when he opened his eyes, fetched the urinal for him, read his copy of the Ann Arbor news and did some puzzles. I held his hand before I left and assured him that in a few days things would start looking better. I told him how proud we all are of him for doing this and how much we love him. He just smiled his best Mike smile (that’s the one with his eyes squinted shut).

Please keep up the prayers!! Thanks again for everything. All the positive messages are very helpful.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

It is 5:40pm and I just talked to Mike. His throat is very sore. They got him some meds to help with that. He is on a liquid diet because he is having such a hard time swallowing because it hurts! He was resting before he had dinner.

Mike said mom and her friends came for a visit before lunch and then they went out for awhile and then came back in the afternoon. He said it was a good visit. I am planning on going tomorrow and my friend Brenda (alias ‘pajama girl’) is riding alone with me. She’ll say hi to Mike and visit for a short time the head to the family room to hang out while I stay for awhile with Mike. Mike met her at my house this past Christmas. My friends come over the morning after Christmas for “coffee” (oh and Baileys). Anyway, she wore her Christmas flannel pajamas and hence was nicknamed ‘pajama girl’ by Mike and our brother Joe. He didn’t seem to object when I said she was coming with me!!

Anyway, I also just read an ‘e’ from my cousin Sara who visited Mike this past weekend. She said she and Mike had some good talks. He is having a rough time right now. She did get into this website with him and showed him the great comments that people have made. I think that lifted his spirits. It is such a ‘one day at a time’ type thing to go through. Sometimes we’ve told him to just take the next few minutes or an hour at a time. He knows that he has a lot of support and he really appreciates it.

Please keep praying for him that he can just stay focused on getting through this and moving on with his life. Thanks again for all of your support.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I called Mike around 6pm and he was trying to eat. So, I told him I’d call him back. I did about 45 minutes later. He just isn’t having a good day today. We knew that this would happen but I always feel helpless when there is nothing I can do to change the situation. Mike is getting sores in his mouth and he had a nose bleed today. Not too bad a bleed, because believe me he has had some bad ones over the years, but still enough to make him nervous.

Sara, our Ohio cousin, stopped back in this morning to see him on her way home. She was there when his Doctor came in so she got to talk to him. He mentioned something about Mike possibly being released next Monday. But, as the nurse told Mike later, many get released and then are re-admitted for a few days here and there. Sometimes they need the bed space I quess. But also you never know, because it all depends on how Mike is doing on Monday. Things aren’t going to get better quickly since his counts are so low now which means he can’t fight off infections, etc.

Mom and her friends, Sue & Joyce are heading to see him tomorrow and I am still planning on going there on Wednesday. I told him not to be afraid to tell his visitors to get lost for a while if he needs to nap or just rest. I always take something to do with me in case he needs a break.

In case you didn’t see, my brother Joe, set up a ‘Donations & Gifts’ page on this website in case anyone would like to make a donation towards Mike’s medication. He won’t have coverage for his meds once he leaves the hospital. They could range between $6000.00 and $10,000.00 per month. Anyway, he even has it set up with PayPal in case people want to use their credit cards.

We (Mike’s family) really appreciate everyone’s support during this time. Without your support and prayers this would be almost unimaginably difficult for all of us. Mike is going through the toughest part but we are all dealing with this too. Your prayers just give us tremendous support. Thank you all so much. Keep up the good work prayer warriors!!

love, Ann

Hi All,

I just talked to Mike. He is watching Nascar. He said Sara (our cousin from Ohio) came this afternoon for a few hours. Nice visit!! He walked around the unit 6 times today.

Mike said he is starting to have some reactions such as sores in his mouth. Not fun! He is hanging in there. I didn’t talk long. He sounded tired.

I’ll be seeing him in a few days in person. I hope and pray that his side effects aren’t too serious and that he will be able to hang tough through the next few weeks. It is still very critical and so keep the positive thoughts and prayers coming his way.

Thanks for all of your continued support.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I called Mike tonight. I knew that Rick & Sal and Mom were all going to Ann Arbor today to visit Mike. He said it was a good day. He enjoyed their visit. Mom brought Mike an i-pod that Joe stocked with music for him to listen too. Mike was using it when I called. He really likes it and hopefully it will get him through the next few weeks when he just needs to zone out of all that is happening.

His counts are still going down (which is good). He walked 11 times around the unit today. I am thinking that is more than a half mile walk. I think 17 times around the unit is a mile, but I’m not sure. I’ll have to check that out again when I go see him this week.

Our cousin Sara, from Ohio, is visiting Mike tomorrow and then spending the night in Flint with Mom, then back through Ann Arbor on Monday with another visit to Mike as she heads back to Ohio. Sara is more like our sister than our cousin! It is so good to have her and her husband, Ron, supporting us through this big event!

Well, I need to go to bed. I hope this post finds all of you well. Keep praying and knowing how much we appreciate it!!

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I talked to Mike tonight. He was actually watching a movie. He said that he didn’t sleep last night and that they were going to try some different meds tonight. They are pumping him so full of liquids that he’s up every hour to go to the bathroom. Not much sleeping with that going on!

Mike did get out in the unit and walked around it 8 times. That is really great. Two days ago he didn’t hardly get out of bed and then yesterday and today he is out walking the unit. I hope that he can keep that up because it will help him get better. I told him I was going to try and get down to see him next Tuesday or Wednesday since I don’t have to teach on those days.

I also talked to Mom today and she said that his Doc. came in and told Mike that there are still going to be some tough days ahead before things start getting better. So keep up the prayers because I know that they are helping Mike deal with each day (and night)!

Talk to you tomorrow.
love, Ann

Hi All,

Bruce and I had a great visit with Mike today. It was soooo good to see him and give him a hug and just be with him. He still looks scruffy with the white beard coming in, but hey – he has hair!!! Anyway, we visited with him in the morning. Then Bruce and I hiked down to ‘Casey’s’ and bought a couple sandwiches and went to the park and ate. Then we hiked back up to the hospital. It’s probably a little over a mile one way. Once back to Mike’s room, Bruce read the paper and I walked with Mike around the unit. We did two laps. From the comments we received, everyone was glad to see him out and about. He needs to be out walking so that he doesn’t get pneumonia. He can’t go off the unit and he has to drag his ‘buddy’ (the IV pole) along and wear a mask, but he did it! I told mom to tell anyone who visits with him to take him for a lap or two. He is much more motivated with someone walking with him.

He looks good. He feels very tired and his nights and days are mixed up. Meaning that he sleeps during the day and is awake at night. They are changing a bunch of his meds today so they think that will help him get his days and nights straightened out.

Anyway, keep up the prayers – they work wonders. This is still a critical time. Thanks for everything! Oh, I also told him about messages that have been posted on the site. He was very pleased. He hasn’t checked the site out yet because he has been too tired, but hopefully he will soon.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

Mom and our friend Sue went down to see Mike today. He is very tired but doing good. His counts are going down and that is a good sign. He is still in the critical time for the BMT but I am glad that there are some “glimmers of the sun” in his recovery so far. Mom said that he cleaned his plate at lunch today which is an improvement since he wasn’t feeling well and didn’t want to eat too much.

Bruce and I are heading to UofM tomorrow to visit with him. And then our cousin Sara will be seeing him on Sunday and Monday.

It is very hard for me not to be able to see him more often. I would spend every day with him if I could! I know that I have said it many times but “Thank You All” for your support of Mike and our family during this time. It would be very difficult for all of us if we didn’t have the prayers and support of our friends and many people who we don’t even know personally. I know it was on Prayer Networks from coast to coast. That just lifts our spirits!

Talk to you tomorrow night after our visit in person to Mike. I am taking him some homemade chocolate and butterscotch chip cookies. I wanted to make him oatmeal raisin, but he can’t have raisins right now!

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

We are finally counting forward on our days. I just talked to Mike. He is still very tired. They gave him some Benadryl so hopefully he’ll nap this afternoon. The Radiation took about 2 hours and he had to lay flat on a skinny table and not move. It was very difficult for him to do but he did it! Then they did the transplant right in his room. It took about an hour.

Today he was given some platelets. He was having a little reaction and he had a nose bleed and under his jaw was puffy on both sides. Hopefully that will subside.

I didn’t talk to him long because I was hoping that he could sleep. Bruce (my husband) and I are still planning on going to see Mike on Thursday. He said that would be fine. He’s hoping to feel a little better by then.

Keep the prayers coming Mike’s way. We are at the critical time these next couple weeks. Thanks for all the prayers so far.

love, Ann

This is Joe, I spoke to Mike on the phone. He sounded good, but is very tired.

The lymph nodes in his neck are quite swollen from the procedures yesterday. They are going to give him platelets today to help this out. I’m sure Ann will have more “details” later today

Hi Everyone,

Well, the transplant was tonight and all went well. Now to back up to this morning. Rick went to UofM before 8 a.m. to donate. It took until 1p.m. to finish his part. They told him not to bend over or lift anything heavy for three days. That is because his spleen is very enlarged due to the donating of the stem cells and it could rupture if he isn’t careful. I know that he will heed the warnings and take it easy!!

Then at 4p.m. Mike had to have Radiation which took about 2 hours. He was concerned about the radiation and we were all praying that he would get through it and the transplant would be able to be done today. Well, after his Radiation treatment they did the BMT. Mom talked to him about 9p.m. and he was totally exhausted. I didn’t call him tonight. I just talked to mom and got the scoop because I think Mike needed to go to sleep after such a big day.

So tomorrow is DAY 1!! The first day of Mike’s new life. Please continue to pray for him as there are side effects and such that he will need to get through. Bruce and I are hoping to go see him on Thursday this week. Mom is hoping to get down to UofM in the next couple days.

Thanks for all of your prayers. You don’t realize what it means to all of us to have such great support from our family and friends. I will call Mike tomorrow afternoon and let you know how his ‘Day 1′ is going.

love, Ann

Hi All,

I talked to Mike this afternoon to get the latest! I was gone on retreat since Friday.

Mike didn’t have a good day on Saturday. The chemo is making him sick and they are trying different drugs to help but he still doesn’t feel good today.

Rick and Sal (Mike’s older brother and his wife) visited Mike today. Rick is one of the donors and was at UofM to have his blood drawn before he donates on Monday, May 21st.

Mike has another roomate too so things must be hopping on the 8th floor. They had told us he wouldn’t have a roommate unless the floor got really crowded!

Mike said that the docs told him that he needs to get Radiation on Monday at 4p.m.. He has to lay still for at least 20 minutes and he is not sure how that will be since his hands have been twitchy. Pray that he can just lay still long enough to get through it.

We aren’t sure when the actually transplant will take place. We thought that it would be on Monday but with him having Radiation now we’re not sure. Although Rick is still going to donate tomorrow. After he donates they will count the number of cells and see if there are at least 50,000,000. If not he may donate again on Tuesday.

The way that Rick is donating is through his blood. They take it out one arm and run it through a machine that collects the bone marrow (cells I think) and then they run his blood back into his other arm. It takes about 4 hours. Rick had to give himself one shot a day for 5 days in a row in order to donate. Done this way it is an adult stem cell transplant. It sounds like it may be easier on the donor than doing it through the bones. I don’t know all the nitty gritty!

Anyway tomorrow is Day 0 and then we start to count forward for Mikes new life!!

Mom may get down to UofM a couple times this week and Bruce and I are planning on going on Thursday.

I’ll post again soon.
love,
Ann

Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers especially in the next few days.

Hi everyone,

Nick and I survived our trip to Cedar Point. I called Mom on our trip home to check on Mike. He had a pretty good day yesterday. Had to go through another series of x-rays. They are going to do some radiation along with the chemo. Not sure when that will happen.

Then I called Mike a few minutes ago. He sounded good but very tired. They keep him hopping day and night. Anyway, they upped his pain killers and that is helping. He isn’t exactly sure when the radiation will take place. He thinks he will still have the transplant on Monday. I’ll talk to him on Sunday when I get home from my retreat and let you know when all this is happening.

Please keep up the prayers. They are very helpful.

love,
Ann

Hi All,

I just talked to Mike. He said it has been “Grand Central Station” today at the hospital. He’s had chest xrays and started his chemo today. The reason for the – sign before the day is because they count down to day 0, which is transplant day, and then they count forward from there. It is the start of his new life!!!!

He sounded pretty good. He got to pick his own menu for tomorrow so that will be better for him. Today he got what they gave him.

He can’t have any raw or fresh foods including fruits and veggies. That will be strange because he is used to eating salads and stuff. I told him to find out about cookies and I’d make him some before my next visit.

I won’t be posting tomorrow (Thursday) as I will be at Cedar Point with Nick for his class trip.

love,

Ann

Hi all,

Mom and I got home just a little while ago after driving through a terrible storm. Glad to get off the highway.

It was a tough day today. Everything went very well, we couldn’t have asked for it to be better. However, leaving Mike at the hospital was very hard. We finally had to just take off because mom, Mike and I were all dreading saying goodbye.

The nurses and the whole staff were great. He will begin to get some pre-chemo drugs tonight and then tomorrow will begin his first of four days of chemo.

Mike had a lot to take in and was a little overwhelmed with all of the hospital ways, taking vitals every 4 hours even through the night, blood draws early in the morning, tracking fluid intake and out, etc. We told him that the staff would help him remember everything. It just takes some getting used to.

Well, I need to go to bed because I need to go home tomorrow and see my family. Hopefully I’ll get back to see Mike next week. I will be calling him daily and checking in on what’s been happening so that I can post a note to all of you.

Thanks again for all our thoughts and prayers. They really get us through the tough times.

love, Ann

Hi Family and Friends,

Mike went to UofM today to have his Hickman ‘installed’. The nurses laughed because they had never had anyone say that they were there to have something ‘installed’. Everything went great. Mike did very well. We went out to eat afterwards and then visited a family friend. We are staying with Mom tonight in Flint before we head back to Ann Arbor tomorrow afternoon, to have Mike admitted to the hospital to begin his treatments.

Take care and keep Mike in your thoughts and prayers!

Ann

I am going to be sending out updates, hopefully weekly on Mike. For those of you with whom I haven't been in contact recently, Mike is going into U of M Hospital on May 15^th for a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT). He will be going in on Monday the 14^th for an outpatient procedure to have a port put in. Then on Tuesday he and I will head back to Ann Arbor to have him admitted to the hospital.

On Wednesday he will begin four days of intense Chemo. On Sunday, the 20^th he will not have any treatments. It will be a day of rest for him.

Then on Monday May 21^st, our brother Rick will go to Ann Arbor to donate stem cells for Mike. If they get enough that day then Rick will be finished, if not he will donate again on Tuesday. Mike will either get the stem cell transplant on Monday or Tuesday or possible both days. Just depends on the numbers.

Then it will be a waiting time to see if they begin to work. Somewhere around day 14 after the transplant is when that usually begins to happen.

Mike came into Flint a couple weeks ago and is staying with Mom. After he is released from the hospital he will return to mom's home. They said he could stay there because it is within and hour from U of M. He will need to go to the hospital probably 3 times a week during his recovery period.

We of course need many prayers. This is a very serious event in all of our lives. Mike doesn't have prescription coverage and the meds alone after his hospital stay will run somewhere between $6,000.00 and $10,000.00 per month. Please pray that he will be able to recovery quickly and that he will not require the higher amount of meds to do so.

Thank you for all of your prayers over the past couple years that Mike has been dealing with CLL. We all appreciate it and can feel the presence of God with us.

I'll write again soon.

Love,
Ann

Dodds-Dumanois Funeral Home
From I-75 & Corunna Rd to Dodds-Dumanois Funeral Home
Click for Google Maps to Dodds-Dumanois Funeral Home
From I-75 Exit
Head east on Corunna Rd/M-21
Turn left at S Ballenger Hwy (1.6 mi) Past McLaren Hospital
Turn right at Flushing Rd (1.4 mi)
Slight left at W 5th Ave (0.4 mi)
Turn Left into Parking Lot at the Corner of 5th and Garland

From Dodds-Dumanois Funeral Home to I-75 Corunna Road
Click for Google Maps from Dodds-Dumanois Funeral Home
Head southeast on Garland St toward W 5th Ave (0.4 mi)
Continue on Beach St (0.1 mi)
Turn right at W Kearsley St (0.5 mi)
Continue on Glenwood Ave (0.5 mi)
Slight right at W Court St/M-21
Slight left onto Corunna Rd/M-21
Continue to follow M-21

St John Vianney Catholic Church
From I-75 & Corunna Rd to St John Vianney
Click for Google Maps to St John Vianney
Head east on Corunna Rd/M-21
Turn left at S Ballenger Hwy (1.6 mi) Past McLaren Hospital
Turn right at Flushing Rd (0.5 mi)
Turn right at N Chevrolet Ave (374 ft)
Turn left at Bagley St (423 ft)

From St John Vianney to I-75 & Corunna
Click for Google Maps From St John Vianney
Head east on Chevrolet Ave (0.9 mi)
Turn right at Glenwood Ave (0.1 mi)
Slight right at W Court St/M-21
Slight left onto Corunna Rd/M-21
Continue to follow M-21

Visitation
Mike will be at Dodds-Dumanois Funeral Home in Flint Michigan
901 Garland St.
Flint, Michigan 48503
(810) 232-0187
https://www.doddsdumanois.com/

Saturday, September 22nd.
The family will be present at the visitations from 2-4pm and 6-8pm.
(John and Barbara and their boys will not be at this visitation as they will arrive in Michigan that night.)

Sunday, September 23rd at Dodds-Dumanois.
The entire family will be there between 1-4pm and 5-6:30pm

Rosary
A Rosary will be recited Sunday, September 23rd at Dodds-Dumanois at 5:30pm.

Funeral Mass
Mike's funeral Mass will be on Monday, September 24th at 11am
St. John Vianney Catholic Church
2415 Bagley St
Flint, Michigan, 48504
(810) 235-1812
https://stjohnvianneyflint.catholicweb.com/

Funeral Lunch
A funeral lunch will be held immediately following the Mass at the Church. All are welcome to stay for the lunch.

A Brief Timeline of Mike & Mom’s History
May 15, 2007
Mike is admitted into UofM Hospital Ann Arbor

May 21, 2007
Mike undergoes the Bone Marrow Transplant

June 20, 2007
Day 30 Mike went home to Flint to stay with Mom

June 28, 2007
Day 38 Mike had a Bone Marrow Biopsy done in Ann Arbor

July 3, 2007
Day 43 the Bone Marrow Biopsy came back with good results – no CLL was found and no neoplasm.

July 8, 2007
Mike was re-admitted to UofM due to dehydration

July 11, 2007
Mike is back in Flint

July 17, 2007
Mike is re-admitted to the BMT floor at UofM

July 27, 2007
Mom is admitted to McLaren Hospital in Flint for her sodium levels

August 3, 2007
Mom is moved to Fostrian Nursing Home in Flushing for Rehab

August 3, 2007
Mike is moved to the Rehab floor at UofM

September 15, 2007
Mom is released from Fostrian and moves back home.

September 18, 2007
Mike passes.

For Photos of Mike throughout his life visit:
https://mikekagerer.com/gallery View Slideshow

Listening to his iPod on 7-12-2007 Day 51

The back of his t-shirt 7-12-2007

At UofM Hospital with Ann 6-24-2007 Day 24

Donations for Mike’s Cancer Treatment*

We are no longer in need of gifts, Thank You.

Thank you for reading this and keeping Mike in your thoughts and prayers. Many people have already contacted us regarding donations for Mike. Mike’s prescription drugs are not covered by his health insurance. These costs are estimated to be thousands of dollars per month for the next several months so we have set up a special account for Mike. PayPal is also available for credit card donations.

Any donation is greatly appreciated.

Checks may be sent to Mike’s sister Ann:
payable to: Margaret A. Frechen, memo: Donation for Mike

Ann Frechen
13820 Kinley Road
Fowler, MI 48835

Checks may also be made payable to: Richard A. Kagerer, Jr.
and given to Rick.

Thank you in advance for all your help.

Love,
The Kagerer Family

*Unfortunately Mike is not a tax deductable charity with the IRS. These gifts do not qualify for tax deductable status.

Our mom, Margaret A. (Tanny) Kagerer passed away on September 23, 2009.

If you would like to contact the family, you may contact Rick, John or Joe through our website links listed below in the Links list. If you would like to contact Ann, send Joe an email message and I will connect you to Ann.

Joe Kagerer
jekagerer@gmail.com

May 11, 2007

This blog was set up to chronical Mike Kagerer’s current Cancer Treatments. Mike was diagnosed with CLL, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in 2004.

Mike is scheduled for a Bone Marrow Transplant at University of Michigan Hospital on Monday May 21, 2007.

Rick Kagerer, Mike’s oldest brother is the donor. Out of the family, John and Rick were matches. Rick was chosen because of his location. We are truely blessed to have two matches in the family.

We lost Mike on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 at 1:25pm.