Tuesday, May 29, 2012



An update on the latest with Laura:

A couple of weeks ago, she went to the doctor and it was determined that she has chronic Graft vs. Host disease (GVHD). She may have it forever, she may have it off and on or she may have it right now and then never again. (I'm hoping for the latter.)

The most uncomfortable part of this disease right now is that it's in her eyes. Her eyes are not producing tears and that causes a burning sensation and redness. She's waiting for a prescription (Restasis) to be approved, and hopefully, that will clear up that problem.

Another effect of the GVHD is that the tissues around her joints is thickening -- which she says is not very uncomfortable "just ugly." Her muscles hurt sometimes and she sometimes gets out of breath going upstairs. She's lost some weight, but is pretty sure that the 40 mgs. of steroids that she takes daily will help with that. She says she's "eating everything in sight."  She is already feeling stronger  and more energetic from two weeks of being on the steroids and that feels much better.

Because of the high dose of steroids and the eye medication, she is going to have to be monitored more closely. She'll begin going every two weeks to Emory.

Please continue to pray for her that the steroids work and that the GVHD will be taken care of once and for all.

Thanks for keeping up with her.

We love you.