Make A Wish Foundation

We are going to see Ben next week in Seattle. This will be the first time since he was diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma over two years ago. Patti saw him about a year ago at a relay for life event in Nebraska but even tho I bic'd my hair in his support, I haven't seem him.

The Make a Wish Foundation got a hold of his story and raised a funds and awareness for Ben. He was asked was his wish was. His reply? "I want to meet Tony Hawk." Sweet.

Ben is a skater and when he was receiving treatments, he played a lot of Tony Hawk Pro Skater in the hospital. I personally really like that game.

So, Ben's time has come for his wish to come true. There is a Tony Hawk thing in Seattle next week and we are going to meet up with Ben and his family.

Should be a great time. Ben has his flow back and is doing great.

Walter "the rack" and Dorothy

Patti and I just got back from visiting Stan and Dorothy at Vancouver General Hospital.

It was so good to seem them. Due to being out of town and a massively busy weekend, we have not been able to go see them until now. They have been there for about 2 weeks now. Dorothy looked good today. Her "levels" are still very low and she does not have any immune system right now as a result. They are predicting the levels will begin to rise in the next few days. They have been saying that by Monday or Tuesday she will be out of the woods. That will be 10 days after the stem cell transplant.

We continue to pray for Dorothy, Stan and the family. They are in good hands.

She is on the 15th floor and they have a great view of false creek and the Vancouver skyline. The world class fireworks are tonight and they should have a perfect view of the whole show.

She introduced us to "Walter." Walter is a rack full of bags of stuff that slowly get dripped into her system. She doesn't go anywhere without Walter. Yesterday, with the blood transfusion, there were a few more bags on there. Stan says he can live with Walter for now, but he must go soon :-)

Update On Dorothy

Just a quick update from Stan and Dorothy (from Linette):

Dorothy’s blood levels are very low right now – she had her first blood transfusions yesterday of platelets and hemoglobin so hopefully that will give her a bit more energy today.

She continues to struggle with painful mouth sores (from the chemo) that are difficult to heal due to the low white blood cell count and she also has a low fever which they are watching carefully.

Continue to pray for strength and healing and for the blood levels to start climbing. The days are passing slowly for Dorothy right now, but each day is one day closer to her blood levels starting to climb!

Once again, thanks from the family for all of your prayers, support, cards and emails!

For those who are helping with housecleaning on Thursday, we will meet at Stan and Dorothy’s around 9:00 am. Bring buckets and rags please. See you then!

Open Letter To Ben Vander Griend (the hair guy)

Hey Ben,

I hear you've been in the hospital quite a bit these days and that you'll be there a bit more. We've been praying for you a lot.

I also hear that the doctors are going to help you, but that you might loose your hair.

Rumor has it that you're a hair guy and you've been trying to grow your hair long. That's pretty cool. I'm a bit of a hair guy too. Being a pastor, most people think I should have neat, nicely combed hair off to the the side. But I've had long hair, bleached hair, spiked hair, mullet, surfer hair, I've even had a pony tail. I'll tell you a secret that I've never told anyone -- I wish I could have dreadlocks -- but that's just between you and me, k?

I was thinking that us hair guys have to stick together. If you are going to shave your head, then I'll shave mine. That way we can both have the same hair. I've been told yours might grow back purple. That would be sweet!

Let me know when they are going to give you a shave, ok? Then I'll get mine done too.

Any other hair guys out there going to join in?

From one hair guy to another,

Uncle Mike

Nephew Ben in Nebraska

My 6 year old nephew Ben has just been diagnosed with non-hodgkin t-cell lymphoma. He's been through quite a bit lately while the medical community has been trying to made a diagnosis. He's been in and out of the hospital in the past months and he's not done yet.

Pray for Ben. He's going to begin treatments soon.