The Hall Family News!

Hello again!! Well everyone it's going to be a big weekend here in the little city of Asbury!! This weekend is the big Asbury garage sales!! It may not sound very intriguing to you, but around here it's a big thing!! It all starts tonight and goes into tomorrow morning! It gets kind of crazy around here some people get up at 5 in the morning tomorrow to go out garage saleing!! I assure you I will not be one them! I do not believe in the time 5 in the morning!!!! Mom and I may go out later just to see what people are doing this year because like I said this is no ordinary garage sale weekend! You have people cooking you breakfast and lunch on there lawn just to get you to go and look at there stuff! Oh and did I mention that there was even a guy with a bouncy house for kids last year!!! Anyways I'm probably boring you so I'll move onto something else now! :) Well other than that it's been a quiet week at house! Dad went to get his tux fitted for Justin's wedding last night, so he was happy to be able to get that done. We were able to go over to Cory and Jamie's house for a cook out on Wednesday night and we had a lot of fun seeing them and watching little Hayden running all around!! That was about the extent of our week! Dad has been very tired the last few days I think between working and getting used to his new medicine it's just starting to catch up with him a little bit. Hopefully he will start feeling better soon! One interesting thing about his medicine that we have noticed is that it makes his skin turn red! Mom noticed this last night and commented to dad that his skin was red and asked, do you feel red! Dad responded to this saying, no but I do feel a little orange! I guess he hasn't lost his sense of humor! He is going into the doctor this morning to get his platelet count checked to make sure it is not to high so if you could pray that they stay in the normal range that would be awesome! Well that's about all from the Hall house! Have a good day everyone! Elisabeth

The really big thing this weekend in my opinion is that tomorrow May 1st is Elisabeth's 17th birthday!! All her big brothers and their families are able to come over so she is happy that is just what she wanted!! Happy 17th Birthday Elisabeth, We love you!! Mom and Dad

The Voice of Truth

Oh the "Voice of Truth", God's word..... Went to bible study this morning and as usual it was just what I needed. Being in God's word puts things back into perspective. Monday was a long day physically and emotionally for Lance and I, there was a man there who had cancer for 9 years and was very negative, won't go into all the details but between what he had to say and somethings from the doctors it wasn't easy. On the way home Lance reminded me that we do have good doctors but ultimately God not the doctors or the medicine is going to decide our future. This morning as we studied in Hebrews on faith, just being reminded that our faith is based on God's faithfulness (not mine or the doctors) and He keeps his promises was such an encouragement. When we base our faith on what we see it is not always encouraging , but God is faithful and has promised to never leave us or forsake us. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Heb.11:1) A line from a song keeps going around in my head.... The Voice of Truth tells me a different story, The Voice of Truth says," Do not be afraid" The Voice of Truth says, "This is for My Glory" Out of all the voices calling out to me, "I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth! -Penny

Monday's appointment

Hi all; it is pretty late and we just got home 9:30 pm. pretty full day of tests in Iowa City they changed and added lots of medicines, it took a long time as my pick line wasn't working again, they ended up just putting in new IV lines and pulling it out. Guess I'll get a new one on the next trip or soon anyway. I had my last scheduled Retuxin infusion today and met with several people, my platlets are still quite high so I will need to get them checked again this week. All in all a very busy day, Linda (Penny's mom) really out did herself making me treats and good meals I shared cookies and cupcakes with everyone in the Chemo room. Thank you to Lisa and Todd who with Troys help got me a new Iowa Hawkeye shirt to wear to the hospital. They thought I should be supporting the place thats taking such good care of me. Thanks everyone, we are going to bed.
Lance

Grandma and Grandpa's

Good morning everyone! Well we have had a pretty uneventful weekend here at our house! We went for a nice walk yesterday, and it was so nice to get out and enjoy the fresh air! Nothing new on dad, he will go to the doctor in Iowa City tomorrow but we probably won't find out anything new, this is just basically so they can adjust his medicine. We'll be going to my grandparents house later today so that we can spend the night there because dad's appointment is early in the morning. Oh, and grandma if your reading this dad told me to tell you that lemon cake and cookies are totally out of the question because he's getting to fat!!! He also told me that I couldn't say anything about your world famous potato salad! Well that's all from our house!

Elisabeth

P.S. Oh, and grandma you really don't have to make food for us!

Its a Hat Trick!

After no matches elsewhere the Hall boys shoot, they score! Can you believe Justin came back as a match today for me. The Drs. are all very happy we don't know what they will do now probably just more testing to see which is the the closest match. I must say when Nathan came back as a match I was thinking I wish another of the kids would match just so it would be more obvious Gods hand in all this to people who doubt. And then Cory matched. I thought to myself just think if all of them did. And they did, now after Justin match I am reminded of Gods word in Jeremiah 33:3 where he says: Call to me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. I was given that verse years ago by my friend Louis Jensen when I was going through some things and it has always been a comfort to me but never more real than now when he abundantly answers our prayers and exceeds my expectations. I am so happy and humbled the way things are playing out, I told my Dr today that I'm thinking I will be healed, and there are much bigger things going on here than medicine. Before I go on I want to again thank Julie, Kelly, Troy, Chris, Nathan, Cory, Justin, and Elisabeth (who is quite put out by the way that they didn't test her) and most of all Penny for all they have done for me. Its not that they were tested its for the love they showed me wanting so bad to help, I could die a happy man tomorrow (but lets not hurry) I love you all. I will be going back to Iowa City early Monday morning they want to run a lot of tests on me. I have some infections they are concerned about getting cleared up before I can have the transplant and they want to check that out more closely, they have also decided to put me on another chemo drug starting Monday that I can only get from them. It is not intended to cure anything just slow down the Leukemia a little until they can get started. And I will get another infusion of retuxin that day (should be the last of those and I'm glad I don't like the way they make me feel) I have a big day at work tomorrow we are being recertified by the ISO that is the certification we carry that tells customers we are a high quality organization, lots of work, lots of reports to write and hoops to jump through but I really like it its very challenging. Work has continued to be very therapeutic to me. I have to go Elisabeth is playing the piano for me and begging for Culvers Frozen Custard so off we go to do my duty.
Love to all. Lance

We Defy the Odds!

Our family is very unusual! Now before you start commenting on that statement let me explain. Dad went to the doctor yesterday and we were told by the bone marrow doctor that in the last twenty years of her doing her job she had only seen four cases of children matching the parents! Four times! We were like this is so cool, we're the fifth family for this ever to happen to! God is so in control! We were reassured of this even more today! Today we found out that not only does Nathan match but Cory does to!! We were so excited! So in the last twenty years our family has had two out of the six matches! God is good! They were not even going to test my brothers because they said that they would never match but God has definetly had a plan all along! They are still continuing the testing on Justin and we should find out about his test in a couple days. Dad was e-mailing Cory today jokingly telling him that if he had any extra time on his hands would he mind saving his life! Cory responded that he didn't mind too much and that if dad was lucky he would get some of his good looks and charm! Mom was telling dad later that he already had the good looks but theres allways a little more room for charm! They are still not sure who they will choose to be dad's donor and we still won't know for awhile because Cory and Nathan will have to go through a lot of testing to make sure that they are healthy enough to safely be a donor but we are thankful to have not one but at least two donors! Thanks again for all the thoughts and prayers! Elisabeth

Iowa City

Well thanks to Cory (he let us borrow his laptop) we can update everyone from the infusion room at the hospital in Iowa City. It has been a long day! We came this morning at 9:30 and it is now 5:30 and they think we might be done in an hour. Everyone here is so nice so that helps. We really didn't find out much new today. The doctors are continuing the testing on the boys to see who is the closest match. Lance's platelets stayed about the same as last Thursday so maybe they will start to stabilize and go back to the normal range. The doctors SEEM to be thinking that they will continue to try and get Lance as healthy as they can and do the transplant right after Justin and Ashleys wedding in June. They want Lance to be able to go if he can, but will be ready to do it sooner if they need to. He will have another infusion treatment next week in Dubuque then we meet with the transplant doctors on May 5 for a consultation, and lots of info. I'm sure......

So I'm going to finish this blog for mom because she just had to run down to the pharmacy and there was a lot of problems with his medicine's getting switched up and now she's to tired to finish. So basically we didn't learn anything new today just continuing on the normal path of treatment except for cutting down on the steroids. Nothing really exciting has happened today except that mom got over charged at the pharmacy and she was not very happy! It started out that they undercharged us and mom was arguing we owe more, by the time they were done it was more than we thought. Long Day. Needless to say, the insurance company will be getting a call tomorrow from a very unhappy customer! Will update soon! Elisabeth

Oh and by the way we are closing down the infusion room tonight again and dad got the remote! Can anyone guess what were watching! ;)

Me and my Secretary:

We had a busy Saturday, I went to work to get some things caught up and took my secretary Elisabeth with. I am trying to get things caught up for when I will be in the hospital. Elisabeth ran the copy machine for me, she made about 3000 copies of different documents and than coalated them and stapled. She set up banquet tables in our big conference room and laid out all the packets that needed to be done. She worked very hard and was really a huge help to me, it seemed a little funny in the office its usually quite hectic we were the only ones there, it was really a very pleasant time for us and I know who I'm hiring when we get an opening. Elisabeth worked her tail off and is really good with all the detailed things I needed. Best of all she got paid off with a Turkey Sub and was happy. She definately got the raw end of that deal! We may have been a little excited in the last blog when we quoted the Drs. as a million to one chance that one of the kids would be a match for me in Bone Marrow (we have had a few people ask) but suffice to say it was a huge long shot and very steep odds. I had so much fun calling my Parents, Rex and Linda, Brothers, and Sisters, and Kids, as well as many of you with good news. Justin said it just seemed like for a while everything kept getting worse, so good news felt good. I'm kind of tired now, I think all the steroids do that so I'm hoping tomorrow the Drs. will start cutting them back. We go to Iowa City early Monday morning and it should be a pretty full day. My Parents are coming this afternoon on the way through to see Troy in Georgia and I'm really glad they are getting away a break will be good for them and Troy will be glad to have them around. Moms a good cook. Hope everyone has a good Sunday.
Lance

Good News!

Nothing absolutly nothing is impossible with God!! Well the doctor called back a little while ago and they have the results back from Nathan's bone marrow test, and guess what, he's a match!! Were so excited! They will continue the testing for Cory and Justin but now we know no matter what dad has a match! This is so cool, dad just keeps saying this is totally God! What are the odds that one of us would be a match, the doctors told us that this was a one in a million chance and that we should never match but it happend! God is so good! Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers!!!!
Elisabeth

"NOTHING"

Hi, Well I went back to the Dr. today to have my platelet count done and it is still rising, today it was 678000, (I think that number means I win, Penny says quit trying to win!) sure could have used a few of those a couple of weeks ago. The Drs. in Iowa City seem to be okay with the numbers for now, just said to come in Monday morning for my appointment. I am supposed to have another transfusion then and some other tests. The results from the kids tests are not expected until at least late next week. Penny and Elisabeth are downstairs watching Facing The Giants and it talks a lot about whats impossible for God, "NOTHING!" So we are just waiting to see what he has in store for us and are perfectly content with his plan. Its pretty interesting watching all of this going on with your health and yet really being only a bystander. Thanks again to everyone for all the support we have received. Lifes good!
Lance

Penny and I have more in common than we thought.

Well we have had an exciting day, Penny and Elisabeth have gone to Cedar Falls to see a concert tonight with friends they had planned this trip months ago Elisabeth is a true "groupie" of the band 10th Avenue North I tease her that they are starting to think she is a stalker I don't know how many times she's seen them but it's got to be close to the amount of times our other stalker "Nathan" has seen U-2. And since her mom goes with often I'm starting to wonder about her also. I don't get it its not like watching a good hockey game or something important but they seem to have fun and I just need to keep working with them on priorities. Anyway with everything going on here this week I really don't think Penny was sure she wanted to go not that she didn't want to just was having a hard time leaving. (she never goes anywhere) Well they went and on the way there she got a call from the University of Iowa that she actually carries the gene that I am missing, That means that she could have passed the missing gene that I need on to one of our kids. and the Drs. want to test them, Well Nathan is allready on his way to Iowa City and will be tested in the morning, Cory is in Chicago for business and has allready made arrangements to have the kits sent to MedLine where he works and can be tested Thursday morning when they get here, and Justin who is at work still is having everything sent to his house to take the test in the morning. Ashley from what I understand allready has everything set up at the clinic. I have tried to call all of them but haven't even talked to them yet as I guess they are either setting things upor on the way. This does not mean anyone is a match but it is a very good chance and we are all excited. Thanks Guys. Elisabeth could be tested and is very willing but the Drs. thought to go with the boys first. Anyway after all this news the girls will certainly have more fun tonight. I also got a really nice call from my cousin Rollie today offering Bone Marrow and when Penny told the Drs about it they said it is a possibility we had a nice visit I talked to much was a little excited about the news we just got and really appreciated the offer. So all in all I don't know if this will work but it was sure nice to get some good news and I feel really blessed for all the people who are helping me out and caring for me.

I got the remote!!

OK, Can everyone now pray that Lance's platelets stabalize and stay in the normal range! Today they were up from the normal range of 212 thousand on this last Thursday, to 502 thousand today. The normal range is 135 thousand to 385 thousand. In just a week and a half they have gone from less than 1000 to this! We had all been praying "Go Platelets" but I guess we can stop now!!! Lance spent most of the afternoon having a treatment, the up side of it was he got to lay back in a recliner, got offered snacks and because he ended up being the last one there the nurses gave him the TV remote (a big deal!) and he got to watch hockey!!! So thankful for all the little blessings!! Love and thanks to all! Penny

Note from Elisabeth

Well it has been a quiet weekend at the our house and let me tell you how nice that feels!! Mom and dad decided that since they were having to go to the doctor all week that they were going to do nothing this weekend and they really enjoyed that! Dad has been more tired the last few days, but mom thinks this is just because he is on so many medicine's and there starting to catch up with him. Especially since he is having a lot of trouble sleeping at night despite taking sleeping pills. He was able to get out and enjoy the sunshine this afternoon and go for a walk for awhile. One very good thing that came out of this weekend was that dad got a nose bleed and even though that was a bad thing it stopped on his own without his clotting medicine's so this means that his platelets are in a good range for now. He is going in tomorrow to get another treatment done for his platelets. All in all a good weekend!

Elisabeth

Work, Walking, and Stuart Little

Well we really don't have anything new to tell anybody today, but dad wanted me to post and tell everyone that he had a really good day at work. He was really happy because he got to tell everyone in the plant that they can go back on full time and he might even get to hire a few more people! This news is so encouraging because it's been really hard lately to see how slow his work has been and we have been praying that it will get busier and it seems to be doing just that. He said that it feels so good to be busy again, and he actually feels like things may be turning for the better at work!

We also went for a walk tonight and dad was able to go with us. Our dog Stuart Little followed dad the whole time, dad is conviced that Stuart knows that he is sick because he hasn't left his side since we got home!! Maybe dad knows the dog better than we do but I just think he knows that dad is the only who will give him treats. Dad says that Stuart is an athlete so he needs to keep up his strength but you need to understand that Stuart is a 20 pound shipoo so if you ask me he can't really be much of a athlete!!!

Iowa City

Hey everybody just a quick update on dad's appointment in Iowa City today. Unfortunatly none of dad's siblings were matches. The doctor seems very confident that they should find a match through the donor list though. They will probably not do the transplant for a couple of months now though so they can find the closest match. They will also be trying to get dad as healthy as they can during this time. The good news is that dad's platelets are up in the normal range now. We really don't know what they will do once he is off the medicine though, so they are going to continue his treatment for the platelets for a few more weeks and then hopefully the count will not go back down. Well that's all I really know for now! Will keep you posted thanks again for all the thoughts and prayers.

Elisabeth

Maybe a little to positive?!?!

Lance and I decided yesterday that we need to try and be positive. I don't know if it was the steroids he is on or what but last night he was FULL of it. Don't know what he was like as a kid but...... Anyway at 9 last night, Lance sent Elisabeth out in a thunderstorm to put the downspout back on, it was thundering and lighting, I'm down the hall and I hear this KNOCKING.....Guess who locked her out, unbelieveable!! She did get him back though,but not really on purpose. She was going to cover his pick line so he could take a shower and accidently put the tape to high and his armpit hair got caught in the tape! Didn't feel to good coming off, it wasn't on purpose but he really got his pay back. We all had such a good laugh (after the tape was off!) was so good to just laugh!! Don't think he will be locking her out anytime soon!

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Our hope is in the Lord. It is not a coincidence that the Lord laid that verse and Joshua 23:14 on my heart before and over and over after Lance was hospitalized...... it says this: ....you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the Lord your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed. The Lord has told us and shown us that He is with us, and that He is all sufficient! In the midst of a hard time we can feel His love and the love of all of you, Thank you....... Penny

Hi Everyone- Again thanks for all your prayers and well wishes, I'm feeling good today went to the Dr. because my pick line was leaking a little and they said nothing to worry about. The best news today was I talked to my boss about me being off work for an extended time I was really nervous as I am a one man operation at work I am the only person in my dept. (I am the HR manager and safety manager in a steel fabrication plant if anyone doesn't know) so if I'm not at work its a burden for someone. Steve our President could not have been nicer he told me they wanted me there and I will have a job. Obviously if I would be off a lot longer than anticipated things could change. (my words not his) but I left really encouraged. I recieved an e-mail from a friend right before I went in to talk to Steve that said ultimately it is all in Gods hands whatever happens and once again he has met my needs. (Thanks Matt) This has been a strange experience and lots of wonderful things have come out of it. I want to get better but I want to remember what I'm learning. I go back to Iowa City on Thursday and we hope their might be some news about the donor matches from Julie, Kelly, Troy, and Chris. Sibling donor program sounds a little cold for someone offering to save your life, thanks again guys I couldn't have been as bad as you said "honest Dad I didn't hit first!"
Thanks again everyone we are trying hard to stay positive I am Happy, Greatful and completely confident in my Drs. ready to start these treatments. Now please get off the computer and go hug your wife, husband, and kids I'm gonna do that more. Jeremiah 29:11

Finally Home!!!

Well we made it home. After waiting forever it seemed to get all the discharge papers in order we finally got to leave the hospital. We were all very happy to get home and our dog, Stuart was very excited to see us again!! Dad went to the hospital this morning to get his labs done and we got even more good news! His platelets more than doubled since yesterday! Were hoping that this means that his platelets will not go back down again. The nurses were so nice in Iowa City they even called today just to see how he was doing. We haven't really found anything else out right now but it seems that dad is doing better. After dad found out his platelet count today he decided that he was strong enough to even go into work for awhile. He promised mom he wouldn't over do it although this could be a problem because his over doing it and mom's are two different things. I guess we'll find out if he listened later!! :)

Prayer request:1 Praise, Praise,Praise that dad is finally home.
2 They can not put him on his cancer medicine right now so pray that his leukemia will not grow to quickly while they are waiting on the bone marrow transplant.
3 Pray that one of dad's siblings will be a match for the transplant.

Thank you again so much for your thoughts and prayers.

Elisabeth

A Good Day!!!!

Happy Easter everyone!!! We found out some very exciting news this morning!! Dad is going home!! His platelets went up to 25 thousand last night so his doctor said that she feels comfortable with dad going home and just going to see his doctor there for treatment. His platelets are still at a very dangerous level but his doctor said if he is careful it should be manageable. He will be coming back down to Iowa City on Thursday to hopefully find out if any of the siblings are matches for a bone marrow transplant. He will also be getting more test and treatments done that day. This is such a big answer to prayer that he can go home today. My dad and mom have asked me to thank you once again for all your support and prayers. Our family has felt so humbled by all God's love and blessing during this time. Thanks!!
Elisabeth

Hi there! This is Nicole (Nathan's wife, Lance's daughter-in-law) We are enjoying a visit with Lance, Penny and Elisabeth. Thanks everyone for your prayers -- it must be working, keep them coming!! Lance is improving day by day now. His platelets which started at 1,ooo have now reached double digits at 10,000 (normal is 150, 000 and above; the danger zone is anything below 50,000). So keep praying for continued progress. It has been a blessing to see Lance, his energy is good and he is looking really good! He hasn't lost his spunky, ornery self as he has begun to tell the kids the chemo-therapy process where he will lose his hair (Helen responded: "Will you lose your head too!!??") and when he repeated this to Evie, also adding that he will lose his eyebrows, Evie thought that he would no longer have eyes. Fortunately, they know their grandpa all too well, and they have faith that grandpa doesn't do anything without a good fight!!

We have been personally blessed to see many good things through this ordeal. We have seen the family (especially the siblings) pull together in an amazing way. Elisabeth has been so strong and solid through this (she is SO grown-up now!) being with her parents showing the resilience that God has blessed her with. Justin has become the vigilante for making sure the right questions are asked and the right actions are taken and even getting off of work for several days. Cory has also sacrificed several days and been such a huge help in keeping track the details and information doctors have been providing and even looking up on the internet to understand what is going on and this has been huge in making things not so overwhelming. Nathan has also felt the unconditional obligation in reflecting the love his parents have bestowed to him by being there as much as he can which he has felt is not enough.

Once again, thank-you to everyone who is praying, thinking, giving and asking about Lance and the family -- this is a huge ordeal for all of us and to know that we are not alone is so great. God's sovereignty is in this all!

Final prayers: 1- that Lance can come home this week (his platelets need to be above 20,000 and steadily rising!) 2- that the results for the siblings being tested as a bone marrow match come back positive on at least one of them

Thanks again!

Nicole Hall

Update from Elisabeth

Hello Everyone! Things have been a little better up here at the hospital today. Dad's platelets went up a little so we were happy about that, he is definatly not out of the danger zone yet but it was encouraging to see some signs of improvment. The doctors have been talking more about bone marrow transplant today and like Justin said the doctors are pretty sure that one way or another the transplant is going to happen. Dad's always said from the beginning that he wanted to be cured and this is the only chance of that happening. One of dad's doctors is very "colorful" and in his words, "were going to drop the bomb and nuke those little suckers out of ya." (Leukemia cells) We all would like to think that this will hopefully happen! In the other other news, while mom and I left the hospital for awhile today Justin snuck dad out on the rooftop cafe for awhile. Dad was so happy to be able to go outside again today. He can't go alone because the doctors are worried about him falling but with Justin's help he successfully made it outside. He went out to enjoy the sunshine but unfortunatly it starting raining, this didn't stop dad though. One thing he learned today is people are sure nice to a guy walking around in his pajama's, pushing an IV pole in the rain. Mom may not leave again for awhile. :) All and all dad has had a pretty good day no nose bleeds, terrific nurses, and lots of support. Dad wanted me to thank you again for all your thoughts and prayers. Will right again soon.

Elisabeth

Thursday, April 1st

Day 9 in Iowa city. I will just start with an update from today, if there is anyone who hasn't been informed of the last couple weeks feel free to email me at justin9hall@yahoo.com and I would be happy to give you more information. As of today the current medication they are using for his ITP has not started to work so they are trying a new drug today that will hopefully jump start his production of platelets. They have decide to not remove his spleen at this time because of a high risk of bleeding. The problem with bloody noses seems to get a little better everyday, since the nurses have found a couple different remedies for that problem. We met with the doctors and a bone marrow transplant specialist today. It seems as though a bone marrow transplant is becoming inevitable since the doctors believe that would be the best chance for a full recovery. And after hearing more and more information about that process we are all feeling comfortable with the idea of a transplant. The process of finding a donor through Lances siblings in already underway and the results should be back within a couple weeks to see if anyone is a match. The doctors biggest concern is with dad getting as much rest as possible, but with lots of appointments with doctors that has been a challenge for him . Overall he has had a positive day and continues to have a good attitude, and we all were excited to finally get some information on a transplant.

Justin

First post (more to come, I promise)

First of all thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers over the last year. We have decided to create a blog to have an outlet for anyone who is interested in updates on Lances condition a place to come and be informed. The title of the blog "A future and a hope" comes from Jeremiah 29:11, which is a verse that has given our family alot of comfort through these challenging times. Because as my Dad has said, no matter what happens we have already won! I would encourage you to pass on the location of this site to anyone that you may believe would be interested in updates.

Justin