Oh, we're not going anywhere in particular, just to do daily labs, but it was yesterday that seemed so long. With Jordan's youngest brother, Shane, on spring break from high school this week, Jordan really enjoyed having him as his chauffeur for the day. Having one of his brothers around gives him a boost of energy and well-being like nothing else does! Even the nausea cleared as the day wore on, and on, and on.
First stop was the clinic for a CBC (complete blood count). Wo Nelly,, it showed a trip to the hospital for a couple of bags of platelets needed to be added to the schedule. They had fallen from 21K to 9K in one day! It takes the hospital a couple of hours to prepare for a transfusion though, so that left plenty of time to visit Brianna's attorney who is helping her work through the labyrinth of requirements for gaining permanent U.S. residency. We've heard enough stories of botched immigration applications, and the stakes are so high, that we gladly forsook our mostly penurious ways to enlist the aid of an experienced immigration attorney. She gave Brianna a copy of the following letter written by Jordan's doctor for inclusion with the application.
March 4, 2008
To Whom It May Concern:
Mr. Washburn is suffering from metastatic sarcoma to bone marrow, stage IV. This is generally considered a fatal illness. The presence of his wife, Brianna, in my opinion, is considered essential to this patient's health at this time. His wife has been extremely helpful for allowing us to provide chemotherapy to this patient, keeping close records of his care and his side effects, and notifying when there has been a change of condition. The patient has required numerous hospitalizations for infections while receiving chemotherapy.
We are respectfully requesting that his wife, Brianna, be permitted to stay in this country to assist us in managing Mr. Washburn's malignancy.
Yours truly,
Norman Zuckerman
So yesterday's meanderings led through the clinic, to the attorney, the hospital, then on to Best Buy, Carl's Jr., and a place called All About Games. They left home at about 11:30, and didn't return until after 8 PM! You'd think retiring to bed would be the next move, but no, Jordan stayed up until a little past midnight. We were waiting and worrying at home during all these activities, but are pleased and happy that he had the stamina to go out and seize the day!
Jordan was diagnosed on Jan. 10, 2008, after five long weeks with an unknown, untreated, life-threatening illness, which turned out to be metastatic alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (mets ARMS).
Bonnie
Hello, I am Bonnie, mom of Jordan, who was born 3/16/82. Thank you for your visit, and please drop in again and again.
Jordan
Until 12/07, Brianna and I were living and working in China, with big plans for the future, when wham! out of nowhere, everything changed. My job now is to rub out rhabdo. Many thanks to all who are in the trenches with me.
Brianna
Hi, my name is Zhou Xui Qiong, but most people call me Brianna. Jordan and I were married in China, 9/19/06. We welcome you to our site.
14 comments:
How did that happen? Brianna edited out this very important paragraph from today's post:
"Brianna is a great blessing to Jordan, and to all of us. She arrived in this country
for the first time three months ago, devoting herself to Jordan's care, and winning
our hearts with her kind, gentle, fun-loving, charming, competent, adventurous ways.
It's not only Jordan who would be at a loss with out her. We will all breathe easier
when the visa is approved!" :)
Gotchah, Just Bonnie
Bonnie,
Sounds like Brianna is the long lost daughter you never had, what a blessing for her to be here at this most critical of times. Lets keep praying for a happy ending! Louise
Bonnie,
Sounds like Brianna is the long lost daughter you never had, what a blessing for her to be here at this most critical of times. Lets keep praying for a happy ending! Louise
Oops, I got a little finger happy and posted it twice. Sorry!
Sounds like it was a good day for Jordan and we have learned a lot about Brianna both her goodness and her modesty!!! Y'all make a great team together !!!Praying for more good days ahead!
JulieB
I am glad there was a good day in there and hope there are more to follow. Good luck Brianna with the immigration attorny etc.
Liz
Bonnie and Brianna--those names sound like a perfect Mother/Daughter/champion of Jordan team. Keep up the fight team! Don't mind my Mothers computer glitches, as we say in preschool; "you get what you get and you don't through a fit"!!
Thank you Julie, Liz, Louise, Louise, Louise, and Becky! :)
We love you, and your comments, with and/or without glitches.
We went to Provo to visit kids, I went to San Francisco on business, and go to Pocatello and SLC next week. So, it is nice to keep up with Jordan. Have you run out of movies to watch? Good for Shane to do something productive like drain the car of gas. I'm glad Jordan is home(?) for now. Take care. Kirt
Glad to know Jordon enjoyed the day. Adult (Shane's close enough) sibling time is great, especially w/a large age gap. Our only boys are over 6 yrs. apart and I love it when they spend time together, although they don't get much. Does Jordan play Settlers of Catan?
Hot Dog!! Sounds like Jordan and Shane had a good time tearing up Boise. I'm sure the city is still recovering from the exploits of those two young men.
As to whether Jordan plays Settlers of Catan the answer would be yes, but not in the way that you mean. You see when Jordan made his exodus to China he was playing Settlers of Catan of rl. For him it was a daily occurance to barter with wood, stone and all manner of grains. I have even heard tell that Jordan traveled from village to village challenging the local "strongman" to an arm wrestling match(this is how he won his wife). If this isn't Settlers of Catan for you then I don't know what is.
G
Kirt, are you always this footloose? The movies have been fun; they watched Groundhog Day this morning. Jordan wonders if you have Hook?
Hey, Kathy, as you can see, at least one of his brothers plays/ed Settlers of Catahn, but Jordan never really got into it (before going to China?). But he's got a couple of friends over right now as I type, just starting a role-playig board type game.
Oh, and Greg, will you write my biography for me? I bet it would be very colorful.
My thoughts and prayers are with you often. Your daily lives sound like a marathon boxing match. Keep the gloves on.
I'm glad Jordan got a chance to see his brother. What could be better?
I have seldom felt so helpless. Intellectually, I understand that this is a mortal world with mortal trials, but this is so difficult for all of you, and for us, as your friends, to imagine how difficult and painful all of this must be. Yet you are an example of a family who pulls together and just does what has to be done day after day with love and perseverence. I so miss the "simple" Porch days. I hope when all is said and done, you will still remember us.
Give Brianna and Jordan a virtual hug from me.
Rebekah Michah, my friend. It's a bit tricky to give a hug with my gloves on, but here's one for you of the bear variety.
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