Flowers from Vidir

Thank you!

Week 4 Update

Check out our other blogs
http://marthadueck.blogspot.com/
http://reneedueck.blogspot.com/
http://dueckpics.blogspot.com/

Renee is still stuck in Hospital. Nothing to do. Not feeling good.

Thursday was Thanksgiving Day here and Renee's childhood friend, Rebekah, came from Maine for a very welcome visit for a few days.

Martha and I went to church this morning. Renee had a good breakfast, but then started to feel not so good. She has some fever, tummy pains and generally has been sleeping most of the day. Anytime Renee has ANY fever, we go into hyperconcern! Hopefully her tummy pains are normal, but when there is NO immunity, everything has potential to be SERIOUS!

Renee did watch a bit of Gilmore Girls and before that the church service from our church, Eastview Community Church.

I am listening to the Grey Cup Game on CJOB on the net. Can't find any place to watch it here. CBC on line video says we are in the wrong part of the world to watch the game from here!

Martha is reading "Oceans Apart" by Karen Kingsbury, and I'm reading "Love & Respect" by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. Wow! What a book! It should be the first book every couple reads! Too bad it wasn't in print in 1971.

Friday I had some business meetings in Toronto.

Tomorrow it's back to Winnipeg till next Sunday.

Renee, of course, is still hoping her white cell counts will come back before Dec 14, when she is scheduled to travel to DR for a friend's wedding. Thanks for standing with her in prayer!

If you managed to read through all these ramblings, you are indeed a friend. Thanks for your friendship!

--
Raymond and Martha Dueck

359 E 68th Street Apt 2A, New York, NY 10065
Martha 917-751-0421
email ReneeDueck@gmail.com phone Renee (917) 750-4128
Keep up to date by reading Renee's blog at http://reneedueck.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=747310337

Raymond 352.235.4688

See Renee's hospital at http://www.mskcc.org/
Support our favorite charity http://www.thelifelight.com/

What is heaven like?

The Kingdom of Heaven - James Leonard http://www.trinityny.org/
For Adam and Eve life was perfect. Sin destroyed that.
What kinds of prayers do I pray? Something that has to do with my will - success. Win-win with God. Bargain with "God bless our will." Our plan. So we can feel good about what we want to do. Matth 16:25
If we want the kingdom, we need to deny ourselves. Jesus describes the characteristics of someone who will inherit the kingdom.
Jesus never said receive me into your heart. He said repent and be born again.
Jesus has a new administration. When Jesus takes power over a life there is a complete change.
Our self life is an addiction. We can't put it down. It'll come back.
The only way to get victory is to die to self.
AA is the most successful program. The 1st step is to admit you are powerless.
Henry Cloud comes across 2 different kinds of Christians. 1. Got it all together no problems don't associate with anyone who has problems. Or
2.Those who are ragtag admit they have problems and rely on God for growth.

Abraham was told to leave it all behind. He died to his own problems. God told him he will become the father of many nations. 40 years went by from the promise to the birth of Isaac. He loved his son. His entire future was invested in this boy. Then God tested him. How can you justify the 2? How long could he wait? The next morning he left. God knew what Isaac meant to Abraham. "your only son whom you love" God knew how much Abraham loved Isaac almost to the point of losing love for God.
This was an act of mercy to help Abraham learn to trust God completely. God stops the killing and says "now I know you love me"
God loves us so much he did not hold back his own son from death for our sake.

To experience the kingdom of God is not easy.
Do we want a God we can manage? Buy $3 worth of God. Warm milk. A pound of the eternal in a paper sack. Not someone who will change us

We need complete and utter transformation.

Thanksgiving in New York

Lunch today was hosted by volunteers at the hospital. Turkey and all the trimmings were delicious!

Martha and I went for a long walk in Central Park. The streets are virtually empty, but the park was full of people out for a walk. Watched the skaters on the skating rink, took some pictures and generally got excercize.

After we got back we bought a rotisserie cooked chicken at Dallas Barbeque for $6.99 and white/brown/wild/red rice to make Turkey Wild Rice Soup for supper for the 4 of us. (Rebekah, a friend of Renee's since childhhood, arrived in the afternoon for a 3 day visit.) For dessert we ordered pumpkin pie from the Thanksgiving Menu at the hospital.

Renee is feeling much better today. Yesterday she had a lot of pain on the right side of the face. After a dental checkup she was given a clean bill of teeth health, but the pain only increased. She put on the Vicks Vapor Rub I got for her. She also did a thing that her cousin, who is a physical therapist had shown her to do for TMJ and it got better.

Tomorrow I will spend the day in Toronto meeting with customers and consultants. Saturday back here and home again on Monday.

Happy Anniversary!

Mom and Dad:
59 years ago I was a gleam in your eyes! Thank you for giving me life, love, and guidance.

You are an inspiration not only to me and my siblings, but also to everyone that has had the privilege of knowing you. May God bless you with health and fulfillment for many more years.

Your firstborn
Raymond

Monday Tuesday

Justin; Day off from friends and work. Kind of an ugly day outside - stayed in bed. Everytime I got out of my room I asked myself why? Start work at 12 tomorrow. Spent time with Adam yesterday. Both just working like a troll. Hiding under a rock of work.

Kara; did nothing. Don't want personal info on internet. Class starts at 10:30 tomorrow.

Renee; Excited! got my wig today. It matches my real hair. They made it from the picture I emailed to them.

Martha made supper and brought it to Renee. They had watched Martha Stewart show featuring a pineapple seafood dish. They got the recipe off the website.

Alayna; too busy to join us for supper. Studying. Kara was dissappointed not to be
able to join the party last Friday. They will go out tomorrow.

I'm flying again in the morning- Oh that's boring!

Thanks for the Lasagna!

That was delicious! Thanks to Esther Dyck, I had a delicious supper and there are 7 more meals in the freezer for Kara and Justin to enjoy!

Week 3 Update

Here is Renee's Update:

------------------------------------
I got another line put in on Friday. Hurts like crazy, but at least I don't have to keep getting my arms stuck, and typing is so much easier when you can actually use both hands. Other than that nothing has happened. My counts have stayed the same...which is nothing. I'm still in the hospital so I don't do anything. That's it.

-- http://www.reneedueck.blogspot.com/
------------------------------------

I came home on Wednesday night and went to work Thursday and Friday. Thanks to so many wonderful people that keep things running even when I'm not there!

Karalee went to New York Friday, and will be back Monday night. Justin is busy at his job as Assistant Manager at Subway. Alayna is studying at U of W. Alayna, Justin, Jill & I celebrated Alayna's 21st birthday on Friday at Restaurant Dubrovnik. See the pictures on the blog.

Martha goes back and forth across the street from the hospital to the apartment, bringing salads and other appetizing meals to Renee for a bit of variety from the hospital food.

I'm returning to New York on Wednesday, to Toronto on Friday, and back to Winnipeg on Monday!

Hopefully Renee's white cell count will be up on time for us all to go to Florida for a week at Christmas. - Ray

Hi from Andre

We are watching the game - the Bombers will win. Only 8 secords left.
It snowed today. Ned likes snow.

Alayna's Birthday

Alayna's 21st Birthday Celebration! Restaurant Dubrovnik, one of the premier resaurants of Winnipeg is a nice place to enjoy really good food! We missed her real birthday last Saturday.

Alayna is modelling the dress we bought for her in New York.

More pictures at DueckPics

Supper at The Empress of China.

No Challenge is too big for you.
A smile a day keeps your enemies away.
Where there is doubt, there is truth.
If all you have is a hammer you see all your problems as nails. Kara's Prof

Kara and I went out for supper. She is flying to NYC leaving YWG at 6:20 am

Life's opportunities never end. God designed you to be a continual learner, a continual doer, a continual explorer and a continual giver. Paula White.

Faith is not believing God can; it is knowing that he will. Guideposts

This past Tuesday the Governor of Georgia called a prayer meeting to pray for rain to end the drought. Wednesday it rained! CBC

Home Again

Alayna's Birthday presents.

New York fashion in Winnipeg!

Energetic

Renee is feeling good, except for the itchiness due to chemo.

She was begging for an exercise bike today. They wouldn't let her have it unless her platelet count was high enough. They were not. So she went up to the activity room on 15 and did some crafty things and to check out the library.

When I left LGA she was waiting for platelets. Renee would love to do some cooking to practice all the things they talk about on Martha Steward.

She is still hoping to go to her friend's wedding (to be the Maid of Honor) in DR Dec 14. Something to hope and pray for.

Thanks for the Flowers!

A beautiful bouquet of flowers arrived today from Mennville EMC Church
Martha took them to Renee. She has been moved to 917

Our address
359e 68th Street Apt 2A NY NY 10065

2nd Week Review

Here is this week's update from Renee:
-------------------
Well, I'm in the hospital again. I got admitted on Friday because I'd been having fevers and shaking chills. Then they decided to take out my central line (which was put in barely a week ago because it might be the source of infection causing the fevors. Needless to
say I am a little annoyed by this, because it means putting IVs into my arms, which my already finicky veins do not take a liking to.

Thank goodness this round of chemo was finished already because chemo through a peripheral IV is hell. Anyway, the cultures from my central line grew back gram negative rods (no clue what that is) and the fevers have stopped so I suppose they did the right thing. They'll probably try to put in another central line soon, but they won't do it until my white cell counts come up and bit and I am completely clear of infection.

Other than that...I've been using eye drops to protect my eyes during chemo, however the eye drops really hurt my eyes and made them supersenstive to light, but they gave me different eye drops and it's okay now. I also have figured out the correct anti-nausea meds and I can eat and not throw up now, so I have more energy, which is nice I
guess.

Another good thing is that they've changed the rules to the neutropenic diet I have to be on while my counts are low. I am allowed to eat lettuce now so I can have salads!! yes, I am a nerd. I love salad.

So even thought it all sounds nice and I'm feeling better, I'll still be here in the hospital for awhile, because once they get you in they don't let you out until your counts come back up high enough. So that's the part that sucks because there isn't too much to do here and
you can't go anywhere and it's boring and lonely. I mostly watch a lot of TV and movies and listen to music on my ipod and now that my eyes are better I can get on the computer and email and stuff again.

I'm going to be giving this update to my dad to send out on his list as well as sending it out myself, so some of you might get this twice, but whatever.

Something you can pray for is that I get my old cell phone back. I am going to be disconnecting it but I still want it because it has everyone's phone numbers. I had left it in Winnipeg and my sister express posted it last week and it still hasn't arrived. If it gets lost that would suck.
--
http://www.reneedueck.blogspot.com/

-----------------------

Renee is feeling much better today and for that we are thankful.

I plan to be flying home this week. Kara is coming out next weekend. Our New York Address as of tomorrow will be:

The Duecks (or Renee etc)

359 e 68th Street Apt 2A, New York, NY 10065

If some of our Winnipeg friends would like to provide homemade soup or casseroles to the ones at home, please indicate by email. Thanks.

Raymond and Martha Dueck
Martha 917-751-0421
email ReneeDueck@gmail.com
Keep up to date by reading Renee's blog at http://reneedueck.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=747310337
Martha's blog http://marthadueck.blogspot.com/

See our pictures at http://www.dueckpics.blogspot.com/
We live in E St Paul MB Canada R2E 0L2 and attend Eastview Community Church
See Renee's hospital at http://www.mskcc.org/
Support our favorite charity http://www.thelifelight.com/

Sunday in the dark

When I got to the hospital yesterday Renee was groggy and had some rash. Her chemo is finished but she has to stay in the hospital till her counts come up.

By suppertime Renee was feeling well and anxious to start eating. When she tried to order a meal they told her she was under orders not to get anything by mouth. She rang her nurse, who checked with her doctor and in no time she was allowed to order her food. She was given a neutropenic menu, she phoned the kitchen and a few minutes later, she was enjoying dinner.

This morning her eyes hurt and so all the curtains are are closed and she wears sun glasses in the darkened room. They are trying different eye drops now. Hopefully that will help.

We were in church this morning

Renee wants us to go out and buy her some lunch and plain eye drops.

So we did and Martha made a salad and we shared a meal in Renee's room.

We will be meeting Gen tomorrow to firm up the apartment rental.

Now we are in waiting mode. Praying that her counts will come up soon, and she'll be in full remission.

She's in Room 936 (isn't that a good number?)
Her phone # (917) 750-4128

Memorial Day 2007

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
- John McCrae, 1915

Trinity Baptist Church

11-11-07 Revelation 4 the Prayer of Eternity
There is someone on the throne
After the church age ch4-ff
24 elders- 3:41 the overcomers - us - the 24 orders of the priesthood. We are the Kings and Priests to serve our God. v2 someone is sitting on the throne. Someday it will all make sense.
Ruben (ruby) means Behold the Son- crystal- (clear) the promised one
Rainbow- promise- patience of God
Thunder- justice and wrath of God
God dealt with sin on the cross. At some point judgement will come.
4 living creatures are mentioned 3X. Their job is to adore God. God sees everything. He'll do something about the evil He sees. God is a Lion King- Ox - Strength, Sacrifice- he is also a man- Eagle- high and lifted up. Matthew - Man. Mark-Lion. Luke-Ox. John-King the 4 faces of God.
God is perfect holy holy holy day and night. Jesus is the Righteous one who stands in my place.
He is in control who we pray to.
Through the Cross God established Jesus as King and some day every knee WILL bow in worship to Him. The prayer of Rev4 should be our prayer today.

Apartment Hunting

For what it's worth- finding an apartment in NYC is not easy

Call - Geneveve Pacana 917.576.1906 359 68th 2B $4500/mo
Serenthropic@yahoo.com
meet at 7pm

11/5/07 Sandy Ira 212,861.7200 $46OO large 2br. 1OOO sft The Somerset 1365 York
Terrific Million $ view 36th floor Unit C
Gym in the building
10th floor units available for less 3995/mo

Recoments Sherrie or Jay short term rentals

Rental furniture from CORT $6oo/mo 201.259.9339 #5 train to Williamsburg Road

917.312. 8643 Kevin

917.806.3467 Scott Schiller Anchor 917.8066467

Lainie City habitat 917-2912523 Has some apartment units to show
1456 1st at 76
66 1 br 1st 72nd
Meet at 77 1466 1st Ave 9am Saturday

212879.8021 415e64 Call Wednesday

Debra 212.755.6364 420e64 425e 63 Coop takes one month to get approval aibmgmtcorp.com

439e75 $26oo go look at it during the day 3rd floor 3A doorman "don't know enyting"

not so good too far away.25Oe63 2nd Ave $4600 12OOsft
Huge 2 bedroom
Bellmarc.com 917.7700310 212.239.0900 X213
RichieLin 213 355.e72 nothing available
1br large $36oo one bath 12%

Miravel 2br IO27 sft I.4m$

212.317.7866 917.697.6774 Douglas Gomes 422 e 72nd $5250 one year rental will look fr short term

212 986 0001 Akam 420e72rd
Steven Shechter 302
Try furnishedquarters.com

For sale- Sabrina Miller Citi 917.439.5026 399 72nd e will check 355e72

Patricia Mott 212.628.6688

Urbana 220e 72nd
212.755-5645 2br $76oo mo

Janzer 311e72 212.744.4148
Beautiful old elevator building

11/3/07 Luxury 212.249.0367 201e 69
212.265.2280 219e69
212 376 8600 Goodstein 300 e 71 2127551500
315e69
415 Madison ave Gamily haft

212-5702867 ellen fader

359 68th doorman Sheila Clejau has a unit in 2 week 212.935.0719 7A $4900 Rented

9b Jonathan Adams Aida 212.292.5125 price reduced to $4.4oo furnished

Dauda 359e 68th
212.439.0729

Across from eye ear hospital- hotel on 64th Lyden Gardens

347 436 5440 Micheal Andre Bernard reference

209 E 66 6oo sq ft $2495 too small for table and sofa
213 3d small elevator $2695 elect extra gas included intercoms
12% 1 yr maybe sub lease? Officially no
Adam Cantor

Birchwood 235- 69th and 2nd 518.829 6791 nis

3oo 69th 646 210 3127
Captains bed 270 e 78 $1750 #1 lives at #4

1269 1st 718.337.4357 nis

Finsbury mgmt Jeff 201.947.7300 401 e 68 LM

Helmsley
1505 @ week hospital rate One large room.
Onebedroom 168o a week Dec9
Belair Hotel 71st
435 70th Carol - 212.606.1989 $399 @ day 1 bedroom

Victorian mgmt 212.768.7540 421 th
Forsale Kingsley
212.381 3325 Dan
917.312.5375 cell 550 sqft $659,000
Debra rent 1101 917.494.4566

352.235.4688

212 249 2887 3D
1270 1st Ave at 68 Alvera Super
Jeff 201 947 7300 21oo/mo 6mo
(201) 947-5930 floor needs Varnish 2br small bath

Ellen Fader 212.570.2867 Bed & Breakfast $95 night luxury

212 376 8600 Goodstein 300 e 71 2127551500
315e69

Lainie City habitat 917-2912523
11/9/07 Changed to 11am
Meet at 77 1466 1st Ave 9am Saturday

Has some apartments units to show
1456 1st at 76
66 1 br 1st 72nd
------------
Paul Hunt
Citi Habitats, Inc.
250 Park Ave South Floor 5
New York, NY 10003

C: 646-641-3252
---------------

71st and 1st se
It is $2800 plus fee $2500
Shoshi Kushnir Lee beautiful Russian agent
Shoshi@anchornyc.com
Cell:917-648-2428
210e68 Nofee $3150 12K

Happy Birthday Alayna!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
So sorry we can't be with you on this important day.

We pray that you will have a good and blessed day. May the God of peace and comfort be with. May His face shine on you and give you peace.

We'll throw a party for you whenever it works out.

Love and Prayers

Mom and Dad

Friday

I had to go to Atlanta for the Convenience Store Show put on by the Petroleum Association. We showed our Propane Vending Carousel.

Renee continued getting her 3 days of chemo. Nausea and ultimately fever came with that. They pulled the central line and started 2 I.V.'s admitting her to hospital for treatment. Martha will stay the night with her. Fortunately she is in a private room.

This evening the fever was coming down with treatment.

I'm stuck in Memphis waiting for the flight that is 2 hrs late. It will be midnight by the time I get to New York

Tuesday

Ronald McDonald House (RMH) is spending a fortune getting ready for the annual fund raising thing. All the living room furniture has to go into storage and replaced by some fancy rental stuff. The kitchens are still a mess.

Still looking for an apartment. Saw a 2 bedroom 2 bath unit on 75 with a cranky doorman. Not worth $2600

Meeting w Ira at the Sommerset. He has a 10th floor unit for $3995/mo. Not so good - No view.

My computer quit doing the wireless thing. I guess I should buy a new one. Best Buy has a lot of variety. Verizon has a high speed internet package for a decent price.

I'm booked to fly to Atlanta tomorrow. Come back Friday.

Renee is starting her next round of chemo tomorrow. She is not feeling good today. She will feel worse in a few days. Now would be a good time to call her (917) 750-4128 or email reneedueck@gmail.com

We are traveling to Brooklyn to shop at Target. At 7pm we will meet w Genevieve to sign for the apartment.

Raymond Dueck-

this email generated on Pocket PC containsTypos

Apartments-

What is better?
A) $35 a day for a small room at Ronald McDonald
B) $4500 @ month across the street from the hospital furnished - no view and noisy 2nd floor near 1st Ave.
C) $4600 unfurnished large 1000 sqft with a million-dollar view overlooking East River and Rooseveld Island
D) $2600 unfurnished no view 5 blocks away

We are still at Ronald McDonald. Renee is tired but otherwise feeling ok. She had eggs bacon and toast for breakfast

Renee's new phone # (917) 750-4128
Martha's (917) 751-0421

Wisdom

Now and then it's good to pause in the pursuit of happiness and just be happy. Guillaume Apollinaire

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands, but in seeing with new eyes. Marcel Proust

Renee in New York 3

You may already have heard that our daughter Renee was diagnosed with a recurrence of leukemia. She was treated 2 years ago in New York at MSKCC. This time they will have to do a bone marrow transplant. They have identified a matching donor but because of an unmatched bone marrow transplant when she was a baby, this will be a first and therefore a scary one!

I plan to be in New York till Martha and Renee are settled into a new apartment. I will then travel between Winnipeg and New York on a regular basis.

We update our blogs on a regular basis and send emails to the people who ask to be on the list, once or twice a week. We appreciate your prayers and we want to keep you informed if that is your desire.

Renee's Blog
Martha's Blog
My Blog
Renee's facebook email ReneeDueck@gmail.com

Diagnosis
Trauma of the Heart
Update 4
Not Happy
Update 6
Chemo
Week 1 Review

This email comes from NY, NY, 10021
US cell 352.235.4688 Canada cell 204-782-2112

Sunday New York Marathon

The greatest event of the year in the greatest city in the world 30,000 runners from around the world. $500,000 purse to the winner

Renee was feeling lousy this morning so Martha and I walked to Church along 1st Ave and we had walk past 58 to cross 1st and get back to 61st and 2nd to get to www.TrinityNY.org

Pastor Keith Boyd spoke on prayer and the music team led in singing

How could I but love you
How could I but serve you
God Almighty

We also celebrated the Lord's Supper and rented 2 novels from the library.

I went for a walk with Renee. I wanted to take a picture of her in front of the 17 Mile marker but she said today was a "no pictures day"

Supper tonight (12 Course buffet) at Ronald McDonald house was put on by the 28 chefs of Cucina Gourmet at CitiCorp and hosted by the rich young lady owner. She does this kind of thing at a cancer facility once a year.

Week 1 Review

Last week Thursday and Wednesday I was on an Innovations Insight Tour into North Dakota to tour best practices at Friesen, Case IH Steiger, and Pheonix John Deere, with a number of our key business team members. On the way home, we heard from Renee, that her leukemia diagnosis had been confirmed.

Martha and I traveled to Vancouver 1st thing Friday morning, met with Dr Hogge, and agreed that Renee should travel to New York for medical care.

We flew to Winnipeg Monday and to New York Tuesday. Saw the doctors on Wednesday and Renee started chemo on Thursday, and Martha donated blood so they could start building the monoclonal antibodies to create a 2ndary treatment option. Later that day we got a call from BC Health confirming that Renee had been approved for chemo and bone marrow transplant costs in New York. PTL! The first prescription cost $9,544.76 for a small bagful of stuff!

Friday we spent a bunch of time looking for apartments. They range in price from less than $1,750 a month to $5,500 a month. Some furnished, some unfurnished. We were even offered a 550 sq ft condo for $659,000!

For $4,500 we can get a fully furnished 2 bedroom month to month rental in the same building we were in 18 years ago at 201 e 69th Street.

That requires a $9,000 deposit so I went to the bank where I had deposited a cheque on Tuesday night, expecting that the funds would be there. When I got there, they told me they had sent the cheque back to my mailing address. That might be our Florida office address, or the apartment we had 2 years ago, or our address in East St Paul. Since I could not get that money anytime soon, I called the Credit Union in Winnipeg for a wire transfer. It was after 3pm and they could not do it till Monday. I needed to send them a fax authorizing it. I wrote it up and gave it to the bank here to fax over, but Winnipeg didn’t get it. So Winnipeg gave me an email address, and that bounced! Turns out they have changed their email addresses and the staff gave me the wrong one.

So here is hoping the apartment is still available Tuesday when the money from Winnipeg should get here.

Renee elected to start chemo right away so she could get over it as soon as possible. Her regimen included a 30 hour infusion so she had to stay in the hospital overnight. We expect that by late tonight she will be allowed out. She has been very nauseous and miserable. She was a strong and healthy as can be on Tuesday. She will get very sick in the next few days and loose her hair, etc

Puke

This is NO FUN!

Good thing is that this is the place to be. There is no where else in the work where they have ever done this kind of treatment. The doctors here at MSKCC have been experimenting with this dual HLA transplant on mice for a long time, and they think they have the solution. Pray that God would give wisdom, and keep Renee from getting really sick. Pray that the right combination of treatments will result in a lifetime cure.

Thank you so much for caring and praying. I know that too often, I am not thoughtful enough for the needs of others and it is humbling to know that you care. Your emails are a great comfort. Send to RaymondMartha@Duecks.com and ReneeDueck@gmail.com Alayna.Dueck@gmail.com KaraDueck@gmail.com JustinJustin on facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=516029233

Martha’s blog http://marthadueck.blogspot.com/2007/11/inch-by-inch.html
Renee’s blog http://reneedueck.blogspot.com
Renee’s facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=747310337

Next week I was scheduled to be in Atlanta for the Convenience Store show where we want to show www.GasToGo.com propane vending systems – a new product for us. Since the apartment rental is not complete yet, I guess David and Jonathan will do that show without me. I’m sure they’ll be just fine.

Right now Renee is sleeping. We are still at Ronald McDonald house. Hopefully we will find better accommodation soon.

She has to come into the clinic again on Wednesday if she doesn’t get sick.

Ron and Len winterized my boat today so I don’t have to worry about it freezing up over the winter. Thanks guys!

NEW YORK Marathon tomorrow! We’ll be watching! 26 miles of Manhattan has portable steel fencing on both sides, and no overnight parking tonight!

Chemo

Hospital
Puke

this thing made by Bill Gates seems to have lost the posting I worked on today so I'm going to bed.

God Answers Prayer

Psalm 65.1-13

Our God, you deserve praise in Zion, where we keep our promises to you. Everyone will come to you because you answer prayer. Our terrible sins get us down, but you forgive us. You bless your chosen ones, and you invite them to live near you in your temple. We will enjoy your house,
the sacred temple.

Does Jesus care?

Frank Graeff went through some very difficult trials. The period beforewriting this song was one of great despondency, doubt and physical pain.When he turned to God's Word, 1 Peter 5:7 gave him wonderful comfort: "Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about what happens to you." After meditating on that truth, Graeff wrote these lyrics, with the resounding affirmation in the chorus, "Oh yes, He cares..." May this truth also encourage you today and in the days to come! I'm praying for you. --
Martha K.

Does Jesus Care?
Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress
And the way grows weary and long?

Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?

Refrain:
Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Saviour cares.

Renee 6 New York

We had on uneventful trip. Kara missed a class and Justin arranged to start work at noon so they could accompany us to the airport.

When we come home from Vancouver Monday night, Kara had the house cleaned and waiting. Grandma and Grandpa Dueck and Rose and Gloria, brought delicious borsht soup for supper. Renee's cousin Krista and sister Alayna joined us to make it 11 people around the table for a wonderful time of fellowship.

Ronald McDonald house here is 0K but there still appears to be no real management in place. Everything is filthy. They have lots of staff that say ''hello" readily enough, but do nothing all day. The kitchen has 20 year old mosaic tile counters with black in the grout lines. This morning at 8:30 all the dining room chairs were on the tables upside down (with all the chair seat filth and last night's ice cream transferred to the table tops). While I was trying to eat someone came in with an old upright vacuum and started vacuuming the floor.

We saw Dr O'Reilley and Dr Steinherz yesterday. This morning Martha is donating blood so they can start some new procedure for which they think they will get FDA approval by mid-December. Renee will get a line put in this morning and get her spinal fluid chemo while under sedation.

When we saw the hospital accounts manager yesterday he made sure we understood not to worry about payment for anything. The Physician's Billings department had just called earlier in the morning asking for payment for $30,000 outstanding from 2 years ago. He said not to worry - he would take care of it. Clearly this is a unique situation. The American Medical Association has already approved this mysterious procedure.

Dr O'Reilley tried to explain it- I made some notes I can't understand either: 10/31/07 Renee went into easy remission last time - let's do it again-
2 plans to get rid of leukemia includes 2ndary transplant
We have found a matching unrelated donor. If we do a normal transplant Renee could get graft vs. graft response that could potentially be fatal.

Will bleed Martha to create WT1 antigens. We expect FDA approval by Dec 15

White Cells only
Peptides of proteins treatment is Now on IRB approved protocol
1. Chemo to remission
Transplant from unrelated donor. T cell depleted.
Martha's cells would be backup. Those cells would be like autologous donor.
We need to train Martha's cells to fight leukemia. 8 weeks to get that squared off. Transplant in January
Maybe out for Christmas in remission.

That journey starts again today.

Last night we took a walk though Central Park and took a horse and carriage ride to Times Square for dinner at Le Tre-Venezie Italian restaurant and then to George Bernard Shaw's play "Pygmalion" the play that inspired the Musical "My Fair Lady". What a show! When Renee read that it was playing she wanted to go there. When she checked the web it showed the show starting Nov 1. How disappointing! When we got to TKTS they were showing 1/2 price tickets available.