Home With Family

Hi All,  Dad's stay at Karmanos for this 4th treatment went pretty well.  As with the last administration of these particular chemotherapy drugs his blood cell levels begin to drop before he was scheduled to leave the hospital.  So the decision was made to keep him an extra day so that he could get another blood transfusion.  Except for a few delays all went well and they made it home on Friday afternoon. 

Before going to get his Neulasta shot on Saturday, he and Mom picked up my sister Natalie and my aunt Lois from the bus station.  They are visiting from Tennessee for the week.  My aunt Lois is who I call my 'auntie-mom'.  Natalie and I spent all our summers in Tennessee, Uncle Milton and Aunt Lois' house was 'home base'. 

Dad mentioned today that he could hardly feel the indentation of the tumor on the outside of his chest wall.  He will have another CT scan and an echo cardiogram on Friday.  We will know after these test what the next steps for treatment will be.

God Bless all of you.  We love you.

He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.  Psalm 107:20

4TH Treatment For 4 Days

Greeting Family and Friends,

I just spoke to Dad and they are checking into Karmanos for his 4th treatment cycle of chemotherapy.  Dad sounds good.  Said he slept "pretty good" but was sleepy now.  We both agreed that he could forget about sleep now, he's at 'hotel revolving door'.  Where their motto is: We wait until we think you're sleeping then burst into your quiet atmosphere with a loud greeting to take your blood pressure for the one hundreth time today!

This cycle was originally set up as a five day treatment.  But because Dad had a bout with neutropenia the last time it was administered, his oncologist decided to reduce it by one day.

Vocabulary Review: neutropenia- A condition or side effect of the chemo where the white blood cells decrease, which inturn affects the body's ability to fight off infections. 

Please keep them lifted up in prayer this week, as these times are the most strenuous. 

Prayer Focus:

• For Mom's strength and blood pressure regulation- total healing in her body.
• That the tumor responds effectively to this treatment.
• No side effects from this treatment
• Wisdom and percision for the medical staff
• And of course remember Dorian, because of all that is going on we have not been able to go see him.  Pray for his imminent return to us and favor with those in decission-making positions.   His birthday is next month. (11/23)  Please help us celebrate by sending him cards, written prayers, and pictures in the mail. Our goal is 100 pieces of mail!  Send two or more if you can. Dorian is a wonerful blessing and encouragement to our family and we KNOW God is working on his behalf. 

Mr. Dorian L. Robertson 512334
Cooper Street Correctional Facility
3100 Cooper St.
Jackson, MI  49201 

Note: you must include the number after his name or the mail will be returned to you.
If it is your desire, please send all monetary gifts in money orders made out to Dorian, envelope addressed to Mom and Dad's address in Detroit. (please email  me for their address if needed) Monetary mail is not accepted at his facility.

Please know that this act of kindness will not only encourage Dorian, but it will also encourage Dad and Mom.

Thank you for your love, prayers, and support.

Staying Warm

Just spoke to Dad earlier today.  His appointment with the oncologist went well.  He's free to roam about until his 4th treatment cycle in mid October!  A few more side effects, including fatigue, but doing well otherwise.  When I called I asked him if he was having a good day?  His reply to me was, "Yeah, I guess because I woke up this morning it's a good day."  I said, "yes Daddy, you're right."  His words changed the  face of my day.  I messed up.  The question I should have asked is:  Dad, How are you feeling today?

He was outside enjoying his 'personal space' staying warm.  We spoke of cool Fall days approaching, rap and football stars who waste their money on stuff, and how we should have gotten tickets to go up to 'The Big House' at U of M for a game.  We had made preliminary plans to charter a bus for family and friends to go to the Classic game in Indianapolis next month. We also talked about that.  We're now making plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Trusting God for renewed strength and total healing!

Promise Land, TN

I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. Psalm 40:1

What Would You Do?

Finally...It seemed like months since I'd been home, so Harry, the girls, an I drove up to see about Mom and Dad this weekend.  We were going to surprise them, but Harry wanted Mama's famous catfish nuggets and fries for dinner so I had to call ahead and put our order in.  And of course Dad made his  famous toss green salad made fresh with his garden veggies.  Dad makes the salad even when he's not feeling up to it.  He complains that Mom and I only use lettuce and cucumbers. He,on the other hand, finely chops up all sorts of peppers, onions, tomatoes, etc.   We stayed up with Dad and watched the Honeymooners, with Cedric the Entertainer.  (I thought of you cousin Ben) Getting him a dose of laughter.

Dad is doing fine, not moving fast but moving nonetheless.  He has gained some of his weight back and looks good.  He was up early Saturday morning for his morning walk.  Dad does experience some pain and a constant headache.   However I believe boredom is his greatest side effect.  I'm thinking of getting him an Internet job. He goes back to the doctor Wednesday and won't have treatment again until the 2nd week in October. 

Harry and I have been making a few updates around the house while there and we needed to go by The Home Depot to get a few supplies.  As we were walking towards the store we noticed a man's legs hanging out of the drivers side of a jeep window, fresh broken glass on the ground next to it! It took us both several seconds to actually process this picture. In milliseconds I thought, 'Did this guy break his own window b/c he locked himself out? NO...  But if so, why didn't he just open the door?  Why did he jump through the broken glass, what is he fidgeting with in the dashboard?  After those seconds passed we both realized that this thug was stealing the radio or some other device out of this Jeep! Mind you, it is 1:00 p.m., broad daylight!

Now we have stopped, but others are walking by, looking in the direction we're looking and pointing, but saying nothing. They're just shaking their heads and moving on.  I don't have my phone so I tell Harry to get his cell phone and dial 911. While he's describing what is happening right in front of us to the  dispatcher, I notice a man in a grey Suburban parked directly  in front of the jeep. (engine running)  He and I make eye contact, then he says to me, 'ain't nun-a-my business'.  By now the thief is squirming backwards out of the broken window, stereo in hand,  and jumps into the grey Suburban!  They pull out of the parking lot and down the street.  Harry tells the dispatcher that he's now gone and which direction the driver is heading.  Harry and another lady, who catches up to us and explains she also saw what happened, head into the store to report to the store manager.

With all that is in me I knew that Harry wanted to rush the guy, drag him out of that Jeep and beat the snot out of him.  But every time he moved towards the vehicle I motioned him back.  If I had known the Suburban was the get-a-way truck I'd gone around the back of the truck to get his plate number. (Michigan doesn't have front plates and at the time I didn't connect the dots)
Our first thoughts were that this guy is vandalizing someones vehicle, its wrong, and he must be stopped.  The second thought was if we don't do something now, it could be our vehicle the next time. I'm aware we were in Detroit and it wasn't worth taking a bullet, but it was worth a phone call to the police.

What would you Do?




Robertson Family Reunion Dickson, TN 2006



Now WHERE did the rest off the Family go? Oh it's clean up time so you fanished.... :-)



Night At The Movies

Just wanted to let you know that Dad's appointment last Wednesday went well.  The CT Scan shows that the tumor continues to shrink.  All his blood work numbers were pretty good. No temperature.  He enjoyed just being home.  Dad is having a little trouble sleeping at night and the issue with the fatigue, but otherwise very few side effects to note.

Cousin Joe and Gloria (mom's nephew and niece) from Tennessee visited Dad and Mom this weekend.  What a wonderful surprise!  We are so very blessed to have such wonderful family and friends.  Over the years I have had so many of my personal friends say that they have never witnessed such closeness in a family.

One of the things that is so unique about my family is the closeness of my paternal and maternal families. My parents are both from very small nearby communities in Tennessee.  There was only one high school for Blacks in their area.  Mom and her six siblings and Dad and his six siblings attended the same high school. Each of their families with children around the same age.  So it works out that almost everyone of Mom siblings was in the same graduating class as of one of Dad's.  It might sound cheesy to you, but it's so neat to me.  Needless to say, my Dad and Mom were high school sweethearts!  Dad, I hear, was a basketball and football star while Mom was their class valedictorian.  Sounds like the the making of a movie, doesn't it?  Anyway, what this affords me is a cousin base of about 1 million! :-)  No not really, but almost.  Fast forward 50 years married and here we are.

Dad and Mom checked into Karmanos this morning for the administering of chemotherapy cycle #3.  This was the first time I was not able to go with them. (sidebar:  I couldn't drive because I fell and broke a bone in my arm when Harry and I took the kids roller skating a week ago- Friday)   We called and prayed with Mom early this morning.  And I know you all are yet praying too. 

Again I say, thank you.  Your love, calls, cards, visits, and prayers reach far beyond the surface of our hearts and most importantly God's heart.

 I needed clothes and you clothe me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me...When did we see you sick or in prison and go visit you?...The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'  
Matthew 25: 36, 39, and 40  NIV (Please read the entire of Matt 25:31-46 in order to fully understand this verse of scripture)

Prayer and Praise Focus:

• Wisdom for the Doctors 
• Steady-clean hands for the nurses and technicians who will care for Dad via touching him and his power port
• The tumor continues to respond to the chemotherapy by shrinking and not spreading 
• That during this journey Dad is transformed, even more, to the man that God has called him to be
• Dynamic strength for Mom  
• And please pray for Dorian as well

Dad and Mom 46 Wedding Anniversary

God Bless.

Renewed Strength

Dad has been regaining his strength since his return home last Monday.  Remember he was hospitalized unexpectedly on the 2nd of September when he went in for a blood infusion.  His temperature was almost 103 degrees and his blood counts were way low.

Dad had several out of town visits this weekend from some of our family in Ohio.  Uncle Hubert and Uncle Jack went up for the day on Saturday.  And Uncle John and Aunt Francine drove up yesterday evening.  They left this morning.  Dad had a great time!

I am actually on the phone with him now.  He sounds so much better than he did when I left Detroit last week.  He is still a little tired, but able to get up and move about.  He is watching the game right now.  He says Hi to all.  He had a CT Scan on Friday.  Just to see how the tumor is responding to the chemotherapy treatments.  We already know that it is shrinking....but hopefully we will get the specifics.   His follow-up appointment is on Wednesday.  Thanking you in advance for your continued prayers.

I'll be looking for your comments.  Talk to ya soon.

M-Go Blue!!!! August 2010

Yolanda and Dad 2006 Cumberland Furnance, TN

A Salute To Our Service Men and Women

As you all know this day is the 9th anniversary of 9/11.  I didn't want to allow the day to go by without respectfully saying Thank You to all the men and women who serve our country in various capacities: our Armed Forces, our Police, our Firemen/women, Emergency Personnel, and all others.  Let us never forget those who lost their lives that day, and also those who continue to fight for our freedoms and safety.  Let us also remember the families of those who serve our nation, cities, and communities.

And for those of you who do not know, my Dad also falls in this line of heroes.  My Dad is a retired City of Detroit, Michigan Firefighter.  Dad became a firefighter when I was still in elementary school.  I remember clearly his training and eventual graduation as a firefighter.  If I remember correctly, he was one of the oldest if not, the oldest, cadet in his class and the one with the highest test scores. This he accomplished after working for the Ford Motor Company for years.

I grew up knowing my Dad ran into danger and not away from it.  It is sobering for a child to realize that their parent may go to work one morning and may not return home the next because of the dangers of their job.  I was extremely proud of my Dad being a firefighter.  He was the Dad who was involved in PTA meetings.  He came up to the school in his firefighter uniform on Career Day.  I even remember the kids in my high school announcing to me, "Yolanda we saw your Dad down here today", when someone would pull the fire alarm in the hall in order to interrupt Final's Week. 

Thank you Dad for your service to your community.  We love you!

Dad and Cousin Essie Gilbert
(one of our BEST Community Service Workers)