Richard Venezky

Hi. We just returned from Delaware and I apologize for not finding the time to send an update earlier. Dad is at home but has been diagnosed with graft-vs.-host (GvH) disease. This is both good and bad. The bad part is that it can be quite serious and Dad needs to rest, fight the GvH, and not get any infections, which would further complicate the healing process. The other bad part is that it can last for a long time (6-12 months). The good news is that most people who have had some GvH are free of leukemia once they have battled GvH. Our doctor was hoping that Dad would have some GvH last time so we’re a little excited about it (okay, maybe optimistic is a more appropriate word since we would prefer that there was some sort of magic that would make everything better right now). Dad is on steroids to help clear up some of the symptoms along with several other drug therapies. He is in good spirits, looks great, and enjoyed seeing Benjamin.

So what does that mean for all of us. Dad needs lots of time to rest and fight the GvH. It’s also VERY important for him to not have any visitors with infections. This is hard on everyone and especially hard for Dad who wants to return to his office, meetings, and other pursuits. It’s also hard to predict how long this is going to last and there is no doubt that Dad will be bored and want to talk with and see everyone, which means that we need to help him recover by letting him rest. Please also keep in mind that Mom needs to rest too. As you can see below (I apologize if you can’t see the pictures and we’ll try to post them on a website soon), Dad looks great. If you find yourself talking with Dad, please keep the conversation as short as possible. We don’t want Dad’s throat, or anything else, to get worse.

Thank you for your understanding and continued best wishes.
I will continue to forward email.
Here’s to fighting GvH!
Love,
Dina

ps Benjamin is 18 months old today.

Dad and Benjamin read an alphabet book.

Mom and Dad watch Benjamin climb out of the garden.