Black and Blue

I learned something today.

Dads who have sons in treatment for Leukemia with poor blood clotting qualities, should not sword-fight, karate chop, wrestle, or allow any other kind of roughhousing the night before a doctor's appointment...even if their son begs for another round or duel.

They should put these things on the instruction manual or something. Somebody should have said something.

Fresh tests today showed Von's platelet counts are really low. Platelets are the blood cells that help your blood clot. You can tell they are low when you get bruises all over your body after a minor blow from a Nerf sword.

A healthy platelet count is 150 to 450. Von's are down to 31 and at 30 they do a mandatory blood transfusion.

So after a few rounds of wrestling and running karate moves and a punch or two to the face last night, Von is looking pretty colorful today.

And yet he still runs around the house and wants to wrestle. Even as I type, he wields a sword and taunts me to an engagement.

Tonight, he has dropped his pants with pride and is showing his sisters all of his many shaped and sized bruises. To each one, the girls respond with a 'ewwww' and gasping air through their teeth in amazement. He loves it!

It looks like we will have to teach this kid how to knit or something.

It's all in the eyes

Von is home from the hospital.

Thank you for your prayers and encouragement.

He will go in on Monday for some more tests to make sure he is progressing properly, and if so, will get back on the normal chemo and steroids.

When they draw spinal fluid, they don't put him under for safety reasons. We've learned a trick after doing this a few times that has made all the difference in Von's ability to navigate the procedure.

The trick? Eye contact.



I used to sit in a chair or at the foot of his bed and talk during the procedure to let him know we were there for him. He would grunt, and writhe in paint through the laughing gas mask.

Now, using the eye contact trick, I get right near his face, look him deep in the eyes and I talk to him. I tell him stories of my childhood which he asks for every time. I tell him about my pet monkey, trips to the jungle as a missionary kid, and even though the mask covers his face, his narrowed eyes betray a huge smile anytime I tell about the events that lead to a spanking from Opa.

It amazes me with God-quality goosebumps...something as simple as Von being able to look into my eyes helps him gather strength. He quits squirming, grunting and stiffening, and just relaxes.

Think about that...eye contact, not just the passing glance but a deep draw of acceptance, understanding, compassion, affirmation, and care.

It sounds silly, but if you've ever experienced it, you know what I'm talking about.

I'd love to hear about your eye contact story.

Thank you for your prayers and encouragement.

Thank You, O-Positive

O-Positive blood donors, I am eternally grateful!

You have saved a little boy's life.

In the old days, before blood transfusions, today would have been the last day.

I never fully appreciated the blood mobile people or the power of donating blood until today. I've donated blood in the past for the free snacks they gave afterwards. And besides, I didn't want my co-workers thinking I was soft and afraid of needles.

But today, seeing a donor's blood trickle into Von's body, and knowing that would save his life, gave me a deep reverence and appreciation for everyone who makes that possible.

O-Positives, thank you!


The hospital has some very tight limitations on who they allow to visit. Evidently, pirates who ride in on motorcycles, wielding Nerf swords, and speak with an Amish-Piratey accent are on the 'May Visit' list.


If you want to pray specifically for Von, his liver is in distress. We need some good news tomorrow morning when they do tests again.

The Bravest Kid I know

Meet the bravest kid on the face of the earth. His name is Von. I think I shall call him "Von, the Brave".

This week has been a rough one for him. He has had fever for nine days and has been to the emergency room twice in the past week and today was admitted to the hospital because he has the H1N1 flu. His infection fighting cells are at an all time low, and he may need a blood transfusion in the morning. Although his body is still not certain of how to fight sickness in the way it should, his spirit and smile are strong and lasting.

Even though the photo looks like he undergoing some Nazi scientific experiments, underneath his mask there is a smile that says, "Hey everyone, relax, it will all turn out just fine."

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you, Von the Brave!

What my wife doesn't want you to know...

We have a winner. Dennis Crider, from Clevaland, OH, gave the best and most oppulant suggestions for a family reunion location. We have a meeting of the minds tomorrow and will put all of the great suggestions to good use. Thank you!

What did Dennis win?

Last week, while unpacking boxes fresh from the move, I ran across a dirty little secret my wife has been keeping from me all these years. I found a treasure-trove of shot glasses. How did these get into our house? Did we accidently pick up a box from a neighboring storage unit in the move?

My wife confessed to a childhood obsession with them. It's funny, I don't think she has been to a party or even knew what they were. I'm pretty sure she has never even used a shot glass in her whole life...but she has a collection of them. But I'm really thankful she did because decades later, I have something really cool to give to Dennis. I'm sure he is thrilled.

I have a few more of these bad boys, so holler if you need to add to your collection.

Crazy Uncle Earl

I have a beautiful family...not a problem in the world. But there is this one issue....

I am one of the chosen cousins who has been assigned the job of planning our extended family reunion that happens once every four years or so.

The problem? It's my family. We have a trillion of them at last count.

I'm not exaggerating.

And we're not one of those low-maintenance families that can agree on stuff. You've heard of those families that all like to camp or all enjoy Disney type vacations? That's not us. You've seen the ones that all agree to wearing the same t-shirt and posing for the photo? We will be lucky to get Uncle Earl to wear a shirt at all.

I need your help. You most likely have a family and have attended a family reunion. Tell me about it. What did you do? Where did you go? How affordable was it? What was your favorite part about it?

Where do you go to have one of these things and how do you make it affordable so that everyone can participate? I'm looking for a specific suggestion on location or a type of event or activity.

My wife will judge the best comment and the winner will get...a new hula girl air freshener or something else mostly new that will be a delightful surprise to you.

Please help!

A Pile of Cash, Some Bald Kids, and a Medal

Thank You! You did it.

The Walkathon raised over $50,000. And you made something extra special happen. Because of your very generous response, Von raised over $3,000, more than any other team at this very large event.

He was called to the front to be recognized for it and he thought this was his cue to unpack his bag full of money andhand it over. He eagerly kept pulling dollar bills by the handfulls out of his bag and shoving them in the Director's hands while bills were being blown around in the wind. It was fun to watch Von get the concept of giving back and taking so much delight in it.


The starting line looked curiously like my high school prom decorations.

Von got to walk with Olivia, who is battling the same kind of Cancer he has and is just a few months behind him in treatment protocol.
Michelle, Lacey, Angel and Deanna raised their own funds on Von's behalf without ever having met him. Amazing people!
Vienna poured her heart into the fun run. (I like to think she gets her legs from her dad.)

Elle was still going strong at the finish line and could have run a few more laps.

And Sofie ran with the grace and the strides of a gazelle. She also beat a boy, I might add.


The the most significant part of the day for me personally was seeing Von run in the fun run for the 4 and 5 year olds.

I thought the little kids were running fifty yards to the orange cones as the finish line. The kids took off and I could see Von hobbling with his shoulders tucked and his elbows thrust out side to side trying to keep up. Because the drugs have affected his legs, he has to wear braces and...well...I just couldn't wait for him cross the orange cones not too far from the start line and be done with it.

As the kids kept running past the orange cones, it dawned on me that Von was going to have to run the entire way around this half-mile lap. I saw kid after kid passing him and as each one did, he would look over his left shoulder and watch the person pass. I knew he would never make it.

As a dad, I wished I could run for him and then without realizing it found my feet moving in a mad sprint to catch up with him before he got discouraged and turned back. I saw him ahead, still getting passed and slowing each time he saw someone overtake.

I caught up to him and pulled up on his left in silence. He looked over to see who was passing him, almost at a walk now, and then raised a tired and discouraged face.

His eyes met mine and a smile of recognition exploded on his face. And he said something profound that made me feel like a million dollars. He just said, "Dad!".

We ran together, me encouraging him and him throwing is elbows out in a renewed effort to go fast. I even had him dangle from my hand as I jogged and helped him get caught up to the group.

He crossed the finish line pretty spent from the long run but got a participants medal. You could say I'm a proud dad.

Why was that the highlight of my day? It made me think of this past year and the many who have given generously, have come alongside our family, who have prayed, extended grace, communicated, and cheered us on. It made me think that we, like Von, sometimes needed to be carried a little...and you were there.

Thank You!