SIMON'S PLACE
A WEB SITE FOR SIMON VODOSEK
Simon's Legacy What's Happening
Photo Gallery
Simon Says
Diagnosis
Treatment
Cancer Links
Simon's Favorites
Message Board
Stories
Simon's Place HOME

MESSAGE BOARD

Thank you for visiting! You can click here to add to Simon's Message Board.


Monday, September 30, 2002 -- 12:55:23 (EDT)
Name: Lawrie
Location: Seattle,
  • Hi guys,
    --Thinking of you all hoping your days are giving you a some sense of "normalcy" --I don't know if that is possible or even what you want on second thought.--let's just leave it that we are thinking of you. I've started going to Yoga on Monday evenings. I think of you all every time I go. My "downward dog" is nowhere close to yours Mary but, I'm working on it. Madi and Lexi especially like "cat and cow". I always thought it was "cat and camel" maybe those are two different things.

    lots of love,

    Lawrie


    Thursday, September 26, 2002 -- 14:25:38 (EDT)
    Name: Madi, Lexi, Lawrie and Curt
    Location: Seattle, WA
  • Happy Be-Lated Birthday Miriam !!!!!! 3 years old-- that is BIG STUFF!!!!!!
    Simon, we continue to send you all sorts of good vibes for fighting off virus, bacteria, infections etc. The vibes are coming from a long way away but, they are full of strength and power for you! We hope your at home kindergarten will be fun and interesting -- cause you are a fun and interesting kind of guy (that is for sure)

    We continue to hold you in our prayers -love to you all,

    Madi,Lexi, Lawrie and Curt


    Thursday, September 26, 2002 -- 11:26:30 (EDT)
    Name: Irene Judmayer -- Email: i.judmayer@oon.at
    Location: Linz, Austria
  • Grüss dich Miriam!
    What a wonderful Party! What a wonderful dress! You look like a pretty Princess of Butterflies!
    Happy Birthday from Austria. May all your wishes come true!


    Tuesday, September 24, 2002 -- 19:52:12 (EDT)
    Name: Cam and Joan Borton
    Location: Portland, MAINE
  • Dear Simon, We are Madi and Lexi's Nana and Pappa. We loved seeing the poster with your words: My dreams are always rainbows. We think of you often and loved seeing pictures of Miriam's party.
    Dear Miriam,
    I wish I had a birthday party with so many wonderful costumes and dress ups to wear. It looked like so much fun. Happy Birthday to you.
    Madi and Lexi's Nana


    Tuesday, September 24, 2002 -- 09:40:07 (EDT)
    Name: Anne, Tom, and Johannes -- Email: doyleyad@stolaf.edu
    Location: Northfield, MN USA
  • Happy Birthday Miriam!!!!! Your party looks like it was soooooo much fun! I'd love to try wearing that Rapunzel hair, as well! Enjoy yourselves everyone, and good luck with your at-home kindergarten Simon!!
    much love,
    anne, tom, and johannes


    Monday, September 23, 2002 -- 21:06:23 (EDT)
    Name: Simon,
    Location: oakland,
  • Haven't heard much since you got home. Hope you are improving more and more everyday.

    Rowan has a joke.

    Why did the elephant eat so many peanuts that he got fat and kissed the snake?

    Because he was too hungry.

    Been thinking a lot about you and enjoyed all the photos.


    love, AS&R


    Monday, September 23, 2002 -- 13:37:15 (EDT)
    Name: Kris Hopkins -- Email: khopkins@mail.colgate.edu
    Location: Clinton, NY USA
  • I was just in Oberlin for Alumni Council Weekend. Mary, we missed your presence on the TSC; but I'm glad to know Rebecca is the one who's succeeding you on the committee. (Hi, Rebecca -- we missed you, too, but look forward to working with you come December!). I thought of you all while I was in town and remembered how nice it was to see (and in some cases meet!) you this past May. Hope numbers are continuing to go up, up, up! Love, Kris

    Friday, September 20, 2002 -- 09:53:16 (EDT)
    Name: Irene Judmayer -- Email: i.judmayer@oon.at
    Location: Linz, Austria
  • A lot of good vibes to you all. I was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo glad to hear you are home now, Simon.

    Thursday, September 19, 2002 -- 20:09:37 (EDT)
    Name: Anne, Tom, and Johannes -- Email: doyleyad@stolaf.edu
    Location: Northfield, MN USA
  • Hi everyone there,
    we were just thinking about you all, willing platelets to rise rise rise, and hoping you're enjoying being at home, Simon!

    much love,
    Anne, Tom, and Johannes


    Thursday, September 19, 2002 -- 15:48:35 (EDT)
    Name: Sally
    Location: Seattle,
  • Just thinking of you all today and checking in. Wanted to say "HI" and send my love!
    Sally


    Tuesday, September 17, 2002 -- 15:37:56 (EDT)
    Name: LUCY HAND -- Email: lhand@Mail.friendsbalt.org
    Location: Baltimore, MD USA
  • Dear Simon, Miriam, Mary and Markus,
    We have thought a lot about you these last couple of days, and we are so glad you are home! Grace remembers playing with you, Simon, on the beach at Lake Michigan, and says she wants to do it again. We love you, and we will send on some drawings soon!
    Love,
    Grace, Logan, Lucy and Ben


    Sunday, September 15, 2002 -- 22:33:50 (EDT)
    Name: Madi, Lexi, Lawrie and Curt
    Location: Seattle,
  • Hi Simon,
    I am sitting here with Madi and Lexi they both have lots of things to say to you. . .so I will type for them.
    Madi says,
    "We love you!!!!!"(repeated a number of times) "I hope you are feeling happy, I am happy because you are feeling better" "I like all the pictures of you, I like your head it looks good, I like your hair too."

    love Madi

    Lexi is here now, "Do you ever play Freddie the Fish on the computor? I like it, you might too."
    "I hope you feel better and better every day!!!!!!"
    We are sending lots of Platlet & Hemoglobin/Hematocrit building vibes your way.

    Love Madi, lexi, Lawrie, Curt


    Saturday, September 14, 2002 -- 23:58:41 (EDT)
    Name: eunyoung -- Email: seungminmom@hotmail.com
    Location: ann arbor, mi usa
  • hurray!!
    congratulations!!!!
    i'll bet you're glad to be home.
    hope tomorrow will be a good day.
    love, the bae family.


    Saturday, September 14, 2002 -- 16:15:37 (EDT)
    Name: Kris Hopkins -- Email: rghopkins@earthlink.net
    Location: Clinton, NY USA
  • WHOOPIE! Like Dorothy said in _The Wizard of Oz_, "There's no place like home!" What a tremendous accomplishment for you and your family. We're thrilled that you're feeling so much better (I'm sure you are, too!), and here's to continued, steady improvement in the days ahead! All the best,

    Kris, Rob, Emily, Danny, and Laura


    Saturday, September 14, 2002 -- 14:19:37 (EDT)
    Name: williams in CA
  • YAAAAAAA!!!! So glad you are home. Congrats!!!!!

    Saturday, September 14, 2002 -- 08:27:42 (EDT)
    Name: Lee Williams
  • Simon-It's super you are home and you are feeling better!!! I will think of you when I leave for China for three weeks on Tuesday. I'm sure it's just great to be back with your own things. Lots of Love, Lee

    Friday, September 13, 2002 -- 17:51:20 (EDT)
    Name: Annemarie Toebosch -- Email: toebosch@earthlink.net
    Location: Chicago, IL USA
  • Simon, you're HOME! I'm so happy for you, and for your mom and dad and Miriam. Give them all a hug from me! I told my dog Lulu today that you went back home, and she was happy too. She wagged her tail and gave me a kiss to give to you. Annemarie

    Friday, September 13, 2002 -- 15:16:54 (EDT)
    Name: Karen Zaruba -- Email: kzaruba@umich.edu
  • Simon, did you know that your transplant happened on my birthday? That makes it an extra auspicious day! You'll have to ask your mom to tell you what "auspicious" means.

    Are your toenails still red? That looked neat!


    Friday, September 13, 2002 -- 12:35:31 (EDT)
    Name: Liz, Mike, Emma, and Lucas Kennedy -- Email: lizkndy@yahoo.com
    Location: Ann Arbor,
  • Congratulations, Simon, Miriam, Mary, and Markus! We're celebrating along with you. We've been (tensely) watching your daily reports, and we're so thankful to know people like you - so caring, strong, resourceful... Thank you for sharing both your struggles and your triumphs with us. We look forward to seeing you in church!

    Friday, September 13, 2002 -- 11:03:49 (EDT)
    Name: jane bishop -- Email: jebish@umich.edu
    Location: Ann Arbor,
  • WELCOME HOME, SIMON!..... It sounds as if you had a pretty rough time and survived it like a champion. Hope you continue to get out and play and enjoy the good weather we're having. Tell Miriam I give her permission to "bug" you now that you're home! Love to all, Jane

    Friday, September 13, 2002 -- 09:27:15 (EDT)
    Name: Anne, Tom and Johannes -- Email: doyleyad@stolaf.edu
    Location: Northfield, MN 55057
  • YahooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Simon's home!!! We're all so happy about that, and that you're feeling better off the medicine! We all send big hugs to Simon, Miriam, Mary, Markus and Ann

    Friday, September 13, 2002 -- 07:01:21 (EDT)
    Name: Jane Stepnitz
  • Simon, So wonderful to hear that you're home. Hope you enjoyed that Toy Story DVD your mom said you were going to watch. That is one of my favorites! Hope you and your family have a great weekend. Love, Jane, Katie, Abbey and Eric

    Friday, September 13, 2002 -- 04:30:44 (EDT)
    Name: Julia -- Email: j.schwartz@stafag.ch
    Location: Frauenfeld, Switzerland
  • Soooooooooooo glad you're home!

    Love, Julia Serena Alma Christoph


    Wednesday, September 11, 2002 -- 17:21:15 (EDT)
    Name: Kris Hopkins -- Email: khopkins@mail.colgate.edu
    Location: Clinton, NY USA
  • Man, are your numbers lookin' good, kiddo! What wonderful news.

    Laura wanted me to send you some more jokes now that you're feeling more like laughing again....

    Q: (this one's an original ... I think!) Why did the elephant use a straw?
    A: Because he wanted to drink some hay! ("Get it," says Laura -- "straw ... hay?! Ha, ha!"

    Q: What did the mother strawberry say to her children?
    A: Don't get caught in a jam! ;-)

    Keep up the good work. We're so glad to see you smiling again!

    Best wishes to all the Craig-Vodoseks from Kris, Rob, Emily, Danny, and Laura


    Wednesday, September 11, 2002 -- 13:16:12 (EDT)
    Name: Jacqui, George & Emily Shambaugh -- Email: jacquelyn.shambaugh@watsonwyatt.com
    Location: Oakton, VA
  • Simon, we're so glad that you're "uptrending" and feeling better and better! We're pulling for you and keeping your whole family in our thoughts.

    A couple funny ones:

    Why did the cookie go to the doctor?
    Because he was feeling crumby!

    Why did the chicken sit on the egg?
    Because it didn't have a chair!


    Wednesday, September 11, 2002 -- 09:37:50 (EDT)
    Name: Irene Judmayer -- Email: i.judmayer@oon.at
    Location: Linz, Austria
  • I keep you all in my heart an thoughts!

    Tuesday, September 10, 2002 -- 22:10:59 (EDT)
    Name: eunyoung and sungjoo -- Email: seungminmom@hotmail.com
    Location: ann arbor, mi usa
  • hi simon. we had the pleasure of meeting your wonderful mom at the yard sales this summer. we bought a bunch of your toys and clothes for our son, seungmin. he has so much fun with them. thank you very much.
    you are an amazing little boy with so much courage...i hope we can meet someday.
    you are always in our prayers!!
    love,
    the bae family


    Tuesday, September 10, 2002 -- 12:53:26 (EDT)
    Name: Gari Stein
  • Hello Simon, I was very touched to read about how you can feel the power of life in you body. You are truly such a special child. I am so proud to know you all these years. Your grandma came with Miriam to music class today, and she told me, with great joy, and tears in both our eyes, how well you are doing and how it appears those bad cells are being replaced with healthy ones. So many are praying for you, that I am not surprised, but oh so happy, to hear such good news. I can't wait to see you and hope you will come to class when you are up to it. Much love and peace to you and your family, Gari

    Tuesday, September 10, 2002 -- 11:00:53 (EDT)
    Name: Karen Merrill -- Email: kmerrill@williams.edu
    Location: Sunderland, MA
  • Go Simon! Those are some great numbers, so your cancer-fighting magic is doing its work! We are so thrilled you're beginning to feel a little more like yourself. I'm sending big hugs to you and your whole family.

    Love, Karen


    Monday, September 09, 2002 -- 21:55:49 (EDT)
    Name: Steve Williams -- Email: tikakofi@pacbell.net
    Location: Oakland, CA
  • Woah those are great numbers you continue to post Simon! It would appear that steady solid progress appears in your uplifted emotional state in addition to the higher counts. Congrats and keep up the great work. Our family remains with you wholeheartedly in spirit and continue to wish you the very very best on your road to recovery. Hi to Miriam, Mary, Marcus and extended family.

    Love;

    Steve, Annette & Rowan Williams


    Monday, September 09, 2002 -- 10:32:26 (EDT)
    Name: Lindsay & Andre -- Email: llg@umich.edu
    Location: Ann Arbor, MI
  • Hey guys. . .We're still checking in nearly every day and thinking lots of positive thoughts for Simon & the whole family. I heard some wonderful & encouraging news from Ann last night and just want to share my excitement!!

    Lots of warm thoughts & love -- Lindsay & Andre


    Monday, September 09, 2002 -- 03:27:48 (EDT)
    Name: Julia -- Email: j.schwartz@stafag.ch
    Location: Frauenfeld, Switzerland
  • Dear Simon, We have been thinking a lot about you lately and checking your progress regularly. We know that this is a hard time for you and wish you the very best! Love, Serena, Alma, Christoph and Julia

    Monday, September 09, 2002 -- 00:19:08 (EDT)
    Name: Madi, Lexi, Lawrie and Curt
    Location: Seattle,
  • Hoorah for p/o day 10 we are hoping day 11 is better still. It is wonderful to see the pictures of you with your cool trains.

    We continue to hold you in our thoughts and prayers and send lots of love,

    M,L,L &C


    Sunday, September 08, 2002 -- 14:36:13 (EDT)
    Name: annette, steve, rowan
    Location: Oakland,
  • Simon,

    It's so nice to see your pictures and that cool Thomas train set with tunnels a round house and everything. Great news that you seem to be on an upswing keep it up. Love ya, AS&R



    Sunday, September 08, 2002 -- 11:37:59 (EDT)
    Name: amy -- Email: asheon@umich.edu
  • Simon:

    I'm thinking lots of "white blood cells going up" thoughts for you! I liked reading about what Adrienne did with you. I have a funny story about her. One day, my daddy was visiting from Maryland. While I was at work, he went for a walk and got lost in the neighborhood. He saw a lady gardening and asked her if she knew where my street was. He looked at her again and then realized it was Adrienne and that he hadn't seen her for probably 40 years! They used to see each other in high school in Toledo where they both grew up! So my parents know that Adrienne is doing nice things for you and they are also thinking good thoughts about helping your itching and sores go away and your white blood cells to go up!


    Sunday, September 08, 2002 -- 10:36:42 (EDT)
    Name: Margot and Nathan -- Email: julie.lautens@sympatico.ca
    Location: , Canada
  • Dear Simon - We're glad you are feeling better now. We think you are going to be very happy when you get your new train set. Today we are on an expedition to get some information from Ikea for the train table. We'll tell your mom what we find out. We are glad you are getting a present from the Wish Foundation. Love - your cousins Margot and Nathan

    Sunday, September 08, 2002 -- 08:54:46 (EDT)
    Name: Kris Hopkins -- Email: rghopkins@earthlink.net
    Location: Clinton, NY USA
  • Way to go, Simon! Sounds as though you're doing much better now and that those white blood cells are rushing back in to do their work. Wonderful! We'll keep watching your progress and wishing you well -- all of you!

    Best,
    Kris, Rob, Emily, Danny, and Laura


    Saturday, September 07, 2002 -- 22:39:00 (EDT)
    Name: Alison Becker -- Email: beckerpat7@aol.com
    Location: Tampa, FL USA
  • What an absolutely COOL webpage. Thanks for sharing it, Simon. Hang in there, kiddo -- I can't wait to hear more of your stories!

    Friday, September 06, 2002 -- 21:24:04 (EDT)
    Name: anne -- Email: doyleyad@stolaf.edu
    Location: Northfield, MN USA
  • Hi Simon, and Miriam, and Markus and Mary,

    We are talking about you and thinking about lots and lots of white blood cells swarming in to conquer all the nasties. Go you little white blood cells! I also wanted to tell you, Simon, that I sing Der Mond ist aufegegangen to Johannes every night. I know it used to be your favorite song (I remember singing it to you when you were much much younger), and Johannes smiles everytime I start to sing it. And we always think about you when we sing it and hope you are sleeping well and having happy dreams. We hope your throat gets better veryvery soon, and that nasty itching stops soon, as well.

    Lots of love and kisses,

    Anne, Tom, and Johannes


    Friday, September 06, 2002 -- 20:15:09 (EDT)
    Name: Sally, Jim, Amy and Sarah
    Location: Seattle,
  • We think of you every day and hope you start to feel better !! Sending LOTS of love to all of you.

    Friday, September 06, 2002 -- 15:51:06 (EDT)
    Name: Lawrie, Curt, Madi and Lexi
    Location: Seatlle, WA
  • Simon and family,
    You all are in our thoughts, prayers and conversations daily. Today we are focusing our thoughts and prayers on "rising white blood cell counts, relief from pain and iching, and gone with the yuky/mucus/sour throat"

    We love you all,

    Madi, Lexi, Lawrie and Curt


    Friday, September 06, 2002 -- 14:05:07 (EDT)
    Name: Ellen Roussey -- Email: eroussey@comcast.net
    Location: Ann Arbor, MI USA
  • Simon,
    I am so sorry to hear that you are uncomfortable and itchy. Being itchy is the worst, isn't it? I'm glad your mom helps you out with that. Maybe you could think of every itch as your body working on healing itself, so every scratch helps you get a little bit better. It's worth a try, anyway. I hope you are feeling better today than yesterday, and that tomorrow will be better yet. Our thoughts and are hearts are with you.
    Love, Ellen, Jamie, Cully, and Alex


    Friday, September 06, 2002 -- 13:51:53 (EDT)
    Name: Kris Hopkins -- Email: khopkins@mail.colgate.edu
    Location: Clinton, NY USA
  • Hi, Simon. I really liked reading about the rainbows you had painted on your nails! They must be so colorful to look at -- just like your web site! We saw a *real* rainbow the other day, outside our kitchen window, up over the farmer's field that's right in back of our house. It wasn't a half rainbow either, but a full one, which is always exciting. Laura wanted to run outside and follow it to find the leprechaun's pot of gold at the end; but it looked as though it was extending clear into the next town, which is several miles away, so we decided just to *imagine* what the pot would look like if ever we got there.... Do you suppose the leprechaun would have wanted to share the gold with us? We didn't think so, but we thought he might possibly let us *peek* at it, just the same. ;-)

    You probably would have enjoyed the scene at the bottom of our driveway yesterday morning. It was our first day of school here in Clinton. Danny (in his super-fast sneakers that I wrote about a while ago) and Laura (in some light-up sneakers that may be something like yours!) were anticipating the arrival of the school bus. Dan, with all the 3rd-grade nonchalance and sophistication he could muster (given his obvious excitement), was doing a little tap-shuffle kind of "boxing" dance in place while Laura ran and skipped exuberantly around him, her backpack jiggling crazily up and down on her back as she went. They could hardly *wait* for that bus to pull up and wisk them off to school!

    And speaking of school, I noticed a message from *your* teacher here -- terrific! Those pear "mice" she mentioned sounded like fun to make *and* fun to snack on.... Mmmm. I bet you'll be glad when you're feeling well enough to go to school -- and I bet your classmates and teacher will be *super* glad to see you, too!

    Loads of healthy and healing thoughts from Upstate New York,
    Kris, Rob, Emily, Danny, and Laura


    Thursday, September 05, 2002 -- 18:01:27 (EDT)
    Name: LeeWilliams
  • Hi Simon - been thinking of you lots sending love and strenght to get through this hard time - that hopefully will make you stronger and getting close to being well. Grace and Logan spent lots of time here last week and this week while their Mom had meetings for teaching. They caught lots of gooey worms in my yard and a baby cricket but they put them back. They also say warm hi's to you. Love, Lee

    Thursday, September 05, 2002 -- 15:35:24 (EDT)
    Name: Heidi Hargesheimer -- Email: hargeshe@aaps.k12.mi.us
  • Hi Simon. I'll be your Kindergarten teacher this year. I really liked your web site. The class has been busy with mice - we even made mice out of pears and ate them for snack. We've read so many stories about mice, too. Maybe you have some favorites. Bye for now.

    Thursday, September 05, 2002 -- 07:46:13 (EDT)
    Name: Jean Watson -- Email: jl_watson100@hotmail.com
    Location: Canton, OH USA
  • Simon,
    Alex's class had a "Joke Day" yesterday, and I thought you might appreciate some of the highlights:

    Q: What does a teddy bear say when he's had too much to eat?
    A: I'm stuffed!

    Q: Why did the boy eat his homework?
    A: Because his teacher told him it would be a piece of cake!

    I was searching Yahoo the other day for your name and found an old website of your dad's that has pictures of you and Miriam that are from 2 years ago (http://www-personal.umich.edu/~markvodo/PAGES/personal.html) My how you've grown! Also, I recognized a Mom-sweater in there - Mary, I can picture you in high school knitting away while you and I wrote that silly column for the News Trib!

    My friend who had a stem cell transplant earlier in the summer started to feel much better after the first few days - I sure hope you do too.

    I send prayers your way all the time. Love, Jean


    Thursday, September 05, 2002 -- 01:57:33 (EDT)
    Name: annette
    Location: Oakland,
  • Mary,

    We are out here checking in on Simon's progress all the time thanks for your update on the message board. Wish there was something more tangible we could do. Hate to hear about the pain but know it's all to have something better soon. Applaud your courage and hope you get momments when you don't need to be strong. We read Fantasitc Mr. Fox one of Dahl's (from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory fame) books yesterday and Rowan thinks Simon might like it too. Sending all the healing thoughts we have.

    love, AS&R


    Thursday, September 05, 2002 -- 01:33:45 (EDT)
    Name: Rachel Obstfeld -- Email: ppimarcie@aol.com
    Location: Irvine, CA USA
  • Dear Simon: Wow! You are such a brave boy! We are all looking forward to hearing that you are once again home and feeling much better. We read that you got a Leap Frog - how do you like it? And how is your new Game Boy Advance? Shall we send you some more games for either of these two toys? I bet lots of folks would be happy to send you some games for these hand held computer toys - what do you think you would like - maybe you can get your Mom to give us some feedback so we can get you some good games. Lots of Love - let's get together for a good game of tag real soon!

    Wednesday, September 04, 2002 -- 22:36:59 (EDT)
    Name: Susan Hartman
    Location: Ann Arbor,
  • Dear Simon,
    A lot of people are reading your website and thinking about you and your family right now.
    I like the phrase "We are holding you in the Light"--the Light is in you and around you and in all the people who love you.
    I hope you are able to be more comfortable soon. I look forward to seeing you on a walk again once you are able to be home and get around.
    I see messages from a friend of yours named Schuyler. I have a teen-aged son named Schuyler, too. (Is the other Schuyler a boy or a girl? I've known both. "My" Schuyler used to spell his name as Skyler, but likes this way better!)


    Wednesday, September 04, 2002 -- 21:26:44 (EDT)
    Name: Mary Craig -- Email: mfcraig@umich.edu
  • This is a message for Gari Stein. Yes, Miriam is planning to come next Tuesday!--Mary

    Wednesday, September 04, 2002 -- 20:45:31 (EDT)
    Name: Gari Stein
  • Hello Simon, well it sounds like this is a pretty hard time for you. It is hard to imagine how hard your body is working to ship out all the bad cells to make room for the healthy ones. I am thinking of you all throughout the day and hope you will be able to visit with Miriam at music class. I am sending you my prayers and love as always. Much love to you and your family. Gari

    Wednesday, September 04, 2002 -- 20:32:35 (EDT)
    Name: Mary Craig -- Email: mfcraig@umich.edu
    Location: Ann Arbor, MI USA
  • Hi everyone!

    I have been checking in on Simon's message board more often than I've been able to post full updates on his progress. I'm glad to know that you are out there and sending your vibes our way. The steam of messages has been pretty thin, so I'm guessing that you all are wondering about what the heck to say at a time like this.

    We are doing OK. We are still facing (after 2 weeks of trying) the frustration of no ethernet functionality in Simon's hospital room. So, anytime we go online there, it means tying up the phone and waiting around for a modem connection. We're used to things being a lot faster than that!! Even Simon was terribly disappointed today when he tried to play on the Thomas the Tank Engine Web site, but it was all too slow!

    Today is Simon's Day +7 since his infusion of stem cells last week. The doctors still say it will be about Day 12-15 before his blood counts recover and he begins to feel better.

    After a tired Tuesday, Simon's Wednesday (today) has been marked by irritability and anger. He's been pretty straight with his doctors and nurses: "Stop bothering me! Go away!" And with his mommy: "No, don't go!!!"

    But I did go, and I had a therapeutic shopping spree at Borders before coming home to see my mom and the inimitably energetic Miriam. Miriam is counting the "sleeps" until her 3rd birthday on September 20th. Amazing.

    Simon's blood counts continue to hover in the neutropenic range (below 0.5 white blood cells). He's on three different antibiotics to fight off infections suspected in his ears, maybe urine, maybe blood. They keep checking cultures. He's also getting so much other medicine that it's hard to list all of it: narcotics, benedryl, an anti-fungal medicine, tylenol, and occasionally others.

    Please keep thinking of him as we make it, one day at at time, through this period. Despite Simon's considerable discomfort, the doctors continue to tell us how much better he's doing than the average transpant patient.

    Stay with us!--Mary


    Wednesday, September 04, 2002 -- 12:00:52 (EDT)
    Name: Connie -- Email: malacarnec@oths.k12.il.us
    Location: O'Fallon, IL USA
  • Hi, Simon!
    My niece, Shawn Pelak, who volunteers at the hospital and knows you, suggested I look at your web page. All I can say is WOW!! It's really cool! I wish I knew how to make a web page like yours.

    I hope you are feeling better today. I read about all that you've been through, and I want you to know that you are one of the bravest people I know, and I hope and pray that you're out of the hospital soon. Until then, may all your dreams be rainbows!!

    Connie

    PS When you see Shawn, tell her hello from me!


    Tuesday, September 03, 2002 -- 22:49:48 (EDT)
    Name: Rowan Williams
    Location: Oakland,
  • Simon,

    WE have been having a lot of fun reading all the jokes on your web site.

    Here's one from me.

    Why did the red kiss yellow?
    because they loved each other

    Why did the green paper go to the red pencil?

    Because the green paper wanted to put a butterfly in her hair.

    Why did the chicken cross the road?
    Because he wanted to get a cup of ice cream.

    Why did the crab go in bucket?

    Because he wasn't smart.

    I hope you have a good week. I hope you get better. I hope you have a good time with your parents.

    ROWAN

    I TYPED MY OWN NAME


    Tuesday, September 03, 2002 -- 14:05:38 (EDT)
    Name: Kris Hopkins -- Email: rghopkins@earthlink.net
    Location: Clinton, NY USA
  • I'm really sorry to hear things are not at all comfortable for you right now, Simon. I guess the silver lining is that once you're in the midst of the "worst part," it means you're closer to the part where you'll begin to feel better again. But I'm sure it's hard sometimes for you and your family to be patient with the process, especially when parts of that process are so unpleasant....

    I hope, though, that the "virtual" presence of all of your many cyber-friends and -family will make this rough patch a bit easier to navigate. Please know that we're thinking of all of you every day and sending you extra doses of strength, hope, patience, and caring during this especially challenging period.

    Peace,
    Kris, Rob, Emily, Danny, and Laura


    Monday, September 02, 2002 -- 21:29:06 (EDT)
    Name: Claudia Craig -- Email: davcraig@iupui.edu
    Location: Indianapolis, IN USA
  • Dear Simon,

    I hope you get better soon. And I hope you're feeling OK. I was playing with a couple of frogs today and a toad, too. My friend Summer found them, and I wish you could have been with us.

    Love, Claudia

    P.S. Simon, Eliza says, "Hello," too. We've been thinking about you and missing you, your sister and your parents. I know that you're being very brave about your treatment. You just keep learning new things, and you keep amazing us all. We love you, David and Jocelyn


    MESSAGE BOARD Archive

    GuestBook v1.1
    Report problems with this gateway to webmaster@umich.edu Online help is available.
  • SIMON'S PLACE | A Web Site For Simon Vodosek