Robert writes home #21 6-22-92

6-22-92

Dear Mother,

I've been thinking of you alot lately. I tried to phone but the last two times I called you couldn't hear me well enough to recognize who I was.

We're getting along pretty well. Sam hs chemotherapy for the tumor around the hypothalamus of his brain every three weeks, if he doesn't have any complications. The chemotherapy destroys much of his immune system by lowering his white blood cell count severely and other defense units in his blood so he tends to get strep infections in about the second week. He did this ten days ago and spent a week in the hospital. That put off his chemo treatment as a result. Now he's scheduled to have his next treatment this coming Thursday if his blood studies are up sufficiently.

He is pretty happy through it all. He hasn't gotten sick with the chemo. He's lost his hair and is bald as can be. The tumor has affected some of the motor nerves to his eyes and mouth so he has alittle trouble focusing and his speech is affected slightly. However, some of the function is coming back since the chemotherapy. He can read alittle again. He couldn't read for quite awhile.

His brother, Charlie, has really been a good friend and brother to him and helped him alot. Also the community hs really been good to him. His class at school has cone nice things for him and invite him to all the special events even though he can't attent school on a regular basis. His teacher has come in and tutored him for an hour four days aweek while school was in session after school. The community had a baseball tournament that they dedicated to him. They had him throw out the first ball. They also had tee-shirts printed that said Dos Palos Baseball tournament dedicated to Sam Miller. Sam was thrilled with it all.

Also, I was telling one of my patients that I had been reading him the story of Charlotte's web and that he said he'd like to have a pig like Wilbur. I was wondering if I could buy one from her since she had told me that she raised some pigs. She called me up the next day and told me that she wanted to give him one. So, she brought him out a little white, weaner pig. It was a girl so he named her Wilma instead of Wilbur. She's growing fast and has really been alot of fun for all of us.

Charlie is playing baseball this summer on a pony league team. He's one of the youngest players in this league but he's doing pretty well and likes it. His team is tied for first at the moment. He's a good little worker and Janet has been hiring him to work on the yard for her this summer. He goes to scout camp next week.

Megan is at church Girls camp up in the Sierras at Huntinton Lake this week. Then in the middle of July she's going back to visit Laurie in Nebraska for three weeks. While there she is going to Missouri to an EFY (Especially For Youth) sponsored by BYU for church kids in the midwest for a week. Then she'll come back to Laurie's and go with her stake's YW/YM Youth conference on a tour of the church historical sites in Nauvoo. I wish I could do the fun things my kids are doing this summer.

Pete is coming home to get ready to go on his mission. He will be here tomorrow and will probably leave in acouple of months if all goes as planned.

Carrie and Heidi are staying in Provo this summer. Heidi has a good job as a waitress in a nice restaurant and Carrie has her old job in the BYU laundry. Carrie is back in Chicago with Susie at the moment. I couldn't send Janet back to help Susie with her new baby so I'm sending Carrie. Laurie had a little girl in February. Melinda had a little boy in March and Susie had a little girl about three weeks ago. So, you have some new great grand children

I've been getting along very well with my kidney transplant. The medicine gives me some side affects that are alittle annoying but I'm working about 6 or 7 hours a day and haven't had any serious complications so things are looking good. I am really grateful to Pete for giving me his kidney.

I'm growing a garden again this year We've had alot of gruit and tomatoes and zucchini. Charlie is helping me with the watermelon patch. My pea hens hatched out seven little babies. I didn't think they would set while they were in a pen but they did. We've had cherries, apricots, peaches, plums and now the nectarines are starting to ripen.

People ask me how you're getting along from time to time. Bro. Price asked about you last Sunday. Vito Pontrelli, one of my patients who is 97 years old, was in today and asked about you.

I love you Mother and am very grateful for all you've done for me. You're in my prayers every day. I wish I could come and see you more often, but I can't travel in my present health status.

P.S. Heidi had a story published in the July '92 New Era. (Church Teenager Magazine) If you get a chance to see an issue it's called "Nutty Discipline" (I think).

Love, 

Robert