Prayers for Patti and Herb

04/21/2025

Patti just finished her 2 year post transplant right and left cardiac catheterization. No signs of rejection and her heart looks amazing!! Plan is to monitor the next couple years with echocardiograms, scans and space out her lab work too! So hopefully 5 years before her next catheterization is needed!!

02/26/2025

HAPPY 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY Patti Harkins !!!
2 years ago today, Patti got her new heart and we got our Gramoo back! We are thankful everyday for the team that cared for her and for the family that gave her this gift through organ donation. Looking forward to many more years of farm and beach memories!!

11/13/2024

Finishing his last few acres of corn for the season so he figured might as well teach the next generation!!
Herb and Patti are both doing great and are looking forward to spending some time off this winter in Florida.

08/12/2024

This is definitely a day I wasn't sure would come! They are off enjoying the trip of a lifetime. This trip was years in the making and served as the inspiration for each of them on their crazy medical journeys.

Patti was determined to get to alaska, it was something she asked and talked about even when we weren't sure a transplant was an option and we weren't sure she would survive. I promised her, that even if i had to travel with her as her nurse, that we would get her there. When her transplant was a success, she used this trip and it's date on the calendar to get her through hours of therapy, countless appointments and it motivated her to keep working and getting stronger.

Just when the trip was finally within reach. Herb got sick, he too asked about the liklihood of him getting into remission before the trip and while the doctor was optimistic, he was honest and said it would be cutting it really close. It's no secret he has been a stubborn patient and I tell him often that this is why I care for babies and not adults. He used this trip and his love for spring planting as his motivation and pushed through radiation and chemo.
They talked back and forth about postponing or canceling but it was a trip they had looked forward to for so long neither wanted to give in.

The smiles on their faces, make it all worth it.

Patti is over a year post transplant and is back to water aerobics and babysitting grandkids. She still has some pain and weakness in her one arm but has figured out how to work around that.

Herb just had his follow ups with his oncology team and his scans look amazing!! He still has some small areas they are watching closely, which look to be areas of healing inflammation but overall his treatments were a success. He lost a significant amount of weight and muscle and it will take time for that to return. He got his feeding tube out this past Monday. Just in time for the trip! He's still struggling with eating and loss of taste but we're hoping the endless supply of food on this trip will help fatten him up!!

I'm so glad to write this happy post and see those happy smiles!!

Life is short! Take the trip! Make the memories! Eat dessert first!! None of us know what tomorrow may bring!!

06/16/2024

Live each day to the fullest! Camping with the granddaughters!

04/12/2024

Last call for tshirts please message me if interested! Orders are due by April 14th!

04/04/2024

JOIN US! http://givetoday.uchfoundation.org/goto/TeamHerbie2024
As you know Herbie along with many of our other friends and family members here in Harford County are facing an unexpected battle with cancer. Herbie has just finished chemotherapy and radiation and has received amazing care at the Kaufman Cancer Center. We are walking to support Herbie and raise funds on his behalf for the Kaufman Cancer Center and Cancer LifeNet
How you can help!
1. Buy a T-shirt to support Herbie-Proceeds go to our Team Fundraising Goals. Shirt Orders are due by April 14th
2. Join our TEAM and walk with us. Go to givetoday.uchfoundation.org/ahccw or scan the QR Code
CLICK JOIN A TEAM-JOIN AS A NEW PARTICIPANT-ENTER TEAM HERBIE-CLICK Search for a TEAM-JOIN

3. Donate to our Team Go to givetoday.uchfoundation.org/ahccw OR scan the QR code and click DONATE at the top CLICK DONATE again and CLICK DONATE to a TEAM-enter TEAM HERBIE then DONATE NOW or checks can be made to the Chesapeake Cancer Alliance (CCA)

We Hope to See You on MAY 11th!

03/08/2024

Ringing the bell on what we all hope is the last chemo and radiation for Herb! The next 8 weeks is resting, working on improving his nutrition and working on getting his strength back.

03/05/2024

Today was a BIG day-Herbs LAST chemo!!! Now only 4 more days of radiation and he gets to ring the bell and be done!!!

02/27/2024

1 year ago today we watched her be wheeled away and prayed for a miracle. At the moment this picture was taken we were unaware of how unstable she was. Unbeknownst to us, her axillary artery had just started to burst. The team knew something was going on and got her to the Operating room quickly. Their actions saved her arm and her life which kept her alive long enough for the heart to make it here. It was a miracle that all the right people were in the building at that moment and it wasn't until months later that we found out how critical she was as we said our we love you's to her that night.
Our gratitude to the family from Georgia can't be put into words. We hope one day to be able to share patti's story with them. They had the strength to turn their worst day into the miracle Patti desperately needed.
That day has allowed for thousands of grandkid hugs and kisses, several camping trips, endless hours of bingos with her gal pals, dozens of rum cakes, lazy beach days, holidays with our family, and countless hours on the bleachers cheering her favorite kiddos on. Most recently she has been able to be the rock supporting stubborn Herb as together they navigate his cancer journey.

This has been one hell of a year. A year filled with long hospital days, constant lab work, pill boxes galore, cardiac catheterizations, physical/occupational/water therapies, and more appointments then you can imagine. Every single one of those terrible things was worth it to get our gramoo healthy again.
All signs point to her heart doing great!! In March she will complete her yearly post op day of procedures and testing to assess rejection and her overall health and well sit in that same waiting room praying again for good news. In the meantime, she's living her best life everyday.

We all look forward to celebrating with both of them this summer, Patti with her healthy heart and Herbie cancer free. Until that day, keep the prayers coming, don't skip your check ups and hug your family tight! Each day is precious!!

All the prayers!!!! She has a possible match and is heading to the prep area!!! Send every prayer and positive thought you have for Patti and her amazing team! Prayers for the Georgia family who lost their loved one and was willing to give the gift of life to multiple families today!!!

02/15/2024

Half way through treatment! It's not been easy but he's getting there! Thank you to everyone who has been calling, texting, sending food, and driving him to appointments. We really do appreciate it!! Keep the prayers coming!!

12/21/2023

Herb had his first appointment today. He will be doing radiation 5 days a week x 7 weeks and chemo 1 day a week every 3 weeks at UM Upper Chesapeake cancer center. No surgery for now. More appointments after the 12/31 pet scan. In the meantime, they want him to stay healthy and gain some weight before treatment starts!! Unfortunately this means their plans to winter in Florida will have to be postponed till next winter BUT Herbs plan is to be feeling better by april/may so he can plant crops which is his favorite time of year!!. Keep sending those prayers and positive thoughts!