Funeral Details
American Cancer Society
Friends For Johna
Marrow Donor Drives
Sunday, October 8th, 2006
Gretna, NE
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Tuesday, September 19th, 2006
UNMC, Omaha, NE
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Monday, August 14th, 2006
Columbus, NE
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Pictures!
Saturday, August 5th, 2006
Lincoln, NE
More Information Flyer
Pictures!
Pictures:
Johna's New Birthday
Light the Night Walk
Mommy & Me
Halloween 2006
Thanksgiving 2006
Letter
November 30, 2006
October · Johna has been staying with her sister & her family on the weekends (sort of a home away from home (away from home)). When there, Johna has her own room with TV (minus the DVR), and her own bathroom! It's a bigger place for Jamison to come visit mommy and daddy on the weekends and play with his cousins. October was also 'catch up' month for Johna on her Halloween "Classics", Halloween I and Halloween II were viewed, back to back. October 31, Halloween, Johna received clearance from doctors to go home to Colulmbus and take Jamison trick-or-treating! ANOTHER GOAL MET! He was Barney, the real thing with the big feet and all.
November · Johna's first outing, a little shopping spree at Westroads Mall. Johna needed new outfits to go with her new figure; weight loss is a very normal thing after a transplant. Did you also know that many patients lose their taste after a transplant? She's no longer the chocolate lover, but prefers food with some stronger taste. However, she's still eating in small portions. She also had a family Christmas ornament made while shopping and splurged on some Nike Shox for herself...yes, Johna splurged!!
Thanksgiving! · So much to give Thanks for this year! THE GIFT OF LIFE AND HOW VERY PRECIOUS IT IS. Her donor and what an extraordinary young man he is. Also, giving thanks for the little things, like a little boy reaching out for his mommy to help him and hold him. Our family tradition for Thanksgiving is to go to Tecumseh. Home to our Grandma Cathy, and where she gets to have her entire family together once a year (5 children and spouses, 13 grandchildren and some spouses, and 9 great-grandchildren!!) Johna was able to go this year which made it extra special. To fully celebrate & give thanks, Roger, Johna's Dad, wrote a letter to Johna and the family, you can view it here. The remaining Thanksgiving weekend was spent at her sister's house in Omaha with Brian and Jamison. Johna also enjoyed helping her nephew Chris with his science homework and creating a 'star chart' for her 3-year-old niece Kelsie.
Since that time, Johna has been doing a lot of on-line shopping for Christmas as it is getting cold and she's become somewhat intolerant of cold. Thanksgiving was day 62 for Johna out of her approximately 100 days. Labwork continues to look good, and she's feeling good (although she tires very easily, which is very normal).
Johna, Brian and Jamison wish everyone the most happiness and blessings this holiday season. As the holiday approaches, she will know more on her travels.
Along with the Thanksgiving Letter Johna's dad wrote, there are some new pictures!
October 19, 2006
Update #1 · Johna's New Birthday
Johna's 'new' birthday was celebrated Friday, September 22. After her five days of pre-transplant treatment, she received her stem cell transplant. It is so hard to describe, other than that we haven't seen anything like that in our lives. It was such a calm, emotional, relieving atmosphere. Of course, with Johna being center of attention, she made it a very fun and happy occasion too! She was in really good spirits that day.
Jamison was waiting for her when she got off of the elevator from her last radiation treatment. In her room, the entire immediate family was waiting for her along with two cakes; one the hospital had made for her, and a cake from the family that read, "Happy Birthday to a True Survivor".
Two nurses came in around 3:30 pm to get the transplant started, the stem cells really do come in a red (beer) cooler! They hook it up like an IV or blood infusion/transfusion, and a scant 45 minutes later she had all new bone marrow! She had no reaction, she sat up in bed the entire time and played with Jamison and cracked jokes with everyone--making everybody laugh. It was so hard to believe we were all witnessing a life-saving event! It was so calm, cool, relaxing; like Johna said, the procedure itself is rather simple.
Her donor (God bless him!) is a 19-year old from overseas! What an extraordinary kid!
Update #2 · Post Transplant
Johna is still doing well, still very tired, and is having some side effects. They all fall within the 'norm' of having a transplant. She loves getting the eCards, so keep sending them! We were reading them last week; she's getting them from people all across the country, some that she doesn't even know! It was also awesome to see some names that we haven't heard from in a long time, this really lifted her spirits--so thank you all for staying in touch with her!
We are praying for complete success!
Update #3 · A New Home!
Not quite two weeks out from her transplant, Johna's blood counts are excellent, right where they're supposed to be and she was discharged from inpatient care!
She decided not to stay at the Lied Transplant Center, her and Brian have moved into an apartment about seven blocks from the Med Center. Johna was/is ready to take some control over her situation, have some autonomy, be out on her own, not tied to her physicians/hospital so much. She checks in twice a week for labs and a short visit with her physician.
Everything looks really good.
Did I mention, they get priority cab service? She is not able to drive as long as she's on the anti-rejection meds (about six months or so).
She has her TV, computer, DVR, full kitchen and a laundry unit. She feels much more like she's at home! There is much more room now too when Jamsion comes to stay and play with Mommy and Daddy.
For the next few months, she needs a 24-hour caregiver, which is going to be Brian for the most part. Her mom helps out when she is able and her sister's will also be sharing in the 'Johna Duty' (a 'chore' they are very glad to have).
Karen's pretty excited to have her stay at their house while the little ones (Jamison and Kelsie) go to Barney Live in Lincoln. They came to watch the Huskers beat K-State on the 14th, and also had another "Husker Game Outing" the Saturday before (when NU beat ISU (Go Big Red!)) with their friends Carl and April. (note: It was our pleasure to have them over! - Carl)
Their new address:
Johna and Brian Kozak
128 S. 38th St. #23
Omaha, NE 68131
Johna got a letter from her donor! Her case manager at the Med Center gave it to her last week. They still aren't able to exchange names, but it was really awesome that he got in touch with her first, and so soon! He told her that he hopes the stem cells he gave are able to help, and that he has been and will continue to pray for Johna. He wrote down one of his favorite bible verses for her:
Isaiah 40:31
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not be faint.
He closed with letting her know that he was so glad to have this opportunity. That he wished there was more he could do, and that she will be in his thoughts and prayers as he waits for news of how everything goes.
The world is filled with extraordinary people
Please know that Johna and Brian are so appreciative of all of the emails, cards, letters, etc.