Friday, May 13, 2011

May 13th - The Dr.'s Protocol

Mom & Dad met with the nurse, dietitian, and social worker to go over what happens during the transplant.  We also had a family conference with Dr. Asch to discuss the protocol for the transplant.  Dr. Asch said that she went to the national data base to find someone else who had the exact same Leukemia that Pops has so that she could compare the protocol for the treatment for him and there is no one who has survived to get a transplant.  Whoa!  Very humbling.  So basically Dr. Asch & Dr. Petersen had to sit down and design the protocol themselves.  Dad is the first person to have this type of chemo treatment that they designed.  The Dr.'s also said that if he is alive in 3 years they want to write a case study on him because no one with his type of Leukemia has ever made it this far.  Another miracle :)

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

May 11th

He had a pulmonary test, echo cardiogram, and an EKG today to further the preparation. 

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

May 10th

He went to the dentist today for an exam, which he won't be able to have another one for at least 1 year after the transplant. All his teeth and gums have improved remarkably because he is in remission now.  Before he was diagnosed with Leukemia he was having all kinds of dental issues with his gums, teeth, and a root canal, which we later discovered that it was all caused from his syndrome and Leukemia.

Also, Edris was examined and her blood was tested and she is in great physical health to proceed forward as the donor.  Dr. Hoda told Edris that everyone liked to work with Dad because he is always so cheerful and pleasant.  He asked her if Dad is always that cheerful :)  Dr. Hoda also told her that once Dad received the bone marrow transplant it would be up to a higher source because the Dr.'s wouldn't be able to do anything more.  Edris told him, "Well we believe in a higher source".  Good thing he and the higher source have a good relationship :)

Thursday, May 5, 2011

May 5th

He had lab work and chest x-rays to check everything thoroughly so that he would be able to handle the transplant.

Monday, May 2, 2011

CANCER FREE!

The biopsy results show no leukemia!  This has been a miracle for how fast he has gone into remission.  The doctors didn't expect him to go into remission at all.  They were just buying him 12-18 months more of life.  Dr. Petersen even commented himself how miraculous this is!  The next step is to get him stronger and prepare him for a bone marrow transplant within 2 weeks.

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Jared's Graduation from UVU

He was so excited to be able to attend Jared's graduation celebration from UVU.  Family pics and Tucanos was enjoyed.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

April 12th

He has started out-patient chemo therapy.  This treatment will be daily for 1 week.  Dr. Petersen came in today very excited and animated to tell him and mom that his chances were slim but that he had beaten the odds. (Going from 30% - 5%)

Thursday, April 7, 2011

April 7th

He was discharged from the hospital today and is now on out-patient status Wahoo!

Sunday, April 3, 2011

April 3rd

He is getting stronger daily and expressed that he felt renewed from conference.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Priesthood Meeting

As a part of a pilot program he was able to watch the General Conference Priesthood session live on the TV in his room with his sons, nephew, and two close friends of the family.  He said it was a joy to feel the Spirit of that meeting with them.  Jacob Stark, one of his former missionaries, was the one who made this happen because he is a part of this pilot group.

April 2nd

The result of his bone marrow biopsy showed 5% leukemia cells.  At 5% or less they will do a bone marrow transplant but they wanted to try to get it to 0% before they do the transplant.  So he will undergo another chemo treatment when he is stronger.

Friday, April 1, 2011

April 1st

The results from the chest x-rays showed that he still has pneumonia and that the blood clots are still there.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

March 31st

Dad had another bone marrow biopsy today.  It was a little more difficult this time around because the P.A. had a hard time getting it after several tries so they got a different P.A. that was able to get it.  Dad was pretty sore the rest of the day.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Tuesday March 29th

The doctors have been concerned with his breathing so have been running some tests and found out that he has 2 blood clots in his lungs and 2 in his legs.  He is already on blood thinners so they are going to increase the amount to treat the blood clots.  His spirits are still good he is looking really old and I think that is the hardest thing is to see him like that.  Especially since he has hardly ever been sick at all his whole life and always running :)  I was talking with someone last night joking that he still has probably 1 years worth of sick pay from work since he never used it.  Once again thank you for your prayers.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Plateletes are up

We found out that one of the reasons he has been fevering so much lately is because his platelets have been sky rocketing.  Like from 16 to 125 and now in the 300's!  Wahoo!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Auntie Ed is the match!!

We just found out that Dad's sister Edris is a donor match for the bone marrow transplant!  Wahoo!! :)  Also,  Pops blood is still clean of leukemia so hopefully they will do another bone marrow test soon to find out if those protective cells are being broken down so the chemo can reach the bone marrow.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

March 22nd

He was supposed to come home tomorrow but has another infection.  He has a fever of 102*.  Mike was up there this afternoon to pick up Mom so was able to give him a blessing so that's good.  He wants to come home so bad because he misses the family but it's better that they keep him to monitor him through these infections.  Thank you again for your prayers on his behalf and for my mothers strength to endure this with him :)

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Not good test results, thank you for your prayers and faith! March 12,2011

He had another bone marrow test to see how the week of intense chemo affected the Leukemia and the results showed it has done absolutely nothing because this type of cancer is so resistant that it has cells that are built up around it to protect it.  They will have to treat him immediately due to it being so aggressive.  The Dr. said that if they were to do another intensive chemo treatment at his age, he wouldn't make it.  He said it would be extremely tough for a 33 year old.  And of course if they do no treatment he would not make it past 1 month.  The other option is to do a less intense chemo treatment that is specifically for this type to break down those cells and actually changes the DNA so it can do that.  The treatments will be once a day for 7 days and then he will recover for 3 weeks and they would like to do 3 - 4 treatments so this will take up to 4 months.  He started his first treatment yesterday.  He will only be in the hospital for this treatment and then maybe 1 or 2 weeks of recovery and then will do the rest out-patient.  The statistics of this less intense chemo treatment for his type of cancer is a 49% chance of full remission but we have all felt at peace and with that blessing that he will fully recover.  Then once the cancer is in remission he can have the bone marrow transplant.  When we saw him yesterday he is still of course with out doubt and full of faith that he will fully recover, he said he will definitely be in that 49% :)  This has been such a humbling experience and we are so grateful for the Lord's blessing of peace and comfort to know that he will recover stronger than ever like he promised in the blessing he received 3 days after he was admitted into the hospital.  Our family fasted today and participated in an endowment session at the Oaker Mountain temple and that was so sweet to feel the peace again and love of our Heavenly Father for our Dad and Mom and all of us.  The tender mercies of the Lord :)  Thank you all for your ongoing faith and prayers on his behalf.  He is of course the one who keeps us strong, along with Mom, with their un-wavering faith and optimism :)  He has enjoyed seeing all of his wonderful friends and family but is very tired, along with Mom, so if you do visit please just stay for 10-15 minutes :)

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Update March 5th

The results from the DNA test came back today, which was a big surprise, since the doctor had said it would take 2 weeks (which it only took 1 week). This is another sign of how the Lord is blessing dad because it allows the doctor's to know the severity and know the next course of action to take. The results that were sent to the doctor showed a long list of abnormalities in the DNA chromosomes. So he will have to have a bone marrow transplant. As soon as we know more about the bone marrow transplant we will let you know.

Friday, March 4, 2011

March 4th

Today, Friday, is Dad's last day of chemo for this first treatment. We all went up to celebrate with him. He said he has no pain and feels so blessed for that. He was actually looking stronger today with more energy than he's had since he started the chemo treatment. He wants everyone to know how grateful he is for all the prayers and fasts on his behalf. He expressed how he can feel the strength from those prayers and fasts.

Monday, February 28, 2011

February 28th

For some reason this post is out of order and can't be fixed, so sorry about about the mix up. 
Dad is doing really good with chemo, no pain but is having shortness of breath even while on 6 liters of oxygen. He took out his oxygen to blow his nose and forgot to put it back on and the oxygen in his blood dropped to 70%. This is part of why he is so fatigued and has a long time talking for long periods of time.

The Infection

Dad was moved to ICU Monday February 28th because he got an infection. He had been fevering the previous 2 days but this is common with cancer patients so they weren't too worried. The fact that Dad's fevers kept going up to 101 and 102 caused them to perform blood tests. The doctor saw an infection and a small amount of fluid in his lungs and as precautionary wanted to move Dad to ICU because they can hook him up to all the monitors for his heart, oxygen, etc. They monitored him through the night and he slept well so they decided they could move him back to his room but keep him on oxygen.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Visitors

Dad loves having visitors but for short periods of time because he is very fatigued and sleeps a lot due to lack of blood. Please call Mom before you visit 801.787.4003.

February 25th 1st day of Chemo

Dad started chemo this afternoon. It will be a strong treatment for 1 week. He receives it through an infusion. Elder Baxter came and gave him a blessing of health that afternoon. Dad was told that he would recover and his health would be better than before the cancer. This blessing affirmed why we have all felt peace from the beginning.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Mom

Mom plans on being there everyday with him. Mike, as a pharmaceutical rep and his region being north salt lake to Ogden, will pick her up every morning on his way to work and bring her home on his way home. From the beginning Mom and Dad have both felt at peace with Dad's situation. The Dr. also gave a good Prognosis because they caught the cancer at an early state and that Dad was previously in very good health.

February 24th

Thursday February 24th he couldn't start chemo because they had to do a chemical induced stress tests on his heart. Also because his catheter in his carotid artery had bled out so they had to go in and replace it. He will start chemo in the morning.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

February 12th

Dad & Mom went down to St. George to visit with their friends the Jensen's and attend the wedding of one of their returned missionaries. Sunday Dad woke up with a lump under his chin. They went to the doctor and he gave him a strong antibiotic saying it could be a blocked gland duct caused by a possible stone. Then the next weekend on February 20th he woke up with a lump on the other side of his neck under his chin. The doctor had told them that if it had moved to the other side he would need to see him immediately. So both felt he needed to go get it checked but it was Sunday so they had to wait until Monday to take him in. Monday February 21st he had a CT scan to check out the lump and the doctor tried to catch them to get more scans but they'd already left. They scheduled to do more scans and tests at 7 am the next morning Tuesday February 22nd, which was a big indication of the priority and severity of his results. They received a call early Wednesday morning that due to his test results he was to be admitted to the LDS hospital straight away because they had determined it was cancer. They were still unsure of the specific type and were going to perform more tests when he came in. They thought it was either Acute Lymphatic Leukemia or Lymphoma. After spinal taps and blood tests they ruled those out and he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia which needed to be treated aggressively so was told he needed to do in-patient treatment for 1 month there at LDS Hospital.