Goodbye 2010

Just a quick update: Dad has gone four weeks in a row without needing a blood transfusion! This is so incredible and we know it's thanks to this new medicine as well as his daily fight, his faith and the faith and support of all his loved ones. Thank you!

When I came home a few weeks ago for Grandma's funeral I was able to spend some real quality time with Dad. (I left the kids home with Conway so I had no distractions or responsibilities). He seemed stronger than he was when I left him a few weeks before and even more determined to continue fighting and be with us for a long, long time.

2010 has been a rough and rocky year for the Roses. But we've learned a lot, grown a lot and become even more united as a family. We hope that 2011 will bring us health and happiness.

Happy New Year.

Grandma Rose November 20, 1927 - December 15, 2010

Our sweet Grandma Rose passed away December 15, 2010 surrounded by her loved ones. She will be missed by her 10 children, 36 grandchildren and 74 great grandchildren. She leaves behind a legacy of faith, love and devotion to family and the gospel. We will miss her smile, her delicious cranberry sauce, her mouth watering fudge, her Christmas frappe, her birthday cards, her weekly letters and her unwavering testimony; but, we know she was greeted by many loved ones in heaven including our sweet grandpa and her baby Chris who passed away when he was just weeks old.

We appreciate your love and concern for our family and your continued thoughts and prayers.

We will have an informal family viewing on Friday morning, December 17th at 11:00 am for those of you who would like to spend some private time with grandma.

Saturday morning, December 18th will start with a formal family viewing at 9:30 am, followed by a public viewing at 10:00 am. The funeral will start at 11:00 am and will be held at the LDS church at 1100 East Skyline Avenue in Tooele.

Our Gold Medalist

Dad is still pushing it and fighting hard. Here he is on the stationary bike with his friend, Apolo. If they gave a medal for perseverance, I think Dad would get the gold.

A Good Day

I called dad this morning and asked how he's doing and his reply was, "I woke up so it must be a good day!" I'm so glad that he has such a great sense of humor throughout all of this.

This past week was very exhausting for him. He had two doctor appointments and two trips to the hospital. His blood transfusion took nearly 7 hours this time, which is longer than he likes to be gone for one day.

He usually has a lot more energy after his transfusions, so he was hoping to feel good enough on Thanksgiving to go to Earl and Tifiny's for dinner. By the time he got showered and ready to go, he was feeling to shaky and tired. They ended up not being able to join us but their sweet Relief Society President brought them both a wonderful Thanksgiving meal. They said they ate until they just couldn't eat any more. Rhett also brought them each a big plate from our dinner for them to eat later. I have to say though, it just wasn't the same without them. Even though the house was packed, it felt empty without them there.

Today I wanted to make them Sunday dinner, so I cooked a turkey all day long with stuffing and the works. Walking into their house this afternoon I went to open the door and SPLAT!!! I dropped the turkey all over the garage floor! I felt terrible! Mom had the table set so beautifully and dad was hungry and ready to eat but they were so optimistic, they weren't worried about it all all and kept telling me that dinner will be just fine, and it was. We salvaged whatever didn't touch the floor and we had more than enough for everyone that was here.

Well I think dad is doing pretty good considering his doctor told him 6 weeks ago that he only had 3 weeks to live. Even though he is extremely tired, he manages to exercise every morning (which is more than I can say for myself... and I'm not sick). Like I've said before, he is amazing!

I hope with each week that he continues to get better and better. Thanks again for all of your prayers and support.

Love, Karen

A Message for My Daddy, from your Baby Girl

Dear Dad,

Every memory I have of you and with you brings a smile to my face. Sometimes I was obnoxious, sometimes I was selfish and sometimes I was clueless. But you were always forgiving, always understanding and always loving. As I fondly reminisce about our wonderful father/daughter relationship, I realize and appreciate that I had the best childhood with the most wonderful, patient and kind daddy.

You were always proudly sitting in the audience with a tear in your eye every time I sang God bless America.

You always let me tag along as you went to Gary’s house to work on your computer.

You let me sleep next to you when you rested during the day while working graveyard.

When I came home and announced that one of the boys at school had asked me to go out with him, you told me to tell that boy I already had a boyfriend, my father.

You used to come to girl’s camp every year. I loved having you there with me and so did all the girls. You hiked with us, filmed our cheesy skits and songs, played the National Anthem at the crack of dawn and always helped us feel safe.

I remember that anytime you got new speakers or a new TV, you would test the sound by playing the opening scene of Top Gun full blast.

I was nervous on my baptism day, afraid that my toes would come out of the water and I’d have to go under again. So you stepped on my feet to make sure I'd stay put.

You said things like, “You make a better door than a window”, and “sounds like a personal problem” and “how about a knuckle sandwich?” and “humbug” after a long belch.

You’d always leave a dollar or two on the table so I could buy a snack at lunch.

You let me hold on as you took me for a ride on the three wheeler.

You made the best breakfasts when we went camping.

We had a daddy daughter date where we had to eat our dinner off household items instead of utensils. I remember you refusing to eat a donut off the handle of a brand new plunger.

You encouraged me to keep believing in Santa Claus.

You always made Christmas the best holiday in the world.

You came to my soccer games even though you hated soccer.

You drove me to St. George when I started college.

We had road trip traditions: beef jerky from Thompson’s and squeaky cheese from Delta.

You always filled my car with gas and checked the oil.

If I ever had a car problem, you would immediately drive the four hour trip to rescue me and fix my car in St. George.

You watched me drive away for california. And you checked in with me along the way following my progress on a map online.

You told me I could always come home.

You gave me a beautiful father’s blessing on my wedding day.

You drove to California on several occasions to visit me.

You were there when my children were born.

You introduced me to NCIS.

I am leaving tomorrow. I wouldn't be able to go all the way to Hawaii unless I knew you were doing well. You are strong, you are a fighter, you are a survivor! I know at this point it's all up to you. You have defied odds, you have proven doctors wrong, you have survived! And I know you will continue to fight.

As I get ready to leave, I savor your hug, I applaud your success and I fondly reflect on all these wonderful memories and the ones to come.

I love you so much Daddy. See you soon,

Diana

Thankful

I am so thankful that Dad has been responding well to the new treatment.

I am thankful for all the prayers that have been offered on his behalf.

I am thankful for an eternal family.

I am thankful to be able to give my dad hugs any time I want to.

I am thankful for the doctors and nurses and MOM for taking such good care of Dad.

I am thankful that my children have been able to spend the last month with their grandpa, grandma, cousins and aunts and uncles.

I am thankful for all of you who are reading this, who love my dad and wish the best for him and our family.

With a grateful heart (and a full belly--thanks Earl and Tifiny!) this Thanksgiving,

Diana

Happy Anniversary

Mom and Dad have been married 42 years today.

And are more in love now than ever before.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Faith, Love & Hope

This week dad went to see his oncologist and she was very happy with how well his body is taking to this new drug. Last week when he went in for blood tests, his white blood cells were off the charts high. This week when he went in they were very low, which means that his new chemo is killing the leukemia cells. This is great news and we hope it will continue to keep working and keep him with us for a very long time.

He had a platelet transfusion on Wednesday, which usually gives him a lot of energy but for some reason this week he has been even more tired than usual. They said that this could be a side effect from the chemo which is much better than nausea and dizziness. He said that it makes it harder to fight but that he is not done fighting! What an inspiration you are to all of us dad!

Thank you again to everyone for visiting or sending him notes or comments. We are truly blessed to be surrounded by such love and support.

Love you all,

Karen

Amazing Man

Dad is feeling about the same today, tired, tired and more tired. He had a good weekend with lots of friends and family. Robert and Liz drove out from Iowa again and along with mom's Christmas decorations, Liz made it feel like the holidays with all of her yummy cooking! (Thank you Liz, I gained 6 lbs!) He was also able to make it to Earl and Tifiny's for one of their amazing Sunday dinners.


Robert also found out that dad has out-lived 90% of case studies, so GREAT JOB DAD!!! We are grateful that he has such a positive attitude and is fighting so hard. What a great example he is to us. We couldn't have asked for better parents and are grateful for our family and know that no matter what, Families Are Forever!


I just want to say I love you dad and you truly are one of my very best friends. You've always been there for me and I know that you would do anything for any of your children. You have been the best dad and I appreciate you more than you could ever imagine. Thanks for being you!


Love, Karen

Ode to our Veteran

First of all, Happy Veterans Day Dad! He is a veteran of the Vietnam War and Desert Storm and once he conquers this war with Leukemia, he'll be a triple war veteran. We love you dad! Thank you for your service to our country your fellow men and your family.

Three weeks ago dad was given three weeks to live, they said he would be on hospice and we thought we would be planning a funeral. We still understand that the circumstances are uncertain but at the same time we believe that with faith, hope and the power of positive thinking plus dad's fighting spirit, nothing is impossible.

He continues to amaze, impress and inspire us all. He had a blood transfusion on Wednesday so he's felt pretty good. We have all been keeping him company ALL DAY, EVERYDAY! The funny thing is, when we feel like we are wearing him down and go upstairs, my mom comes up and says "dad misses you, come back down" so we do until he falls asleep. Mom thinks it feels like the old days having us all around constantly. We have so much fun together and never get sick of one another. Mom has started decorating for Christmas because she and dad think that Christmas makes everyone feel happy. There is a wonderful atmosphere in their home.

Again we would like to thank all of you for your love and support. We appreciate all your prayers and ask that you continue to pray for his (and mom's) health and comfort.

Feel free to leave him a message, as he and my mom enjoy reading them together.

Love you all!

Karen

The Few, The Proud

Happy 235th Birthday to the United States Marine Corps. We are so proud to have a father who is a warrior, a hero, a soldier and a FIGHTER! His fighting spirit continues to prove true through this battle against cancer.

Whenever this commercial comes on, Dad points to the screen and asks the grandkids, "Who is that?" And they reply, "Grandpa!"

Happy Birthday to the few and the proud.

Food and Festive

Last night I was afraid we wouldn't have enough food for everyone for dinner. And then Mom's Filipina friends, Teena and Emma showed up with pots of pansit and mungo beans and chicken cordon bleu and leche flan. Then Paul arrived with an enormous pot of homemade chicken & dumpling soup with homemade rolls from his sweet mother-in-law Dinah. Early this afternoon Julie Wait stopped by with two large tupperwares full of chili, a pan of cornbread, a platter of cheesecake and chips and dip. We are so grateful for the outpouring of generosity. Especially since it can feel like Grand Central Station around here most days!

When Karen and I arrived today, Mom had decorated her house for the holidays. Christmas trees, lights and nativity scenes are adorning the house. The festive atmosphere certainly adds a warm and inviting spirit to their home.

Dad continues to be in high spirits and full of life. He shows no signs of slowing down and continually amazes us with his strength and attitude. In fact yesterday he told April that he would stick around for nine months if she would promise him a new baby granddaughter.

We love our inspiring Dad and we are so grateful for his example.

A Good Day

Dad was on his treatment for the second day today and he still seems to be handling it well. No nausea or swelling and he is in great spirits. In fact, he rode 14 miles today! Next time you're working out and you think you can't do another rep or another five minutes, think of my dad, I'm sure you'll find it in you.

He has been feeling exhausted for most of the day but that hasn't stopped him from hanging out with us, going for another ride in the Corvette with Earl today and even staying up past his usual bedtime to cheer the Jazz through double-overtime against the Clippers tonight.

I also want to point out how grateful we are to Rhett and April for graciously letting us take over their house. They are such wonderful and welcoming hosts: cleaning up messes, providing food and snacks, giving up beds (Rhett even slept in the camper recently!) and always happy to have us over. Thank you April and Rhett!

And thank you again to all the supporters out there reading this, checking in and sending love and prayers our way. Dad's friend and coworker Lee stopped by this morning with two boxes of doughnuts from Tooele's Nigh-Time Donuts. Another friend Al brought treats, ladies from the nieghborhood and ward have dropped of bread and cakes, Mikey, Travis and Charlotte brought a big bag of cookies, and loved ones continually stop by to visit and wish Dad well. We all really appreciate the outpouring of thoughtful gestures that we have received. Thank you all.

With Love.

More Cars, New Med and Family

Here is one of the pictures Earl mentioned in his previous post. This is the family in matching outfits made by Mom, in front of Dad's '68 Hemi Charger.

Earl picked up the car from the shop today and was able to take Dad for a short drive. They were both grinning ear to ear when they came home.

Dad started his new treatment today and so far so good. He has been super tired but other than that we haven't seen signs of bad side effects thus far (knock on wood!).

Uncle Jay and Aunt Vivian were here earlier today and our cousin Russ called to check in on Dad from North Dakota.

Most of the family was here tonight for dinner. Cute little Charlotte (Mike and Amy) was singing primary songs, chubby little Dexter (Paul and Sam) giving everyone smiles, snuggly tiny Peyton (Karen and Paul) was being passed around from Aunt to Uncle to Grandma and Grandpa, helpful Rhett Taylor (Rhett and April) happily accepting assignments to run errands and help with kiddos and sweet little Cohen (Diana and Conway) kept offering everyone kisses.

It's so wonderful to be surrounded by our fabulous family. I think we might overwhelm Dad from time to time, but he quietly closes his eyes as we talk and laugh around him. We are so grateful to be able to spend every minute possible with him.

BIG EARL, LITTLE EARL AND THEIR CAR

My dad is my best friend. We have always shared a love for cars. He is a Mopar man. The time we spent working on our cars when I was young are some of my fondest memories. If you could look at family pictures growing up, you would notice that we are all in front of one of Dad's cars, as they were as much a part of the family as anyone else. If we could, we would buy another 68 Hemi Charger. That is our dream car that we once had. Since a 68 Hemi Charger now costs more than a house, we will just fondly remember the sound of that Elephant engine sucking air from 8 barrels of carb and the distinct idle the Monster made. I loved to sit in the car and feel it shake. I dreamed of the day when I turned 16 and I would be the one behind the wheel. Little did I know that when I turned 16, my sweet dad would turn from Mr. Mopar to a Subaru lover. My dream was just that. About three years ago, Dad had a wonderful idea. He knew how much cars brought us together. I love talking cars with Dad. I could sit and talk forever about cars with my Dad. Dad's idea was a car for the two of us. We thought maybe another Mopar. Maybe a new Challenger. We were looking around and this beautiful Z06 Corvette caught our eye. We took it for a ride and we were now Corvette guys. This car was loud, powerful and freaking awesome. Dad could not get this car out of his mind, no matter what else we looked at. I had never really been that into Corvettes, but this was different. We had to have it. Though the car has been in the shop more than not, it is our car and it is the most beautiful Vette on the road. Dad added a little power to the girl. STS twin turbos! What! This thing is not only one of the most beautiful cars on the road, but one of the loudest, fastest cars on the road. I can hear Dad coming to visit from a mile away. I loved hearing him get on it when he pulled out onto the highway, then he would call me to ask me how it sounded. Oh, I love my dad. He knows how to make me smile. He is never concerned about himself. This car was his plan to bring us closer. It worked. We broke down in it a few weeks ago and it was great. I was with my dad and that is all that mattered. April had to rescue him because he didn't think he needed his oxygen. He didn't plan on being broken down in the middle of 90th South and I15 during rush hour. Today we watched as a tow truck hauled it off to Riverton Chevy, where it is in good hands. The guys there wanted to know how Dad is doing. One of the service managers almost cried when I told him about Dad. Everyone who knows my mom and dad can't help but love them. They treat everyone like gold. Anyway, I can't wait until my dad and our car are both out of the shop. I can't wait to go for a ride Dad. I want to be the one in the passenger seat. I love you Dad.

Rosie Cheeks

I just finished reading your comments to Dad. Again, thank you so much for your love and support, your prayers and concern and your faith and hope. Mom was just joking (at least I think she was joking) with Dad that she wanted to invite the Utah Jazz to visit him. He replied that he has so much support from people that he knows and loves that why would he need a visit from a stranger? So thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.

Are you ready to be inspired? Dad rode twelve miles on his bike today! That's one hour on the bike for a man who has been given the worst news a guy can get and just keeps fighting. I am in awe of his strength and fortitude.

He was given two paks of platelets yesterday so his cheeks are rosy today and he feels OK. He was also given a picc line yesterday. He is pretty tired today so hopefully he is able to rest.

Thank you again for checking in on him. We love you.

Rose Family

Dad is the oldest of 11 kids. Mom and Dad have 7 kids. Between us 7 there are 29 grandchildren. That's a lot of Roses!

So as you can imagine, we have had a house full. It can get pretty chaotic when we are all together and we always ask Dad if he wants us to leave or take the kids upstairs, but he likes having the family nearby. Sometimes he just closes his eyes and listens as we reminisce, tell jokes and laugh; other times he participates in the conversations. But he's always ready to give the kids hugs, hold them as they nap and share his treats. We love him so much and we are all so grateful for him and his love for our family. He and Mom are the glue that hold this amazing family together. We love each other so much and we love our Daddy and Grandpa!

Thank you for your continued thoughtfulness, prayers and concern. We will keep updating the blog so please keep checking and leaving comments. Dad and Mom read them together every night. My deepest and most sincere gratitude goes out to all of you who are reading this. Please know how appreciated you are.

Update

Mom and dad had a house full this weekend. It was so wonderful to have all of dad's siblings, children and grand children around him. Although it wears him out, I know that it makes him very happy to have such love and support. Thank you to everyone that came over, made dinners, brought treats etc. We love you all so much! Aunt Linda drove them to the oncologist today so we are all just here waiting for them to get back. Diana and Conway said that he looked great this morning. He was able to ride his bike and Diana was able to get some video of him while she interviewed him.

Thank you Uncle Warren and Aunt Gina for flying home from New Jersey to be with him. Diana and Conway and their kids are here from Hawaii, Bob and Liz and their kids are here from Iowa, Sara Garff and Julie Wait have been here making the best chili, clam chowder and spaghetti sauce, Jan brought over several dinners, Liz has been cooking and entertaining the kids. She conducted a family talent show last night which was really fun. Almost everyone participated. She had us sing the Marine Corp hymn as a tribute to dad and we were all in tears.

We have had a great time together watching all of our old home movies that dad so diligently took throughout our lives. We can't stop laughing at all of the phases of our hairstyles, clothing and dad's infamous ponytail!

I'm so grateful for my wonderful family and the life that I have been blessed with. I have the best parents in the entire world and appreciate their unconditional love and concern for all who know them.

Mom just called and said that dad is heading to St. Marks for a blood transfusion and an EKG and he'll have a platelets tomorrow as well as a picc line so they can draw blood each week.

Please keep him in your prayers and write him messages, as he checks them everyday. It's too exhausting for him to talk on the phone but he appreciates those who have tried to call.

Thanks again to all of you! We love you so much!

Love, Karen

This Man

This man is amazing. Everyone who is reading this right now already knows this. You wouldn't be reading if you weren't concerned about him. You know what a great father, husband, son, brother, uncle, grandpa, neighbor and friend he is. You've been checking in to make sure he's doing OK. You've remembered him in your prayers. You've witnessed his miracles. You've been cheering him along all this time.

This man is a fighter. He was back on his bike again today, riding ten miles before heading to the hospital for platelets. When we got together earlier tonight, gathered in Mom's family room either in person or via Skype, we discussed Dad's options: hospice or treatments with adverse side effects. We discussed the side effects and how the treatment might buy Dad an extra week. We asked Dad how he felt about it. His response? "If it gives me another week, I'll take it." He is not at all ready to stop fighting.

This man is my hero. It's impossible to convey how much love, admiration, respect, appreciation and pride I have in him. Thank you for your support. Thank you for your prayers. And thank you Dad, for fighting. Semper fi.

Love, Nan

Dear Family,

My dad hasn't been doing well for the past week or so. He has lost 10 lbs and has also lost his appetite and taste. Within the past month he has had 5 teeth pulled and needed another two root canals. The leukemia medication has caused his teeth to become very weak and they break easily. His mouth has been full of blood for the past few weeks. He also had a lesion taken off of his face that was found malignant but the dermatologist was sure that he got it all out. Today he went to his bi-monthly doctors appointment at the cancer institute and had a blood test only to find that his cancer is back. He will be going to St. Marks tomorrow afternoon for a blood transfusion because his platelets are very low again. There is not much they can do for him at this point. They will be taking him off all of his medications except for pain medications. There is also a medication that they can give him to prolong his life but Robert said that there are adverse side effects that may not be worth it to dad. Robert has a call in to dad's oncologist and he will call us to let us know what our options are. They have told us that he only has weeks left, he wants to continue to fight and do all that he can.

I told him tonight that I need him and he laughed and said "I need me too." Earl gave him a beautiful blessing tonight and we all had a good cry. He doesn't have a lot of energy lately but I know he appreciates reading your comments. He loves us all so much. Please keep him in your prayers. We may have more info tomorrow. I will email again after I talk to Robert.

I love and appreciate you all so much!

Love, Karen

Teeth and Skin

Either the cancer itself or the chemotherapy has caused Dad's teeth to rot and decay. But because Dad's dentist is in Tooele he hasn't been able to go for a long time because he is too weak to make that drive.

With the help of a loving and concerned Bishop and his wife, Dad was finally able to see a dentist and had five of his teeth pulled. Two more will have root canals.

The cancer doctor also recommended that Dad see a dermatologist about some cancerous spots on his face. Again thanks to the Bishop's sweet wife, Dad was able to find a dermatologist and have them removed.

He is still exercising every day and continues to amaze us with his strength and attitude.

Our family has been blessed to be surrounded by wonderful Christ-like people who have offered help and service at every opportunity.

We are filled with gratitude for all Dad's wonderful cheerleaders and supporters. Thank you!

Update!!! (With Lots of Exclamation Points!!!)

I talked to Dad on the phone this morning. He sounded happy and cheerful and better than I've heard him in a long time.

Here are some updates that deserve all the exclamation points I am going to give them:

He has gained over 30 pounds!

He no longer needs the feeding tube!

He has been riding a recumbent stationary bike every day (sometimes twice a day) for the past thirty days! He started out riding 15 minutes at a time and now he's up to 33 minutes!

Way to go Dad!

He has his appetite back!

He feels better than he did thirty days ago!

He enjoys spending time each day with his sweetheart and several grandchildren!

He still has pain in his hands and feet so he sees a doctor for the pain about twice a month. Because of this pain, it is hard for him to write emails or make phone calls. But please know that he would if he could! He really appreciates all your comments, prayers and concern. So please keep it up!

I asked about the Bone Marrow Transplant. He will be seeing his oncologist on September 20 so they will discuss his options at that time. Technically, he is in remission right now; but as we've mentioned before, he needs the transplant to beat the cancer completely. We'll update the blog as soon as we hear what the oncologist wants to do.

He still can't get around without the walker; with its help he can get around the house but doesn't get to make it outside very often. Although once a week he does leave the house completely to have dinner at Earl and Tifiny's!

Dad has beaten so many odds already and has come SO far. This has been a tough and trying year for the Roses but above all, we are so grateful for this man. His courage, strength, fortitude and attitude have been inspirational. Please continue to remember him (and Mom) in your prayers.

And we will continue to update you.

Please leave a comment to let Dad know you are checking in on him; your support is invaluable.

Dear Dad,

I had a dream about you last night. You were driving your Corvette and you came to my house to deliver some goodies. Together we ate Twinkies and chocolate cream pie. You were happy and healthy and laughing. It was a great dream.

I called you this afternoon to say hello and see how you were doing. You sounded so great. I could hear the smile in your voice. Robert and Liz had just arrived and you were sitting next to your beloved little Stella.

I asked how you were feeling and you said you were feeling "good, considering". You went on to tell me how you've been riding a stationary bike three miles a day for the past eight days.

Way to go Dad!

I am so proud of you. You are a fighter and you are fighting hard! You continue to inspire us all. We love you so much and we continue to pray for you every day.

Before you know it, my dream will be a reality. You'll be cruising around in your Corvette, happy, healthy and laughing. And as much as I'd enjoy some Twinkies and chocolate cream pie, how about we share some shave ice and malasadas on the beach at sunset?

20 LBS!

Dad is starting to look healthy again! Since he got the feeding tube he has been able to put on about 20 pounds, so starting tomorrow they will cut back on his calorie intake and he'll only have to use it for 12 hours a day, which means he will only wear it at night. He is looking and sounding more himself everyday!

He still has a lot of pain in his hands and feet which makes it very difficult for him to get around but he never complains, just manages to do what he can. It's so great to see him smiling and talking and enjoying his grand kids so much. We have the most amazing parents in the world and we know that dad's progress is an answer to all of the many prayers that he has received. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful support from family and friends.

Lookin' Good!

Dad went to another appointment at the Cancer Center today and the doctor was very happy with his progress. He weighed in at a whopping 201 pounds... YAY!!! He looks so good and he sounds good and besides being weaker than normal and not able to leave the house except to see the doctor, he seems like my old dad again! It's so great to hear him laugh and see him eat and though he has a long road ahead, we know that because of all of your faith and prayers he is doing as great as he is.

Fairy Tale

If ever there were a real-life handsome prince and his beautiful princess living the fairy tale romance most people only read about, it's these two:

Infusion

I took dad to see one of his doctors at the cancer institute yesterday. He was very unhappy with all the weight that dad has lost (9 more lbs since his visit 2 weeks ago). He told us that if dad doesn't get a picc line he will soon die because his immune system will surely fail without the proper nourishment. He has an appointment at St. Marks tomorrow afternoon to get a picc line inserted and then he will have a home health care service come out everyday and change his feeding bag. I know this is not what he wanted and he has been trying to eat as much as he can and mom does an incredible job taking care of him and feeding him. I think dads nausea is what is hindering his appetite. Hopefully he will put his weight back on quickly and be able to overcome all of this. He is a fighter and we need him for a long long time. Please keep him in your prayers.

Love you all and love you dad!!!

Thank you to everyone who called, emailed or stopped by for dad's birthday, he really appreciated that and had a wonderful day (despite having to lay down most of the time).

He's started physical therapy twice a week and has done very well. His therapists have been very impressed with his strength, although it takes everything out of him, he still tries very hard and never quits.

We are still taking things one day at a time and hoping that he will be able to put on some weight and have the strength to do normal day to day things.

He is still losing weight and feeling sick all of the time, so please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. He loves to get emails and comments although doesn't have much strength to respond, it still means a lot to him.

Love to all and please know how much everyone's support means to all of us!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

A very happy birthday to our sweet Dad. May you have a wonderful day filled with good friends, family, and improved health.

Happy 62nd. And MANY, MANY more!

We love you.

I've posted a couple pictures of Dad's car with hopes that he might be able to go for a birthday drive. I know he misses his car almost as much as his favorite daughter in Hawaii. :)

Thank You, Dad

Dear Dad,

Thank you.

I hope everyone who reads your blog, who loves you and hopes all the best for you will take the time this Memorial Day to think of you and thank you for your service. It is thanks to heroes like you that we enjoy the freedoms this wonderful country provides. And it is thanks to your example that I have grown up with pride and honor for our country.

Thank you for your selfless sacrifices. I hope you are able to enjoy your holiday. I hope you get some sunshine and lots and lots of food!

I love you.

Semper fi,

Diana

CAFE RIO

Great news! Dad was finally able to eat a full meal!!! April got him tamales and a burrito from Cafe Rio last night and he managed to eat it all! We're hoping this is a sign that his appetite is coming back and he's going to start gaining weight instead of losing it.

Keep up the good work dad!!!

KEEP THE FAITH

Dad had an appointment today at LDS hospital with his transplant specialist, she had the results of his bone marrow biopsy that they did two weeks ago. April, mom and I went with him. The doctor informed us that Dad's leukemia had gone into remission and that they did not see the Philadelphia chromosome. We thought that this was wonderful news, however because dad is still on oxygen and has lost so much weight and strength and can't even eat, he would most likely not make it through a transplant right now. She said that the toxins would be too much for his body to handle. April asked the doctor how long he could be in remission and gain the strength to receive the transplant and she said that he would have only months to live. Dad's insurance no longer covers a physical therapist to come to the house and work with him, but between mom and all of his kids, we are going to get him healthy enough for the transplant.

He has an appointment with his Oncologist at St. Marks on Thursday, so we will talk to her about a feeding tube so he can at least get his nourishment that way until his appetite comes back or at least where we can mention food without him getting nauseated.

When dad does receive the transplant she said that he will have a 20% chance of the leukemia being cured and without the transplant he will not make it.

We all know that dad is strong and that he has already beat the odds several times. Let's not focus on the percentages right now, but have faith and prayers that we will witness yet another miracle.

His spirits are a little low right now but we are going to do all we can to help him fight this.

Again, we love you all and appreciate the friendship, support and prayers on our father's behalf.

Please continue to pray and have faith and feel free to email him or comment on this blog and we will make sure he gets all of your messages (he loves it!)

Thanks again! Love Karen

At Home

Sorry for falling behind with Dad's progress report. I'm happy to say that it is mostly because he has been doing so well. He and Mom are home now and loving it. Mom has been an incredible caretaker and nurse and Dad has been feeling well and happy.

We are now just waiting to find out when he will be going in for his Bone Marrow Transplant.

Please do continue to keep him in your prayers. We still have a long way to go but we are so grateful for this time he has been feeling so well.

Dad actually had the opportunity to read this entire blog from beginning to end including all your comments. He was very touched by all the love that has been expressed and sends his apologies that he can't reply to each of you individually.

He is hoping to get feeling and use back in his hands so he can do just that in due time.

Thank you again for the love, thoughts and prayers. We continue to look forward to Dad's progress and improvement and eventual defeat of this disease!

Home Tomorrow!

I figure that everyone is really busy right now, so I'll go ahead and post this. :)

Mom/Susie has probably already called many of you, but just to let you know ... Dad gets to come home again tomorrow!!!

Mike talked with Dad yesterday and said that he sounds so happy and strong. Mike is down at the house right now helping get things ready for Dad to come home tomorrow morning.

Movin' On Up

Dad is moving upstairs to rehab today. They have his liver and lungs under constant care and things are looking good.

They are excited to have a new room on the fifth floor and it's nice to know that the doctors are just downstairs should they need them.

Dad has been really optimistic and positive this week. We are so proud of him for being such a fighter. We are so grateful for your comments and your prayers. And as always, we'll continue to keep you posted!

Pulmonary Embolism

Last night just when we arrived at the hospital to visit Dad, Mom was rushing out to get the nurse because Dad was in a cold sweat and his arm was swollen.

They ordered a CT scan and I called Mike to come give him a blessing. Mike arrived soon thereafter and was able to help Dad feel a lot better after the blessing.

The CT scan showed that he has a pulmonary embolism, meaning that blood clot has moved to his lungs.

They did an EKG and are monitoring his heart.

Prayers are needed!

Thanks and I'll update when I know more.

Always Something

It seems like we just can't get a break; there is always something going on with Dad.

He should have received his bone marrow transplant by now but he can't get it until he is feeling better.

Right now he has Hepititis in his liver which is basically an infection that only time can heal. It was caused by the medications he has been taking.

And tonight Mom just noticed that his hand was swollen so she expressed her concerns to the nurse who just confirmed that he has a blood clot from his collar bone down his arm caused by the pic line.

We are so blessed and lucky to have Mom with him all the time. She is truly his angel, his guardian angel.

In addition to all these sudden issues, Dad has also lost over 30 pounds since this all began.

Your prayers have meant the world to us and your comments have bouyed up his spirits. Please continue to show him your love and support. We are a family who believe in the power of prayer. For example, just one minute ago here in Dad's hospital room, the nurse came in to take out his pic line. She was having a difficult time inserting his IV and was almost ready to give up. We needed her to be successful so the site of the clot could start healing. Mom told us to say a prayer that she would get it to work. Her exact words were "If you say a prayer, she'll find it." in the midst of my prayer the nurse tried again and was successful. Mom said, "See? Heavenly Father knows."

Happy Birthday to Mom and Another Update

Today is Mom's birthday. Happy birthday to the sweetest, most beautiful, completely selfless, always positive, ever cheerful woman on earth who still doesn't look, feel or act a day over 40. Or maybe 30.

She is spending her birthday at Dad's bedside in the hospital, which is exactly where she wants to be. And all she wants is for her handsome sweetheart to be healthy again so they can grow old together hand in hand.

We love you so much Mom. Happy birthday to you!

In other news, Dad has a yeast infection in his throat. It was caused by his chemo medications so they have discontinued all his meds until they can help fix this problem and the others.

For now, they are also holding off on his liver biopsy until the cancer doctor and the gastrointestinal doctor can discuss together which options will be in his best interest.

As always, we will update when we know more. And as always, if you are reading this blog, please leave a comment so he knows of your support. Thanks.

More Tests Less Meds

We are sitting in Dad's hospital room. April has been reading him all your comments. He and Mom both love to hear your words of encouragement and love. So please continue to leave them.

Right now is when your support is most needed. This disease takes a toll physically, mentally AND emotionally.

The Gleevic he has been taking as part of his chemotherapy might have had a bad reaction on his liver so they have taken him off of all his medications. He is consistently nauseated, extremely tired and has been feeling really, really down.

Mike, April, Karen and I have been able to spend time with him here tonight and have thoroughly enjoyed seeing him smile and hearing him laugh. We do all we can to keep his mind off the cancer and on positive memories and uplifting news.

The doctors are trying to get to the bottom of these issues he has been having lately. He needs to be in better health before they do the bone marrow transplant. Three of his siblings were a match so now they are doing further testing to find the most perfect match for him.

Dad appreciates your love and support and especially your faith and prayers so much. Thank you for checking up on his progress. We will continue to post updates as much as possible.

Readmitted Again

I was about to sit down to post about the great visit I had with Dad last night. Although he was freezing cold despite having a pile of blankets on him, and though some persistent nausea was bothering him, he was in great spirits and we had a wonderful visit.

The doctors took him off the morphine which made such a difference. He has been back to his non-confused-all-the-time self again.

But he went in to the Cancer Institute this morning and the doctors have admitted him back into St. Mark's Hospital again.

They say he shouldn't be as tired and nauseated as he has been. They are going to do some tests to make sure the Leukemia is not in his brain.

Please continue your fervent prayers on behalf of our sweet Daddy. We want him back. And we want him back for good!

Coming home Friday!

Diana and I tried to cheer dad up last night, he's been a little down and he doesn't like being in the hospital anymore. I think we finally made him smile by giving him kisses before we left.

He had a lot of testing done this week and his doctor said he doesn't have any signs of infection, his spinal tap looked great and there is no leukemia in his bone marrow. He still has delirium which is most likely from his morphine, so hopefully he'll be off that soon and we'll have our sweet dad back for good! WE LOVE YOU DAD!!!

Back in the Hospital

Dad was admitted back into St. Marks Hospital again today. The doctor was concerned about how confused Dad has been lately so he wants to do some tests.

He and Mom will be there tonight. They are going to do another Spinal Tap and some other blood tests.

That's really all I know right now but I wanted to make sure everyone is up to speed.

I'll post again when I know more.

Super Susie

Mom definitely has her hands full.

Taking care of Dad at home is more than a full time job. She told me the other day that it is easier for her to watch ten babies than to watch Dad all day. She has to be with him constantly. She can't leave him for even a minute. He's so confused that he can get himself into trouble if left unsupervised.

He doesn't realize how weak he is so he often tries to get up and walk around. He wants nothing more than to take the car and run errands. We have to remind him that he is sick right now and can't do anything like that. He forgets how to do simple tasks like washing his hands or putting on socks.

Mom has been amazing. She is the perfect example of unconditional love. She is always by his side, hugging him, rubbing his back, telling him how handsome he is and how much she loves him.

And through all the trials, she always looks on the bright side and can often be found giggling. When Dad does silly things, she is the first to laugh about it. When she gets frustrated or overwhelmed, she still laughs. And luckily for all of us, her laugh is contagious.

Mom really is a super woman. And I can think of no one better suited to care for Dad than his super sweetheart.

The Good, the Bad and the Chemo

Dad goes to the Cancer Institute of Utah every morning for his chemo injections. They check his vitals, do blood tests and pump him full of the awful chemotherapy.

We have been dealing with the yucky side effects of all these drugs for the past few days. A combination of the morphine, the chemo and all the mental, emotional and physical stress has taken a toll on poor Daddy.

The best way I can think to describe it is that he gets a little "loopy" from time to time. It can be a bit scary for us to witness him not remembering how to work a computer or remote control, not knowing whether it is day or night, or why he needs to wear oxygen tubes all day, but we just have to remember that this will pass and it's all part of helping him get better.

The good news is that the doctor told Mom this morning that he is very impressed with Dad's blood counts.

And the best news is that Dad is home. We get to see him whenever we want to and loopy or not, he gives the best hugs.

Here is a really blurry photo taken from my camera phone of some of Dad's grandbabies sitting at the top of his staircase hoping to say hi to Grandpa. When he walked by he heard a chorus of "Hi Grandpa! We love you!"

Love at Home

It's great having dad home! It's so nice to hug and snuggle with him whenever we want to, although I think it's been a lot of work for mom who is taking on the role and shifts of all of his doctors and nurses. She is amazing! She monitors all of his medications and makes sure that what is prescribed is checked and double checked. She monitors his oxygen, she is right by his side whenever he wants to get up and walk around or use the restroom, she's keeps his bedding fresh and cozy and she and April make sure that he has wonderful full course healthy meals.

It's been hard to keep all of dad's grand kids away from him because they are all so excited to see him and have him home and he feels the same about them. He always wants me to bring the kids to him for hugs and kisses but I just bring them to the stairs so they can wave and blow kisses until he is better.

He goes to the Cancer Institute of Utah everyday for his chemotherapy. He has a physical therapist who works with him at the house and nurses that stop by to check up on him.

Last night was a tough night. He was very anxious to leave the house and get some errands done. It was hard to restrain him and explain to him that we weren't going anywhere. So we tried to just snuggle with him and keep him occupied. Sometimes his medications make it hard for him to comprehend what is going on around him. This morning he is doing much better and thinking more clearly.

Thank you all so much for being such a huge support group to our family. We are truly blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful family and friends and are grateful for all the prayers that we know have been heard and answered.

Welcome Home Daddy!

I didn't realize just how empty and incomplete this house was until Mom and Dad came home and filled in all the emptiness.

It's SO great to have them home.

The babies all really missed Grandpa. They had some big hugs waiting for him; and the ones with runny noses are very upset at not receiving kisses.

April made a delicious feast including Dad's favorites: steak and shrimp, plus salmon, asparagus, zucchini, squash rolls and fruit.

We are so grateful and happy to have Dad out of the hospital and back home where he belongs and where he is needed!

He will be able to stay here for the next two to three weeks while they try to find a perfect match for his Bone Marrow Transplant.

leaving the hospital

We Love You

Marley wuvs Grampa!

On his own couch

...not a sprint but a marathon

We just got back from a consultation at LDS Hospital with dad's bone marrow transplant doctor. I guess we weren't quite prepared to hear what a rough and rocky road we are all in for, especially dad. A bone marrow transplant is a necessary evil at this point because we want him to beat this and without the transplant it will not be possible.

To summarize what the doctor told us: 50% of bone marrow transplant patients survive the procedure. We all know that dad has already beaten all odds so this to us is just another bump in the road. We know that with all your prayers and dad's fighting spirit, he will conquer this obstacle as well.

Most of dad's siblings were tested today and it will take 2 - 3 weeks to see if any of them are a perfect match for the transplant. Once the match is found, he will go to LDS Hospital for 4 - 6 weeks for the transplant and the recovery period which could include several adverse side effects.

Thank you so much to supportive brothers and sisters for their willingness to help their big brother by "loaning him their immune system".

We are so very grateful to all of you for your constant love, support, prayers and comments (dad loves those very much).

We love you all!!!

From Robert:

Diana's update is accurate,
I spoke with the cancer doctor. She said that the first step of chemo is going well. The chemo has basically reset the bone marrow to nearly empty. There are only a few cells and only a small percentage are leukemia.
He will continue chemo without the need for an IV for now. He will start an oral chemo drug called gleevec.
He will be able to go home next week.
Because he is positive for the philadelphia chromosome, chemo will not be enough in the long run. He will eventually need a bone marrow transplant. We will hear more about this tomorrow.

Dad's family circa 1979

Thank you to my awesome aunts and uncles for your willingness to donate!

Love you

Results

Dad receives the results of the Bone Marrow Biopsy today. When we have those, Robert will call the doctor so that he can translate Doctor Jargon into something the rest of us can understand. Hopefully he can update this blog with those results as soon as possible.

In the meantime, what we do know for now is that Dad will need to have a Bone Marrow Transplant.

The first candidates for a donor will be his siblings. So luckily for us, Dad has plenty of those!

Thank you for your prayers. Please keep them coming. We are a family who believes in miracles.

Dad with some of his siblings and cousins. Missing are Warren, Joy, Tim & Bryan. Dad is the extremely handsome man in the middle.

(This was the only photo I could find online. Dena et al, if you have one with everyone, please email it to me. Thanks!)

Bear Hugs and Biopsies

Last night Mike, Karen and I were all able to give Dad a big bear hug. This was the hug I've been anxiously waiting for. Bending over to hug him while he's lying down while trying to avoid bumping his incision is quite different than getting to wrap your arms completely around him and squeeze him while he's standing.

It was a great Valentine's Day gift. Thank you Daddy!

He has been walking around quite a bit and his physical therapist is happy with his progress.

Tomorrow he will be getting another Bone Marrow Biopsy to see where he is with the Leukemia. This is a big day for us because it will determine what treatments he will receive and how much longer he will be here in the hospital.

Please pray for good news!