Friday, February 25, 2011

Pneumonia = Miserable

Dad is in the hospital getting treated for his pneumonia. April took him to the ER late last night because he had a high fever. They sent him to Huntsman and the doctors were concerned that his illness was lasting so long.

Today they drained some of the fluid from his lungs and used a scope to determine where his infection is.

Hopefully they can help him feel a little better and get him sent home in the next day or two.

The pneumonia is really keeping him down physically; every time I talk to him on the phone he says he is miserable and his voice is hoarse and interrupted with frequent coughing.

Hopefully this help from the doctors today will be just what he needs.

Thank you for your continued prayers.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Looking Good!

Well after weeks of waiting, dad was finally able to start the new chemo on Friday. He went in for some tests this afternoon and the blood work looked good, so the chemo is helping! He has another appointment on Friday so I'll update again when I know a little bit more.

Thanks for keeping him in your thoughts and prayers!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Still Waiting...

Well, as of tonight, they still have not received the approval they need from the drug company. Apparently they are still waiting to see if he meets the criteria for the new treatment. We were all really hoping that they could get started yesterday but it looks like we just have to wait longer.

Just keep praying that we'll get some good news soon!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Starting Treatment Today!

We are hoping that dad can get started on the treatment today. He is there right now after having a high fever and low oxygen levels early this morning. Mom was up all night just sitting by his side monitoring and taking care of him the best she could. They called the Huntsman Cancer Institute today to let them know that he isn't doing well and since they were hoping to start the chemo tomorrow anyway, they said just to bring him in today and maybe they can get started a day early.



April just called to let me know that he still isn't feeling well, his head feels like it's spinning and they just said he has pnemonia. They are taking really good care of him and will allow mom to stay there with him for at least the next three days.



We are really hoping that this study will be able to help him since all of his other options have failed. He is a really good candidate for it and we know that he is willing to do what ever it takes.



Please keep him and mom in your prayers. The past few weeks have been especially hard on mom. It's rare that her stress ever shows and lately, since dad hasn't been able to take any medications, I think it is taking an emotional tole on her. Thanks to everyone for checking up on them, bringing meals, taking them to the hospital and keeping them in your thoughts and prayers, it truly means the world to them.

He is allowed to have visitors (and treats)! If anyone is up in the area, he is in room 4521.

Love to all.



Karen

Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Valentines Day



Dad is at the Huntsman Cancer Institute again this morning. He has gone in several times in the past two weeks for the necessary tests to see if he qualifies for the treatment. They haven't been able to extract enough bone marrow for testing so they had to get permission from his doctor to do the tests on his blood. Hopefully we'll know today if he qualifies, I know they are anxious for him to get started, as are we.
I'll update more today after I hear from mom or dad.
Thanks again for checking up on him and for all of you that have helped with rides to the hospital and meals and everything else.
We love you all!
Karen

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Looking for HOPE?


Two nights ago I was in the boys room putting them to bed and Creed was praying?
-"Please let it be a snow day tomorrow, please let it be a snow day tomorrow, please let it be a snow day tomorrow."
When he woke up, there was barely a trace of snow outside. He cried and cried
-"but I stayed up half the night with my fingers crossed. . ."
By midmorning a blizzard hit and they were sent home early from school. Today they have a snow day.
This morning, Mom(Jesusa) was kneeling and praying
-"please let there be another option for dad's cancer, please let there be something else we can do. . ."
By midmorning her phone rang. Dr. Gregg had just heard about a study that started LAST WEEK at the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the U of U. The doctor doing the trial was a leading leukemia researcher in Oregon who just came to Utah. He is testing a drug called Ponatinib. Ponatinib is a new drug being tried for patient with Philadelphia positive Leukemias like dad's cancer. It is for patients who have failed Sprycel. So far one patient has been enrolled in this Phase II trial. In phase I it showed positive results Ph+ CML and ALL.
We don't know if dad will qualify for the trial, but we hope he does.
We will contact the trial doctors and dad will be screened for eligibility. After that hopefully we'll get a chance with this medicine.
Of course, we'll try to hold our tears if things dont go exactly how we want. We don't know how far off the blizzard we are praying for may be. We may keep our fingers crossed half the night, just in case.
"Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me." D&C 9:7