Dad wasn't doing very well over the weekend. On Sunday, mom and I were so scared because he wasn't very coherent and couldn't do much of anything. I was so afraid to leave him that night for fear that I would get a call that something bad had happened. Diana had skyped with him earlier that evening and immediately booked her plane ticket to come be with him. He had a dr. appointment on Monday morning and we didn't think he would be able to make it but to all of our surprise he not only made it to his appointment (thank you brother Fenton) but he was so alert and was able to talk and manage to spend most of the day at the hospital. He is still fighting very hard, he exercises when he can and gets around as much as he can on his own but mom is always right by his side, checking on him and taking great care of him. He is very blessed to have such a caring ward, family and friends. Thank you to the Beehive's for the wonderful dinner you brought him tonight! He is still planning to go to Huntsman for treatments for as long as he has the energy. They have taken such great care of him there and they have not given up on him either. Whenever he needs anything, they are always happy to help him and show so much compassion and love as well as friendship (dad and mom always make friends with their doctors and staff). We truly appreciate all of you for your thoughtfulness and willingness to help. I personally have learned a lot about service from all of the wonderful people that have been here for us.

Today was a tough day for us, we met with dad's doctor and nurses up at the cancer institute and they confirmed that dad's trial medication is no longer working. They wanted us to decide as a family what we want to do as far as treatment for dad.

They said that they can continue to treat him by giving him a drug that will "hopefully" help control his white blood count along with a steroid, and blood transfusions as often as he wants. The other option would be that he have hospice care and they will come in and keep him comfortable.

Dad says that right now he really feels like continuing treatment with the team at Huntsman. They have taken such great care of him and are very compassionate people. We unanimously agree that as long as he can, he should get treatment.

We are very grateful that he has fought as long as he has and that he has never felt like giving up. What an amazing man! We are so blessed to have such a wonderful and loving father and can't imagine our lives without him in it. I personally am glad that I have been able to spend nearly every day this past year with him and that my boys know their grandpa. We love you so much dad!!!!!!!!!

Dad is back home again, where he loves to be. He was released yesterday afternoon (thank you Brother Lewis for being such a great chauffeur and for all your help). He doesn't remember much about the first day in the hospital but he is doing much better now.

Thanks for all of the phone calls and support.

Keep up the good work dad, we all love you so much!

Doing Better

After a rough morning, dad seems to be doing much better. There was awhile there where he wasn't responding and they were going to transfer him to the ICU, but his vitals stabilized so they transferred him over to Huntsman instead where they are running more tests. April said he looks twenty years younger now than he did a few hours ago. He should be getting a blood transfusion today, which always gives him a little boost of energy. Hopefully he won't have to stay there long because I know he would prefer the comfort of his own home. We love you dad! Stay strong!

Not So Good Night

April sent me a text at 2:00 this morning to let me know that they were calling an ambulance to help with dad. He had trouble with his C-PAP during the night and his oxygen levels got extremely low and he wasn't responding well. He is on his way up to the University Hospital right now where hopefully they can get him stabilized.

Also, he met with his doctor yesterday and was told that his leukemia was peeking through again. The doctor said that since the other two chemo's have failed him, he is really afraid that this one is/or will too. They still haven't figured out what the infection is in his lungs and he has been feeling tremendous pain in his right side. He was supposed to go in this morning for two liters of red blood cells just to give him some energy, since he has been feeling so bad lately. I'll update more later on today.

Thank you to everyone that is reading this! Thank you for keeping him and our family in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you to everyone that brings meals to them or that drops by to say hello or to hang out. Though dad may seem a little incoherent at times, I know that he appreciates feeling so loved. We all appreciate the love and support they receive on a daily basis.

Love you all!

Karen

So Far So Good

After 18 days of the new trial drug, dad is doing really good! He went in for a check-up on Friday and they said everything looks good! His white blood cells were good, his platelets went up all on their own and his liver and kidney function were doing well and he is only using one liter of oxygen. Other than the lung infection, which the infectious disease doctors are still studying, he is doing great! Mom gives him an IV to treat the infection every night and is still the best nurse he could ever have, she believes that she works for a great doctor up above and the 3 Nephites as her guardian angels helping her in whatever tasks she has to do. What an amazing couple she and dad make. Mom says that when she looks at him, she still see's the handsome young marine that she fell in love with a long time ago:)

Dad is still managing to ride his bike 10 miles every day and inspires all of us to live life to the fullest and not to give up!

We love you pop and are grateful for everyday that we have with you and hope and pray that it's not only days, or months but years and years!