On Friday July 15th our dad was FINALLY properly diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic t-cell lymphoma or AITL. AITL is a rare aggressive blood cancer.
This is the "staging process". We need to get:
PET scan
CAT scan
Bone Marrow Biopsy
MUGA: The MUGA is a heart report that basically will tell us if his ticker is strong enough. Anyone who knows my dad would give him a yes on that but doctor's want OFFICIAL reports. The PET scan showed that dad is in stage 3 of 4 stages. That is a common stage to be in when AITL is detected. The goal is to move on these other tests and get to the battle!
Dad has his first appointment with Stanford on Monday. We are all looking forward to meeting the doctors and possible treatments. If you are going into a battle these are the folks you want in your fox hole that is for sure. Tomorrow dad has his appointment with oncology in Santa Cruz. Dr. Yen was mentored by the doctors at Stanford. Again, another friend in the fight.
On Tuesday dad was admitted to the hospital for low blood platelets. He was at 10,000. Normal is between 100,000 and 140,000. 30,000 is acceptable....ish. He had two transfusions and is above 30! He is out.
Your dad & family are in our thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteLove, Robin &Chris
This is a tough diagnosis to get. On the other hand, your dad is at the top of our list of people who could beat just about anything that came at them. He (and all of you) are in our thoughts constantly ... Chong-Suk and Steve
ReplyDeleteOur prayers are with you, Colonel. Hang tough, and remember what you told me one cold dawn at the end of a DESFIREX in the fall of 1994, at 29 Palms: "Marines are mean motherfuckers."
ReplyDeleteSean P. Dailey
HQ Battery, 3/11
Semper Fi! Anyone who had the honor of serving with (then) Lt Col Edward "Fast Eddie" Lesnowicz Commanding Officer 3/11, will surely remember ending pt runs to the sound of the theme from "Rocky". I still get chills when i hear that song. We'll follow you anywhere! Ooh Rah!
ReplyDeleteJuan Rodriguez
HQ Btry 3/11
"God fights on the side with the best artillery. God fights with Fast Eddie"
Sir, Get well soon. You can beat this. I wish you a fast a full recovery. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. R/S and S/F, Anthony A Styer Major, USMC (Ret) (Echo Battery 2/12 Nov 92 to Nov 94)
ReplyDeleteColonel, I know you will get through this. You are one of the toughest Marines that I ever served with. Thoughts and pryers will stay with you and your family. Semper Fi Devil Dog!!!
ReplyDeleteParrish Kinney SGT. Echo 92-94 Comm Chief
Ed:
ReplyDeleteTom and I have such great memories of you and your family from Denver to Hi to Camp Pendleton. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Tom and Barbara Turner