A warriors Battle

Saturday, July 30, 2011

After Action Report - by Ed

This has been an initial engagement with AITL, clots, and "plankton". It has taught me a lot. So, if you all don't mind, I would like to share a lesson learned or two.

Forty Four years ago, 1967, I was in Khe Sahn and we were in trouble. A lot of us were wounded, dieing, or dead, and if it had not been for the 26th Marines showing up, we were goners. I walked away from that without a scratch, but death would remain my companion, and I would never fear death again. I was a Marine and sharing the risk with other Marines meant, worst case, you were going to die in good company. The priority was train hard, accomplish the mission, and bring as many Marines back from the clutches of the dragon as you could.

Well, you can imagine ten days ago when I was smelling the dragon, and there were no Marines on my left or right. This was going to be a solo event? I felt alone. Then Fire Team Lesnowicz showed up in force. Then you all showed up on the blog with prayers and the confidence that I was up to the task. It will be your prayers and your faith in my tenacity that will pull me through.

We have a long way to go.

Lesson Learned: I am not alone. As I walked my path in this life I didn't realize I was building my team along the way that would come to my aide. Thank You!

Semper Fi

Ed

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Situation Report #10

A new morning with much to report.

Let's start with Mathew making it home from Afghanistan.


Two Marines and A Pink Blankie
Yes, God is good!  We have our brother back from the trenches and dad's stress of not getting a chance to see Mathew has left us behind.  We were worried when Matt told us someone "gave him clothes" in Kyrgyzstan. I thought he might show up in a cool out fit.  No, it just turns out Big Bird was on an international vaca in the "Stans".
Cool Kyrgies
Okay, BIG NEWS....
  1. Platelets were UP to 30,000 last night.  
  2. The bone marrow biopsy showed they WERE NOT blocked with an insane amount of cancer.  Some but enough for doctors to feel good about marching forward.
  3. Since we can't do anything about the blood clot in dads lung the doctors started Chemotherapy anyway.  
They started a drip last night of chemotherapy and dad tolerated it nicely.  He has to stay in the hospital still because of the "fragile state" he is in.

Could of FOOLED me!  Last night I went into his room:

"Hi dad, how are you feeling." (In a sweet whispering voice)
"SNICKERS BAR!  No. 3 snickers bars, a coke and 2 bags of chips!"
"Umm, I donno..."
"Let's go, MOVE, HUBBA HUBBA!  If your MOM didn't take my wallet I'd be down the hall."

So, I'm standing in the hall way.  Fighting with my inner Dietitian.  You know the one I sat through one to many science classes for.  The one that I used to half nelson family members of patients bringing them crap when I worked in the hospitals.  Then my culinary self popped up and the voice of a French teacher I had arose.  "Food is happiness".  Yeah, I bought the goods but not the chips.  The slightest abrasion and dad can bleed to death.  Yeah know, I thought better not.  


As it stands right now dad will definitely be in the hospital until Saturday.  He is coming home hopefully after that but his immunity is so low that he CAN NOT get sick.  So, no breathing your germs all over him.  


As all of us were praying for PLATELETS.  It turns out dad has been praying for PLANKTON.  

"Plankton" of Sponge Bob Square Pants fame.

I'm sure every star of a show needs prayers...Hollywood, it's a killer. Really dad can we focus on the task at hand here.  I keep correcting him but then finally just decided to change his behavior via public humiliation.  Works best with this family anyway.

Your comments keep us going.  I read all of them to dad.  Through tears, laughter and gratefulness.
Adapt, Improvise and Overcome. 
     

Monday, July 25, 2011

Situation Report #9

Let me just start by saying that Stanford doctors, who wrote the book on this rare blood cancer, met this morning and have stated that they are doing something never tried before due to the fact that they have never seen this situation before. They are literally....

Going. Where. No. Man. Has. Gone. Before.

We have A plan which is better then this past weekend which was NO plan

The IVIG has WORKED! If you were praying for platelets, they have arrived. We went from numerous blood transfusions with no movement to going from 4,000 to 12,000.
WELL HELLO THERE BEAUTIFUL! PLEASE STICK AROUND.

Us: "YEAH! 12,000."
Doctor: "That is ridiculously low. I guess it's all relative." **eye roll**
Us: "Hey, we'll take it."

So they DID the bone marrow biopsy this morning. Dad survived it! Stanford and Santa Cruz have the test and should get back to us tomorrow. How much cancer is in the bones? That I should have for you tomorrow and THAT will determine the CHOP (chemotherapy) treatment plan. Finally that last staging piece we needed from Sit Rep #1. WE NEED THOSE PLATELETS TO STAY PUT TO START CHEMO! Of course not to many because of the blood clot in the lungs....right.

Honestly, It just feels good to all of us that we are not just sitting around waiting for nothing. We know that making a move means that trouble may find us. If you know this family then I don't have to tell you we are movers. We would rather charge forward with the best support staff possible knowing we are in harms way then sit back in fear.

No regrets! Just Jump.

That reminds me of when dad went to Army jump school at the ripe ole age of 41, a good 20 years older then the next guy. He was taking the job of Marine Corp liaison to the 18th Airborne Corp. He was injured in the first week. He REFUSED to quit as much as they tried to get him to. Even though he always said "Marine's arn't supposed to jump out of airplanes. We float on the water." So dad it's time to jump one last time. Be ready to PLF your ass off. In my dads words....

YEAHH HOOOOOT EEEEEEEE!


P.S. Mathew is in the air on the final leg from Afghanistan. He left there with no change of clothes. He had already been in his gear 5 days. Some friendly human being GAVE him clothes to change into somewhere in Kyrgyzstan or possibly the stop in Turkey. Thank you whoever you are from us and every person on the flights home.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Situation Report #8

Update from Dr. Yen (Dads oncologist in town who is working with the Stanford doctors): 

They were trying to up the steroid dosage in hopes that his platelet count would increase along with the platelet transfusions. This is not working, his platelets were down to 4,000 last night. Instead of giving him any more platelet transfusions they will be giving him a different type of medicine to try to coax those platelets up!!

IVIG - READ MORE ABOUT IVIG HERE

Apparently this hemoglobin that is derived from over 1,000 donors is given via drip doses for five days and then we will see his response. Dad is scheduled tomorrow for a bone marrow biopsy which he needs to move forward with the cancer treatments. This biopsy can be risky, since his platelets are so low there is a chance of bleeding. The cancer treatments can not be started until we can get those platelets UP!

Everyone keep the prayer going for platelets!!

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Situation Report #7

Dad is still in TCU at Dominican Hospital.  No plans to transfer him anywhere.  We are still just waiting for something to happen.  Of course we are also afraid that something will happen.  Low platelets, blood clot in lungs that can't be fixed with them low, rare aggressive blood cancer that might be eating the platelets, can't treat the cancer with the blood clot...you know the drill by now.

I would say the big excitement this morning was dad finding out Mathew is on his way home from Afghanistan.  Normal families tell the sick guy and everyone feels relief.  NO, not this clan.  We KNEW to not tell dad.  Unfortunately, he heard.  So then of course he goes into a panic that Mathew is leaving his men.  Having mom, a nurse and I trying to explain to dad that Mathews replacement was ALREADY there anyway.  He would never leave his men in harms way.  He is basically just taking a fast ride home!  It took a seasoned Catholic priest who was a chaplain during the Apartheid era in South Africa to suddenly appear and talk him down.

"Your son must love you."
"Yeah but you don't leave your men behind.  I'm the first one in and last one out!"
"Right, never leave a buddy behind."
"Yeah, right." 
"Your son was trained well by you it seems.  He refuses to leave you, his buddy, behind." 

Wow, that guy was good!  Every time dad bobbed, he weaved.  It was spiritual boxing at it's best.  He said that in ALL his years as a priest dad is the toughest he'd seen.  Welcome Father to what we like to call DAD.

So, dad is reading the blog.  Of course the red isn't RED enough and the gold isn't GOLD enough.  I'll get right on that Colonel.  **eye roll**  He then insisted that I post a photo since I mentioned in the last post that he looks great for a guy who is fighting for his life.

Not to fast in that blue smock there hot shot!
Well, since my Waiting for Godot reference didn't go over to well....come on people.  Doesn't anyone out there enjoy absurdest French plays of the 20th century.  GEEZ!  Okay Okay so here is another reference to explain what we feel like right now.  Here are dads doctors:

"What'da wanna do?"  "I donno, what'da you wanna do?"



No offense, they are great.  They just can't move on anything until we can get a break somewhere.  Maybe some platelets that want to stick around?   I feel like the little bird in the back.

Please feel free to email me amlesnowicz@yahoo.com if you have any other questions or if I can help you with anything.

Situation Report #6


Dad is still in TCU at Dominican hospital. He looks great considering his blood platelet count is only 8,000 (100,000-140,000 is a normal level). They can't remove the blood clot because of the low platelet levels. They can't move forward with the cancer treatment due to the blood clot. Alas, Fast Eddie sits. The doctors are miffed and dad says "they say I'm rare"...yes, dad we know! So this is where we sit at this moment. I feel like we are Waiting for Godot.

Situation Report #5

I can't sleep.  I was thinking about something that a medical professional said yesterday.
 "Getting your dad out of this will be tricky." 

My knee jerk Lesnowicz response?  
 "Then stand back and watch me pull a rabbit out my ass."

**BONG**
 Yes, I realize this is Lesnowicz survival mode at it's best.

It looks like Mathew just commented on the last Situation Report #4 that they have shipped him home from Afghanistan.  We have the light on for ya little brother.  Who are we kidding we have a freakin' spot light going here.

There was something else that was keeping me awake.

Yesterday as dad and I sat in a waiting room for one hour to long.  Emotionally and physically exhausted dad sat in a wheel chair next to me with a look on his face that said it all.  Mostly, you have GOT to be kidding me.  There was another family in this bright cold room.  A little Hawaiian boy with his mom and sister.  All energy he was bouncing in his chair, swinging his legs and literally holding on to the seat his mom ordered him into.  He accidentally (well maybe) flipped the lights out.  Instantly he was barked into a new chair.  Head low and feet hanging limp from his new prison of a seat he lifted his head slowly and looked at dad.  I glanced over at dad and caught it.  The mischievous smile and wink that instantly said "You're all right kiddo."  The little boy instantly perked back up.  I am sure his mom wondered where the instant re energized moment came from.  A gift I thought.  A gift that dad has given to me a thousand times.  One that can't be bottled or bought.  My heart was re energized too.  This is why people love my dad. 

I will leave you with a new quote that came out of my mouth last night in the middle of a pity party sob fest. 

"I'm in a pickle but I love my jar."



Okay, I'm going to lay back down.  No news is good news at 3am pacific.  Morning needs to get here so we can go see dad.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Situation Report #4

Turns out there are no beds available at Stanford.  Dad will stay in the TCU at Dominican Hospital.  They are trying drugs and monitoring him closely.  That is all they can do at this point due to the low blood platelets.  We have requested that my little brother come home from Afghanistan.  Right now I just hope they will honor the request as quickly as possible.  Heather and I will be going back to the hospital in the morning with prayers that dad is there waiting for our arrival.  

Situation Report #3

Dad is being put into TCU at Dominican Hospital and being transferred to Stanford via ambulance as soon as possible.  The CAT scan that we wanted for Stanford showed a BLOOD CLOT in his lungs.  Because his platelets are so low they are playing a balancing act with the blood.  Now they DON'T want clotting because they would make the clot worse.  Okay, start with the prayers and positive energy at this point.  

Situation Report #2

This morning dad was supposed to meet with the oncologist in Santa Cruz to do some more tests and get ready for Stanford.  Unfortunately we have found out that his platelets are back DOWN TO 10!  Dr. Yen states that he has never seen this before.  Well, welcome to Fast Eddie Yenny.  Nothin' is normal round here.  SO, back in the hospital for dad.  More transfusions and the CAT scan that is needed for that all elusive Stanford visit.  Right now Stanford might as well be Disneyland.  We have on the ears and are ready to be wow'ed!  Bring it on.  After a year of waiting for an answer it is IMPERATIVE that we get in there.
The gate keepers!


Results:
PET Scan- There are 4 levels in this particular cancer.  Dad is level 3 of 4.
Muga- This is the heart test to see if he can undergo chemo.  Still waiting for the results.
CAT Scan- Not yet completed.  Hopefully, today.
Bone Marrow Biopsy- This will tell us where we truly are.  Is it in his bones?  Dr. Yen didn't want to complete it today.  To quote him "They may call me chicken at Stanford but emotionally I feel like you shouldn't have it today."  I can respect that answer.

Very impressed with Dr. Yen of Santa Cruz at this point.  He calls you late at night and early in the morning.  So far he feels like relief even if the answers are not what we truly want to hear. 

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Situation Report #1

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.