A warriors Battle

Thursday, October 20, 2011

AAR Chemo 4 by Ed

I have really appreciated everyones prayers and faith. Adm Quast even ordered me up a Mass at the mission in Carmel. The meetings at Stanford went well, they have a plan and all I have to do is follow orders and we should get to the far side of this objective. Chemo 5 begins this week.

So what did I learn??

Every once in a while you get a sanity check, and this one came from Major Shannon Gainey, USMC. It reminded me of what is important, and it is never yourself.

Shannon spearheaded the reception plan for all the wounded Marines coming out of Iraq to hospitals in Morone, (sp) Spain and Landstul Germany. It ended up being a precursor to the wounded warrior program. She coordinated donations to the comfort of the wounded, coordinated with families to ensure they had the best information about their Marine, and ensured the Marine Corps was ready to recieve them state side. The results of her effort was outstanding.

Shannon is a reservist. She had left her job as an LA Police Officer to serve during the war in Iraq. She was in Santa Cruz on a 600 mile bike ride in support of wounded veterans coming home from war. She knew I was in trouble and stopped to take care of another wounded warrior. She has been taking care of wounded warriors ever since she started the program in Europe. To her, it is not a sacrifice, but a duty for those that have sacrificed. It reminded me that those lucky enough to be called to duty can reorder their lives so that "honor, courage and commitment" is not a phrase, but a way of life. We should seek tasks and objectives that will call us to duty. My duty right now is to survive for my family and friends, but there are future tasks that need to be done.

So thank you Shannon


Semper Fi

Ed

Monday, October 17, 2011

Situation Report #15

So sorry this update has been a long time coming. You can rest assured that no news is good news. We are all just trying to take a deep breath and enjoy dads remarkable ability to push through this. Dad had a big appointment with the Stanford bone marrow specialist (Dr. Laport) on 9/28. We were waiting on a schedule of events from the nurse before updating everyone. The schedule came today! Its a relief to know whats ahead but has also put crazy butterflys in my stomach for the same reason. So here's the game plan:

Dad will be getting a stem cell transplant of his own stem cells the beginning of January. He is scheduled to be admitted to the hospital on the 5th. We are told that this procedure has a 90% success rate...we'll take it!! Dads new "day one", or birthday as they call it will be January 11th. The aftermath will be the tricky part with the concern of infections. Dad will be in lock down for 6 months until he gets a thumbs up from the doctors. This 6 months will be spent 1 month in the hospital, 2 weeks staying nearby the hospital in a hotel and finally back to Santa Cruz for the duration. The time spent outside of the hospital comes with a binder full of do's and don'ts which would make your head spin. We may just want to get a little Darth Vadar action going just to be on the safe side! I think it would suit dad just fine.


The preparations for the transplant will be starting the middle of November with the Oncologist performing restaging tests. We are hoping for a free Thanksgiving week so the family can go up to the cabin for one last hurrah. The entire month of December starting on the 6th is devoted to getting those stem cells ready for harvesting. He will be in the hospital on the 10th, but out in time to celebrate his 65th birthday on the 12th. Every day of December until those babies are out of there is scheduled with one thing or another. Its going to be a busy month. Looks like the stem cell collection will be a few days before Christmas. Hopefully the collection will only be a couple days which will offer Dad a relaxing Christmas, New Years and welcoming the newest grandchild due on the 23rd (Analicia & Dexter's #2) :-)

As we all know a schedule is a guideline that will most likely need revisions along the way. Especially when there are two months of scheduling! Regardless, it feels good to have a plan to wrap our minds around and get mentally prepared for the challenges ahead.

I hope you all enjoy the upcoming holiday season and count your blessings daily.

Aloha,
Heather