Situation Report #18

We promised to update you today with the news.  The good, the bad and the ugly.  Remember when Voldemort seemed powerless forever but still had a spark or Arnie came back from the Terminator with only a twitch of the finger left at the end of the movie.  Heck he rose up in a couple more movies and even had the energy to be the Govenator...

YES, I am finding the way to tell you something even many of the doctors at Stanford didn't believe.  Dads cancer was in remission the first week of December and then by the end of the month was back stronger than ever.  We have been just sitting around for the last few days trying to wrap our minds around this news and of course waiting for Oncology office hours to open today.

 A weekend of all of us roaming around the house feeling down and not knowing what the doctors will say come Monday.  Will they tell us, "Sorry, go home my friends?"  Yesterday we sat watching the Broncos/ Stellers game, trying to get our minds away from our recent news. The family team wasn't looking to win.  Of course when the game went into overtime the inevitable "Tebow God" conversation started.

Dad: "Well, it looks like God watched over Tebow again."
Me: "Dad.  I surely hope that GOD has way better things to do than rig football games."
Mom: "Maybe God has chosen to show himself this way."
Me: "Whatever." **eye roll**
Dad: "You never know I guess."

Moments later the OT starts.  Tebow throws the ball to Taylor and he goes.....ALL...THE...WAY!!  80 YARDS for the touchdown.  Mom jumps out of her chair and runs over to dad.  He is yelling "WE WON WE WON".  They are hugging, everyone is out of their seats high fiving.  Minutes later dad is on the phone with Mathew doing the traditional play by play.  Everyone is all smiles in that moment.  A moment we all needed and prayed for.  Maybe God does rig a game or two.  What's the harm.

ONCOLOGY IS OPEN TODAY AND WE HAVE A NEW PLAN B

So, as we speak dad is BACK in the KIMO chair.  He is going to have two rounds of kimo but a new regime.  Gemcitabine and Oxaliplatin.  Say that three times fast.  We are not sure yet if the next and final round will be in two weeks or three weeks.  What we do know is AS SOON AS that round is over dad will go straight to the STEM CELL TRANSPLANT at Stanford using those cells that were harvested a few weeks ago.  The new piece is the possibility of  a   Mini Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant  after the first transplant.  I guess the idea is to "tie him over" until he can get matched with a stem cell donor.

Are you confused yet?  We are just along for the ride ourselves.  Welcome to the boat, grab a paddle.


We have dug out a positive a doctor said today.  Upside, dads cells are fast growing.  Hence the cancer in a few weeks thing BUT also they can get the good guys to grow fast too.  He responded REALLY well to the first 6 rounds of kimo.  Now, we hit it again and then be ready to transplant immediately.


Chin up folks.  Chin up.

Situation Report #17

So it's exactly one month since we last posted to the blog and there is a lot to report. This reminds me that my new years resolution should be to update the blog more often...oh well, I have never been able to stick with a resolution so why start now.

As per the last update you are all expecting that dad is in the hospital beginning his stem cell transplant today. Unfortunately there has been a setback in the time line. To bring you all up to speed, dad caught an infection during his week of stem cell production which landed him in the hospital for a week.

1.  The good news is that they were able to proceed with the stem cell collection during this time period. Oh and dad ROCKED it.  The nurses said they were some of the best they have ever seen.  Not sure what that means but dad is proud.

2.  The bad news is that dad was in the hospital during the Christmas holiday and was delayed in meeting his brand new granddaughter-Mary Josephine. That was a tough one for everyone. Analicia was able to bring Josie up to Stanford for them to meet for the first time.

Grand child number 6 - Mary Josephine

Fortunately he was released on December 28th and we were able to celebrate our belated Christmas with our traditional feast.

Eat your heart out...Polski Style!

So dad was released with the assumption that he would return and proceed with the plan as scheduled. The week out of the hospital he recovered slowly. A persistent rash and chills resurfaced.  It has been concerning since these are the symptoms that dad started with on this AITL journey. Even with this everyone was been looking forward to today and starting this next chapter of recovery.  THE STEM CELL TRANSPLANT!

So Mom and Dad packed up for their month+ stay up at Stanford and headed to Palo Alto on Wednesday(1/4). To their chagrin, the doctors sent dad home with the same concerns over his rash symptoms. There are two schools of thought:

1.  The first school of thought, that dads cancer has presented itself again even though he was in full remission only one month ago.

2.  The second, that the rash continues to be a reaction to antibiotics dad was taking while fighting his infection.

We like number 2.  Doctors say number 1 is RARE.  Let us be WELL DONE I say.  This is going to be resolved by obtaining another CT scan and results of the biopsy of his rash. If the results come back negative dad will proceed with the stem cell transplant as planned. If not, the doctors will put their heads together for plan B.

To sum it all up:

AHHHHHHHHHHHH!

This has been a blow to dad and mom's spirits but we remain hopeful that this slow and steady path leads us to dads full recovery.  We will update you AS SOON AS WE FIND OUT!  That should be by this Monday evening, the latest.

Wishing you all a healthy and happy 2012,
Heather

Situation Report #16

WE'RE BACCCCKKKKK!

Did ya miss us?  We missed you.  We have started hearing from people, "No news is good news...right?"  Then, when Dave the owner of Mission Hill Creamery stopped by today with three delicious pints of his organic ice cream, to check in, I thought I'd better get people caught up.  Dad does love the ice cream and the thought that if we lay low he might bring more just to check in, did cross our minds.  Alas, that would not be becoming. SO...

SORRRRRY!  WE ARE INDEED STILL HERE.

There is so much going on in the coming months, you will tire of us.   Here is a "prelim" to the show starting at the end of this week.  Yes, this is a drama.  Who are we kidding, it might end up a dramedy.  This family can't help it.  

Dad finished his 6th and final round of KIMO!  It was a punch, but no where near a knock out.  If there is one thing that I have personally gained from this situation.  It's this. 

I used to think CHEMOTHERAPY just looked like this:

He who should not be named

  Come on admit it.  So many of you think the same thing.  Well, I've got news for you.  It can also look like this:
 

Fishin' with Hubba

                               

 

Bench time

Hubba knows bait

Learning to catch grasshoppers

The COMPLETE family photo

Dress up!

Captain of the fryer.

The proud son and General Mom still barking orders.

A Cabin Thanksgiving with neighbors

"I'll sing you a true song of Billy the Kid..."

Moms birthday with all the grand kids

Chocolate and Love the world is whole.

I knew my dad was strong.  Hell, let's get real, he acts like a wolverine that can't find anything but plants and berries to eat; which has served him well these last few months.  The only thing I can think about is dad on the kimo drip for hours at the doctors, eating out of a giant sack.  Candy bars, chips, a burrito, olives, some crudites with dip and all washed down with a pot of coffee and a couple Cokes.  Meanwhile, the patients around him just staring perplexed.

DAD:  "CHIP?"
FELLOW PATIENT:  "Umm, no thanks." 
DAD:  "OLIVE? SNICKERS?"
FELLOW PATIENT:  **blank stare** 

Of course, I walk away for a few hours and come back to dad holding court.  His eyes are twinkling blue.  The air in the room seems lighter than when we walked in hours earlier.  He is smiling from ear to ear and so are others in the room.  They've been Eddied.  Dad don't use up your energy on people you will probably never see again I thought.  How selfish of me, he needs them.  A social animal, nothing like the aforementioned wolverine.  Perhaps I should change my comparative animal?  Nah, a wolverine. Just one that ate a caribou that afternoon.  

Last week dad took every test and poke possible.  This Wednesday they go over the results up at Stanford.  Is dad still a candidate for a STEM CELL TRANSPLANT?  If yes, then he will be hospitalized on Friday morning to get prepped and then zapped with a largest dose of  kimo yet.  Released in time for his 65th birthday on Monday, December 12th.  Then we start asking St. Nick for stem cell production to increase.  

Nerves are high around here.  Does this feel like Voldemort all over again?  That's right.  I just dared say his name.  
         

BRING IT ON!!!

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

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

AAR Chemo 3 by Ed

Folks

I am still exceeding expectations when it comes to the anticipated side effects of chemo therapy. This is a good thing. That said, this stuff really tires you out, and if my sentences are not complete, I will blame a phenomena called "chemo brain".

I was able to spend some time at the cabin last weekend. I had some time to spend with my family. It was centered around a box of T-shirts that said "fishing with hubba". I appreciate my children's concern (unsaid) that I may not be able to have this time in the future. Sooooo, lets make memories for my grandchildren and me while I am able. There is a little lake nearby, soooo fishing we went.

What did I learn?

I spent most of my life sharing with Marines small techniques that might save their lives or make them more effective. It was usually something that I had learned from those WW II or Korean Veterans that populated the Corps when I enlisted in the Marine Corps. This sharing was always important because we never knew if they were going to be in combat the next day.

Teaching my grandchildren to fish is a survival skill. As a little guy in Oregon, my cousins Nick and Wink, taught me how to fish. Nick and Wink taught me how to catch grasshoppers for bait on our way to Monger Creek. Well sure enough, on our way to the lake with the grand kids, I noticed that there were grasshoppers in the tall grass. So we had a class on how to catch grasshoppers and how to put them on your hook. In short order Nate (Carabine to me), was catching hoppers like a pro. Ben, 2 1/2 yrs, demonstrated how to bait a hook. Savannah was swing on the end of a rope over the lake. They were demonstrating the kind of self reliance that we wanted our Marines to have in unfamiliar environments.

I was just as proud of them as my Marines. I still have some techniques to teach them, and it is important that I survive in order to do it. So Hubba is going to stick around.

Semper Fi

Ed

Situation Report #14

Hi All...Heather here :-) I feel the need to preface this update with my name so you will all understand why this update will not be filled with pictures, stories and witty comments...just the facts man. I went to the Stanford appointment with dad and mom yesterday, so I have been tasked on this update.

Overall it was good news. The doctor had a shit eating grin on her face when she told us that ALL of dads lymph nodes have shrunk to under a size they would consider abnormal. His spleen has also reduced in size. Basically dad has already beaten the odds in that 30-40% of patients do not respond to Chemo. He is responding and not feeling to bad to boot. The chemo is CHOP-E, the E is another component they have taken from a German study and they are pleased with the outcome. He will not be entering into a clinical trial through Stanford. They have one starting in a month that they would consider him for but the timing is not right. Dr. Advani feels like the plan they have in place is his best option.

Here is the plan of attack:
He will have four more chemo treatments for a total of six. The chemo treatments should be completed by the beginning of November. In the meantime Dad will be meeting with the Bone Marrow transplant doctors. They want to be up and at'em right when the chemo is completed so he can start the transplant. The transplant will be of his own stem cells which is good news. We thought he may need a donor which can be a challenge to find. We will have more info on the transplant after we have that appointment but they did say he will be hospitalized for 7-10 days during the procedure of taking out the bone marrow. The replacement of the stem cells can be an outpatient appointment. That too is good news as we thought he would be hospitalized at Stanford for the entire time.

We are told that without the transplant he has a 33% chance of survival but with the transplant it increases to 66%. We like those odds much better and in fact are the best odds we have heard to date! So dad left the appointment with a smile on his face and hopped in the truck with Mom to spend the next week up at the cabin before his next treatment.

So those are the facts and I'm sure Analicia will come in here and edit something or put in a picture because she won't be able to stand it!! have at it girl.


OK-Picture added by demand of Bonnie. She's the picture person! I couldn't pass up the opportunity to post this great picture of dad from 1976. Thanks Bonnie.