Headed Back to City of Hope with a 102 Fever

Well the stay at home was not as long as they had hoped for, but was a nice few days of being the comfort of their own home. My mom said dad seemed a little tired today and like something was wrong. He has had a good few days of no vomiting and getting the "plumbing" working. He has been walking every day with my mom just like he has since the beginning and before. This evening (Thursday), my mom took dad's temperature and it was up to 102. When they called COH, they told my parents to get there right away. My dad was admitted right away. While I was on the phone with my mom, I heard the alarms going off at my dad's bedside. She hung up with me and called me back a couple hours later (around 2 am). They had found that my dad's white blood count, which should be between 5-11, was a 0.3; his hemoglobin levels, which should be around 12, were at 7.5. They immediately decided to do a blood transfusion. Our questions were how could these be so low after getting daily injections to higher them; the doctor said that he was only getting small amounts to not shock his body.

As soon as the nurses began moving my dad to his set room, he began getting cold sweats and shaking tremendously. My mom got him cozy in pj's and comfy blankets. The shaking stopped and they were able to get him comfortable with a wet rag on his head.

Please pray for my dad as his stay will be a lot longer at COH this time and as they get his levels back to normal. Thank you for praying.

Home Sweet Home

My Dad was released today and arrived home late tonight (Monday- America). Thanks for praying because yet again your prayers were answered. They are allowing my dad to get his white blood cell shots daily in the high desert. My parents are very excited to be home. They will only be there one week now since my dad's stay at COH went a little longer than planned. Then they will head back down to COH for the next treatment. Dad's side affects are not too awful at this point and we are so thankful for that. Keep praying! We feel it!

Still at City of Hope

My dad was so much more awake and alert today on skype. He was not all medicated today, so we had great chats. They will continue to keep my dad at City of Hope due to some complications. When those cease, he will be released to finish out the 2 weeks before coming back for the next round of chemo. He has been retaining water a lot, which is expected from chemo. The nurses gave him a shot and all that water came rushing out!!!!! He's feeling much better after that. He said he looked like Popeye in the arms when he drinks the spinach- hehe :) He told my brother Trav that he looked like he was in high school again with his big guns playing baseball (he was joking); but I thought it was cute. Its fun joking around with my dad and keeping his spirits light and uplifted. Its also the same with my mom; she loves being surrounded by positive people who continue to encourage her and my dad in this fight. They WILL continue to give it all they have! Please remember to encourage them and lift them up, whether it be notes on the blog (which they read and appreciate) or text messages or voice mails, emails, cards. Thanks! Keep praying for this recovery time; my mom has been making grocery shopping lists to help out with when she gets home. There are so many things that COH suggests to do for their patients undergoing this intense kind of chemo.

Please pray that the doctor will allow my dad's oncologist from the high desert to administer the white blood cell shot that he must get once a day for the next 7 days. If they are released from the hospital, they do not want to have to drive down to COH for a 5 minute shot (especially if my dad is as sick as they warn that he can get) every day.

Still quite a battle ahead; yet we "press on" while "keeping our eyes fixed on the author and perfecter..."

Thank you, Thank you for your prayers!!!

All 4 R.I.C.E Chemo Treatments Finished

Dad had his last 3 Chemo treatments within the last 30 hours. The "I" was a few hours and also the "C" was a few hours; then the "E' was on a 24 hour drip. My mom said that dad has been so medicated that he sleeps most of the time. She felt like he was a little over medicated today as he was hallucinating a bit; but who wouldn't hallucinate their being cookies on your food tray??? ;) He apologized to mom that he couldn't talk to her much, because she was so out of it. Mom managed to grab some dinner at the closest hospital vendor available, after she had just munched on whatever dad didn't eat during the day. She hates leaving his side. She had battled some nerves with dad getting new chemo treatments he had never had before, so instead of sleeping, she moved her chair next to his bed where she held his hand for 5 hours during the treatment overnight. Dad is staying so strong and just going with however they need to treat him. He threw up one time during the day, but is still being able to hold down his meals even though the "plumbing" is still not working. My mom said that she knows and can feel people praying. The fact that he has an appetite, can eat most all of his meals despite the issues he's having is purely God. Thanks for praying! Keep it up! They feel it!!!!! Here's another way your prayers are working... My mom has had little to no sleep in the past 3 days, and she doesn't even feel fatigued or tired. She has an energy that she knows only comes from one place. Like I said, keep em' coming!!!!! We appreciate your time and energy you put into our family, no matter where you are. Thank you sincerely from my parents and my brother and I (and our families).

If dad is okay and doesn't have any weird reactions after this round of chemo, they should release him on Saturday some time. They will go home for two weeks, where they are instructed to only have healthy visitors and must wear masks and gloves during those two weeks. After those two weeks are finished they will repeat the same process again two more times. After all of that is done, they will begin the process of the bone marrow transplant.

My mom is also going to ask the doctor to remove my dad from the morphine and back to oxycotin. They believe that the morphine is the problem for the "plumbing" issues.

Thanks again for taking the time to read this blog and get involved. We love and appreciate you all!

Day 1 Chemo Done, Next One 3 am

On Skype this morning; Dad getting some kisses after his first tiring day. He stayed on chemo until 2 am and was able to sleep a lot more throughout the day. They started the next chemo at 3 am (Friday) and then he will be able to rest hopefully for the remainder of the day. He has experienced some nausea but the doctors were quick to get him more meds and take it away. Mom is right by his side and only leaves to grab some food in the hospital occasionally, in which someone watches dad while she is gone. He is on 24 hour watch because of passing out at home last week. Cody told her that she looked so rested this morning (her evening) and thought she looked so pretty; she admitted that she had not gotten very much sleep even though appearing that way. Please pray for her to have the rest she needs as she is dad's number one caregiver. Thanks :)

Thank you for your prayers! Continue to pray for strength and peace!

R.I.C.E Chemo Begins

My dad was admitted to City of Hope around 3:00 p.m. today (Wednesday- America). They decided to go ahead and start the chemo the same day. They gave him a double dose of benadryl and then hooked up his chemo to his port around 11:00 p.m while I was on skype with my mom. She said that dad was stoked today because for the first time ever this hospital was able to draw blood from my dad's port. His arms have been worn out from so many needles, and though every doctor and hospital has tried, none have been successful at drawing out blood, only putting medicine in. Mom said he was flapping his arms like a bird, saying "I am free... no tubes in my arms." I just imagined the song playing... "I believe I can fly... hoo! I believe I can touch the sky....." As soon as dad was admitted they gave him medicine to try and help his bowels become regular again, and thus hopefully helping some of the swelling and pain to go away. Mom and Dad were having a good day and mom talked to me for a while on skype while dad was sleeping and the chemo was starting. She was on cloud nine to just be there and get things going.

Today they will start the second round of a different kind of chemo. The first one he has had before, but this one is a different kind that he hasn't had. Please pray that he will respond okay to this one.

Thank you for your prayers. My mom was told today that she does not have to wear the mask and gloves like she thought. They said because she is the main care giver, she doesn't have to. YAY!

Thanks for your prayers for dad's strength. My mom said that he is being so strong. The doctors told him that they wanted to give him the shot to reduce blood clots from laying in bed so long during these treatments. They said your two options are the arm of the stomach. My mom said he so casually said, "just stick it in my stomach." He's being such a "tough boy" like Koda told him to be :)

Thanks for your prayers today as dad endures this next round of chemo.

Being Admitted Tomorrow to City of Hope

This is my mom and dad this morning on skype. I wish I would've taken the picture a few moments before this while they were kissing. It's never grossed me out to watch my parents kiss like it does most kids. And especially now; its so special to watch them with the same passion in their eyes, kiss each other and love each other as if every day is so sacred and special. I wish we could all love this way. The way my parents love each other has been such a profound blessing and inspiration to both my brother and I.

After a few days at home awaiting a call from City of Hope and reading all of the literature of the upcoming treatments; my mom decided to finally call today. My dad has a lot of discomfort and in his abdominal area and the morphine has completely stopped him up. He again is having some hard times with wanting to eat, due to the discomfort. City of Hope has agreed to admit my dad tomorrow (Wed) at 3:00. They will begin chemo on Thursday. I believe that reality is setting in for my dad and knows that he has to be geared up more than ever for the fight of his life. PLEASE KEEP PRAYING!

EYE OF THE TIGER DAD! You never stopped cheering us on in Volleyball, Softball, Baseball, Basketball, and life and we will never stop cheering you on. You can do this!!! Through him, all things are possible.