Good News from the Wasatch Front

I believe that there is some good news from the Huntsman Cancer Hospital and Clinic. Let me name them in no particular order because these are all good. One - The brain MRI is clear, clean and good! Two - While her white count is not where they wanted it to be the did go ahead with the chemo treatment today and is currently going on with no problems so far! Three - no nausea today!! Four - Her liver enzyme count is good Five - Her markers are going down (I think that is what they said) which for me means that the chemo is working!!! Five - no pain today!! Six - She look beautiful!! Seven - she has an appetite, kinda !!! Eight - A very short clinic visit with Dr. Ward because things are looking cautiously optimistic - Nine - Dr. Ward approved of Marilee and Jenna's nails and Ten - They found six more of the nausea patches last night. Heidi's husband Josh - his parents know a fellow in their ward that has some pharmacies and they were able to locate the six patches that will last for another eighteen days. Marilee's brother McKay who lives in Arkansas, is also looking for patches and the local search continues.





Marilee is a bit anemic, not surprising considering the amount of drugs and nausea and everything else that is going on and may need some blood next week. This should help her not get down so far between treatments. The port was accessed today for the first time, and it worked great. They were able to draw blood from the port as well as administering the chemo. The drain time is much faster than through an IV.





Jenna was glad to see her mom after a weekend visit to Monticello. Her dog was glad to see her and was very sad to see her leave.





Thanks to everyone for your prayers, thoughts, emails, etc. We think we have great news today and we want each of you to know that it is through your efforts in Marilee's Fight!!!!!

Good News from the Wasatch Front

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

First, a very good day without any nausea. Second, the MRI on her brain is clear and good. Third, even though her white count was a little lower that they wanted, Marilee is able to get her chemo treatment which is happening right now, which is her third treatment.. Fourth, liver enzyme levels are good. Fifth, cancer markers are down which means that the chemo is working. Siill decixth, she doesn't have any pain. They were able to use her port to draw blood and administer her chemo, really slick. She has an appetite. So all in all she is having a good day.

With her white count down and with the new chemo Marilee will mostly likely need a blood transfusion next week so home health will draw blood next week and they will decide then

Wednesday November 23, 2011

It is not my day for posting on the blog. I have started three times and it just deleted itself so I will give it another try. I know that it has been awhile since anything was posted on the blog and I have heard from some many that read it, I will try to be a little more diligent in posting some information. Thanks for the friendly reminder from Liesel Johnson at the Pharmacy on Monday. It helps me know that people are so interested and concerned in Marilee and her family. Special thanks to Tim Young and the staff at the Pharmacy for helping in sending up prescriptions and everything else. We have also been very blessed by Kelli's great friend, Maren who is a pharmacist and has been helping out in every way from A to Z. Marilee has been given a prescription for a patch for nausea and they are on a national shortage. Kelli called the world last week and found three and is currently on the phone calling all of pharmacies in Utah. I am put my odds on her that she will find some. The nausea has continued to be a problem for Marilee. They have tried a number of pills and other treatments but nothing is working very well. Marilee had a port put in last week in an outpatient surgery to assist in the chemo treatments and she was throwing up so often and hard last week that blood came up through the port. She has quite the bruises from all of it. She has been getting some regular IV treatments to assist her with nutrition and the nausea. Oh, since I have been tryping Kelli has found one patch in North Ogden so we will be going to get it. Huntsman's pharmacy is working to trying to get some too.

Marilee went to Huntsman today and had a MRI. We are always nervous about these tests but Dr. Ward personally called a few minutes ago and said that his prelimary view of the results was OK and that if there was any change he would personally call. He is such a great Doctor and person and his staff is unbelievable. Kelli and the staff have all become very good friends.
Marilee has come home today from her visit and hit the sack. She is very deserving of a nap after a full day at the clinic. Kelli needs more than a nap but was able to rest for a bit. Marilee's white count level is too low for a chemo treatment on Friday and so we are hoping for a treatment on next Tuesday. They have also set up home health services to come into the house to take blood test, give IV treatments and other services. This will save her from having to travel to Huntman and the wear and tear of the trips. They have made one visit and the nurse was a hit with everyone.

Jenna went to see her Doctor today and he said her ear that he had operated on looked very good but her hearing tests weren't very good. She is scheduled for the other ear surgery on January 19, 2012. She made still need hearing aids after everything is done but she is such a brave young lady through all of this and we hope that we can get her so she can hear better. She also has a great doctor who is very concerned for her.

We should have everyone around for Thanksgiving tomorrow. Ryan got a job here in the Layton Mall and is working tonight.. Heid minus Josh will be here tomorrow with Alisa. Marilee's brothers are also going to be in the area and so she will be able to see them.

We are again so thankful to each of you for everything thar you do, say, pray for and think of us. It is overwhemling and I know that we cannot thank everyone. There have been some very special conversations and emails that will remain with us forever. Words are very comforting especially at the times that we need them and are an answer to our prayers for strength and help. The Lord has blessed us all more than we deserve. Thank you!

Results from Clinic Visit

Marilee had a great Monday. Believable it or (those that have been around her for the last month know this to occur on a regular daily basis) did not throw up for the whole day even though it was close a couple of times. This is proabley the first time in weeks and then she was hungery and had a couple of good meals. Good job honey, maybe you just needed me to leave the house. It was nice to come home for a few days and see some people, catch up on the mail and hte insurance claims and get back into a routine. Marilee went into the Huntsman Clinic today for her normal visit and our concern was for her being able to keep going with the mausea problem. The staff was more than equally concerned and placed in her in an out patient location which they then gave her an IV treatment for several hours for rehydrate her. She said that she felt pretty good after the IV treatment but was tired and wanted to head home to take some sleep time to recoperate. She has also started to lose her voice. That started Saturday and was almost gone today. It was hard to understand a lot of what she wanted to say but she was also having a banana flavored slurpee to see it would help her voice out. It didn't work but was good to see the improvements. The clinic asked that we notify them if the nausea continues and they will have her come back into the clinic for additional IV treatments between the chemo infusions. The pharmacy people were trying to come up with a new nausea medication. They have tried three or four but we are willing to try anything by living better through chemistry.





Marilee ran into Jody Shumway in the elevator at the Hunstmans Hospital today. We do live in a small world. Thanks to Ryan and Kelli for the escort services today. I beleive that Thursday is the day for her port to be put in prior to the next Chemo treatment which will be number three of what we think will be six treatments. The next will be the day after Thanksgiving. If my math works out her sixth treatment should be around the last week of January. I think that Marilee has decided to stay at Kelli's house until all of the treatments are done as it works out so well if she needs to go in to the clinic. Those of you that may have sent cards to Marilee at the Monticello address, I have sent those onto her today in a box. Doug Hall was good enough to take the box up.





We want to thank all those county employees and health department people that went out of their way to send the care packages a couple of weeks ago. It was totally overwhelming and very much appreciated. Thanks to each of you that participated in this effort and wrote a note on the box, etc. We are truly blessed to be around such good people and really don't deserve all that is happening to and for us.





We beleive that we have Jenna back to normal with her health conditions. She had a good birthday and is a great help. I miss her hugs and those from the grandkids.



Ryan picked up a job at the Layton Mall and will be starting soon. It is a clothing store but one of those that I can't spell or say.


Once again, thank you for all that you do. Marilee has been able to start answering some emails and making a few calls, but that was when she had a voice, so she is on the side line for the calls for a while. She has a long list so please be patient and she will get to you. She really misses her friends and not being home but time will pass rapidly and we hope to have her back in Monticello
as soon as all works out for her.

I am sorry as my spell checker does not seem to want to work today so there are most likely a few typos.

Happy Birthday Jennalee

Today is Jenna's birthday, can you believe it; 21st year old. Times does fly. Those of you that know Jenna understand that the 13th of November is more important that the 25th of December for the most part. She, Max and Jillian along with her dad, Kelli and Alisa attended the Disney of Ice show yesterday afternoon in Salt Lake. Except for intermission, I don't believe that Max or Jillian either one blinked their eyes. It was a fun program and it was enjoyed by all.

One's identify is somewhat difficult to find. Kelli and I were talking about that this week and and we have determined that as much as we might like to be known for something else, we are Jenna's parents, Jenna's brother, Jenna's sister and so on. And that it great! We have know this for sometime as people will ask us who we are and after trying to explain it, we finally just say, Do you know Jenna? and they always do and then we can go on. This is interesting even in Layton as she is known up there. Ryan and Jenna brought some things down to Kelli's church a week or so ago and Kelli introduced Ryan as her brother but before she could finish the introduction, everyone was saying, Hi Jenna! and etc. Ryan thought that he had found a place were he might be known for himself, but no. Jenna went to Max's preschool a few weeks or so ago and she has been invited to attend this week to read to to the class. Kelli has said that the instructor always asks about her and when she can come over. And finally, a friend of Kelli's brought over some food last week and Kelli and Pete were gone. After proper introductions, she asked if Jenna was there because she needed a hug. And really was is the best medicine; of course it is a hug from Jenna.

Marilee has had a couple of good days for the most part. We hope that it will get better as she gets farther away from the last chemo treatment. She is still struggling to keep any food down but she did admit that she was in the kitchen Thursday morning about 4 AM browsing in the fridge. She has a big week ahead of her with a doctor's visit on Tuesday where I am sure they will discuss the nausea issue and then I think on Thursday she gets a port installed to receive her chemo treatments in the future. It is an out patient surgery but should help with the treatments rather that through an IV. She got her nails done with leafs on each of the nails. When she was in visiting Dr. Ward the last time, we has holding her hand. She thought he was looking at the bruises from the IV and she asked him about them. He admitted that he was only admiring her nails as he had never seen leafs before. A claim to fame! She is a little bruised from the previous attempts to get an IV started. Her next treatment is the day after Thanksgiving which will be number three of the anticipated six treatments. Hopefully she will have a great week prior to the next treatment.

Marilee has surprised us on Friday and Saturday as she was able to come upstairs and spent some good quality time with everyone and she got to watch it snow some yesterday.

We again appreciate all that everyone is doing, has done, will do and for the many prayers and blessings that are being offered for Marilee and Jenna. Jenna has done very well since the tooth came out and her ear was cleaned out. However, she did get me again as she got the ear drops hid away one more time but after some tough talk (you all believe that) she brought them back and has been really good about taking them.

I really appreciate my family for all that they do. The kids are so good about making sure that Marilee is well taken care of and keeping track of everything.

Looking forward to a great week and moving forward on winning the battle and the war of the cancer.

Tooth Out, See the Specialist, Next Appointment, Next Surgery, Mow the Lawn

Jenna had an abscessed tooth and due to the quick and expert work of her sister Kelli who is a dental hygienist, it was determined it needed to come out. This is a baby tooth that had lasted almost 21 years, unbelievable! It is really too much to asked her big sister to give her the shots though and Kelli said that they were the hardest shots that she had ever given. Jenna was such a brave gal as she hates SHOTS and to think that she had to get three at one time, well it was almost too much. Kelli works for Dr. John Lee Roring, son of John Roring who is the son of Corrine Roring who then did a 90 second extraction. We very much appreciate him taking such good care of Jenna.

Today Jenna when to see the ear specialist and as we assumed the right ear (not the ear that got operated on) was infected and draining. He did a great job cleaning it out and ordered Jenna to have two ear drops per ear twice per day. If you know anything about Jenna and her ear drops she doesn't really care for them to the extent that she either hides the bottle or her preference of just throwing it away. Tough times are ahead but she will be brave and it should only take two or three of us to hold her down. The bottle will have to go under lock and key so we can find it.

Her doctor did indicate that it was time to start making plans to operate on the other ear. He suggested December sometime. I suggested some other time. So it looks like January for the other ear. It just makes me hurt for her to have to go through this again. This doctor is one of the doctors that Marilee works with when they do Children's Clinic in the County. He has been so good to Jenna and he always get a hug from Jenna at the end of the surgery or the appointment. A hug is a sign that they are still friends.

When we got home to tell Marilee about the news, well Marilee said that she was going to have a nap and then get up and mow the lawn. She had a very good nice sleep which has not occurred for several long nights in a row and with her nausea it has been a rough go of it lately.

She got an IPad for her birthday and will start trying the answer the hundreds of emails that have come in. Thank you so much for doing this and you kind consideration of love of my wife and my kid's mother. The kind words mean so much to all of us and especially Marilee.

Please cross your fingers as Ryan is at a job interview at this time at the the Fanzz store or the Big Five Sporting Good Store. He is a little board up here and is looking for some additional income. Those of you that know Ryan he would be a natural at selling sporting goods. I am afraid he will buy everything that he makes but that would be alright.

Thanks again to all of those that their thoughts, prayers, kind words, and other incredible things that have been going on. God Bless You All.

Happy Birthday and etc.

Marilee celebrated her birthday on Saturday. We aren't telling her her age but she did get to celebrate a little bit. She had some nice gifts and there were party hats and bread pudding and ice cream for treats. I am sure she would have enjoyed her birthday better under different circumstances but she remains a fighter and trying to weather the affect effects of the chemo. She appreciated all of gifts, cards, and emails wishing her well. She gets the best gift everyday as Beans and Max visit her each day. They the best grand kids ever.

Jenna has been under the weather and we made a quick visit to the Instracare clinic on Saturday. She is back on the antibiotic and is scheduled to see her doctor on Thursday. Kelli took her into the dentist office this afternoon and it looks like she may have an abscessed tooth which they will treat tomorrow. Poor gal but she is very strong and brave.

Thanks to everyone for everything. We love you all.

Take that Cancer!

Yesterday was my mom's retake on her second round of chemo. She met with Dr. Ward who explained the change in medication. Apparently the chemo she had a reaction to was made from the bark of a tree that grows in the pacific somewhere and the new medicine is from the bark of tree that is grown in europe. He thought that the reaction could also be from the suspension that the chemo is in so that was different this time to. He said the chance of reaction was about 10 percent.

So we went to the infusion center and got her all hooked up with an IV. They were having a hard time finding a vein so both nurses requested she have a port put in, so we got that set up for next time. It will be nice for her to not have to be poked everytime.

We got all settled in our cubical and a few nurses from the last visit came to make sure she was okay. She had become quite famous apparently. As she was getting her blood drawn my mom told the nurse that she had a reaction last week and the nurse asked what day and my mom answered "friday" and the nurse said, "oh, then I know all about it. That was quite the reaction."

They started the chemo at a slower rate to try and prevent a reaction and after about 15 minutes the nurse said we were in the clear.

The infusion room is really nice it overlooks the valley so we sat there and crocheted watched HGTV. She will follow up with Dr. Ward on the 15th and her next infusion is probably going to be the friday after thanksgiving.

Follow-up of Friday Reaction

Marilee has gotten a call today from the doctor and he has set her up with an appointment for Thursday and a scheduled chemo treatment after the appointment but on the same day and with a new "cocktail" of chemo. We are praying for a much better outcome of this treatment. Not only was is a scary situation, it was disappointing to get of the schedule and not continuing the treatment process.

We hope that you enjoyed our pictures. A you can tell Mad Max appeared to be a little "mad" about having to wear his grandmother's wig.

Thanks for your continued prayers and thoughts.