And A Quicker Flight Back

Maybe I should have waited on updating the blog, however, Marilee had some complications during her very quick visit to home and after a visit to the ER at the San Juan Hospital we made the flight aboard a King Air Airplane back to Salt Lake with a stop at the ER and the University of Utah and then over to the fourth floor of the Huntsman Center. While we don't know a lot of the issues and problems tonight or this morning, they were able to give her some much needed relief and she has a calmness and peace with her as she starts regaining her strength and health. She is one tough cookie as Kelli and Merrill can attest and has been enduring some pain and problems for a while that we were not aware of. It is nice to see her able to rest and look comfortable. Much more for a later time. Thank you all for your assistance while she was home in Monticello, we hope to be able to return soon and we are sorry that she wasn't able to get to see all of those that wanted to see her and that she wanted to see. We appreciate the staff at the Hospital in Monticello, the men on the ambulance crew, and their close coordination with the folks at the Huntsman Center to provide Marilee the important and needed medical care that she needed. We do live in a very great place.

A return home

I am aware that it has been sometime since there has been an undated to Marilee's blogspot. Many get worried when there isn't anything on it for a while that things are not going well but we have been making some preparations to see if we couldn't get her home for a visit. She left her office on September 28, 2011 to her medical appointment and has not back home since. She was not able to get her chemo treatment last week but after looking at her blood work this past Monday, they told her see could make the trip. It was a long and basically a non-stop trip from Layton to Monticello, it was a tough ride towards the end. We made a small stop in Price at the Health Department and at Moab to allow Marilee to say hello to her fellow workers. It was a very good experience. We made a quick stop at the clinic in Monticello to see Dr. Black and she has been on the recovery from the trip since then. She is glad to be home and Jenna has a continual smile on her face. I think she was beginning to wonder if her mom was ever going to come back home. Ryan has moved back to Monticello and has a job that will start in the next week or two. He is out playing basketball with the old men in the gym tonight. We appreciate the tender care that Kelli and her family have given to Marilee over the last six months and we know we will be back to see them at least for an overnight visit or two. Everyone asks how she is doing. She is doing pretty well. She is weak, skinny, tough as nails, wanting to get better and doing the things that her Medical Staff have asked her to do, at least most of the time. She is really not having visits at this time as she is getting ready for hopefully a return trip to Salt Lake next week for a chemo treatment. That would be her number seven for treatments and we hope to get a better grasp of what lies in front of her as far as further treatments, how often, and a lot of other questions. We have been able to make a seamless transfer of services as she has the same company providing her home health care, Rocky Mountain as she did in Layton. Instead of Katie it is Matt but the same great care. She has the same oxygen company so they just deliver where we tell them that she is at and we have seen Dr. Porter in Layton and will see Dr. Black in Monticello. Skipbo, our dog has wondered what has been going on for months and to see someone here for days and to see Marilee has made him a pretty happy dog. He guards her pretty well. We are grateful for what we has been through for the experiences. We are still hoping and praying for a miracle recovery but will also settle for a longer term recovery also. We appreciate the many who continue to offer prayers, give great thoughts and encouragement, and provide care and service to all of us. I will continue to make updates as to her progress and hope we get to the point that she can get out in the public and see everyone.

Tuesday Report 3/13/2011

Marilee had her blood drawn for tests yesterday and her blood and platelets are both low.  The plan is that they will retake the blood draw on Wednesday am and if they are still low she will got down to Huntsman and get her blood drawn again so they can start the match and whatever else they do.  Rather than waiting around the Huntsman Center for hours, she will go back the next day after staying at a hotel near the Center to get the blood.  Again a day at a time.  Pete is getting ready to run the race in Moab this week and we are all betting that he will blow out the competition.  Today is my 27th year working at the county.   It is amazing how fast time does fly.  A few cheers from Pat Christensen, Susan Taylor, Bill Boyle and some others that I will have forgotten.  Please keep Marilee in your prayers and thoughts.  We are all love her.  Good morning honey.

Sunday Update

Marilee has had a pretty good week and is feeling pretty well for the most part.  She has been eating some as she had a hamburger from Five Guys, a sandwich from Subway and bread pudding from Famous Daves.  Alisa was up for a visit yesterday and she got Marilee to walk to the corner and back and to sit on the porch and enjoy the sunshine.  Kelli, Pete and family have been busy with Pete's grandfather Yarn's viewing, family and other activities associated with all of the family together.  Elder Holland was a speaker.  He had been a student under Grandfather Yarn when he teaching at the Y and later was on the faculty together and then he read a letter from the First Presidency.  Brad Wilcox and Grandfather Yarn were home teaching companions and so Brad also talked.  An event that you would also most pay admission to attend.

Ryan got to play in some church basketball in Salt Lake during the week.  He was able to play as he was concerned an investigator.  They lost a close battle yesterday after he fouled out.  Who would have thought that Ryan would foul out of a church b-ball game.  Ryan will be moving back to Monticello within a few or so as he is going to take the EMT class.  He had hoped that he would be re-hired on the Forest Service Wildland Fire Crew as he has worked two seasons for them but they have some new hiring quotas so it appears that he won't make the cut.  If anyone knows of anyone hired spring and summer help, if they could contact Ryan at ryanbailey10@gmail.com or 435-459-0667.  It would be appreciated.

Thanks one and all for all of your help, thoughts, prayers, wishes, and everything else.  We love you for what you are do for all of us.

Wow it sounded like.......

Wow, it almost sounded like my Marilee. I had to make several calls to my wife today (don't tell my bosses) about different items and issues and it was like talking to Marilee of the time before the treatments started. She had strength, enthusiasm, laughed a bit, caring and tender (like the nurse in her), feeling like she could do a few things like be out on the front porch watching the grandkids and kids playing in the yard. It brought a few tears to an old man(as Ryan calls me these days)(actually it is better than Stone Cold Steve Austin or whoever). I will call it a tender mercy.

Chemo #6 Done

Marilee got her platelets up to about 120 and she got her sixth chemo treatment this week.   Ryan took her to the Huntsman  Center and she did very well and they had a good visit with Dr. Ward and staff.  He has scheduled another chemo treatment for Marilee on March 22, 2012 and maybe will get a scan in sometime.  They most likely will give her a few weeks off and she could make it back to Monticello for the first time since she went to SLC on the ambulance on October 5, 2011;  She has done very well so far and reported to me this evening that she has not thrown up since the treatment.  She is pretty tired and has some pain but it was good to get the treatment in.  Dr. Ward did indicate that more treatments would be in the future schedule. 

Marilee was able to call in at the last VMTC group meeting to share her experiences and feelings of actually being the one with cancer.  This is the group that has been working for funding for the mill tailing's victims and has been involved with the administration side of the program with her employment with the Public Health Department.

Meanwhile, Jenna made her visit back to see her ear doctor on Thursday and everything was looking pretty good but her hearing test showed diminishing hearing in the right ear that had the most recent surgery.  She was doing so well that she was schedule tentative to have surgery on her left ear on April 24 as they will go back and see how much they can reconstruct of her ear drum and the stuff inside it.  She will be getting some hearing aids in the near future to help out as she goes through everything.  If we can remain on schedule, she will have another surgery most likely in August or September on her other ear.

We send our condolences out to Pete and his family and especially Pete's mom and dad who have been so supportive of us during Marilee's treatment.  Pete's grandfather past away during the week and his funeral will be next weekend.  

We appreciate so much all of your concern and assistance.  One day at a time and we will be ready for what will be coming.

I guess an update is due. My platelets did not get to 100, but they are close enough that the Dr. said we could go ahead with the treatment for tomorrow. It's a love hate situation. This will be # 6. Then they want to do a scan and go from their with more treatments, I will get a break however and might even come home for a while. It will be pretty hard to leave this grand hotel. I am very spoiled.
Jenna has an appointment on Thursday to follow up on her ears. She will have to have surgery at least 2 more times. Ryan is still here in Layton. He has been a big help to run me to the Huntsman or help with the kids. We don't see Alisa much. She works in Salt Lake and comes up sometimes after work. Heidi and Josh are doing their thing in St. George. They are having a baby in August and that has probably already been posted, but I'm so excited I have to tell you all again.
Okay so tomorrow is the day. We appreciate sooooooooo much all of your love and prayers and cards. I am overwhelmed with all that you good people do for us. We love you all.
Marilee