Big Day is Tomorrow...

Well today started out rocky but the rest of the day went pretty good...we still do not have all the answers about the possible infection Eric has but they have done about 7 different tests and we should hopefully have some answers soon. Mean while the pneumonia the same he has been getting antibiotics as well as the fever has broke and now in the 98's which is good.

I feel like all I ever do it put negative and bad stuff on the blog but after all this blog was set up to follow and update Eric's journey through his bone marrow transplant. Usually there is not alot of happy things during this kind of a process to post but I just feel it important to note that I am trying to be as positive as I can through out all of this journey. It is hard sometimes though.

Eric has been doing well so far so good today....no vomiting, no headaches, fever broke, no stomach pain. Over all a good day he slept alot of it with the constant morphine drip but that is a good thing. As long as he gets rest that is all I want. It is 11:15pm and so far still good Eric is fast asleep....I am so excited for tomorrow. It Eric's 2n d Birthday!! New bone marrow, new start.....

Bad Night....

Eric had a really bad night and morning, worst time yet! He is in extreme stomach pain, they had to double the dose and now have him on constant morphine. The pain is unreal, I have never seen someone in that much pain and suffering- it's so heartbreaking. Very hard to watch! He has what they called Nader out- he is at complete 0.00 he has no immune system at all!

They have placed him on higher isolation and watch now, we have to wear complete head to toe protection. Gowns, gloves and mask at all times in his room. He was having such a good day yesterday until about 9pm he started getting his cough really bad, then all of the sudden extreme vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain that he was in tears about. He kept telling the nurses and doctors the stomach pain is so bad, he has never felt it like this. He describes as someone pouring bleach/ acid in your stomach and punching you over and over again in the gut. The doctors said it's cause his stomach lining is being sluft off, it's coming all off -the lining of his stomach and the etreme pain is from that and the rawness.

The doctors and nurses say that the chemo is taking more effects in him, that this pain will continue for weeks and get worse before it gets better so they are placing him on constant morphine drip. He finally stopped throwing up, diarrhea, pain around 3:15am this morning.Fever has been spiked and continues to hold at 103.4 They are concerned about additional infections, they are running additional tests. Eric has developed a rash all over his body and head, they are also concerned that this is a fungal infection. They have placed his last day today of chemo on hold until they can get the results from the labs on the blood tests and cultures.

I am so scared about everything going on all the sudden there is so much starting to go wrong. My prayers are pleading with the Lord to get us through this, to get to the transplant tomorrow. I have never seen anyone in so much pain, it is hard to watch and not be able to do anything. I feel as if I am watching them torture Eric and its heart wrenching. I wish I could take this away from him, I pray he will get some kind of break or comfort. I do not know how anyone gets through this! We are waiting for the doctors to come in, I will keep everyone posted. Please, please continue to pray for Eric, he needs all the prayers he can get.

Day of prayer and fast

As I am fasting today along with everyone else I feel an overwhelming sense of peace and comfort. I know this is from the power of prayer and fast, the Lord working his tender mercies on us. Eric had a good night, they gave him extra anti nausea medicine (they mixed 3 together called ABH through his IV) at 5pm last night which did the trick, he has not thrown up yet since then. Nausea yes, won't eat but at least has not vomited.

He also was able to get through his chemo they started at 4am this morning and just ended today with no riggers/shaking/ chills. His fever went down with the additional antibiotics for a little to 100.3 but then spiked this morning again to 103.1 however that is a direct side effect from the chemo this morning they feel.

My thoughts today are many....hopes of strength and peace for Eric, prayers his pneumonia will get better, hopes Nausea will be controlled and rest for him to prepare for the bone marrow transplant Tuesday 9/8/09. Most of all though thoughts about this amazing donor to whom we do not know as of yet but owe so much to. What unconditional love, what an amazing thing he is doing as I have said before he is not just saving Eric's life...HE"S SAVING A FAMILY! I wonder what does he look like, is he married, has kids, what made him do such a act of kindness and love to donate his bone marrow. Did he have a personal experience, did he know someone who needed bone marrow, how did he decide to to this or go on the National Donor List? Does he know how much we love and appreciate him? I can not wait for the day when I can wrap my arms around him and tell him how much we love and appreciate him!

As we have preparing with Eric's chemo and sickness this week for the bone marrow transplant the donor has been preparing as well. Getting Neupogen shots in his stomach, small doses of chemo....how much I think of him as well and what he is going through for us! Donor you are an amazing person whom I will forever be grateful for!

It is bitter sweet this experience on one hand to be at your most utter darkness with despair, begging for help and mercy, sorrow and sadness but then on the other hand to have such a closeness unlike ever before with the Lord and the tender mercies we have encountered. The comfort and peace that he can bring to us, the ultimate sacrifice he paid for us, humbling yet hard all at the same time! I do not know if I could ever really describe it in words exactly how we are feeling I just know I am so thankful for the Lord and the church. I could not imagine bearing this alone without my Savior! My prayers lately have been much more different from the past- much more of life and death , more crying unto the Lord and pleading.

I think one scripture that I have alot in mind today is D&C 78:18 "I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." As well as John 14;18,17 " I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you...Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, Give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Eric has Pneumonia..long,hard night and morning!

I am sorry I did not post anything yesterday but we received some bad news yesterday from the doctors and it has been very busy with extra tests and Eric throwing up. Eric has pneumonia now...that is not good especially with no immune system and heading into the transplant on Tuesday. The doctors brought in a Infectious Disease Control Doctor and a Lung Specialist Doctor. They told us that they were worried on Tuesday when Eric started his fever and really bad cough that he had an infection, they did an x-ray Tuesday and started 3 strong antibiotics then they redid the x-ray yesterday morning at 9am and found Eric has pneumonia.

They are extremely concerned due to this can pose additional complications, they have put him on additional medications in hopes to get control of the pneumonia. I asked them if we are still going to do the bone marrow transplant then on Tuesday, they said there is no turning back now it doesn't matter how bad Eric gets or pneumonia, infections he has no immune system and will die for sure if we do not replace someones immune system in him.

I am so scared right now, it's so hard to think that ok we need to just try to be positive and move forward. Eric is a very positive person, anyone who knows him can agree. But it is so hard we were up all night and this morning with him violently throwing up. I started crying cause he looked at me an hour ago and said that he just is so tired, so sick of being sick and in the hospital...He just doesn't want to do this anymore...I don't blame him but I reminded him of all the fun times and memories we have, all the more memories that we are fighting for to have in the future and of our 2 beautiful children that are wanting us to get through this and come home to them.

He is strong but just a little weak in spirits right now but that is okay he is tired and when he is tired we will just pick him up-right? That is what we do, we will be here and give him our strength when he is weak. I am praying and holding onto the Lord's strength....This Sunday is fast Sunday and I would like to ask anyone who could to please fast for Eric not only for his transplant Tuesday 9/8/09 but also now his pneumonia, please bless that he will get better and get through this, pray for strength for his transplant. We realize this is all in the Lord's hands...Lord please hear our prayers. "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not,fear not. -D&C 6:36

Hair is Gone!!! Day 4 of Chemo

Well Day 4 of Chemo and Eric's Hair is gone! The surprise we had for the kids especially Austin is I attached a picture where the other day we shaved the Indianapolis Colts logo "The Horse Shoe" in the back of Eric's head. I am not an artist though so sorry that is the best I could do, Austin told his Dad a few weeks ago " Dad will you shave a Colts logo in your hair for when you lose it" so that is what we did! Just a fun way to deal with losing your hair...

Eric's day went alot like yesterday except now he completely will not eat anything at all! He is really fighting the nausea and doesn't feel like eating anything. He did walk for me today which is good, they want him to keep moving. I pray the Lord will give him strength to get through this...I thought I was ready emotionally to see his hair all gone but I started to cry, it's hard you know. Hard to see the strongest man you have ever known going through so much.

I have been looking at our family pictures, missing the kids alot. I have this picture I am posting of the kids and Eric laughing when we were trying to have them be serious and take a picture of them kissing their Dad. I don't know I just love this picture, it reminds me of how close we are as a family, how much we love the kids, how much Eric makes us laugh...How I hope to have that back again someday!

Day 3 of Chemo....It has hit Eric now

Well first of all I am sorry it has taken a little bit to update the blog but as we knew Eric's effects from the chemo have hit today and not in a good way....He started the day out this morning throwing up in the bathroom, severe headaches, fever still 100.2 so they now have started him on additional antibiotics for the fever.

They are giving him pain medications through his IV for his headaches that within minutes put him into a deep sleep only to wake up within an hour to a severe headache again, so he has been pretty medicated through out the day. He is taking nausea meds Zofran but not holding back the sickness today, Eric has started to now not eat. He doesn't even like me to mention the names of food, gets sick just talking about it so we have stopped eating. The nurses say that they understand not eating but they need him to at least drink for his kidneys and liver, so I am trying to push fluids in him ( not succeeding very well at that though).

When visitors come to see Eric they have to wear a mask and gloves but I have not had to however the nurse just informed me that Eric is dropping with his counts fast and that I need to start wearing a mask and gloves at all times now in the room. They push here to have Eric get up at least 3 times a day and walk around the pod area for at least 10 minutes with his mask and gloves on, he was able to get up 2 times today due to how he felt. We will try for 3 times tomorrow! The surprise for the kids on the blog unfortunately will have to wait for tomorrow due to Eric not feeling well. The LDS missionaries came by and gave Eric a blessing today, that was nice. Hope tomorrow will be better....

Day 2 Chemo....

Well we had day 2 of chemo today...Eric is still consistently running a fever of 100.2 so they are running extra tests and labs to see if he has an infection. Eric's energy has really dropped today he is tired although I was able to get him to at least get a short walk around his pod area with his gown, mask and gloves on done before he laid down after his shower.

Eric is needing 2 units/2 bags of red blood cells so he is getting those transfused in him now each one takes about 3 hours to do. I am posting a picture from this morning of Eric while he was getting his chemo and blood transfusion. As you can see from the picture he doesn't feel well and he has alot of lines/ IV's hooked up to him.

Also a second picture for everyone of the MD Anderson main building/ hospital where Eric is now for visual purpose to see what it looks like. Doing good so far today other than low energy alot and the fever. We are gearing up for it though they tell us that by tonight he should be seeing alot of the sickness and effects of chemo kicking in.

We have a special little surprise for everyone that we will be posting on the blog tomorrow... this is for our kids. Especially Austin he had a special request he told his Dad he wanted....so be sure to check it out tomorrow on the blog! We love and miss Chelsea and Austin so much!!! We know they are being great kids!

We love you guys,
Love Mom and Dad