I know I posted the other day that everything is good ....so we thought. We received a phone call last night at 6pm from Eric's Dr. Chandramouli that they are worried Eric has Graft Vs Host in his Liver due to one of the test they do regularly each week when we go in came back with Eric's liver enzymes high. They were fine on all the weeks prior tests so they feel that this might be due to what we worried about as you decrease some of these Immune Suppression and GVHD drugs the risk is very high for Graft Vs Host. His doctor said that he wanted to prepare us that in the Liver is not good and he is extremely concerned. So much so he and Eric's transplant Doctors in Texas spent over an hour on the phone discussing what they should do.
They are having us go in Tuesday morning to repeat the same blood work and liver test and if it still shows his enzymes high or higher he will go into the hospital for a Liver Biopsy. We are very sadden by this recent news and worried and we pray that this will turn out that it is not Graft Vs Host. Immediately they have placed Eric's anti rejection meds and GVHD back to the higher older dosage and told us not to tapper anymore meds down. We ask if any of you could please join us Sunday we are doing a fast asking that the doctors will be guided and that the results will turn our good and not Graft Vs Host. We also welcome any prayers as we know all of your prayers with ours have always helped and comforted Eric in the past. Thank you for your continued support and we are sorry about this roller coaster we are taking you guys on with us as you can see each day, each moment this cancer life can bring more trials and changes. We know the Lord is mindful of Eric and his health and we pray for continued strength for his body to fight his cancer, for his positive attitude to continue and his fears to be lifted.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Results are in....
Sorry for the delay everyone it took them a little longer to get all the final results in and call us from his doctors in Texas at MD Anderson Cancer Center.. but they are in and they are good!! Eric's bone marrow results still show no signs of cancer and no abnormalities in his cells and his genetics show he is still 100% grafted with his donors cells! YESSSSSS!!!!!! We are so grateful to his donor and the Lord for this wonderful blessing! It has been a hard road and we still continue down this journey and know we will for years but we are glad to be where we are however mindful daily of how quickly things can change.
As many of you know from my last post Eric's good friend whom we meet in the hospital down at MD Anderson Cancer Center Patrick who has the same cancer as Eric MDS Myleodisplastia from Florida has relapsed and rejected his transplant and not doing well at all- his cancer has now turned into a secondary cancer Accute Lukemia. We got a phone call from his mom Thursday that he has been moved into ICU and has pneumonia and been placed on oxygen like what happened to Eric during his transplant. He has been graded like Eric was a level 4 and the next level 5 is death they told his mom to get all his brothers ans sisters and family flown in to say their goodbyes and to call their priest which they did. Eric has been devastated! He has been so upset by the news he just keeps saying why, why can't Patrick be blessed and be doing good he is such a great guy. I think it has really scared Eric especially with the recent reducing Eric's GVHD (Graft Vs Host) medications and the risks we are facing right now he said to me " That could be me in a few weeks you know, I could be doing good and then all the sudden back in the hospital" It is scary for me and the kids but of course more for Eric he is the one that has had to fight so hard to stay alive, to come from the brinks of death and climb back to life- every day knowing that tomorrow is not promised and hoping for it all at the same time.
Eric is a very brave and amazing man, I have learned so much from him about love, courage, faith, strength and the appreciation for every moment. He is truly my HERO and I am so blessed to be his eternal companion. That being said as strong as he is I can see the fear and discouragement in his eyes, he doesn't have to say it - you look at him and see it there. He was saying to me the other day how sorry he is that the kids and I have had to deal with his cancer life and the stress, worry and hardship it has brought to us but I told him I wouldn't trade a second of it for anything! I mean that it has been hard but the Lord has carried us through and I know no matter what he will always continue to carry us. For that I am grateful and I feel a great sense of humbleness and gratitude.
The kids have been doing good...Austin has been busy with basketball camp, U of U Football camp which he has loved with Bradeon Godfrey teaching him (one of his idols), his baseball team has went to the Allstar Babe Ruth Tournament with nightly games and if they win tonight they continue on the the Championships!! We had to miss all this and we are trying to make up for lost time when we were gone for 5 months to Texas for Eric's transplant. Eric said to me the other day while we were watching Austin do a double play getting first base player and then the second baseman out all in the double play " Did you ever think that we would be here, right now again- I 'll be honest I had my doubts but I am glad I am here!" He is right we are so grateful! Chelsea has been busy with extra college classes she is taking on line, working, cheerleading and this week she has been gone to Girls Camp and I MISS HER SOOOO MUCH!!! She left Monday and she won't be home until Friday and its killing me! I know you would think that less laundry, no loud music, cleaning up after her and early cheer mornings I would be celebrating ( Eric says he is enjoying it) I would be happy but I miss her so much! It's so bad I found out that Heidi Finklea in our ward was going up to Girls Camp this morning and I ran a letter to Chelsea up to her and begged her to give it to Chelsea and give her a BIG HUG from me cause I MISS HER SO MUCH!
I know you would think a week would be no big deal right after having to leave them for 5 months for Eric's transplant in another state but I NEVER WANT TO HAVE TO LEAVE THEM AGAIN LIKE THAT! I hated being away from them. It was really hard for them and I really thought it would be Austin that would have had the hardest time but it was harder on Chelsea she said she hated and emotionally she has really struggled with that and still does. She said even though she knew we made a family decision that it was the best for Eric and his cancer to get this transplant and treatments down in Texas she felt abandoned, alone it was hard when everyone else had their Mom and Dad their for them in high school being a sophomore and everything new- she felt abandoned. For that I am so heartbroken and I will spend the rest of my life trying to make up for that to her. I always said it was the hardest thing I think I have ever had to do in my life, leave my children behind almost like I had left them/ abandon them and try to care and fight to save Eric's life.
As for Eric as I mention he is doing pretty good some days less energy and his memory short terms he struggles but the doctors say that is common post transplant and that some of that is also his medications. They say he will get better with all that over time. He is getting excited he convinced the doctors to let him go back to work ( suppose to be very little at first part time) Eric doesn't know the meaning of slow, little bit at a time ever since he has started to feel slightly better March on he has been talking about returning to work ( I think it to soon- the doctors have all told us usually a bone marrow transplant patient doesn't return to work until 2-3 years after the transplant - it hasn't even been a year yet! He was trying to go back to work around August but his work has been pressuring him to come back sooner, they wanted him back on 7/1/10 but he explained no way due to his doctors and them decreasing his medications right now and its so risky right now so I guess they settled for 7/19/10 he will return. I am not so sure about it and I think its to soon but what can I do he needs his job and medical insurance, he loves his job and wants to feel like he is providing again for us. Plus we start our lovely insurance fees and out of pocket again 7/1/10...his work goes from 7/1/09 to 6/30/10 and then the year starts over again on 7/1/10. So as of 7/1/10 we have to pay up front for his medications and medical bills the first $8,000.00 right away which will be within the first two weeks of July in his medications alone due to his prescriptions costs over $ 10,000.00 a month alone and so we will hit the $8,000.00 right away in the meds which is hard for us due to you can't do payments for pharmacies/ prescriptions...You pay the full price right then at the pharmacy or NO MEDICATION!
It's been a struggle but I continue to pray it will get better and we will be blessed because if there is one thing we have learned through all this - on paper this shouldn't have worked out, we should have lost everything by now and countless times we have continued to put our faith, trials and struggles to the Lord and he has always provided a way, a door opened, a miracle, another blessing. We feel alot of the times like maybe the Lord is getting sick of the blessings and miracles being handed to us but we continue to pray, be hopeful and grateful. Thank you to all of you whom have blessed us with your love, support, prayers, fasting on our behalf we know it has been from all of your prayers!!
As many of you know from my last post Eric's good friend whom we meet in the hospital down at MD Anderson Cancer Center Patrick who has the same cancer as Eric MDS Myleodisplastia from Florida has relapsed and rejected his transplant and not doing well at all- his cancer has now turned into a secondary cancer Accute Lukemia. We got a phone call from his mom Thursday that he has been moved into ICU and has pneumonia and been placed on oxygen like what happened to Eric during his transplant. He has been graded like Eric was a level 4 and the next level 5 is death they told his mom to get all his brothers ans sisters and family flown in to say their goodbyes and to call their priest which they did. Eric has been devastated! He has been so upset by the news he just keeps saying why, why can't Patrick be blessed and be doing good he is such a great guy. I think it has really scared Eric especially with the recent reducing Eric's GVHD (Graft Vs Host) medications and the risks we are facing right now he said to me " That could be me in a few weeks you know, I could be doing good and then all the sudden back in the hospital" It is scary for me and the kids but of course more for Eric he is the one that has had to fight so hard to stay alive, to come from the brinks of death and climb back to life- every day knowing that tomorrow is not promised and hoping for it all at the same time.
Eric is a very brave and amazing man, I have learned so much from him about love, courage, faith, strength and the appreciation for every moment. He is truly my HERO and I am so blessed to be his eternal companion. That being said as strong as he is I can see the fear and discouragement in his eyes, he doesn't have to say it - you look at him and see it there. He was saying to me the other day how sorry he is that the kids and I have had to deal with his cancer life and the stress, worry and hardship it has brought to us but I told him I wouldn't trade a second of it for anything! I mean that it has been hard but the Lord has carried us through and I know no matter what he will always continue to carry us. For that I am grateful and I feel a great sense of humbleness and gratitude.
The kids have been doing good...Austin has been busy with basketball camp, U of U Football camp which he has loved with Bradeon Godfrey teaching him (one of his idols), his baseball team has went to the Allstar Babe Ruth Tournament with nightly games and if they win tonight they continue on the the Championships!! We had to miss all this and we are trying to make up for lost time when we were gone for 5 months to Texas for Eric's transplant. Eric said to me the other day while we were watching Austin do a double play getting first base player and then the second baseman out all in the double play " Did you ever think that we would be here, right now again- I 'll be honest I had my doubts but I am glad I am here!" He is right we are so grateful! Chelsea has been busy with extra college classes she is taking on line, working, cheerleading and this week she has been gone to Girls Camp and I MISS HER SOOOO MUCH!!! She left Monday and she won't be home until Friday and its killing me! I know you would think that less laundry, no loud music, cleaning up after her and early cheer mornings I would be celebrating ( Eric says he is enjoying it) I would be happy but I miss her so much! It's so bad I found out that Heidi Finklea in our ward was going up to Girls Camp this morning and I ran a letter to Chelsea up to her and begged her to give it to Chelsea and give her a BIG HUG from me cause I MISS HER SO MUCH!
I know you would think a week would be no big deal right after having to leave them for 5 months for Eric's transplant in another state but I NEVER WANT TO HAVE TO LEAVE THEM AGAIN LIKE THAT! I hated being away from them. It was really hard for them and I really thought it would be Austin that would have had the hardest time but it was harder on Chelsea she said she hated and emotionally she has really struggled with that and still does. She said even though she knew we made a family decision that it was the best for Eric and his cancer to get this transplant and treatments down in Texas she felt abandoned, alone it was hard when everyone else had their Mom and Dad their for them in high school being a sophomore and everything new- she felt abandoned. For that I am so heartbroken and I will spend the rest of my life trying to make up for that to her. I always said it was the hardest thing I think I have ever had to do in my life, leave my children behind almost like I had left them/ abandon them and try to care and fight to save Eric's life.
As for Eric as I mention he is doing pretty good some days less energy and his memory short terms he struggles but the doctors say that is common post transplant and that some of that is also his medications. They say he will get better with all that over time. He is getting excited he convinced the doctors to let him go back to work ( suppose to be very little at first part time) Eric doesn't know the meaning of slow, little bit at a time ever since he has started to feel slightly better March on he has been talking about returning to work ( I think it to soon- the doctors have all told us usually a bone marrow transplant patient doesn't return to work until 2-3 years after the transplant - it hasn't even been a year yet! He was trying to go back to work around August but his work has been pressuring him to come back sooner, they wanted him back on 7/1/10 but he explained no way due to his doctors and them decreasing his medications right now and its so risky right now so I guess they settled for 7/19/10 he will return. I am not so sure about it and I think its to soon but what can I do he needs his job and medical insurance, he loves his job and wants to feel like he is providing again for us. Plus we start our lovely insurance fees and out of pocket again 7/1/10...his work goes from 7/1/09 to 6/30/10 and then the year starts over again on 7/1/10. So as of 7/1/10 we have to pay up front for his medications and medical bills the first $8,000.00 right away which will be within the first two weeks of July in his medications alone due to his prescriptions costs over $ 10,000.00 a month alone and so we will hit the $8,000.00 right away in the meds which is hard for us due to you can't do payments for pharmacies/ prescriptions...You pay the full price right then at the pharmacy or NO MEDICATION!
It's been a struggle but I continue to pray it will get better and we will be blessed because if there is one thing we have learned through all this - on paper this shouldn't have worked out, we should have lost everything by now and countless times we have continued to put our faith, trials and struggles to the Lord and he has always provided a way, a door opened, a miracle, another blessing. We feel alot of the times like maybe the Lord is getting sick of the blessings and miracles being handed to us but we continue to pray, be hopeful and grateful. Thank you to all of you whom have blessed us with your love, support, prayers, fasting on our behalf we know it has been from all of your prayers!!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Back Again from Texas...
Well we made it back from Texas / Eric's doctor appt's at MD Anderson Cancer Center. We had a short trip 3 days there and back to get back in time for the kids last day of school. It went well as most of you know we will not have all the final tests results back for 2 weeks so we will see then but his doctors were shocked how skinny again Eric is and more weight he had lost. Since we were there 3 months ago in March Eric has lost another 10 pounds! The doctors came in and the that was their first comment and concern, they asked if he is trying to eat extra healthly he replied " A little I guess but I am now eating 3 meals a day- better than I have been eating in months." They told us they don't want him to lose anymore weight so they suggested if we have to eat high fatty foods....I really don't know why he keeps losing weight since he has been dong alot better the last 3 months on eating.
His blood counts are holding pretty good his white cells are 4.00, Hemoglobin 13.4 and Red Cells are ok at 3.64 and then DRUM ROLL>>>>>>>>>>>>>His platelets for the first time in 7 years are over 100 he is at 105!!! YESSSSS!!!!! Way below normal and still critical but we are happy to see them go above 100. His levels are looking for his kidney function and his creatine and tacrolimus level is holding ok at 4.0. All in all we are happy but we are nervous... As we thought his doctors would they warned us that they are going to just start lowering slowly 2 of the 32 anti rejection/ immune suppressed medications he is taking to prevent GVHD ( Graft Vs Host Disease)- they reminded us this is the second most scary time after his transplant that they had prepared us for. They said that he has a 50% chance of rejecting his transplant and getting GVHD so we need to watch him extremely close. They warned us again about all the signs and the restrictions we need to be so careful of. I get so nervous for this and I am so scared we know a few people that did reject and get GVHD one passed away quickly and the other is declining but still holding on and they try to fight it. We are hopeful and we pray for the Lord to continue to bless Eric and help his body to fight!
We have had an emotional few weeks and hard reminders of the reality of cancer. We have had several loved ones pass away from their cancer and it has been hard for us to be reminded of the day to day risks and what we are up against. We know all things are in the Lords hands and we pray for continued faith. Eric good friend we meet during his transplant named Patrick whom has Eric's same rare cancer MDS/ Myleodisplastia recently has rejected his transplant and was told that his MDS has now rapidly turned into AML/ Lukemia he has had to immediately start to undergo more chemo and is very sick. We pray for him and his family and know that the Lord will watch over him. We realize each day what a battle this cancer is and know that the road is long and hard. We are so grateful for Eric's donor and think of how lucky we are and blessed that he donated to Eric and saved his life! We will always and forever be grateful to him- still can not wait to meet him! We ask that if any of you could please find it in your hearts to pray for Patrick right now he needs our prayers and we want him to feel our love and support around him as well as the continued prayers for all the sick that they may be comforted in their time of need.
I am so grateful to the Lord for all the blessings he has bestowed on us and know with him all things are possible! We will keep everyone posted as soon as we get Eric's final test results in the next week or so.
His blood counts are holding pretty good his white cells are 4.00, Hemoglobin 13.4 and Red Cells are ok at 3.64 and then DRUM ROLL>>>>>>>>>>>>>His platelets for the first time in 7 years are over 100 he is at 105!!! YESSSSS!!!!! Way below normal and still critical but we are happy to see them go above 100. His levels are looking for his kidney function and his creatine and tacrolimus level is holding ok at 4.0. All in all we are happy but we are nervous... As we thought his doctors would they warned us that they are going to just start lowering slowly 2 of the 32 anti rejection/ immune suppressed medications he is taking to prevent GVHD ( Graft Vs Host Disease)- they reminded us this is the second most scary time after his transplant that they had prepared us for. They said that he has a 50% chance of rejecting his transplant and getting GVHD so we need to watch him extremely close. They warned us again about all the signs and the restrictions we need to be so careful of. I get so nervous for this and I am so scared we know a few people that did reject and get GVHD one passed away quickly and the other is declining but still holding on and they try to fight it. We are hopeful and we pray for the Lord to continue to bless Eric and help his body to fight!
We have had an emotional few weeks and hard reminders of the reality of cancer. We have had several loved ones pass away from their cancer and it has been hard for us to be reminded of the day to day risks and what we are up against. We know all things are in the Lords hands and we pray for continued faith. Eric good friend we meet during his transplant named Patrick whom has Eric's same rare cancer MDS/ Myleodisplastia recently has rejected his transplant and was told that his MDS has now rapidly turned into AML/ Lukemia he has had to immediately start to undergo more chemo and is very sick. We pray for him and his family and know that the Lord will watch over him. We realize each day what a battle this cancer is and know that the road is long and hard. We are so grateful for Eric's donor and think of how lucky we are and blessed that he donated to Eric and saved his life! We will always and forever be grateful to him- still can not wait to meet him! We ask that if any of you could please find it in your hearts to pray for Patrick right now he needs our prayers and we want him to feel our love and support around him as well as the continued prayers for all the sick that they may be comforted in their time of need.
I am so grateful to the Lord for all the blessings he has bestowed on us and know with him all things are possible! We will keep everyone posted as soon as we get Eric's final test results in the next week or so.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Off to Texas again.....
We are off to Texas again tomorrow morning we fly out to meet again for our 3 month follow up tests and appointments with Eric's bone marrow transplant doctors at MD Anderson Cancer Center. We are making a short trip as it is the kids last week of school so we will be flying out and then two days of appointments and then flying back on Thursday 6/3/10....
We are hoping things are still looking good but as most of you all know we will not have tests results for another 2 weeks after we get home so around 6/17/10 ?? We are a little nervous as I have mentioned we are possibly going to be talking to the doctors about starting to decrease some of Eric's immune suppressed and anti rejection medicines so this is that second scary time they have told us for rejecting and having problems from the transplant. It is a slow process that is done over one to two years slowly decreasing dosages and watching Eric's body hoping his body kicks in on its own and fights off any viruses/ germs. It is scary but as the same time we know it is part of this journey and process we need to do in order to move to the next phase and steps of his transplant recovery. I pray for continued strength for Eric, for his doctors to continue to be guide by the Lord watching for what they need to do and any complications, I pray for continued strength for Eric and his body to keep fighting and responding, I pray for his bone marrow to continue to fight and for his donor and his family- whom we are so grateful for.
Austin finished his Eagle project educating everyone on how to become a donor on the National Bone Marrow Registry as well as collecting toys for the kids suffering from Cancer at Primary Children's Medical Center. It was a huge success thank you to all of you who donated it will make so many of those sweet children's faces light up and help lighten their day during their difficult journey through their cancer process and chemo treatments. The lady who organizes it there at the Hospital was so excited and told Austin that he has a larger donation than they usually see from other scouts Eagle project and that made Austin excited! I am posting a picture she took of him with his cart of donations at the hospital. It was a neat experience to watch you child helping others and from our own personal experience knowing what a difference it makes when you are struggling with this horrible cancer journey. They also gave Austin a letter of appreciation for his hard work and donations and she said with tears in her eyes " Now Austin I am sure you know how happy this is going to make so many of the kids here with cancer- you have done a wonderful thing for them that they will never forget and you should be proud of yourself!" She also gave him a quote that I loved by James M. Barrie who wrote Peter Pan... he said " Those who bring sunshine into the loves of others cannot keep it from themselves." What a great way to say it!! I am proud of him, he was also just ordained a teacher by his Dad which was a blessing to watch and gave a great talk yesterday in Sacrament on Sacrament Covenants. We heard in one talk yesterday at church how the best way to show our gratitude for our blessings to the Lord is to never forget them, to recognize them and be thankful for them everyday. We are truly thankful for all our blessings, our miracles and the love and guidance from the Lord in all things! We are also very grateful and thankful to all of you for your continued prayers, love and support!
Friday, May 21, 2010
Doing good!!
Update....it has been a few busy past 2 weeks with Eric's birthday and Austin's -- we are so grateful to be celebrating them together!! Eric is doing pretty good a few sluggish days here and there but I think sometimes he just over does it and before you know it he is tired. He keeps losing weight another 5 pounds again, the nurse asked him if he has a parasite he hasn't told them about cause he is getting skinner and skinner...I am not sure why he is really doing alot better at eating .
We went to the doctors today and his white cells are 4.00, hemoglobin 14, red cells 3.64 and his platelets are 97!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are happy to see those trending upwards again we had a little scare there for a several weeks. We are preparing to fly down again to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas to meet with Eric's bone marrow transplant doctors on 6/1/10. I tell you it seems like we were just down there but its already been another 3 months. I am getting a little nervous cause the doctors will decide this visit if they are going to start decreasing him off his immune suppressed and anti rejection drugs. They have been preparing us that this is another really scary time that sometimes they lose patients or they get GVHD or start to reject so I am obviously very nervous. If I could keep Eric safe wrapped in a bubble I would but as he has told me several times " I am not a bubble boy, you have to let me live my life...I have been given a second chance not to waste it and sit around and feel sorry for myself." I understand what he means I just get scared!
Not a day goes by that I don't catch myself watching him happy with the kids, laughing and smiling and I feel so blessed! I am so grateful to the Lord for our blessings and for his donor whom has saved Eric's life. I was thinking that last year exactly at this time we had just flown down and meet his bone marrow transplant doctor's for the first time and was starting the journey...I can't believe where we are a year from then and what Eric has been through. I know the Lord loves us and continues to guide this journey and I am eternally grateful to him.
The Lord works in wonderful and mysterious ways that end up working our better than if we wrote our own story...we had the chance to attend a benefit fundraiser concert for Make A Wish Foundation. It touches my heart so much to see what wonderful magical miracles these wonderful people do for these sick children. The smiles on their faces when they are granted their wishes is priceless it truly is AMAZING! Like they say " There can be miracles if you believe!" I thank all whom donate to such wonderful causes and put a smile on those beautiful children faces! It's breathe taking to watch and you know by that look in their eyes and that smile that for today, for that moment they have forgotten about their cancer or illness and can be a kid like they should be. It touches me to see the hope and joy in their eyes and I just wish I could take away their illness from them. Great job to the volunteers and the people who donate and make that magic possible!!!!
We went to the doctors today and his white cells are 4.00, hemoglobin 14, red cells 3.64 and his platelets are 97!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are happy to see those trending upwards again we had a little scare there for a several weeks. We are preparing to fly down again to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas to meet with Eric's bone marrow transplant doctors on 6/1/10. I tell you it seems like we were just down there but its already been another 3 months. I am getting a little nervous cause the doctors will decide this visit if they are going to start decreasing him off his immune suppressed and anti rejection drugs. They have been preparing us that this is another really scary time that sometimes they lose patients or they get GVHD or start to reject so I am obviously very nervous. If I could keep Eric safe wrapped in a bubble I would but as he has told me several times " I am not a bubble boy, you have to let me live my life...I have been given a second chance not to waste it and sit around and feel sorry for myself." I understand what he means I just get scared!
Not a day goes by that I don't catch myself watching him happy with the kids, laughing and smiling and I feel so blessed! I am so grateful to the Lord for our blessings and for his donor whom has saved Eric's life. I was thinking that last year exactly at this time we had just flown down and meet his bone marrow transplant doctor's for the first time and was starting the journey...I can't believe where we are a year from then and what Eric has been through. I know the Lord loves us and continues to guide this journey and I am eternally grateful to him.
The Lord works in wonderful and mysterious ways that end up working our better than if we wrote our own story...we had the chance to attend a benefit fundraiser concert for Make A Wish Foundation. It touches my heart so much to see what wonderful magical miracles these wonderful people do for these sick children. The smiles on their faces when they are granted their wishes is priceless it truly is AMAZING! Like they say " There can be miracles if you believe!" I thank all whom donate to such wonderful causes and put a smile on those beautiful children faces! It's breathe taking to watch and you know by that look in their eyes and that smile that for today, for that moment they have forgotten about their cancer or illness and can be a kid like they should be. It touches me to see the hope and joy in their eyes and I just wish I could take away their illness from them. Great job to the volunteers and the people who donate and make that magic possible!!!!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIC!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIC!!! Today is Eric's birthday he is 36 years old today and I am so grateful we are celebrating another birthday today! Eric was first diagnosed with his first cancer at the age of 28 years old- Chelsea was 8 years old and Austin was 5 years old.....his second cancer was finally after two years of going down hill starting in 2006 correctly diagnosed on 5/2009 where as everyone knows he had to get his bone marrow transplant. I can not tell you how grateful I am and thankful to his donor and the Lord for allowing us more time to share as a family and to be together!!
Eric is the most amazing guy you'll ever know and everyone can't help but get a big smile on their face when you think of Eric and who he is! He is the most dedicated, amazing husband and father and he has always lived life to serve others and make them laugh not to mention puts us his family first ALWAYS! He has an amazing ability to make you laugh even when you are not in the mood for laughter he brings out the funny side in everyone. He is kind and loving, has a HUGE HEART and wants to help everyone!!! That is I think one of his best qualities about him... his willingness to serve others with unconditional love! He would do anything for anyone, we were recently driving down to Costco in Bountiful and he saw a few teenagers wreck pretty bad on the road off a motor scooter wearing no helmets...without hesitation the kids said " Dad hurried and pulled our car in the middle of traffic in the road and placed the hazard lights on and jumped out to assist the teenagers, asking them if they wanted us to call their parents, ambulance,etc" Even though he really shouldn't be around many people right now and in those types of situations due to his health precautions Eric can't help himself... he is a natural and wanting to help others.
As his wife I have been married to Eric for 18 years now and we dated for 2 1/2 years I have always known he is an AMAZING MAN!! I have always been told by all of my family and many friends that I scored the jackpot when I found Eric, that we have a "Fairytale Marriage" I couldn't agree more!!! I am the luckiest woman in the world to have Eric as my eternal companion, husband but most importantly my BEST FRIEND!! The past few years with Eric;s cancer and all we have been through has been the hardest but most humbling experience of our lives. That being said I wouldn't have traded the trials because within these trials we have grown closer, closer to the Lord and grown spiritually more than I could have ever imagine. I thought my love for Eric could not ever be any stronger but I can tell you I love him more and more each day. Watching him decline and struggle and fight for his life, for every breathe he takes and climb back from deaths door was the most humbling and amazing thing I think I have ever experienced.... he is so strong, such a fighter with an appreciation for the gift of life. He fought and continues to fight for every breathe he takes and as the kids told him " Dad you are our HERO- you show us everyday what courage is about!" They are right he is our HERO and we love him sooo much! We are so grateful to his donor who saved his life and made this Birthday and many more possible for Eric- he is also a HERO! We can not wait to to meet him in person in about 1 year and 3 months and put our arms around him!
Happy Birthday Eric!!! We love you more than I think you will EVER KNOW! Thanks for all you do for us and for just being you and letting us see the true example of love and serving others! We look forward to this birthday and many more not to mention your second birthday- your bone marrow transplant date 9-9-09!!! We are so thankful to the Lord for the miracles we have and continue to experience each day for you! WE LOVE YOU!!!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Update...
Well it has been a little longer than a week sorry about that.... Eric has been doing ok the past few weeks his blood counts have been kind of strange going down consecutively which we are a little concerned about. This game of cancer doesn't have a play book, we don't always know what is coming our way...a curve ball, walk or sometimes we strike out!! ( Can you tell we are in the middle of Austin's baseball season ) Well I think we are just experiencing a little few too many strikes lately right now in a row then we want. The doctors tell us to not worry to much but as many of you know we have learned sometime that despite them telling you not to worry you still do and sometimes those worries turn out to be us having a gut feeling about things and they end up being something you find out later is worth worrying about. I am hoping that these last few weeks with Eric's counts going down and he has had a few days that in his words " feel like when I first got home -sluggish, weak and just not feeling very good" that they end up just us being worried for nothing a few curve balls....
I am sure we are just being paranoid but sometimes I just can't stop thinking about those weeks before we were suppose to come home-around Thanksgiving time and Eric all of the sudden started seeing his platelets falling each time and they kept telling us not to worry but then after several weeks they finally listened and did more testing and that was when we found out he had that EBV virus that he had to do chemo for the next 4 weeks right before we came home. Again I am sure we are being paranoid but this is the fun game of cancer and the things we worry about. Eric's white cells are 3.6 which is good those went up a little and he seems to run in between 3,2- 4.4, his red cells are good at 3.31 a little low but ok, his platelets are the ones that have been falling and they are at 80 so again we are hoping and praying they will go back up.
We are looking forward to Eric's and Austin's Birthdays coming up... Eric's is this Saturday May 8th and Austin is May 13th! We are so grateful that Eric is doing better and home and for his donor whom without him saving Eric's life we would not be able to be where we are today and Eric looking forward to turning 36 years old... it will be fun Eric now has two Birthdays his first birthday and then his new second Birthday his bone marrow transplant birthday which is 9-9-09 !!!! I look forward to many Birthday celebrations and we are so grateful for them! I feel so blessed to have Eric home again and doing better, spending time with the kids, as a family. We are so grateful to his donor and recognize the Lords hand in all things in our lives!
I am sure we are just being paranoid but sometimes I just can't stop thinking about those weeks before we were suppose to come home-around Thanksgiving time and Eric all of the sudden started seeing his platelets falling each time and they kept telling us not to worry but then after several weeks they finally listened and did more testing and that was when we found out he had that EBV virus that he had to do chemo for the next 4 weeks right before we came home. Again I am sure we are being paranoid but this is the fun game of cancer and the things we worry about. Eric's white cells are 3.6 which is good those went up a little and he seems to run in between 3,2- 4.4, his red cells are good at 3.31 a little low but ok, his platelets are the ones that have been falling and they are at 80 so again we are hoping and praying they will go back up.
We are looking forward to Eric's and Austin's Birthdays coming up... Eric's is this Saturday May 8th and Austin is May 13th! We are so grateful that Eric is doing better and home and for his donor whom without him saving Eric's life we would not be able to be where we are today and Eric looking forward to turning 36 years old... it will be fun Eric now has two Birthdays his first birthday and then his new second Birthday his bone marrow transplant birthday which is 9-9-09 !!!! I look forward to many Birthday celebrations and we are so grateful for them! I feel so blessed to have Eric home again and doing better, spending time with the kids, as a family. We are so grateful to his donor and recognize the Lords hand in all things in our lives!
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