Eric is doing so good! We went into his Cancer doctor appt yesterday and things could not be better they say. They remind us that we are not out of the woods yet, one more year before they can say that but he is doing pretty good. Other than he came down with a horrible head cold and cough that has kept him in bed the past few days. His doctor says since he has not been running a fever he is not worried yet to just have Eric get alot of rest to sleep it off and come in immediately if he starts a fever. Thankfully no fever yet!
Eric's blood counts have been pretty good other than we started to worry cause his platelets went down the last 3 weeks in a row which has happened before and caused us worry (last time that was a sign of his virus he had to have the additional chemo treatments for) but we are so thankful they went up yesterday back to 102. His doctor says he would like them higher but at least they went back up again. Eric's red cells are OK holding at 4.03 alot lower than normal and still in critical stages but holding in there, his white cells are at 3.3 also lower and in the critical marks but they at least want them above the 3.0 so all in all pretty good. Eric has to get all his immunizations vaccines just like a new born baby all over again so they have started that process. His bone marrow transplant wiped all that out, all the good and the bad so he needs to redo them all over the next 2-3 years in stages.
I am so grateful for our blessings the Lord has given us and for how good Eric is doing right now, for his amazing donor whom I can not wait to meet in another 10 months! I am grateful to the Lord for giving us this journey and providing us the lessons and spiritual growth we needed to learn. I am grateful also to Eric's work, his new supervisor Ken whom has went above and beyond to make sure Eric is safe and not pushing it, remembering all his health restrictions and not pushing him to much. Eric has a new case load at work which has been alot for him to learn but also good on him as well, less stress than when he first came back. I thank his co-workers for always being mindful of Eric and that he is still fragile, coming back from his bone marrow transplant and helping him out it means so much to me! When you almost lose someone you become very protective over them even more and you want to cherish everything!
The past few months have been a little harder I think for Eric and I. We have been reliving in our minds alot the stages of the last year and what was going on at each step. It's been a year so I guess it common for people to relive all the steps and hard days but I often remind myself the end result right now and where we are at in the journey and that is important to recognize the mile stones and how far Eric has come. Last year Eric and I were still in Texas trying to get his body to heal, missing our kids so much, worried about alot of things. This year we are still worried but we are at least home as a family with our two beautiful kids, Eric moving forward towards recovery, back to work, getting our normal life back some what.
I am so thankful to the Lord for all he has given us, the blessings, the tender mercies and most of all more time with Eric. Not a day goes by that I do not think of his donor whom saved his life, the sacrifice he made for a stranger, how awesome that is and know the Lord helped guide this miracle! I am grateful for the Lord giving our family strength to get through this trial, the hardest thing I think we all have had to do! I recognize that with the Lord all things are possible. I am grateful for all of our friends, neighbors, ward (HOME WARD AND TEXAS WARD), the Clark family, family, co-workers and even some complete strangers whom helped lift our burden and walked with us throughout our "Journey of Hope". I am grateful to my two amazing children whom have had to bear so much, I am proud of them how they handle it all and conducted themselves. They had to be very strong and we love and appreciate them so much! They are better people for going through such a hard trial and I see such amazing growth from them both through it not only emotionally but spiritually. I constantly remind them and ask them " Do you realize how blessed we are that Daddy is doing good?" "Have you remembered to thank the Lord and Daddy's donor today?"
I know they do I just don't ever want them to forget to be humble, grateful and thank to Lord and Eric's donor. Sometimes life gets so busy we get back to the hum drum of life but after going through what we have all went through I do not think there will ever be a day that goes by that we will not be so grateful! Our journey still continues but hope is also faith and our faith is strong, with the Lord all things are possible. We have always known that but sometimes the faith has been as little as a mustard seed on days, how grateful I am for the gospel and the knowledge it brings us all, the peace and comfort that we get!
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Update...Doing GREAT!
Sorry for the gap in posts.....I have been away on a business trip to Florida for 3 weeks!! I am so glad to be HOME! It was hard leaving Eric and the kids but I couldn't get out of this business trip. Eric is doing so good and we are so thankful to the Lord.
He went to Texas again in September for his follow up appointments at MD Anderson Cancer Center/ his bone marrow transplant doctors. They said he is a miracle and they are so happy to see him doing so well. They still don't like how thin he is but other than that he is good. We received his results from the bone marrow biopsy they did there in Texas, Eric is still 100% grafted with his donors marrow!!!! We are so thankful to his donor and the Lord for this blessing! We are excited to meet his donor in another year!
Eric has been busy as ever at work but I am so glad he was able to put in for a better case load to manage so that has decreased his stress a ton!!! We continue to feel that these small and big blessings we keep receiving are from the Lord and we are so grateful to him. We often talk about how last year at this time Eric was in the hospital in the middle of his bone marrow transplant back in Texas fighting for his life. We didn't know if we would ever see home again, if things would ever be normal again. I am happy to say that the journey continues and our journey of hope and been just that ... continued hope and faith in the Lord.
Life is a constant struggle and battle but day by day we move onto the next few steps of our journey and with it brings love, peace, hope and a new found love for life and family. We know miracles happen we have seen so many, we also know these things did not simply happen by chance but by the Lords loving hands whom is watching over us. We love and appreciate all of you our friends, family, neighbors, co-workers for your continued love and support!
He went to Texas again in September for his follow up appointments at MD Anderson Cancer Center/ his bone marrow transplant doctors. They said he is a miracle and they are so happy to see him doing so well. They still don't like how thin he is but other than that he is good. We received his results from the bone marrow biopsy they did there in Texas, Eric is still 100% grafted with his donors marrow!!!! We are so thankful to his donor and the Lord for this blessing! We are excited to meet his donor in another year!
Eric has been busy as ever at work but I am so glad he was able to put in for a better case load to manage so that has decreased his stress a ton!!! We continue to feel that these small and big blessings we keep receiving are from the Lord and we are so grateful to him. We often talk about how last year at this time Eric was in the hospital in the middle of his bone marrow transplant back in Texas fighting for his life. We didn't know if we would ever see home again, if things would ever be normal again. I am happy to say that the journey continues and our journey of hope and been just that ... continued hope and faith in the Lord.
Life is a constant struggle and battle but day by day we move onto the next few steps of our journey and with it brings love, peace, hope and a new found love for life and family. We know miracles happen we have seen so many, we also know these things did not simply happen by chance but by the Lords loving hands whom is watching over us. We love and appreciate all of you our friends, family, neighbors, co-workers for your continued love and support!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
HAPPY 1ST TRANSPLANT BIRTHDAY!!!!!
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HAPPY 1St TRANSPLANT BIRTHDAY TODAY ERIC!!!! WOW..... I can not believe it's been a year already. It was and has been the longest and hardest year of our lives but we have made it so far!! I remember that we were suppose to have his transplant on the 8th of September last year but we were told that the donors marrow was still being flown from where he is to Eric in Texas through the night so that it wouldn't arrive until the middle of the night so they pushed his actual transplant day to today last year with it being lucky 9/9/09!!!
Right about now Eric was being prepared with all his medications and the doctor's were giving him a final check to move forward with his transplant. We are so grateful to his donor!! You saved his life and made it possible to be here a year later celebrating together as a family. We will always be eternally grateful and I can not wait to meet you in person and wrap our arms around you! You gave unconditional Christ like love giving your marrow to a complete stranger to save their life, going through some pain of your own to help someone in need without anything expected in return- that is true love!!
As his wife I am so thankful that his donor saved Eric's life and gave us more time! Eric now has more time for memories, a chance to watch the kids grow up, graduate from high school then college, a chance to go on missions, a chance to see them get married, a chance to be a Dad which I know he loves and will cherish. I remember we were just starting this journey of ours and we had no idea all the ups and downs... all the roller coasters we would be on but we knew and still know that the Lord was guiding us on this journey and we were being blessed with small and BIG MIRACLES and tender mercies along the way. I remember praying alot throughout the day ( like everyday) asking God to please protect Eric's body and to bless all the nurses and doctors with the knowledge and guidance they needed to allow Eric and his body to handle the transplant and not reject his donors marrow right away. I remember feeling and knowing of the Lord's love for Eric and I and that he was with us during the transplant. I felt a peace even when Eric was having the riggers/shakes, throwing up and not feeling well I felt a strong comfort, a peaceful feeling knowing that I was witnessing a miracle for my husband.
I am so thankful to not only his donor but to all of you family, friends, co-workers, ward and stake member's ( HOME WARD AND TEXAS WARD!!), neighbors, other transplant patients and their families/our new found friends, Patrick (who sadly lost his battle in June - WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU!!), nurses and doctors whom became like family when you are there all alone with no family they really step up and not only care for your loved one but you as well- for EVERYONE because without all of you and your continued love and support we would have never made it!!!
So today it a special day- Eric's 1 st bone marrow transplant birthday!! We will celebrate today as well as many more years to come each year acknowledging his new life and new chance, his new beginning! The joy and overwhelming gratitude I feel everyday when I see you smile and I am able to see your kids laugh with you, their eyes light up when they are with you and spend time with you- it's the most rewarding feeling and blessing!! I love you Eric with all my heart and although I know you won't read this blog right now as it's hard and painful you say right now for you I know someday you'll be able to read this and know how much we love you! You are a walking, living MIRACLE!! You and I both know this, we have had so many doctors tell us this is the end for you and to say goodbye but we had and still have a unique strong faith and knowledge and the power of the gospel in our lives that we know is the true plan, the one guiding all of this- the Lord whom has a plan in store for you and your journey is not yet done here. I know that you are meant for important things because you are still here... your work is still not done! We love you Eric and I am grateful to your donor and the Lord for all our blessings and you, for the chance to be here a year later saying " Happy 1 st Transplant Birthday" I love you!!!!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Moving Along...
Well it's been a busy few weeks... Eric has been back work plugging away working 12 hour days with no end in sight. Whewwww... he comes home pretty spent and tired but I know he is grateful to be back to work and getting back to "NORMAL." We laugh that we should be careful what we wish for right but seriously we are so grateful that we are where we are right now. It's exactly the month mark from when we started Eric's transplant journey. Last year at this time we had just found his donor and in two more weeks we were getting ready to fly down to start his bone marrow transplant! WOW!! I am so thankful to be at this point and seeing how far Eric has came.
We have had alot of reminders of how lucky we are, what a miracle Eric is recently with Eric's good friend Patrick passing away in June ( Eric and Patrick had the same cancer and started their bone marrow transplants together at the same time), Eric's Aunt Carol passing away a few weeks ago from her valiant battle with her cancer. We recognize the blessings and we cherish each day and moment we have as the gift it truly is! I reflect on my emotions I was feeling last year at this time I was crying alot , preparing to leave the kids for 5 months, getting them ready for school and knowing that we were about to embark on the hardest journey yet as a family!
What a difference a year can make! I am so thankful to the Lord for his countless tender mercies and blessings we have received. Sometimes you feel if this makes any sense a little guilty that Eric has made it and that he is doing good, you question things and wonder..." Why couldn't Patrick have made it then? " Why couldn't Aunt Carol have made it?" but then I remind myself that just because they passed doesn't mean that they are gone from us..we all have a mission and purpose in life and just because their physical body could not hold on any longer their spirits are fulfilling a greater purpose. They both are such amazing and wonderful people whom changed our lives for the better and we would not be who we are if we did not know them and have them touch our lives as they did!
Eric and I both know that our journey is not complete and we will still have trials, bumps in the road but we recognize with the Lord all things are possible and we can do anything. On paper this was a horrible, sad tragedy that shouldn't have worked out. Many times I had doctors look at me and tell me that this is nearing the end and that they would try to do all they can do to give him more time, keep him comfortable but I am so thankful that in those moments, those dark lonely hours I could turn to the Lord and feel his arms wrap around me and provide peace and comfort. Sometimes it would be just enough to give me a sense of calmness so I could close my eyes and fall asleep and wake up with a new outlook, more faith and hope, peace. That is what the Lord provides all of us..that overwhelming unconditional love.
Eric went to the doctors yesterday and he lost again 5 pounds.. his doctor was a concerned and said " Seriously Eric are you not eating I need you to quit losing weight!" I told his doctor that he really is eating more than he has in the last year and that I really don't understand why he keeps losing weight cause he is eating... Eric responded in his regular humorous way and said " Dr. Chandramouli I think my donor just must have an amazing metabolism and really in shape" we all just laughed! Eric's counts are pretty good his white cells fell a little to 4.1 (still good), red cells are 4.57 (they went up) and his hemoglobin is 45.8 with his platelets going up to 112!! All these are really good some of these levels are the highest he has been in the last seven years! We are so grateful to Eric's donor whom we think of often and how he has given the gift of life, unconditional love to save a strangers life! We are so grateful the Lord for Eric's health recovery process and his body being able to fight and be strong, getting stronger each day! We are grateful to all of you as well for riding this roller coaster and traveling this journey.. providing us love and support! We couldn't have done this past year without all of you and the Lord, the gospel and faith in the journey!
We have had alot of reminders of how lucky we are, what a miracle Eric is recently with Eric's good friend Patrick passing away in June ( Eric and Patrick had the same cancer and started their bone marrow transplants together at the same time), Eric's Aunt Carol passing away a few weeks ago from her valiant battle with her cancer. We recognize the blessings and we cherish each day and moment we have as the gift it truly is! I reflect on my emotions I was feeling last year at this time I was crying alot , preparing to leave the kids for 5 months, getting them ready for school and knowing that we were about to embark on the hardest journey yet as a family!
What a difference a year can make! I am so thankful to the Lord for his countless tender mercies and blessings we have received. Sometimes you feel if this makes any sense a little guilty that Eric has made it and that he is doing good, you question things and wonder..." Why couldn't Patrick have made it then? " Why couldn't Aunt Carol have made it?" but then I remind myself that just because they passed doesn't mean that they are gone from us..we all have a mission and purpose in life and just because their physical body could not hold on any longer their spirits are fulfilling a greater purpose. They both are such amazing and wonderful people whom changed our lives for the better and we would not be who we are if we did not know them and have them touch our lives as they did!
Eric and I both know that our journey is not complete and we will still have trials, bumps in the road but we recognize with the Lord all things are possible and we can do anything. On paper this was a horrible, sad tragedy that shouldn't have worked out. Many times I had doctors look at me and tell me that this is nearing the end and that they would try to do all they can do to give him more time, keep him comfortable but I am so thankful that in those moments, those dark lonely hours I could turn to the Lord and feel his arms wrap around me and provide peace and comfort. Sometimes it would be just enough to give me a sense of calmness so I could close my eyes and fall asleep and wake up with a new outlook, more faith and hope, peace. That is what the Lord provides all of us..that overwhelming unconditional love.
Eric went to the doctors yesterday and he lost again 5 pounds.. his doctor was a concerned and said " Seriously Eric are you not eating I need you to quit losing weight!" I told his doctor that he really is eating more than he has in the last year and that I really don't understand why he keeps losing weight cause he is eating... Eric responded in his regular humorous way and said " Dr. Chandramouli I think my donor just must have an amazing metabolism and really in shape" we all just laughed! Eric's counts are pretty good his white cells fell a little to 4.1 (still good), red cells are 4.57 (they went up) and his hemoglobin is 45.8 with his platelets going up to 112!! All these are really good some of these levels are the highest he has been in the last seven years! We are so grateful to Eric's donor whom we think of often and how he has given the gift of life, unconditional love to save a strangers life! We are so grateful the Lord for Eric's health recovery process and his body being able to fight and be strong, getting stronger each day! We are grateful to all of you as well for riding this roller coaster and traveling this journey.. providing us love and support! We couldn't have done this past year without all of you and the Lord, the gospel and faith in the journey!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Update....
Well it has been a busy week since Eric went back to work. He is excited to be back and he has loved seeing all his law enforcement family/buddies. Eric was suppose to edge his way back but for those of you who know Eric well he doesn't know the meaning of that. His first day back he did 10 hours and the next days that followed 12 and 14 hour days just to get through all his case load and organized. He loves his job but I am not a fan of him putting in so many hours but what can I do. He came home his first few days and took 2-3 hour naps once he got home which is well deserved! I am proud of him for this next step he has taken to return to work and so early as most bone marrow transplant patients do not return until 2-3 years after their transplants. I am cautious but so proud of him and know that he wants to be back to a "normal" life again and that this is an important step for him towards that. He is a hard worker, wonderful man whom I am blessed to be married to.
We had some sad news the other day Eric's Aunt Carol passed away from her cancer unexpectedly she took a sudden turn for the worse. Her viewing and funeral is tomorrow and Saturday. We are so sad to have her pass but we know she must have loved the reunion with Eric's Dad (her brother) and her mom whom I am sure was there to bring her to the other side. I am not sure if it is just us lately but we feel so surrounded by this horrible "cancer" and we are feeling like we are losing more and more wonderful people to it. What a wonderful day it will be when there is a CURE for cancer!!
Eric is doing well he is still decreasing down on some of his post transplant anti rejection medications. We are still in the thick of paying for all his medications and moving fast towards our out of pocket maximum $8,000.00. I can't believe we will hit our out of pocket maximum for the year just in Eric's medications within the first 30 days of it! It is crazy, his medications are well over $10,000.00 a month alone, on last Friday I went to the pharmacy to pick up just 4 of his medications for 30 days worth and it was $4,453.00!!!! The pharmacist when she sees us just shakes her head and says" OK are you ready for the amount today- it's an arm and a leg!" Whew I can not wait to hit this out of pocket maximum and start having everything paid for 100%!!! It's hard to pay all your normal monthly obligations and on top of that come up with $8,000.00 all within a 30 day time period. There are not payment plans for required prescription medications that you NEED to LIVE!
That being said we are blessed Eric is doing well and accepting his donors marrow and 100% grafted with his donors cells! We recognized the blessings and miracles the Lord continues to provide to us and we are grateful. We have experienced on many occasions tender mercies from the Lord that without him I do not know where we would be. I am so grateful for Eric's donor and for his selfless unconditional love and act of kindness to save Eric's life! I pray for him and his family everyday and know that without him we would not have Eric here today with us! What an amazing feeling it must be to know you saved a person's life and for nothing in return just out of unconditional love! There are amazing people in this world and it restores my faith and hope.
Eric's counts are pretty good a few things went down a little but that is to be expected all in all pretty good.. Eric's white cells are at 4.4 a little down from last time, red blood cells 4.33 with his Hemoglobin at 14.8. His platelets went down a little from 110 last time down to 102 but still hanging in there. His creatinine is good and his kidney functions and liver is at the levels they expect right now. We just got done with Chelsea being in the Bountiful 24th July parade for her Woods Cross High School cheer team, the kids returned from Youth Conference/Quest and loved it! Just signed Austin up again to start football - there goes our Saturdays right! It is good though back again as a family making the memories we so have missed over the last year! All in all things are good at the Barker home and we are continuing on this journey hopefully coming down the hill now and piecing back together our lives. We know that with the Lord and our continued faith all things are possible!
We had some sad news the other day Eric's Aunt Carol passed away from her cancer unexpectedly she took a sudden turn for the worse. Her viewing and funeral is tomorrow and Saturday. We are so sad to have her pass but we know she must have loved the reunion with Eric's Dad (her brother) and her mom whom I am sure was there to bring her to the other side. I am not sure if it is just us lately but we feel so surrounded by this horrible "cancer" and we are feeling like we are losing more and more wonderful people to it. What a wonderful day it will be when there is a CURE for cancer!!
Eric is doing well he is still decreasing down on some of his post transplant anti rejection medications. We are still in the thick of paying for all his medications and moving fast towards our out of pocket maximum $8,000.00. I can't believe we will hit our out of pocket maximum for the year just in Eric's medications within the first 30 days of it! It is crazy, his medications are well over $10,000.00 a month alone, on last Friday I went to the pharmacy to pick up just 4 of his medications for 30 days worth and it was $4,453.00!!!! The pharmacist when she sees us just shakes her head and says" OK are you ready for the amount today- it's an arm and a leg!" Whew I can not wait to hit this out of pocket maximum and start having everything paid for 100%!!! It's hard to pay all your normal monthly obligations and on top of that come up with $8,000.00 all within a 30 day time period. There are not payment plans for required prescription medications that you NEED to LIVE!
That being said we are blessed Eric is doing well and accepting his donors marrow and 100% grafted with his donors cells! We recognized the blessings and miracles the Lord continues to provide to us and we are grateful. We have experienced on many occasions tender mercies from the Lord that without him I do not know where we would be. I am so grateful for Eric's donor and for his selfless unconditional love and act of kindness to save Eric's life! I pray for him and his family everyday and know that without him we would not have Eric here today with us! What an amazing feeling it must be to know you saved a person's life and for nothing in return just out of unconditional love! There are amazing people in this world and it restores my faith and hope.
Eric's counts are pretty good a few things went down a little but that is to be expected all in all pretty good.. Eric's white cells are at 4.4 a little down from last time, red blood cells 4.33 with his Hemoglobin at 14.8. His platelets went down a little from 110 last time down to 102 but still hanging in there. His creatinine is good and his kidney functions and liver is at the levels they expect right now. We just got done with Chelsea being in the Bountiful 24th July parade for her Woods Cross High School cheer team, the kids returned from Youth Conference/Quest and loved it! Just signed Austin up again to start football - there goes our Saturdays right! It is good though back again as a family making the memories we so have missed over the last year! All in all things are good at the Barker home and we are continuing on this journey hopefully coming down the hill now and piecing back together our lives. We know that with the Lord and our continued faith all things are possible!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Going Back to Work....
Well sorry for the delay the past few weeks not posting anything... We left off with Eric's friend passing away Patrick. Eric was not able to find a way to fly down for the funeral but he thought about him alot during the past few days and weeks. I know that Patrick is not suffering anymore and he is in a better place...it's just hard for us, the ones he leaves behind. We love you Patrick and the bond you and Eric share is eternal!
The past week our home has been really quiet. The kids both went on Youth Conference/ Quest with the Ward/Stake. We had to make them tribal wear for them to wear everyday up there, that was fun! A big thank you to my Mom who sewed them for us at the family BBQ!! We couldn't have made them without her, she gave Eric a class 101 on sewing it was fun to watch! The kids both got home last night and they said they loved it!! Chelsea and Austin both told us about how they re-enacted parts from the Book Of Mormon and at the end Pres. Terry was Christ in the second coming dressed in white, asking the leaders and them to " Come Follow Me" and how emotional/ spiritual that was, they said everyone was crying! They loved the "Faith Walk" -they had to be blind folded for it, the "Hold to the Iron Rod" trial where they were tested and tempted and how neat and fun that was! I am so glad they both went and had this amazing experience, it was a opportunity both Eric and I did not want them to miss! Chelsea had to adjust her work schedule, trade shifts, give shifts away- I told her she would be blessed for doing that in many ways. I missed them and I am so happy to have them HOME!!
Eric is going back to work Monday .....I have to admit I think it is to soon and I am extremely worried! He doesn't know the meaning of pace yourself, slowly go back or part time like the doctors have told him. He just goes...I know he wants so bad to get back to work though. He wants normalcy, he wants to be back at the job he loves, surrounded by all his law enforcements friends/buddies. He has missed it, I am thankful he loves his job so much and its a happy place for him not a burden I just wish he was not going back for a while longer so he could get stronger and more out from his transplant and recovery. I am a typical worrier so I am a bit over bearing but after you watch your husband go to deaths door and climb back and have a second chance at life you get a little protective! He went golfing this morning with some ward friends/ buddies Tori Hinkle and Paul Clements. I know he is enjoying himself and having a chance to start to piece back his life and normal things. I am so thankful to the Lord for all our blessings, for Eric being were he is right now and having another chance at life.
I am so thankful for Eric's donor and saving his life! When we went to the doctors the other day Eric's counts are pretty good. His white cells are 4.5, his red blood cells are 4.55 and hemoglobin 15.7 with this platelets at 110 ( they went down a little but still good). All in all things are doing ok and we are slowly moving along. We are blessed and thankful for all the Lord has given us and know with him all things are possible!
The past week our home has been really quiet. The kids both went on Youth Conference/ Quest with the Ward/Stake. We had to make them tribal wear for them to wear everyday up there, that was fun! A big thank you to my Mom who sewed them for us at the family BBQ!! We couldn't have made them without her, she gave Eric a class 101 on sewing it was fun to watch! The kids both got home last night and they said they loved it!! Chelsea and Austin both told us about how they re-enacted parts from the Book Of Mormon and at the end Pres. Terry was Christ in the second coming dressed in white, asking the leaders and them to " Come Follow Me" and how emotional/ spiritual that was, they said everyone was crying! They loved the "Faith Walk" -they had to be blind folded for it, the "Hold to the Iron Rod" trial where they were tested and tempted and how neat and fun that was! I am so glad they both went and had this amazing experience, it was a opportunity both Eric and I did not want them to miss! Chelsea had to adjust her work schedule, trade shifts, give shifts away- I told her she would be blessed for doing that in many ways. I missed them and I am so happy to have them HOME!!
Eric is going back to work Monday .....I have to admit I think it is to soon and I am extremely worried! He doesn't know the meaning of pace yourself, slowly go back or part time like the doctors have told him. He just goes...I know he wants so bad to get back to work though. He wants normalcy, he wants to be back at the job he loves, surrounded by all his law enforcements friends/buddies. He has missed it, I am thankful he loves his job so much and its a happy place for him not a burden I just wish he was not going back for a while longer so he could get stronger and more out from his transplant and recovery. I am a typical worrier so I am a bit over bearing but after you watch your husband go to deaths door and climb back and have a second chance at life you get a little protective! He went golfing this morning with some ward friends/ buddies Tori Hinkle and Paul Clements. I know he is enjoying himself and having a chance to start to piece back his life and normal things. I am so thankful to the Lord for all our blessings, for Eric being were he is right now and having another chance at life.
I am so thankful for Eric's donor and saving his life! When we went to the doctors the other day Eric's counts are pretty good. His white cells are 4.5, his red blood cells are 4.55 and hemoglobin 15.7 with this platelets at 110 ( they went down a little but still good). All in all things are doing ok and we are slowly moving along. We are blessed and thankful for all the Lord has given us and know with him all things are possible!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Bitter Sweet Update...
It is a very bitter sweet update...First I want to let everyone know thank you for the prayers and love, support for Eric. We received a phone call last night from Eric's doctors that the liver tests results came back and his levels/ enzymes on one part had dropped back down to almost normal range but the other part of the tests they were a little elevated but not bad - they had went down from the last weeks results which is good they said. They do not feel he has Graft Vs Host in his liver...what a blessing!!! We are thankful to the Lord for yet another blessing, they said however they think the reason his liver levels went up like that is due to all the 100's of blood transfusions Eric had to have to stay alive he has now 3 times the toxic amount of Iron in his body/blood. This is a common problem that if left untreated can cause long term damage to your major organs and cause heart failure or liver failure. So that being said we are meeting next week to talk to his doctors on what we need to start to do to prevent this and not have on going problems.
It's very hard today cause just as you feel a brief sigh of relief and thankful we got some very sad and devastating news this morning. Eric's friend whom has the same cancer as Eric that I have mentioned before on the blog, Patrick Chong sadly has lost his 3 year battle with his cancer and passed away with his mother and family by his side. This has been very hard news on Eric and he hasn't stopped crying today since he found out. Our hearts are broken and we miss him already but we know he is not suffering anymore and in a better place. His Mom Janice was talking to us on the phone today and she mentioned how much Patrick and Eric bonded in the hospital while they were going through their transplants together, how much they loved and cared for each other and how much Patrick thought of their friendship. He told his mom Last week right before he went into his coma that he didn't want his mom to call and tell Eric he was not doing good again cause he was worried how Eric would take it and didn't want to make Eric upset and stress, he didn't want any bad news to affect Eric and his recovery. That was how Patrick was always caring about Eric and what an amazing bond and friendship they shared.
Patrick and Eric shared the some wonderful sense of humor which is one of the many reasons why I think they bonded so well. Eric and him always said who would have thought that we would meet under these circumstances, while we are both going through the worst time in our lives and fighting for them. They had a very strong and unique bond that was amazing and beautiful to watch. Eric and Patrick could make each other laugh even when some days it seemed there was nothing to possibly laugh about. They would walk those hospital floor and halls together with their IV poles and if you watched them they would be laughing and talking just like any good two friends would enjoying each others company almost as if they were not even in the hospital at all.. as if they were in another place. Our hearts are heavy and we want Patrick's Mom Janice to know how much he loved her and appreciated her. She was always there by his side, taking care of him and loving him- he was very blessed to have her and I know he loves her so much and appreciated all she did for him as he shared with us on many occasions.
Eric is having a hard time, the funeral is Saturday and we are scrambling trying to see if we can some how get a flight or buddy pass to get to his funeral on short notice. Eric really wants to go it's important to him. I am very worried about him, he really is taking it so hard - I pray the Lord will comfort him and Patrick's family during this time.I am posting a picture of Eric and Patrick together...this is the one we took on the last day before Eric was coming home to Utah. We will forever in our hearts Patrick cherish our time we shared and our friendship and know that you are in a better place now, not suffering anymore, no more chemo, no more hospitals, no more blood transfusions, no more tests and experiments...you are home! I am posting a link to Patrick's obituary and guest book http://www.newcomerorlando.com/ we will see you on the other side my friend...until we meet again!
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