Good news for now YEAH!!!!

I was going to go down to Huntsman today and have a biopsy of the lump in my neck done. While I was on my way down, Karen (the nurse) called me and asked how things were going, how the lump was. I told her the lump had shrunk and wasn't as visible as before. Fortunately for me since Wednesday it has reduced in size considerably and is no longer hard. I credit the antibiotics for that. So that means it was just an infection not a tumor. She said that as long as it was getting smaller and seeming to go away I didn't need to come down, (sorry Nelson). We are happy with the good news. We went to the Rodeo last night and enjoyed a relaxing evening watching cowboys getting bucked off of animals. We will be going to the Fair and the exhibits today and then going to bed early. It has been a less than desirable week, but a week at home with my family, so I'll take it. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers. Merry Christmas and have a lovely day. Love Andy

I would love to say things here are settling into normalcy, yet alas I can not. Late yesterday, Andy noticed a tiny lump on his neck. He at first thought it was just an ingrown hair. This morning I looked at it and felt the lump. He also said it was bigger than yesterday. So, we called our favorite cancer people at Huntsman. They made an appointment for Andy on Friday and sent him to see his regular doc today. After consulting with Dr. Grossman, Dr. Schow gave Andy a really strong antibiotic. They are hoping it is just the start of an ear infection since there was some fluid in the ear, and the lump was where the glands sit. So, we wait and hope that the pills will bring the lump down before Friday. If it doesn't then Dr. Grossman will do either a biopsy or ultrasound on the lump. This could be from the new treatment or it could be new tumors. Now don't panic! I know that is easier said than done. However, we are trying to stay optimistic. Well on other news, I am starting a new semester at Weber State University and trying to stay hopeful that I don't fail this class (again). On Monday, school starts for the kids and I am back to work. 2 of out of the 3 kids are excited for it to start, the one oddball kid well... lets just say she has always been the one to dance to a different beat. We love her and all her fiestiness. Well, there is the update. Please remember we appreciate all you do for us. You are in our prayers and thoughts. We love you.

Today we went to Andy's mom and dad's for dinner. Andy's little brother David is in from Florida for a short time. David is in the Navy and received his station to Norfolk, Virginia. So, he is here to see family and get things ready to help his wife and son move with him. It was nice to see David. We did not get to see him the last time he was in town. Andy had just got out of Huntsman and David had a nasty cold, so he did not come to see us.
I have received feed back from the last blog. Sorry it was so long. There was so much to say and I didn't even tell everything. One comment that Andy and I have to laugh at is, "Did we go and have fun and see some shows while in Vegas.". No is our answer to that. We didn't have the energy, money, or desire to do that. We did relax and take things simpler and easy. Our purpose in Vegas was strictly to meet Dr.'s and receive treatment. The timeline was strange because it was so long, but we chose to rest and enjoy just being together. We got home Tuesday and it seemed as though the time flew past us. From getting the kids ready for school, getting myself ready for another semester of classes, and going back to work at the school is taking up the little time I have left of summer vacation. I am sure many of you feel the same. So I hope that as the next season comes and summer leaves we can take time to enjoy the beauty around us. I want to express my gratitude for all of you. So many have stepped forward to offer help in so many ways. Thank you again and again. We love you.

Have you missed us?

Hey everyone, some of you may have wondered what is going on. We haven't blogged or anything for a week. Andy and I received a call from the Nevada Cancer Institute(NCI) late Wednesday. They informed us we had an appointment on Friday at 2:00 pm with Dr. Samlowski. We had much to get ready and little time to do it. We chose to leave the kids home and drive to Las Vegas alone. We set off around 2:00 on Thursday (Shaeli had a dental appointment we could not miss and no one was around to take her). We drove to Mesquite and stayed the night. Andy went down to the casino and talked with some very nice people. He left with 40 dollars and came back with 35 (not bad, not great either). In the morning, we drove on to Vegas. We first went to Andy's cousins place. Kallee and Ashley live in a nice gated community. It is quiet and safe. I am eternally grateful for them and their kindness. We stayed at their house until Monday. They had better things than hang out with their boring older cousin and his wife. Just kidding, they had a family reunion they went to over the weekend. Kallee if you are reading this I have to tell you how beautiful your home is. I really felt comfortable there. Thank you!! So on Friday we went to NCI. I was not impressed by the building or the staff. They actually lost us for half an hour. Then tried to make it sound as if we lost ourselves. I am not kidding about this. We first met with admitting, then sent out to the waiting area, and then the person over financing took us back to her office to go over payments, then sent us out to wait again. This is where things go a little unnerving. We wait patiently for about 30mins until Andy is seen by the receptionist who says that "they" have been waiting for us on the third floor. When we get to the third floor, we are told that they never have a patient wait on the main level, but they are sent directly to the third. We kept telling them that we were told to wait for the next person to come and get us. The nurse looked at us like we were lying. This was not a good start to this experience. We then met with a fellow. She was interesting. That is the nicest thing I can say about her. When she left to get Dr. Samlowski, Andy and I looked at each other and had the same thought. We didn't think this was such a good idea. A combination of the questions and how they were asked by the fellow made us feel this was not going to be the right thing for us. However, Dr. Samlowski came into the room and went through the drug and procedure. He answered questions and gave his opinion on our situation. We finally left that place just after 5:00 pm. What a day. We felt better about our option with this drug, but we were still unsure. All I can say is that we are blessed to have Huntsman Cancer Institute and Hospital with all the caring and kind staff so close. There was an enormous difference in care and procedure. NCI is a good clinic and they have knowledgeable staff, but it is more cold and unpersonable.
We really didn't do anything fun and exciting while in Vegas. We felt worn out and stressed. So we just stayed at the house, although I did get Andy to go with me to the pool at Kallee's. By the way, I think it is odd that the pool at a nice gated community is as cold as the Arctic Sea. If you go before the sunsets it would be a glorious reprieve from the heat(113 degrees), yet at sunset not so much. Thank goodness for the hot tub. To skip this long story and get to what you all want to know, Monday we went back to NCI and after and hour and a half, Andy started the treatment. We sat and did nothing for 2 hours. Every half hour a nurse would take his vital signs and that was all. After the pump completed the meds. We waited another half hour and then the nurse checked one last vitals and removed the IV. We then went on our way. We drove to mesquite where we checked into the Virgin River Hotel & Casino. Andy slept for a couple of hours. I just flipped through the TV channels. We went to dinner at a little Chinese place then went back and slept. Got up the next morning at just before 7 and left for home. With all the chaos that we have gone through I must say that coming home was the best medicine. I am glad for people who care for Andy and I personally. I loved seeing the familiar scenery, and I am grateful for the Lords blessings of comfort and peace. I can not say that this is going to get better, I can only say as we go through each step and misstep I see how much we are loved and blessed. So what's next? Well, in 3 weeks Andy will go back for another treatment. Then again in another 3 weeks and so on for four doses. Then he will have a scan and meet with the Dr. By November we will know if the treatment is working. If it is then we wait for 3 months and start it all over again. Even though this is a huge pain and problematic, this is better than the alternative. Our options are limited, and we are just not willing to give up easily. I ask you to keep us in your prayers, and ask that this treatment will stabilize or set the tumors into remission. Andy and I are so grateful for Marion, Tralyn, and everyone that was willing and able to help with little to no warning. We love you all.

We have not forgotten about you

We have not forgotten about you. Since last Wednesday, we have been trying to accept and understand what the next step involves and includes. To answer the question you all have in a simple sentence is not easy. We are still waiting to hear from the clinic in Las Vegas and the nurse over our account. So we are unable to answer your questions at this point. Having said that in a clinical and calm manner let me say this a little less softly. We are disappointed that the Il2 treatment was not effective. We thought that nothing could be as difficult to hear or was worse to hear than that initial news of cancer, however, hearing that the five months of pure torture that Andy endured showed little against the tumors was heart breaking. I will not sugar coat the frustration, stress, and fear that has floated over us. They say if you talk about your feelings it will help you to come to an acceptance...I want to smack whoever "they" are and then kick them where it counts. It is not easy to explain in a calm voice over and over again that all is not well and our future is unsure. Andy is understandably worn out emotionally. And to make things harder, there has been a misunderstanding about why we went to Florida. Somehow there are some that think that since we went to Florida Andy's cancer went into remission. This is not even close to the truth. We went because of some incredible people in our life realized before we did that a vacation was needed. Our faith is strong, our hearts are low, but we are not going to give up. There are trials at every turn and we recognize that this is our trial to accept and overcome, no matter the uncertain outcome. We keep you all in our prayers and tell everyone that will listen that it is not by our strength that we have done this well. It is because of all of you. You have taken upon you our burdens and heartache and we are eternally grateful. Thank you.

Scan complete, plan disclosed

Today I had an MRI and CT scan done. I started taking medicine to help me with the allergic reaction to the CT contrast last night. We got up early this morning and headed to Salt Lake. Had the scans, and then had to wait around until after lunch for our doctor appointment. Dr. Grossman was out today, so we met with Carolyn. We had some idle chit chat and told how our trip was and how things had been going for us since the last time we met. She told us that there was some growth in the tumors but what to do about it would have to wait until Dr. Grossman called. And just like magic, he called while we were talking. So, ..... The tension builds.........Are you tired of my senseless banter.......?..........ok, he said that while the tumors fit in the statistical area of no growth, compared to our last scan, it showed noticeable growth when compared to our original scans. So, can you say..."Vegas Baby!!!!" (Sorry Aunt Lillian). Dr. Grossman is more comfortable with us going to Las Vegas, because he knows the Doctor there and how he does business, so to speak. Nothing bad on Twin Falls, its just that he would feel more comfortable if we went to Vegas. We are now waiting for Dr. Samlowski's office to give us a call. So, the IL2 didn't work like we wanted it too, but we have another option left still. So we persevere and press on. When I say we, I mean my family and all of you who have shown and shared so much care and faith with us. This battle will continue, and we hope that you will continue to keep us in your prayers, and for that I thank you. Have a lovely day, and Merry Christmas.
Love, Andy.

Well, we are home and the trip seems like a dream that we have woken up from. We had the best time, but a week and a half is a long vacation. Andy and I didn't realize how much we needed to get away until we were there and all seem to slow down and relax. I hope you all have had time to look at the pictures we posted through the link. We had so much fun there is not enough time or words to express what we did, saw, and felt. I do have to say that the jet lag is a pain. We have all been working through being tired and soar bodies. Andy did better than anyone could have guessed. He kept up and was as annoying as always. I advise anyone going to Florida to visit Walt Disney World should stay at Fort Wilderness. It was wonderful to go to the parks and all the sights then go to the cabin away from people and just relax. Each of the parks in WDW had so much amazing things to see, eat, and do. It was like a sensory overload. Although we all had a blast, we all were thrilled to be HOME. As always we love you all.