November 24, 2011

Yesterday I was excited about having another chemo session, however after my labs and seeing Doctor Martha Glenn I was rejected as my blood was just too sweet for this next session so I was returned to my home to spend the next two days with my favorite cell mate Jan. I am very weak but so thankful for all the many blessings in my life.

I am thankful for all the great people in my life including all the new technologies related to medicine making this process bearable. I wish you all a great Thanksgiving Holiday and may the Lord bless you as he has me.

November 22, 2011

Yesterday was a much better day felt better and was active, talked to several people on the phone, had visitors left with one and went for a ride while I was gone had three more sets of visitors wish I had been here to see them they all left notes in a little box on the front porch.

I cannot ask for anything with all the kindness love and support I keep getting this is so helpful and the encouragement and hope just keep me going. I cannot express in words how thankful I am to all in my life.

November 21, 2011

Saturday was a great day had visitors which always makes the day good. Have been very weak and tired not doing much. There is not much to report as far as accomplishments go. However I am so thankful for kindness and understanding that I find in my life. It is times like this that you truly learn who you friends are and find out how blessed you truly are.

One thing that did take place Dave my neighbor who has done so much for me and has checked in on me more than once a day since this started and has given me shots and gone beyond the call of duty in taking care of me has been hospitalized. Please in your prayers pray for Dave the Lord will know who you are talking about.

Novmber 19, 2011

It has been two days without any sleep; I am awake all the time. Yesterday was not one of my better days had stomach cramps and chest pain. Finally when Jan came home we went to the Huntsman Cancer Hospital. They checked me out and sent me home with a kit to administer some additional tests. I am still sick to my and want to throw up but I don’t have anything left. Oh well I am going to be positive and hope this will soon pass and I will fell as good as a cancer patient can feel.  

November 18, 2011

Yesterday was somewhat challenging as I felt sick all day and nausea was my constant companion. Seems like with cancer there is always a side effect and you never know how you are going to feel. I woke up felt okay and then took some medication and it was all downhill from there.

If I can fall asleep I hope to be able to do a few things tomorrow like read and maybe spend a little time on the computer. I do have some visitors coming all the way from Boise, Idaho. I have not seen them for almost two years and it will be good to see them again. They are a special family in our lives and have been involved with us for the past 18 years.

I am thankful to be here and have made the progress this far through my chemo treatments. Had no idea how tough it could be and how much visits and phone calls would be to keep me going and give me the hope and will to live.

November 17, 2011

Well I made it to the Huntsman Cancer Hospital and back. The only issue I have been having is a lot of back pain and I can’t sleep and a cold. No idea where I picked up the cold. Just not feeling well but will work my way through this as I don’t want to have my next chemo pushed back.

I am looking forward to being strong enough to do some reading today which I have not done for almost a week. Jan seems to be handling all this very well and is as busy as ever with all the things she needs to do. I never know how she gets everything done that she does. I am so lucky to have her as my wife and companion.

It was good to have visitors yesterday they always make me feel better and I love seeing friends and family. Then energy they pass on is second to none.

November 13, 2011

Has been a most interesting had a great visit with my daughter and she took me to see my youngest son and his home in Roy. I have not been out of Salt Lake County since 26 July 2011. He has done a marvelous job on his home restoring it to its glory days. Brian’s children are so full of energy it was great just watching them the joy you get from grandchildren is second to none. We came home and Jan attended to her duties at the High School while Lisa and I had a most incredible visit. Lisa brings so much joy into our lives. I cannot thank her and her husband Clay enough for sending Lisa out for a great and most rewarding visit.

November 12, 2011

 am having trouble trying to sleep and felt like I needed to share some of the feelings I am currently having. I spent 23 years working in the criminal justice system. Most of the time was spend dealing with crime and individuals who had committed felonies. It seemed like a very negative and at times a hopeless profession and you were always on guard and had to be ready for negative things in your life. My outlook was not so positive looking back. I was dealing with the dark side of society driven my Satan. Today I see so much good and I know there are terrible things taking place that we see in the news every day. However I have felt the love of the Savior in my life and the love of a kind and dear Heavenly-Father. The kindness and love that has been shared with Jan and I is what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all about. We see so much good and have been blessed to be the recipients of this goodness. It comes from the staff and the nurses at the hospital, neighbors, work associates and even strangers we have been given so much in these last several months my gratitude cannot be expressed in words alone. I am blessed and want to share my feelings tonight.

Yesterday my daughter Lisa came in from Kentucky and is providing a most valuable service to us and is assisting both Jan and I in a little business adventure. I don’t need to worry about the process involved and can place all my trust and faith in both Jan and Lisa. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to both Lisa and Jan. Although Lisa lives in Kentucky the strength, love and support she has provided me has been most influential and helpful. Lisa is a great mother, wife and most of all the best daughter anyone could ever want. Lisa’s visit will be short but always in my memory bank. I am so blessed to have such a good wife and daughter.  

November 10, 2011

Came home from the hospital yesterday, this has been the best I have been since I started my chemo treatment. I have been almost a month without going to the Emergency Room. Also it has been over three weeks since my last blood transfusion something that has not taken place before. When I left the hospital yesterday they told me my blood levels are dropping and I will most likely need a transfusion within a week. But since the infections I have had since my second treatment have been cleared up it is amazing how much better I am actually doing. Finally I have a little energy I could not do anything for more than 20 minutes and I needed to rest or sleep. I am so thankful how much better I am feeling and was told I am doing great and it appears I am ahead of schedule in my treatment. I met another person who has the same cancer as I have and he only gets four days of chemo and is in stage four and I get eight days of chemo so I guess the duration of time I am getting my treatment is doing the job. Dr. Glenn told me if it is an aggressive cancer they treat it aggressively. So with all the prayers that have been offered I am still here and very thankful for all the love, support and service that has been given to both Jan and I.

November 1, 2011

I feel like I have accomplished something great it has been two weeks without going back to the hospital or the emergency room. This is something that has not happened since July 27, 2011. I am so totally thankful for all the love and support that has been given to both Jan and I.

I am having a hard time trying to sleep and this cancer is always on my mind and I think of the consequences that are involved.  I think about the next eight days of chemo and how I will feel during and when it is done and wonder how weak I will truly get before things turn around. I am so thankful for modern medicine or I would not have any hope at all. Well this will be my last blog for about nine days as I get ready to enter the hospital again tomorrow.