I saw my Doc. on Monday. The good news is that there are no tumors or leukemia in my spine, or brain. The bad news is that there is a trace amount of blasts in my bone marrrow, one test shows 5% blasts and the other test shows under 3%. The spots on my body are most likley tumors from the Leukemia, which will be taken care of with chemotherapy. I will have 5 days of chemotherapy and a few weeks of radiation (nothing like scheduling a sunburn), They will also put chemo into my spinal fluid which requires a spinal tap at least four or five times. I had a spinal tap last Thursday and have had severe headaches since, hopefully this will go away and never come back.
Not too much to report on this week, other than it is really, really hot here in Vegas.
Later
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
The latest
I went to the Doc. today and found out that things aren't as bad as I thought. They have determined that I have a tumor caused by the Leukemia (sorry that I cannot remember the exact terminology for it). It is usally associated with the Leukemia (ALL). It is very treatable and we will be doing tests all week to find out if and where it has spread. The treatment is a combination of Chemoytherapy (injeccted into my spinal fluid and my personal favorite 3 days of regular Chemo), I will be getting a hickman catheter placed in my chest. This will be the 6th time that I have had that done. I wonder if the surgen could just put some sort of a faucet in my chest. I did have my only other procedure done this morning, a Bone Marrow Biopsy. Nothing like showing up to the appointment to find out your having a B0ne Marrow Biopsy.
Our little vacation was great. We had so much fun that we did not want to come home. We did all kinds of things from walking through a maze and playing mini golf to riding horses and watching bears. We also rafted down the river a coupl.e of times. Big thank you goes out to Randy Stewart who lent out his rafts to us. Some of our group jumped off of the cliffs those who did not lose their sanity stayed on the shore. We had a family rodeo. That was the big event, mutton bustin, chicken scramble, and a good round of steer decorating. There were some extra curricular activities of which the favorite was collecting keys from all of Gary's old trucks.
Anyway I will update later on
Our little vacation was great. We had so much fun that we did not want to come home. We did all kinds of things from walking through a maze and playing mini golf to riding horses and watching bears. We also rafted down the river a coupl.e of times. Big thank you goes out to Randy Stewart who lent out his rafts to us. Some of our group jumped off of the cliffs those who did not lose their sanity stayed on the shore. We had a family rodeo. That was the big event, mutton bustin, chicken scramble, and a good round of steer decorating. There were some extra curricular activities of which the favorite was collecting keys from all of Gary's old trucks.
Anyway I will update later on
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Vacation
We have left the heat for Kalispell and Cardston. It has been a nice to get away and get refresded to take on what ever awaits us in Las Vegas. I did go to my Doc on Friday. He told me that the tumor could be Testicle cancer or a Leukemia Tumor. Here I was thinking that I knew everything about Leukemia. I guess sometimes it can create tumors, when I asked the Doc about how common this occurs he responded "...not many people make it this far and get tumors." I guess regular chemo doesn't go into the spinal fluid, brain, and testicles and it can harbor some Leukemia cells. When I get back they will know what kind of tumor was growing in my body. At that point there will be a slug of tests. These will include a CAT Scan, Spinal Tap, and two of my most favorite tests, a bone marrow biopsy, and the dreaded MRI. I will selling tickets to the MRI as that machine freaks me out. Short of those tests they will probubly throw some Chemo in there for good measure. So for now all that I can do is wait hence the vacation. I don't think that I could focus on work wondering what is going to happpen to me. It has been super nice to hang out with my family and do lots of things together.
I have been reading the book 1776 over the last few days, it has been a fantastic book. It has been interesting to learn about the Revolutionary War.
Since getting here in Kalispell I have: Donated $20.00 to the Anaconda Court system (my GPS said I was going 85 but the officer begs to differ.), went to see the movie "Journey to the Middle of the Earth" great movie, Golfing, and laying around the pool.
Well that is all that is happening in our life.
Take care,
Casey
I have been reading the book 1776 over the last few days, it has been a fantastic book. It has been interesting to learn about the Revolutionary War.
Since getting here in Kalispell I have: Donated $20.00 to the Anaconda Court system (my GPS said I was going 85 but the officer begs to differ.), went to see the movie "Journey to the Middle of the Earth" great movie, Golfing, and laying around the pool.
Well that is all that is happening in our life.
Take care,
Casey
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Fun and Games in Las Vegas
Well there have been huge developments in my life over the last 48 hours. I found a lump on one of my Testicles and now have testing done to rule out Testicular cancer. It happens to be one of the most curable types of cancer. They did remove one of the Testicles, apparently we can put a man on the moon but cannot find a better way to test for this type of cancer. Oh well they were burned out from all of the radiation that I had to have for the bone marrow transplant. I guess the man upstairs thought that Leukemia wasn't enough but now lets dabble a little bit in Testicular cancer. I will approach this the same way I did with Leukemia, maybe now I will be able to get an honorary doctorate degree in Oncology.
Outside of that we have been having a great summer. The kids are up in Alberta, Sam has been riding calves, horses, and his personal favorite is baling hay with his Grandpas. Max and Aubree have been doing alot of playing. What better way to spend the summer than on Grandpa's farms,no rules, no fences, and no extreme heat.
Update on Lani and I. Lani had girls camp this past week. Unfortunately Lani had to come home a couple of days early due to my surgey. I really thought that I could do it without her, man am I glad that she was home to take care of me.
I have been fixing our cars as the brakes on the Suburban went out, not that bad as I don't drive it. The worst was when the Air Conditioning on my fantastic Mustang went out. I was lucky this time and was able to fix them both myself, ok I lied Al had to hekp me with the A/C as I couldn't see good enough to put the bolts back in the hole.
I won't have any other news with the Testicular Cancer until I return from the mother land, until then please pray for me, I could use the extra help.
love
Casey
Outside of that we have been having a great summer. The kids are up in Alberta, Sam has been riding calves, horses, and his personal favorite is baling hay with his Grandpas. Max and Aubree have been doing alot of playing. What better way to spend the summer than on Grandpa's farms,no rules, no fences, and no extreme heat.
Update on Lani and I. Lani had girls camp this past week. Unfortunately Lani had to come home a couple of days early due to my surgey. I really thought that I could do it without her, man am I glad that she was home to take care of me.
I have been fixing our cars as the brakes on the Suburban went out, not that bad as I don't drive it. The worst was when the Air Conditioning on my fantastic Mustang went out. I was lucky this time and was able to fix them both myself, ok I lied Al had to hekp me with the A/C as I couldn't see good enough to put the bolts back in the hole.
I won't have any other news with the Testicular Cancer until I return from the mother land, until then please pray for me, I could use the extra help.
love
Casey
Monday, June 23, 2008
Lots to think about
I know that it has been a little while since I have written but I have a great excuse. When I think of it I will share it, suggestions at this point would help.
I go to the Doctor this week for a check up, it should be very routine but you never know. I have had an interesting few weeks. We went to Salt Lake City to bless Jason and Candace's baby girl. It was great to catch up with those who I have not seen in a while. I didn't realize how many people read this blog. It was so fun to take a trip and not have to go to a hospital. I had another hard reminder of how blessed and extremly lucky I am to be alive. Our close friends' mother was not feeling well went to the hospital and found out she has Liver and Pancreatic cancer. The Doctors say that they can't treat it. Lani and I were talking the other day about how many people we personally know who have cancer or had it. The list was quite long. I don't know if it is because of our history or what. All that I know for sure is that I HATE CANCER. It doesn't matter what type it is all bad. After all that we have been through I still find it hard to find the right words to tell people who have just gotten it. Then I only have my experiance to go from and that is hard because I was not supposed to live, then I feel guilty for being so lucky. I guess I will get better with this over what time I have left.
The kids are doing great and enjoying their summer vacation. Today I got a truck load of sand for my back yard, I didn't realize how much 22 tons of sand really is. It's alot in case you're wondering. The kids have been playing on the pile all after noon. We also have a new addition to our family. The Johnsons left a rabbit in a box on our front porch, so now we have a rabbit. It lives under a shade structure (Lani calls it an old truck) and is pretty tricky to catch. I am now looking for something to give the Johnsons as a thank-you. Ideas will be accepted in this area as well.
Work is going ok. I still need to be busier but it will come with some more time. It has been very rewarding to help people plan for the future. Lani is working in real estate and will be closing her first deal on July 7th, we are very excited to get this done. She is also overseeing girls camp again this year.
Anyway this was kindof long, have a great week.
Casey
I go to the Doctor this week for a check up, it should be very routine but you never know. I have had an interesting few weeks. We went to Salt Lake City to bless Jason and Candace's baby girl. It was great to catch up with those who I have not seen in a while. I didn't realize how many people read this blog. It was so fun to take a trip and not have to go to a hospital. I had another hard reminder of how blessed and extremly lucky I am to be alive. Our close friends' mother was not feeling well went to the hospital and found out she has Liver and Pancreatic cancer. The Doctors say that they can't treat it. Lani and I were talking the other day about how many people we personally know who have cancer or had it. The list was quite long. I don't know if it is because of our history or what. All that I know for sure is that I HATE CANCER. It doesn't matter what type it is all bad. After all that we have been through I still find it hard to find the right words to tell people who have just gotten it. Then I only have my experiance to go from and that is hard because I was not supposed to live, then I feel guilty for being so lucky. I guess I will get better with this over what time I have left.
The kids are doing great and enjoying their summer vacation. Today I got a truck load of sand for my back yard, I didn't realize how much 22 tons of sand really is. It's alot in case you're wondering. The kids have been playing on the pile all after noon. We also have a new addition to our family. The Johnsons left a rabbit in a box on our front porch, so now we have a rabbit. It lives under a shade structure (Lani calls it an old truck) and is pretty tricky to catch. I am now looking for something to give the Johnsons as a thank-you. Ideas will be accepted in this area as well.
Work is going ok. I still need to be busier but it will come with some more time. It has been very rewarding to help people plan for the future. Lani is working in real estate and will be closing her first deal on July 7th, we are very excited to get this done. She is also overseeing girls camp again this year.
Anyway this was kindof long, have a great week.
Casey
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Docotr visit
Last Thursday I went for a check up with my oncologist. He figures I have one heck of a gaurdian angel looking over me, and once agian he told me that I was lucky to be alive. The visit ended up being uneventful, I think that Sam got more attention than I did from the nurses. It has been a busy weekend for us. Three baseball games and two end of season parties. Max recieved the most improved player award, it was good as he worked hard all year. Sam got the "Most Enthusiastic Batter" award from his team. Sam would swing the bat with all of his might several times before the pitch, I guess he wanted to make sure that he was ready. Lani also had all of the young womenfrom the ward sleep over for some activity, the boys and I stayed at Al\s place. To top off the weekend I woke up this morning with the flu.
We have lucked out this year and have had a long spring, only a few days over 100 degrees. It seems like things are going well, that makes me nervouse as that is when things happen to us.
take car
We have lucked out this year and have had a long spring, only a few days over 100 degrees. It seems like things are going well, that makes me nervouse as that is when things happen to us.
take car
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Good times ahead
I went to the Kidney Doc. today. At 4:30 I was starting to wonder if my 3 o'clock appointment was going to happen. It did and the results were great. He said that my kidneys are working fine and have no problems exept for a creatinine of 1.8 normal is under 1. I will get there eventually. I don't have to see him again for four months. This is a good thing.
I have been working alot and triing to get my business going again. Lani is so patient with me while I get this going again. She is super busy with real estate, the kids and young womens. It is a lot of work with both of us working and triing to get ahead but we are managing.
Brianne you are not the only one checking my blog, I have four other people whe check it as well. I went to Vernal, Utah to hunt some turkeys. It was a lot of fun to go do that again. We didn't get any but we did control the bat population a timy bit. We had a great time. It was something that I didn't think I would be able to do again due to my health. I shoot left handed but the problem is that I am partly blind in my left eye. I now have to learn how to shoot on my right side.
Later
KC
I have been working alot and triing to get my business going again. Lani is so patient with me while I get this going again. She is super busy with real estate, the kids and young womens. It is a lot of work with both of us working and triing to get ahead but we are managing.
Brianne you are not the only one checking my blog, I have four other people whe check it as well. I went to Vernal, Utah to hunt some turkeys. It was a lot of fun to go do that again. We didn't get any but we did control the bat population a timy bit. We had a great time. It was something that I didn't think I would be able to do again due to my health. I shoot left handed but the problem is that I am partly blind in my left eye. I now have to learn how to shoot on my right side.
Later
KC
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