Stable is AWESOME 😁

Hello Everyone, thank you for your prayers, faith, love and support.  My whole family feels loved and supported, especially during this crazy time we are experiencing.  I am so grateful that I am surrounded by people who care for me and my family.  I am also extremely grateful to work for a company that allows me to with from home.  #givethanks

Well, I had a scan and a doctor's visit over the past week.  GOOD NEWS!!  The tumors had not progresed at all.  It was like they fell asleep or something.  Tumors staying the same size as a previous scan is so much better than tumors getting larger.  HOORAY!  Less worry for the Holidays is just what we needed 😊

So, I am going to keep the same treatment plan in place for another 12 weeks, then have another scan.  You could have probably written that yourself.  I feel like I am getting somewhat predictable 😉

May Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ, bless you and comfort you.  I know that as we heed their words, we will have peace amid trials. 

Please follow the counsel of President Nelson, and share what you are grateful for on your social media accounts, and especially your family.

With love -Doug-

Back to Five Days of Chemo

Hello Everyone,

I hope this blog post finds you and your family safe, healthy, and hopeful.  I recently watched an inspiration video clip about hope and the need to hold onto hope, no matter how dark or difficult our circumstances are.  Since the beginning, I have been blessed with hope.  Everyday is a miracle for me and my family.  I hope for a better tomorrow and hope for an eternal family.  The everyday things that we deal with become insignificant as I ponder my Heavenly Father's plan for me and my family.  This earth life is so short compared to the eternities that lie ahead.  My goal for this life is for my family to know that I loved them unconditionally and my greatest desire is to be with them for eternity with our Father in Heaven. I pray that my actions with show this.

Time for the update: PET scan last week, on Tuesday the 8th and we talked to the oncologist on the 10th.  I was hoping for things to be stable so I could continue with the four days of chemo per cycle; but alas, that was not to be.  Unfortunately, the scan showed "mild disease progression" across the board.  Most, if not all, the tumors had increased activity (they glowed more) and were slightly larger.  Nothing was significantly larger, for which we are grateful.  They were some new areas of concern compared to the last report, but these may be areas that were reported in past scans, just not the scan previous to this one.  Anyway, you get the picture.  This was not what we were hoping for, but we are so grateful that it is not worse.  

So, what do we do now?

We talked about a couple of options that seemed the most logical.  The most straightforward option is to go back to five days of chemotherapy per cycle.  This seemed to be keeping me stable prior to changing to 4 days a week. (The reason we changes to four days is because some studies came out that said lower doses are effective in some patients.)  I do not like this, but it is after all, only one more day.  I was doing it before, I can do it again.  The other option is to try to get into a clinical trial they are doing at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Hospital in New York.  The trial is specifically for my type of cancer - Desmoplastic Round Small Cell Tumor.  We are going to have a phone call with the doctor running the study and see what her she would recommend for someone in my situation.  Please join us as we pray for inspiration and guidance as we try to decide how to go forward.  

My family and I have been very blessed during the pandemic.  I have been able to work from home.  The kids have been able to go to school from home and play outdoors with friends.  The nice thing about the cold, is that you just had more layers and you can still be outside and play 😁.  We had some days in the summer when it was just too hot to be outside.  It is a good thing that the kids love to play in the snow - we better check the condition of the sleds.  I have been able to work in the yard and feel like I am still able to contribute to the family.

Something fun about this summer.  Daniel made a swimming pool for the back yard.  He built a rectangular frame out of old doors and scrap lumber, then strapped a big tarp in it.  (Matthew did add some extra support when one of the doors failed.) The frame was 8 foot by 6 foot and could be filled to about 2.5 feet high.  The kids have been having fun with it all summer.  Annie turned 8 in August and wanted to be baptized.  We got permission to use Daniel's homemade swimming pool for Annie's baptism.  They were so excited.  We had about 20 people in the back yard and had a wonderful service.  We missed all those that would have come if we could have had more people.  (Stinkin' virus!)  

We have been growing closer as a family as we are spending more time together.  School keeps the kids busy, but we are finding a good balance between school, friends, and family.  The kids keep asking when they can play inside their friends houses (like before the pandemic) and we just tell them that we don't know.  They have been such good sports about the whole thing.  They are following our instructions - with minimal complaining.  This sure has been a crazy year.  My cancer has been one of the more consistent things about it!

We love you all.  Thank you for your prayers, faith, love and kindness.  Every act of kindness and thoughtful gesture is appreciated and has an impact.  

I have really enjoyed the thoughts about coming together and getting through this by helping each other.  That is the best way to get through any trial - being supported and loved and giving support and love.  May Heavenly Father bless us all as we try to do as the Savior did and lift hose around us.

-Doug-

Good news amid the chaos

Hello Everyone!  I hope this post finds you well and safe and with loved ones.  If not, I know that Heavenly Father will give you the peace you need to endure all the trials of your life.

Since the scan in March, I have been taking three chemotherapy drugs.  I have taken this same combination in the past, but I had some bowel obstructions while taking this combination, so we took out one of the drugs.  Unfortunately, I have tumor that had been getting a little bigger that last few scans - it was not going back and forth in size like the rest of the tumors.  The doctor suggested we add back in the drug we took out, because it was appearing effective on the tumors at the time.  So, with a commitment to eat more carefully, I started taking all three chemotherapy drugs again. 

Well, I am pleased to announce that ALL the TUMORS got a little SMALLER!!!!!!   Whoo! Hoo!!  We were so excited to hear this form the doctor.  We were not expecting all the tumors to have gotten smaller.  This was really good news that brought us hope and joy.  During this crazy year, with all of the uncertainty, it was really nice to have some good news.  We will take it!  

So, I will keep taking the same three chemotherapy drugs for another 3 months and then have another scan.  Unlike many other cancers, mine does not have a blood marker.  The only way to see the progress of the disease, is with a scan.  

I still have to be careful with my breathing.  Sleeping in the right side is working well, but I get winded easily.  I have to take frequent breaks when exerting myself.  A big THANK YOU to all who helped haul the wood chips to the back yard.  It was a huge pile and we were able to get it moved in an hour with 5 wheel barrows, 8 or more shovels,  and lots of helping hands.  It was amazing to see how fast we got it all done.  I think it will take us a few summers to get spread throughout the yard 😉  Thanks again to all who helped!

We were able to visit my parents last weekend.  They live in a small farming community that has had 0 cases of the virus, so we felt safe visiting.  We were more worried about bringing some sickness to them they were worried about giving something to us.  It was wonderful to see my parents, as we had not seem them since the stay safe, stay home directive.  It reminded me to never take for granted those that we love.  Our friends and family need to hear us from time to time and we need to show our love to them.  Never procrastinate a prompting you get to reach out connect with someone.  Heavenly Father knows each of us and wants us to help lift and comfort one another.

We were able to sing to some wonderful neighbors this morning  (outside and 10+ feet away).  We snag the first verse of I am a Child of God with the descant.  It was a wonderful morning.  We love those that we are able to live by and associate with.  We pray for your safety.  The Sabbath is truly a delight when you are sharing God's love and doing His work.

I love you all!  Thank you for your prayers and hope and love.  Our family is truly blessed because of your faith and devotion.  I know Heavenly Father has a plan for each one of us.  He knows what we need to endure in order to progress eternally and become like him.  May we all stay on the straight and narrow path that leads to life external and eternal exaltation.

Love -Doug-

May the 4th Be With You

Hello Everyone -  hope this blog post finds you happy, healthy, and hopeful.  I am apologize for the title, but i just couldn't help it 😀

Of course, we have all been dealing with this virus and the associated social distancing.  Online school has been a "learning" experience to say the least.  Family togetherness is taking on a whole new meaning.  Working from home is still a work in progress.  Angela and Matthew are teaching piano lessons using video calls.  We have spent more time in the yard than in any previous spring time.  We are going out less, but still spending all the money in the budget.  (Sigh..) 

We are so thankful for a living prophet that has received revelation from God and prepared us for this unique time in our lives.  We are so very blessed to have prophets and apostles on the earth, leading us to Jesus Christ and teaching us how to receive our own revelation for our families.  We are truly blessed.

I wanted to give an update on some things that have happened over that last few weeks in regards to my health.  I started having some shortness of breath when I would lay down at night - just on my left side.  I told Angela after a couple of nights and she convinced me to call the doctor.  I ended up driving to Huntsman just so I could get checked out by a physician.  They did a CT scan to check for fluid in the lungs or blood clots.  Fortunately, I had neither.  I tried sleeping wit a wedge.  That did help the symptoms, but takes some getting used to.  I had a ECHO and EKG done on my heart, as heart issues can affect breathing.  We contacted a pulmonologist and was able to do a video call appointment. We told him all the things, in regards to my breathing and history of lung damage.  He decided he wanted to see me in person, so he stopped by our house on his daily bike ride - mask, gloves, and all.  This was so king of him to do this.  He didn't have to, but he did it anyways.  He made a positive impact in our lives and showed genuine concern for a brand new patient he had just met on a video call.  He couldn't pinpoint any specific issue.  He thinks it is probably a result of the surgery, radiation, and broken ribs healing slightly collapsed.  I was sleeping on my left side, which would compress/restrict my left lung - the good lung.  My right lung is functioning at a reduced level 40%-60% depending on what you are measuring.  So, sleeping on my left side, I was relying on my right lung to be more effective - not happening. So, I have switched to sleeping on my right side.  This is much better.  I have been breathing better and falling asleep faster.  HOORAY!!!

We will probably never know why I started having breathing issues.  I am thankful we found a simple solution.  The doctor did tell us something very sobering, but something we had thought already.  Because of the havoc the COVID-19 virus plays on the lungs, the doctor said he would not expect me to survive a run-in with the virus.  We were kind of thinking that already...... 

But, we do not dwell on the negatives, we focus on the positives and try to be as prepared as we can, listening for the still small voice to guide us.  Tonight,for example, Angela heading up a strawberry freezer jam party.  We made 23 Quarts (yes, we bottle it in Quarts) of strawberry freezer jam.  We will be spreading happiness onto our bread products for months to come.  Yum!  Yum!

Thank you all, for your prayers, faith, love, friendship, and kindness.  We feel supported and loved in all the ways we could be. 
-Doug-

Early Morning Earthquake

Good Morning Everyone,

I hope that this post finds you well and in good spirits.  I was up early for a work issue and was able to feel the affects of this mornings earthquake.  A co-worker that was on the phone with me said his chandelier was swinging and some things fell off his desk.  What crazy times we are living in.  I wonder what else the day will bring.....

A BIG "THANK YOU" to the wonderful friends that brought us treats yesterday.  It brought a BIG smile to many faces.  We had greenish-blue eggs for breakfast that were mostly a success.  The kids did some yard work.  I am working from home for a few weeks.  The kids are doing chores and trying to stay busy.

Now we all get the be a part of the home-school group.  I am sorry for laughing at any jokes about home school.  This is going to take some real work and coordination.  It is nice to know that we are all in this together. 😀

Well, I did have a scan last week.  It was during the week of chemotherapy which is unusual, but they are replacing the scanning machine at Huntsman, so they had to get people in earlier or make them wait a couple of months.  I chose to go early.

Well.....nothing exciting.  The results were the same as the last few scans have been.  Everything is about the same.  Some things a little bigger, some things a little smaller.  Looks like the only consistent thing these days is my cancer - ha ha.

I talk to my oncologist on the 30th and I image she will recommend just doing to same stuff we have been doing.  Sigh.  I am really blessed that the treatment is as mild as it is.  I need to be thankful always and not let it wear me down.  I have so many things to be grateful.

I am feeling well most of the time. I do get tired by the end of the 5 days of chemo, but I really can't complain.  I have been otherwise healthy and been able to do all the day-to-day activities I need to do.  It is depressing though that the only child I can outrun is Annie and that is only for a short time.   I will have to start finding games that do not involve us racing one another.  Anyone for chess?  Oh wait, they beat me at that also. 😋

I hope and pray that you stay safe and that if you are directly affected by the virus, it will be merciful in its affects.

I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are watching over us.  They love us and know exactly what we are going through.  They will provide comfort and peace - always!  I am so very excited for General Conference in April.  I am so thankful for modern day prophets and current revelation.  We need not fear, for God knows all things and will prepare us for all things.  May we listen and obey.

Thanks again for all of your prayers and faith in my behalf.
-Doug-